Formula 1 is an extremely competitive sport, which requires an extraordinary level of physical and mental activity. It is not uncommon to see youngsters who have just turned 40 challenging speed like masters. But what about those “older” drivers? Until what age can you push the accelerator? When is the right time to retire? Some would say that a driver at 1 is already a no-go, yet history teaches us that age, like points, is just a number. Who are the “oldest” drivers to have collected points in Formula XNUMX?
Grandfather Louis Chiron's Undefeated Record
Let's take a leap back to 1955. Formula 1, at the time, was quite different from the sport we know today. The cars were untamable beasts, safety measures were optional, and the drivers were often men of a certain calibre, who could afford the world of racing. In this scenario, we find Louis chiron, 55 years, 9 months and 19 days.
It was the Monaco Grand Prix and Chiron was no novice in racing, he had been racing in motorsport since the 20s, a true “gentleman driver” of times gone by. But in '55, he was there more than anything for the pleasure of being there, for his home Grand Prix. But in that race, the elderly Chiron did not limit himself to just participating, he crossed the finish line in sixth position, leading his car to points. Today a sixth place is a good result for a driver who is used to the middle or the back of the grid. But at the time that sixth place was even more significant, because it was worth a point! That point that gave Louis Chiron a record that still makes us smile and think today: that of Oldest driver to score points in a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Veterans of the past
Today it is difficult to see and imagine over-fifties racing around Formula 1 circuits, but the history of this sport is full of “veterans” who just didn’t want to hang up their helmets. A clear example is the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio. The Argentine “Maestro”, winner of five world titles, including his He won his fifth and last world title in 1957, at the age of 46. He was a driver with a coolness and precision that still make us shiver today, capable of extracting the maximum from every car and managing every race with extreme lucidity. A legend of those that can only be born once in the history of a sport.
And we must not forget --Jack Brabham, a combination of tenacity and ingenuity. He not only raced, but also built his own cars. In 1966 he became the only driver to win a World Championship at the wheel of a car he built himself, at the age of 40. But his longevity did not stop there. In 1970, 44 years, Brabham was still there, fighting for the positions that count. In this regard we cannot fail to mention his Second place at the South African Grand Prix. It was indeed an incredible demonstration of competitiveness for a man who, at the time, was already considered a “veteran”.
Fernando Alonso: The Eternal Rookie
Coming to the present day, the contemporary “old guard” is undoubtedly Fernando Alonso , class 1981. Many drivers at 35 start thinking about retirement, or at most other categories less exciting than F1. But not Alonso. At 42 (and almost 43), he is still there, fighting on the track with guys who could easily be his sons.
His second youth with Aston Martin in 2023 was a real shock for the paddock and a joy for the fans. It is impossible to forget his podium in Bahrain at the start of the 2023 season, while leaving behind all the younger drivers on the grid. And that was not an isolated case: he collected as many as eight podiums that season, demonstrating a consistency and an ability to extract the most from the car (and from himself) that left everyone speechless.
Although the start of the 2025 season has not been easy, neither for Alonso nor for his team, during the Austrian Grand Prix, held last weekend, finally got its redemption, ranking seventh, and bringing points to his team. Thus officially entering the register of the oldest drivers to have earned points in a Formula 1 race.
Wise young man or wise old man?
Modern F1 is more physically demanding than ever. But wisdom, experience and that healthy dose of “cunning” that only years can give are still very powerful weapons. The winner on Sunday is not always the youngest or the fastest, but often the one who knows how to read the race best, manage the tires, and carry out a real strategist's task.
History teaches us that those drivers who for many are now old still give us points and emotions in the top category. Like Chiron and Alonso, and like many other "old" with a young heart and a heavy foot, who have made the history of this sport.
