F1 DNF & DNS Stats Explained: Complete Formula 1 Retirement and Non-Start Data (All Years)

In Formula 1, DNF and DNS statistics play an important role in understanding driver reliability and team performance. This page provides detailed data on how often drivers fail to finish races or are unable to start, helping fans analyze season trends and overall consistency in Formula 1.

DNF (Did Not Finish) and DNS (Did Not Start) statistics provide crucial insight into:

  • Driver reliability
  • Team performance
  • Race consistency

From 2000 to 2026, this data highlights how often drivers fail to finish races and reveals how reliability has evolved in modern Formula 1.

📅 2000 — 2026
# Driver Team DNF/DNS DNF Rate Races
🥇
Fernando Alonso
Aston Martin 78 18.8% 414 (336 finished)
🥈
Jenson Button
Brawn Mercedes 76 24.8% 306 (230 finished)
🥉
Jarno Trulli
Renault 74 35.4% 209 (135 finished)
4
Kimi Räikkönen
McLaren Mercedes 73 20.8% 351 (278 finished)
5
Mark Webber
Minardi 60 27.8% 216 (156 finished)
6
Romain Grosjean
Lotus F1 53 29.3% 181 (128 finished)
7
Giancarlo Fisichella
Ferrari 52 30.2% 172 (120 finished)
8
Nico Hülkenberg
Audi 52 20.2% 257 (205 finished)
9
Nick Heidfeld
Renault 48 26.2% 183 (135 finished)
10
Sebastian Vettel
BMW Sauber 46 15.3% 300 (254 finished)
11
Carlos Sainz
Williams 45 19.1% 235 (190 finished)
12
Adrian Sutil
Sauber Ferrari 44 34.4% 128 (84 finished)
13
David Coulthard
Red Bull Renault 43 27.6% 156 (113 finished)
14
Felipe Massa
Sauber 43 16.0% 268 (225 finished)
15
Daniel Ricciardo
HRT 41 16.0% 256 (215 finished)
16
Sergio Perez
Cadillac 41 14.4% 285 (244 finished)
17
Ralf Schumacher
Williams BMW 40 30.8% 130 (90 finished)
18
Jacques Villeneuve
Sauber BMW 38 38.0% 100 (62 finished)
19
Pedro de la Rosa
HRT Cosworth 38 42.7% 89 (51 finished)
20
Lewis Hamilton
Ferrari 37 9.7% 383 (346 finished)
21
Kevin Magnussen
McLaren Mercedes 36 19.5% 185 (149 finished)
22
Rubens Barrichello
Ferrari 36 17.1% 211 (175 finished)
23
Lance Stroll
Aston Martin 34 17.6% 193 (159 finished)
24
Max Verstappen
Red Bull 34 14.4% 236 (202 finished)
25
Pastor Maldonado
Lotus Mercedes 33 34.4% 96 (63 finished)
26
Takuma Sato
Super Aguri Honda 33 37.5% 88 (55 finished)
27
Michael Schumacher
Ferrari 32 17.8% 180 (148 finished)
28
Nico Rosberg
Williams 32 15.5% 206 (174 finished)
29
Juan Pablo Montoya
Williams BMW 31 33.7% 92 (61 finished)
30
Heinz-Harald Frentzen
Sauber Petronas 30 50.8% 59 (29 finished)
31
Olivier Panis
Toyota 29 43.9% 66 (37 finished)
32
Valtteri Bottas
Cadillac 29 11.6% 249 (220 finished)
33
Vitantonio Liuzzi
HRT Cosworth 29 36.3% 80 (51 finished)
34
Pierre Gasly
Alpine F1 Team 28 15.5% 181 (153 finished)
