Fastest F1 Cars Ever: Top 5 Models Ranked by Speed

Editor: Arshita Tiwarion Jul 18,2025

Formula 1 isn’t just a battle of drivers. It’s a war of engineering, where every detail — from airflow to tire pressure — decides who rules the track. But beyond all the championship talk, there’s one question that lives rent-free in every F1 fan’s head: What was the fastest F1 car ever?

Let’s break it down. Not the “most successful.” Not the one with the best win rate. We’re talking raw speed — the kind that pushes the limits of physics.

Top 5 Fastest F1 Cars in History

From official top speeds during race weekends to stripped-down monsters built just to smash records, these are the fastest F1 cars ever to exist.

1. Honda RA106 (Modified BAR-Honda 007) – The Absolute Speed Demon

Let’s start with a car that didn’t care about podiums — it just wanted to go fast.

Back in 2006, Honda took their RA106, slapped on aero tweaks, stripped off the downforce, and let it loose on the Bonneville Salt Flats. What came out of it? A top speed of 397.36 km/h (246.9 mph) — officially. Unofficially? Reports say it touched 413 km/h (257 mph).

Now before anyone screams “but that wasn’t in a Grand Prix,” sure — it wasn’t. But if you're asking what was the fastest F1 car in terms of sheer top-end speed, this is it. No car before or after has cracked those numbers — not even close.

It didn’t race. It didn’t need to. It rewrote what was possible for F1 power units and aerodynamics. If we’re talking about the fastest F1 car ever, this beast earns its crown on velocity alone.

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2. Williams FW38 – Fastest in a Real Race Weekend

Let’s get into the fastest F1 car top speed ever recorded during an actual Formula 1 event. That title belongs to the Williams FW38 from 2016.

Driven by Valtteri Bottas at the Baku City Circuit, the FW38 hit a mind-blowing 378 km/h (234.9 mph) during qualifying. That’s not a test run or a simulation — that’s the real thing, full engine mode, DRS open, no tricks.

Later that year in Mexico, the same car clocked 372.5 km/h (231.4 mph) during the race. That’s still the fastest F1 car top speed ever recorded under race conditions.

In a world where speed is often sacrificed for downforce, the FW38 proved you could still build a car that flies down the straights — and doesn’t explode while doing it.

3. Red Bull RB19 / RB18 – The Silent Killers

Now let’s talk about modern domination. The Red Bull RB18 (2022) and RB19 (2023) didn’t just win races — they bullied the entire grid.

While they didn’t officially hit top-speed records, both cars reportedly touched 372+ km/h at circuits like Monza and Baku. But what made them terrifying wasn’t the straight-line pace — it was how casually they combined it with cornering speed, tire life, and pit-stop efficiency.

Max Verstappen won 15 races in the RB18. Then came the RB19 — the car that turned domination into routine. With 19 wins in a 22-race season, it didn’t just show up. It dismantled everyone.

If we’re talking fastest F1 cars in terms of race-day destruction and lap-time consistency, the RB19 might just be the most complete machine ever built.

So, what was the fastest F1 car across an entire championship? This one. No flashy salt-flat numbers. Just cold, calculated annihilation every Sunday.

4. Mercedes-AMG W11 (2020) – Lap Time King

This one’s a legend. The Mercedes W11 EQ Performance was built for one thing — domination. And it did just that across 2020.

While it didn’t hit the top speed of a Williams or Honda on paper, the W11 made history with lap-time records at multiple tracks — including Spa, Silverstone, and Monza.

It was also home to the Dual-Axis Steering (DAS) system, an innovation so good the FIA had to ban it the next year.

With 13 wins in 17 races and 15 poles, the W11 didn’t just win — it humiliated its rivals. Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas both looked unstoppable in it.

You want the fastest F1 car ever in terms of consistent lap-time performance? W11’s got the receipts.

5. Ferrari F2002 / F2004 – The Schumacher Era Rockets

Let’s go back to when Ferrari ruled the world — and Michael Schumacher was untouchable.

The Ferrari F2002, often called one of the most efficient and blisteringly quick cars ever, won 15 of 17 races in 2002. It was light, agile, and had just the right amount of raw power to scare everyone else on the grid.

Then came the F2004. If the F2002 was a masterpiece, this was the remastered version. With more than 200 mph on long straights and domination in both qualifying and race pace, the F2004 remains a fan-favorite and a technical marvel.

Both cars are ranked by Motor Sport Magazine as among the fastest F1 cars ever, considering not just top speed but overall lap performance, reliability, and results. And Schumacher? He just kept winning.

Quick Look: Top Speed vs Real-World Pace

Breaking Down the Speed Game

It’s easy to assume the fastest F1 car top speed automatically means it’s the best. But in F1, it’s not that simple.

• The Honda RA106 was a missile. But it never raced like that.
• The Williams FW38 hit its speed in the perfect conditions — DRS, slipstream, and Baku’s long straight.
• The RB18 and RB19 weren’t just quick — they were consistent killers.
• The W11 didn’t need the fastest trap speeds. It just set lap records and won everything.
• And the Ferrari F2002/F2004 duo? They were built for complete domination, and they delivered.

So, when someone asks “what was the fastest F1 car”, the real answer is: depends on what you mean by fast. Top speed? Race pace? Qualifying? Lap records? Different beasts win in different categories.

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Final Thoughts: Fast Comes in Many Forms

The obsession with speed in F1 goes way beyond numbers on a screen. It's about how a car handles under pressure, how it carves corners, and how it holds pace for 60 laps straight. The fastest F1 car isn’t just the one that hits 400 km/h. It’s the one that redefines what a race car can do — on any circuit, under any conditions. So whether you’re into the salt-flat thrill of the Honda RA106, the record-breaking run of the Williams FW38, or the complete championship obliteration by Red Bull and Mercedes, one thing’s clear: Speed is never just about numbers. It’s about impact. And these five cars? They made it loud and clear.

This content was created by AI