Much of the credit goes to Fernando Alonso, who with 428 races (425 starts) is not only the most experienced driver on the current grid, but also the driver with the highest number of Grands Prix contested in the history of Formula 1.

Second on the list is Ferrari, who once again lean heavily on experience, led by veteran Lewis Hamilton with 380 career starts, alongside Charles Leclerc’s 171 Grands Prix — a tally that has firmly established him as one of the most seasoned drivers on the grid.

Rounding out the podium of this special ranking is Cadillac, who for their Formula 1 debut have opted for a hugely experienced pairing in Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez, boasting 246 and 281 Grands Prix respectively.

By contrast, the gap to Racing Bulls is striking. With rookie Arvid Lindblad in the line-up, the team can rely solely on the experience of Liam Lawson, who will be heading into just his second full season in Formula 1 next year, having contested only 35 Grands Prix so far.

The total number of combined Grands Prix drops sharply for Red Bull following the swap between Isack Hadjar — who has just completed his first full season in Formula 1 — and the far more experienced Yuki Tsunoda, who finds himself without a race seat for the first time since 2021.

The Finn, like his team-mate, is now on the brink of a return to the grid, with his Cadillac debut just around the corner — less than a month away in Barcelona.

Over the course of last year, Valtteri Bottas reinvented himself as something of a comedic figure behind the scenes, featuring heavily in Mercedes’ social media content while also carrying out his duties as reserve driver — and he did not miss the chance to make an appearance as the new year rolled around.