35
Charler Lerclerc
Ferrari 27 15.3% 176 (149 finished)
36
Esteban Ocon
Haas F1 Team 26 14.2% 183 (157 finished)
37
Alexander Albon
Williams 24 18.2% 132 (108 finished)
38
Daniil Kvyat
Toro Rosso 24 21.4% 112 (88 finished)
39
Eddie Irvine
Jaguar Cosworth 24 49.0% 49 (25 finished)
40
Heikki Kovalainen
Lotus Renault 24 21.4% 112 (88 finished)
41
Kamui Kobayashi
Caterham Renault 24 31.6% 76 (52 finished)
42
Marcus Ericsson
Sauber Ferrari 24 24.7% 97 (73 finished)
43
Jos Verstappen
Minardi Cosworth 22 44.0% 50 (28 finished)
44
George Russell
Mercedes 20 12.9% 155 (135 finished)
45
Christijan Albers
Spyker Ferrari 19 42.2% 45 (26 finished)
46
Timo Glock
Marussia Cosworth 19 20.7% 92 (73 finished)
47
Sebastien Buemi
STR Ferrari 18 32.7% 55 (37 finished)
48
Yuki tsunoda
Racing Bulls 18 15.8% 114 (96 finished)
49
Christian Klien
HRT Cosworth 16 31.4% 51 (35 finished)
50
Esteban Gutierrez
Haas Ferrari 15 25.4% 59 (44 finished)
51
Jean-Eric Vergne
STR Renault 15 25.9% 58 (43 finished)
52
Lando Norris
McLaren 15 9.7% 155 (140 finished)
53
Bruno Senna
Williams Renault 14 30.4% 46 (32 finished)
54
Jean Alesi
Prost Acer 14 41.2% 34 (20 finished)
55
Robert Kubica
Williams Mercedes 14 14.3% 98 (84 finished)
56
Narain Karthikeyan
HRT Cosworth 13 28.3% 46 (33 finished)
57
Nicholas Latifi
Williams Mercedes 13 21.3% 61 (48 finished)
58
Vitaly Petrov
Caterham Renault 13 22.4% 58 (45 finished)
59
Antonio Pizzonia
Williams BMW 12 60.0% 20 (8 finished)
60
Scott Speed
STR Ferrari 12 42.9% 28 (16 finished)
61
Stoffel Vandoorne
McLaren Honda 12 19.0% 63 (51 finished)
62
Jaime Alguersuari
STR Ferrari 11 23.9% 46 (35 finished)
63
Jolyon Palmer
Renault 11 29.7% 37 (26 finished)
64
Mika Häkkinen
McLaren Mercedes 11 32.4% 34 (23 finished)
65
Nelson Piquet Jr.
Renault 11 39.3% 28 (17 finished)
66
Charles Pic
Caterham Renault 10 25.6% 39 (29 finished)
67
Gianmaria Bruni
Minardi Cosworth 10 55.6% 18 (8 finished)
68
Lucas di Grassi
Virgin Cosworth 10 52.6% 19 (9 finished)
69
Paul di Resta
Force India Mercedes 10 17.2% 58 (48 finished)
70
Ricardo Zonta
Toyota 10 45.5% 22 (12 finished)
71
Zhou Guanyu
Alfa Romeo Ferrari 10 14.7% 68 (58 finished)
72
Alexander Wurz
Williams Toyota 9 27.3% 33 (24 finished)
73
Allan McNish
Toyota 9 56.3% 16 (7 finished)
74
Brendon Hartley
Scuderia Toro Rosso 9 36.0% 25 (16 finished)
75
Johnny Herbert
Jaguar Cosworth 9 52.9% 17 (8 finished)
76
Justin Wilson
Minardi Cosworth 9 56.3% 16 (7 finished)
77
Logan Sargeant
Williams Mercedes 9 25.0% 36 (27 finished)
78
Mika Salo
Toyota 9 28.1% 32 (23 finished)
79
Anthony Davidson
Super Aguri Honda 8 38.1% 21 (13 finished)
80
Cristiano da Matta
Toyota 8 29.6% 27 (19 finished)
81
Enrique Bernoldi
