F1 dynasties: fathers and sons on the grid

In Formula 1 the surname matters. Growing up in a paddock, with a father who has driven a single-seater, gives a young person access to quality karts from childhood, a circle of contacts in the teams and often a technical education that is hard to match. It guarantees nothing —talent and results rule— but the statistics show dynasties are more frequent in this sport than in almost any other.

Formula1.com has counted 16 father-and-son pairs who have reached F1. We review the most important and which of them is still on the grid today.

The Hills: the first pair with titles

Graham Hill was world champion twice and his son Damon won the 1996 championship with Williams. They were the first father and son both to have been champions, a milestone in the championship's history.

The Rosbergs repeated the feat: Keke was champion in 1982 and Nico in 2016, after which he retired. Two families, five titles between fathers and sons.

Piquet, Villeneuve and Brabham

Nelson Piquet was a three-time champion (1981, 1983 and 1987) and his son Nelson Jr. also reached F1. The Villeneuves have a different story: Jacques won in 1997 the title that escaped his father Gilles. And Jack Brabham, a world champion, had in David a racing son from the same family.

The Verstappens, the dynasty still on track

Max Verstappen is today the only son of an active F1 driver, according to Formula1.com. His father, Jos, raced in the 1990s and early 2000s and took two podiums. Max, who debuted aged 17 years and 166 days —the youngest driver to start a race— has several world titles and is the main example that a dynasty can surpass its founder.

No other father-and-son pair has a representative on the grid today, which gives an idea of how exceptional the case is. If you want to follow his results up to date, Verstappen's page on Formuradar shows his career, wins and points by season.