With so many differences between each era of Formula 1, the debate over which is the best driver and the best team will likely continue. But who would our writers choose from across the sport’s rich history to be part of their ultimate team? We asked Lawrence Barretto, Chris Medland, Mark Hughes, David Tremayne and Mike Seymour to select two drivers and a team manager to form their dream lineup…
Lawrence Barretto (F1 correspondent and presenter)
Drivers: Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna
Team Manager: Frank Williams
In a seat, I would definitely have Schumacher. The German was incredibly fast, relentlessly committed and skilled at building a team around him. He was also a detail-oriented man – I remember reading how his trainer took blood samples at the track to measure aerobic rates while doing tests and then replicated those conditions in a gym to improve his fitness – and for me, that focus on his racing was a big part of his success.
I would pair him with Senna who, like Schumacher, is considered one of the greatest of all time. We never got to see them properly face off for a championship, but I’m pretty sure it would have been box office. Putting them within the same team would definitely create fireworks, but Sir Frank was no fool and would have handled the situation well. Like Schumacher, Senna was immensely talented behind the wheel and calculated in his decision making, and that’s what made him so formidable.
my choice [for team boss] It’s Sir Frank Williams. He was an iconic Formula 1 team manager who was completely consumed by the sport, to the point that he even lived at the team’s factory in Grove. He saw the team as an extension of his family, while his tireless determination to win no matter the obstacles (of which there were many, including a serious disability after breaking his neck in a car accident) was inspiring.
Chris Medland (Special Contributor)
Drivers: Ayrton Senna and Mario Andretti
Team Manager: Niki Lauda
Surely [Senna] Doesn’t it need much explanation? A driver revered by many others – including some on the current grid who haven’t even seen him race – Senna’s combination of incredible speed and overall aura has him squarely in my team. You just know he’ll get everything out of the car he was given and sometimes maybe more.
I make no apologies for being a huge Mario fan, due to the huge variety of machinery he would not only drive, but also win across all motorsports. He’d probably still be racing in F1 today if someone gave him a seat! Brilliantly fast in his own right, I also think his adaptability could mesh very well with Senna’s, and that both would command respect from the other.
If I am the owner of the team, to manage a team with two top drivers I will need someone who is capable of instilling a little fear in both of them. Team principal Niki didn’t have a great time at Jaguar, but he showed he could play a role in building a championship-winning constructor with high-character drivers in mercedes. Also, if I just expect the drivers to respect each other, I’m sure they would have a lot for Lauda as their boss.
Mark Hughes (Special Contributor)
Drivers: Gilles Villeneuve and Alain Prost
Team Manager: Colin Chapman
I went with Gilles Villeneuve because his supernatural gift and fighting spirit lacked the excitement of the equally blessed Senna, so he could be paired more comfortably with Alain Prost, who was at the other end of the driving trait spectrum and had a good relationship with Gilles. That means they would be good enough to keep the venom and politics at bay. With this duo, the team would have enormous driving ability and good balance.
For team boss, I choose Colin Chapman because, as well as being an inspiring boss, he was also a creative design genius, so you would get two for the price of one.
David Tremayne (F1 Hall of Fame Journalist)
Drivers: Kimi Antonelli and Carlos Sainz
Team Manager: Andrea Stella
How many of us really do a 24/7 job? How many of us are willing to sacrifice so many of the normal things we take for granted: family life, free time, all the ordinary things that keep us sane? Some of us manage to report 24 races in a season, maybe even scribble a few books too, but we need that time to decompress, to do the things normal humans do and maybe even do our own crazy projects.
But becoming an F1 team manager? The man in charge of overseeing everything, from design and technology; personnel selection and management; automobile construction; driver selection and management; automobile operation; automobile development; team management; logistics…
You get the picture. He is the first person I would look for. So who would I choose to lead my ultimate team? I think I have very good relationships with many team leaders and a decent respect for their various talents. You don’t usually make it to F1 unless you have demonstrated the necessary skills. But my heart and my head tell me that there is one man I would commit to from the beginning: andrea estela.