Arrows Cosworth 8 80.0% 10 (2 finished)
82
Giorgio Pantano
Jordan Ford 8 57.1% 14 (6 finished)
83
Jules Bianchi
Marussia Cosworth 8 23.5% 34 (26 finished)
84
Kazuki Nakajima
Williams Toyota 8 22.2% 36 (28 finished)
85
Marc Gené
Williams BMW 8 40.0% 20 (12 finished)
86
Pascal Wehrlein
MRT Mercedes 8 20.5% 39 (31 finished)
87
Sebastien Bourdais
STR Ferrari 8 29.6% 27 (19 finished)
88
Zsolt Baumgartner
Minardi Cosworth 8 40.0% 20 (12 finished)
89
Antonio Giovinazzi
Alfa Romeo Racing 7 11.3% 62 (55 finished)
90
Felipe Nasr
Sauber Ferrari 7 17.5% 40 (33 finished)
91
Oscar Piastri
McLaren 7 9.6% 73 (66 finished)
92
Sakon Yamamoto
HRT Cosworth 7 33.3% 21 (14 finished)
93
Tiago Monteiro
MF1 Toyota 7 19.4% 36 (29 finished)
94
Alex Yoong
Minardi Asiatech 6 54.5% 11 (5 finished)
95
Gabriel Bortoleto
Audi 6 22.2% 27 (21 finished)
96
Gaston Mazzacane
Minardi Fondmetal 6 35.3% 17 (11 finished)
97
Liam Lawson
Racing Bulls 6 15.8% 38 (32 finished)
98
Patrick Friesacher
Minardi Cosworth 6 54.5% 11 (5 finished)
99
Pedro Diniz
Sauber Petronas 6 37.5% 16 (10 finished)
100
Ralph Firman
Jordan Ford 6 42.9% 14 (8 finished)
101
Mick Schumacher
Haas Ferrari 5 11.6% 43 (38 finished)
102
Nikita Mazepin
Haas Ferrari 5 23.8% 21 (16 finished)
103
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Mercedes 4 14.8% 27 (23 finished)
104
Franck Montagny
Super Aguri Honda 4 57.1% 7 (3 finished)
105
Franco Colapinto
Alpine 4 13.3% 30 (26 finished)
106
Giedo van der Garde
Caterham Renault 4 21.1% 19 (15 finished)
107
Isack Hadjar
Racing Bulls 4 14.8% 27 (23 finished)
108
Karun Chandhok
Lotus Renault 4 36.4% 11 (7 finished)
109
Oliver Bearman
Haas F1 Team 4 13.3% 30 (26 finished)
110
Jerome d Ambrosio
Lotus Renault 3 15.0% 20 (17 finished)
111
Max Chilton
Marussia Ferrari 3 8.6% 35 (32 finished)
112
Rio Haryanto
MRT Mercedes 3 25.0% 12 (9 finished)
113
Robert Doornbos
RBR Ferrari 3 27.3% 11 (8 finished)
114
Sergey Sirotkin
Williams Mercedes 3 14.3% 21 (18 finished)
115
Will Stevens
Marussia Ferrari 3 16.7% 18 (15 finished)
116
Yuji Ide
Super Aguri Honda 3 75.0% 4 (1 finished)
117
Jack Doohan
Alpine F1 Team 2 28.6% 7 (5 finished)
118
Nyck De Vries
Williams Mercedes 2 18.2% 11 (9 finished)
119
Roberto Merhi
Marussia Ferrari 1 7.7% 13 (12 finished)
120
Alexander Rossi
Marussia Ferrari 0 0.0% 5 (5 finished)
121
Arvid Lindblad
Racing Bulls 0 0.0% 3 (3 finished)
122
Jack Aitken
Williams Mercedes 0 0.0% 1 (1 finished)
123
Luca Badoer
Ferrari 0 0.0% 2 (2 finished)
124
Luciano Burti
Jaguar Cosworth 0 0.0% 1 (1 finished)
125
Nicolas Kiesa
Minardi Cosworth 0 0.0% 5 (5 finished)
126
Pietro Fittipaldi
Haas Ferrari 0 0.0% 2 (2 finished)
126 drivers
📅 2000-2026

