F1 has slowly grown to become one of the most popular sports around the world, with its growth in recent years unprecedented. This means that the main protagonists within the sport, the drivers, have also gained massive popularity in recent times, considering their following on social media. Today, let’s discover who the most popular F1 drivers are based on their Instagram following.
From 2026 onwards, there will be a total of 22 drivers on the F1 grid, thanks to the entry of Cadillac as the sport’s newest team. These 22 are supposed to be the best drivers in the world, competing at the highest level in motorsport.
Here are all 22 F1 drivers on the 2026 grid ranked based on popularity (Instagram followers):
All 22 F1 2026 Drivers Ranked on Popularity
#1 Lewis Hamilton: 42.2 Million followers
It comes as no surprise that Lewis Hamilton takes the number one spot on this list with a whopping 42.2 million Instagram followers. The 7x F1 world champion is perhaps the only driver on this list who was considered a global superstar even before the sport’s boom post 2020. For context, Hamilton’s total number of followers is more than the population of Canada.
#2 Charles Leclerc: 22.2 Million followers
Charles Leclerc is second on the list with 22.2 million Instagram followers. The Monegasque has garnered a huge fan following since making his F1 debut in 2018. Driving for Ferrari also comes with special perks, one of them being popularity.
#3 Max Verstappen: 17.9 Million followers
Max Verstappen is third on the list with 17.9 million followers on Instagram. The Dutchman has been the most dominant driver in F1 for the past five years and has almost become the sport’s face in recent times, thanks to his four world championships in the last five seasons.
#4 Carlos Sainz: 12.4 Million followers
Carlos Sainz takes fourth place on this list with 12.4 million Instagram followers. The Williams driver is one of the more popular drivers on the grid, especially thanks to his loyal Spanish fanbase.
#5 Lando Norris: 11.6 Million followers
The reigning F1 world champion, Lando Norris, is only fifth on this list with 11.6 million followers on Instagram. The McLaren driver’s popularity is likely to only go up from here, taking into account the perks of being the world champion.
#6 Sergio Perez: 8.3 Million followers
Returning to the grid with Cadillac, Sergio Perez is sixth in the list with 8.3 million Instagram followers. The Mexican is one of the most popular figures back home and also has a huge fanbase across the Americas.
#7 George Russell: 8.2 Million followers
George Russell is seventh on the list with 8.2 million Instagram followers. The Briton is a 5x F1 race winner with Mercedes.
#8 Fernando Alonso: 7.9 Million followers
Fernando Alonso is eighth on the list with 7.9 million Instagram followers. The 2x world champion was one of the most popular names on the grid in the 2000s and definitely would have had a much larger following if social media were around back then.
#9 Oscar Piastri: 6.1 Million followers
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri is ninth on the list with 6.1 million accounts following the Aussie on Instagram.
#10 Pierre Gasly: 6 Million followers
As is his racing number, Pierre Gasly is #10 on this list with 6 million followers on Instagram.
#11 Valtteri Bottas: 5.5 Million followers
Also making a comeback to the F1 grid with Cadillac in 2026, Valtteri Bottas sits at 11th in this list with 5.5 million Instagram followers.
#12 Franco Colapinto: 5.3 Million followers
Franco Colapinto has garnered 5.3 million followers on Instagram without having even finished a full season in F1 yet. This is mainly thanks to his large fanbase back at home in Argentina.
#13 Kimi Antonelli: 4.6 Million followers
Having made his F1 debut in 2025, Kimi Antonelli already has 4.6 million Instagram followers.
#14 Alex Albon: 4.1 Million followers
Williams’ Alex Albon is 14th on the list with 4.1 million Instagram followers for the Thai driver.
#15 Ollie Bearman: 3.5 Million followers
Ollie Bearman has 3.5 million followers on Instagram, putting him 15th on this list.
#16 Nico Hulkenberg: 2.9 Million followers
One of the oldest drivers on the grid, Nico Hulkenberg, has 2.9 million Instagram followers.
#17 Esteban Ocon: 2.9 Million followers
Frenchman Esteban Ocon also has 2.9 million followers on Instagram at the time of writing.
#18 Gabriel Bortoleto: 2.2 Million followers
The 2024 F2 champion, Gabriel Bortoleto, is 18th on this list with 2.2 million Instagram followers. The Brazilian driver drove for Sauber in 2025 and is continuing at the team this year with the rebranded Audi name.
#19 Isack Hadjar: 1.7 Million followers
French-Algerian driver Isack Hadjar sits last of the 2025 rookies on this list with 1.7 million Instagram followers. He will now be driving for Red Bull in 2026 alongside Max Verstappen.
#20 Lance Stroll: 1.7 Million followers
Lance Stroll comes in at number 20 on this list with 1.8 million followers on Instagram. The Aston Martin man is now one of the more senior members of the F1 grid, having competed in 189 Grands Prix since making his debut in 2017.
#21 Liam Lawson: 1.3 Million followers
Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson is 21st on the list with 1.3 million Instagram followers. The Kiwi driver made his F1 debut in 2023 with RB, and then had a full debut in 2025 with Red Bull, before being demoted down to the sister team after just two races last year.
#22 Arvid Lindblad: 612K followers
Finally, the newest addition to the F1 grid, Arvid Lindblad, is the last entry on this list with 612,000+ followers on Instagram. The British driver has not even made his debut in the sport yet, and his popularity will surely grow after he does so with Racing Bulls at the Australian Grand Prix.
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