Eat, drink and sleep F1 and McLarenand when necessary it is very practical. But he is also very clear-thinking, extraordinarily honest with himself, a very, very good judge of people and character; an organizer; and a man who does not need to be the center of attention and understands the arts of delegation, autonomy and empowerment.
He has played a tremendous role in the reorganization of McLaren’s technical department, able to see those who have the necessary talent and then give them the fundamental reins to continue with their delegated jobs. And when problems arise (the ones we see most publicly tend to involve the drivers and their strategies), he is very capable at controlling things and maintaining control.
The other thing I really like about him is his modest nature. Tell him he just said something that makes more sense than any cutting-edge comment, like I did in 2024 or 2025, and he’ll probably say, “Do you think?”, as if he were genuinely unsure, surprised by the comment. Not everyone is so modest.
I would also take your advice about drivers very seriously. I’d look for a partner who could get along, but who wouldn’t do that “after you, Claud” thing too often.
It goes without saying that they would need to be fast, hungry and have demonstrated technical understanding, leadership skills in media development and management, as well as having won Grand Prix. I would not want to bow and I would encourage you to speak your mind without overstepping the rules of decorum or common sense. They would need to feel completely comfortable and supported within the team, to bring out the best in each of them.
My top choice would be Kimi Antonellifor quite obvious reasons. He has demonstrated excellent skills in all conditions, is a quick learner and is an open and engaging character. And he clearly has many years ahead of him.
Without Kimi, it would be Max Verstappenagain for obvious reasons. These are best summed up not just by what he demonstrated in top Red Bulls in 2023 and 2024, but how he worked so tirelessly to get that team back into contention in the final races of 2025 after the most extraordinary recovery in F1 history.
There was always a tendency in the ’60s (and in retrospect) to believe that Jim Clark always had the better car, but some of his Lotuses weren’t that different from their rivals, and I think the same is sometimes true of Max. He can get more out of a car than anyone else right now, even when his machinery is inferior, and it would be foolish not to pursue him.
Any of them would be great for the reasons stated, but I wouldn’t combine them. Two bulls in a field almost always cause problems. So it would be one or the other.
Looking at who is available right now, and yes, I understand that this is a definitive proposal and therefore we should go with whatever we want, but I would be inclined to sign. Sainz as my second driver.
It was generally a little faster than Lando Norris at McLaren (although the World Champion has since developed), and was equaling Carlos Leclerc in ferrari by 2024. It’s fast, smart and lucid, nice, fits well and deserves a competitive car. I felt sorry for him losing his Ferrari, as much as he enjoyed it. Lewis Hamilton change equipment.
Then they would be STAY GOLD Racing’s F1 picks, for what they’re worth.
Mike Seymour (editor)
Drivers: Ayrton Senna and Jenson Button
Team Manager: Ross Brawn
I’m pretty sure I won’t be the only one picking Senna, but I just can’t leave him off my list. I grew up in the mid-1990s and began following F1 after the Brazilian’s untimely passing, but I soon became drawn to magazine articles and documentaries about him, which only grew stronger as the years passed.
Every clip of the legendary racer in action seems to show him dancing at the limits of what was physically possible, with those skills complemented by his unique off-track charisma, and he remains a reference (and inspiration) for today’s drivers. It’s as close to a guarantee as possible that the car will be driven to the absolute limit whenever necessary.
I lasted and was thinking about my second option for quite some time. Do you go all out and pair Senna with someone like Michael Schumacher or Max Verstappen? After some more thought, I went with Button. Admittedly, I was a big fan of his back in the day, enthusiastically following the journey from Williams debutant to World Champion with Brawn GP, and the rollercoaster of emotions along the way. For me, he combines raw speed, intelligence, adaptability and racing talent like few drivers in F1 history, and has shown that he can work well alongside fellow world champions Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.
One person who played a key role in Button winning the title was, of course, Brawn. A talented engineer and team boss, Brawn enjoyed championship success with various teams during his time in F1, from Benetton to Ferrari and then with his own eponymous team, not to mention laying the foundations for Mercedes’ dominance that followed. He has proven on multiple occasions that he can steer the ship, get the right people in the right places, drive different departments, and manage top-notch drivers. With Brawn, my lineup of Senna and Button would have the car and environment they need to be successful, while also looking out for the best interests of the team.