What Do DNF and DNS Mean in F1?

  • DNF (Did Not Finish): Driver started but failed to finish due to crashes, mechanical failures, or retirements
  • DNS (Did Not Start): Driver did not start the race despite being entered

These metrics are essential for analyzing true performance beyond wins and podiums

Drivers with Most DNFs (2000–2026)

Top 10 Drivers by DNF/DNS Count

RankDriverDNF/DNSRacesDNF Rate
1Fernando Alonso7841318.9%
2Jenson Button7630624.8%
3Jarno Trulli7420935.4%
4Kimi Räikkönen7335120.8%
5Mark Webber6021627.8%
6Romain Grosjean5318129.3%
7Giancarlo Fisichella5217230.2%
8Nico Hülkenberg5225620.3%
9Nick Heidfeld4818326.2%
10Sebastian Vettel4630015.3%

Key Insight: More Races = More DNFs

At first glance, drivers like Fernando Alonso and Kimi Räikkönen appear to have high DNF counts.

But this is mainly because:

  • They have long careers
  • More races = higher total DNFs

DNF Rate (%) is the real metric to judge reliability

Most Reliable Drivers (Lowest DNF Rate)

Among top drivers:

  • Lewis Hamilton – 9.7% DNF rate
  • Max Verstappen – 14.5% DNF rate
  • Sergio Pérez – 14.4% DNF rate

These drivers show exceptional consistency and strong team reliability

Drivers with High DNF Rates

Some drivers struggled with reliability:

Often due to:

  • Weaker teams
  • Mechanical failures
  • Shorter or unstable careers

Era-Based Reliability Trends

Early 2000s (2000–2005)

  • High DNF rates
  • Frequent mechanical failures
  • Less reliable engines

Mid Era (2006–2013)

  • Gradual improvement
  • Better engineering
  • Fewer race retirements

Hybrid Era (2014–2020)

  • Major reliability improvement
  • Fewer DNFs
  • Teams like Mercedes dominated consistency

Modern Era (2021–2026)

  • Reliability at its peak
  • Most DNFs now caused by:
    • Collisions
    • Strategy decisions
    • Racing incidents

Driver Comparison: Reliability vs Longevity

DriverRacesDNF RateInsight
Alonso41318.9%Long career, strong consistency
Hamilton3829.7%Elite reliability
Verstappen23514.5%Modern consistency
Vettel30015.3%Balanced performance

What Causes DNFs in Formula 1?

1. Mechanical Failures

  • Engine issues
  • Gearbox problems

2. Race Incidents

  • Crashes
  • Contact with other drivers

3. Strategy Decisions

  • Retirements to save engine parts

4. Weather Conditions

  • Wet races increase DNF probability

Key Insights from the Data

  • Modern F1 is far more reliable than early 2000s
  • High DNF counts don’t mean poor performance
  • DNF rate (%) is the best measure of consistency
  • Top drivers combine:
    • Low DNF rate
    • High race count

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a DNF in Formula 1?

A DNF means the driver started the race but did not finish.

What is DNS in Formula 1?

DNS means the driver did not start the race.

Which driver has the most DNFs?

Fernando Alonso has one of the highest counts due to his long career.

Which driver is most reliable?

Lewis Hamilton has one of the lowest DNF rates among top drivers.

Has F1 reliability improved over time?

Yes, modern Formula 1 cars are significantly more reliable than earlier eras.

Summary

This comprehensive Formula 1 statistics breakdown analyzes DNF (Did Not Finish) and DNS (Did Not Start) figures across the history of the sport, helping fans understand how often retirement and non-starts occur and what they reveal about driver consistency, team reliability, and era-by-era performance. In Formula 1 race result sheets, DNF indicates a driver who started but failed to finish the race, often due to collisions, mechanical issues, or strategic retirements, while DNS shows a driver who did not take the race start despite qualifying or being entered — usually because of pre-race technical problems or accidents. DNF and DNS trends highlight how modern F1 reliability has dramatically improved compared to earlier decades, with most retirements now stemming from on-track incidents rather than mechanical breakdowns. These statistics also show which drivers and teams have the most finishes and which have struggled historically with retirements, giving deeper context beyond podiums and wins.

F1 Stats Last Updated: March 29, 2026 | All statistics, lap times, and driver comparisons on this page reflect the most current data available from the official F1 sources. And updated till the last race which happened in 29th March 2026