100th Grands Prix

**rjbetty** · 29th Jul 12, 15:21

Has anyone noticed that most of the time, drivers' 100th GPs tend to be either distinctly mediocre, but even more often a downright disaster?

Here are some examples:

1.Lewis Hamilton (German GP 2012) - picks up puncture, runs at back and eventually retires, when judging by his team-mate he could have won.

2.Heikki Kovalainen (German GP 2012) - Runs behind Petrov in the race, before ignominously retiring (or in the process of doing) at the end of the race, just like Hamilton.

3.Ralf Schumacher (Japanese GP 2002) - A particularly undistinctive and non-podium-threatening race for Ralf ends with a retirement for his BMW Williams...

4.Giancarlo Fisichella (European GP 2002) - A particularly horrible one. Qualifies his Jordan nowhere 18th at the Nurburgring, massively behind rookie team-mate Sato, then ploughs into him at turn 1, ending both races. He seemed distinctly out of sorts all weekend.

I'm gonna look up some more - Please feel free to add, people!

**steveaki13** · 29th Jul 12, 15:32

Good spot. Would be interested to hear some more and also who if anyone had a really decent race.

**rjbetty** · 29th Jul 12, 15:37

Yeah, I've recently wondered if it's something to do with drivers being distracted by the fuss over that race being a landmark. Jenson's 200th race at Hungary last year was brilliant though.

5&6 IIRC Eddie Irvine and Heinz-Harald Frentzen both shared their 100th GP at San Marino 2000. Irvine's race went wrong in the pit lane and he just missed out on possible points in 7th. Frentzen retired with gearbox issues from 6th...

7.Off the top of my head I think Michael's 100th GP must have been the Luxembourg (Nurburgring) GP 1997. He was taken out by Ralf, and that meant no title for him.

8.Kimi Raikkonen - Hungarian GP 2006. Looking good for at least 2nd in the wet having started on pole, but crashed into the back of Tonio Liuzzi and he was out.

I MIGHT BE ONE OR TWO RACES OUT, I'M JUST THINKING OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD

**steveaki13** · 29th Jul 12, 15:38

If I have added it up right Schumi's 100th Grand Prix was 1997 Luxembourg GP and he retired on Lap 3 with suspension failure.

Edit: Sorry just saw you posted this.

**rjbetty** · 29th Jul 12, 15:43

Bearing in mind that 100th GPs tend to be disasters - Interestingly, If I've done my sums right, Sebastian Vettel will encounter HIS 100th GP this year - at the SEASON FINALE in Brazil!!

**F1boat** · 29th Jul 12, 15:44

Originally Posted by rjbetty

Bearing in mind that 100th GPs tend to be disasters - Interestingly, If I've done my sums right, Sebastian Vettel will encounter HIS 100th GP this year - at the SEASON FINALE in Brazil!!

Maybe he will be a combo breaker.

**rjbetty** · 29th Jul 12, 15:45

Originally Posted by aki13

If I have added it up right Schumi's 100th Grand Prix was 1997 Luxembourg GP and he retired on Lap 3 with suspension failure.

Edit: Sorry just saw you posted this.

Aw good, so I got it right. I'm happy.

Strangely I noticed this pattern around 2001-2002, and so predicted that my favourite driver Fisichella would have a nightmare when Nurb came round in 02. And sure enough it went as described above. He seemed totally out of it all weekend...

**steveaki13** · 29th Jul 12, 15:47

I looked up a random midfield driver rather than atop one and selected Mika Salo.

His 100th GP was I believe Austria 2002 and while Ferrari caused uproar he finished a solid 8th ahead of McNish.

**rjbetty** · 29th Jul 12, 15:49

Ok got a good one! If I've done my sums right, Rubens Barrichello's 100th GP was the San Marino GP 1999. He capitalised on the Stewart's promise (and it was totally reliable this time) to take a podium in 3rd!

But I wonder if I was 1 race out either side. Brazil 1999 - retired while leading! Monaco - spun out of 4th towards the end.

I'm now going to look up Jean Alesi, but then most of his Grands Prix were disasters!

**rjbetty** · 29th Jul 12, 15:54

Ok, if you don't count Ayrton Senna's DNQ at Imola 1984 as being a GP, his 100th GP is Mexico 1990, where he retired near the end to see Prost and Mansell take a 1-2 for Ferrari.

Jarno Trulli's was either an 8th, a rubbish 13th when Alonso came 6th, or a DNF (Brazil-Spain 2003) depending if 2 DNS (Did Not Starts) count.

Nico Rosberg was 9th at Hungary 2011.

These days it seems to be more mediocrity than disaster, cos of the way F1 is now.

Oh ok DC came 2nd at Austria 2000 behind Hakkinen.

Also for Mark Webber, if the Spanish GP 2002 (Minardi pulled out after Quali due to safety issues) and USA 2005 (we know what happened there) don't count as GP's for Webber - his 100th race was Nurburgring 2007 - where he came 3rd! Otherwise it's Turkey where he retired...

**N4D13** · 29th Jul 12, 16:24

I think Alonso's 100th GP was the 2007 Turkish GP. He came in 3rd, behind both Ferraris. It wasn't a great race from him, and I remember he was stuck behind Heidfeld at the start, but he managed to end in front of Hamilton because Lewis had a puncture.

**rjbetty** · 29th Jul 12, 19:34

Aha Gracias N4D13,

Jenson Button: Brazil 2005 (7th behind McLarens, Renaults and Ferraris as Alonso won title) if you include Monaco 2003 (absent after crash in quali) and USA 2005. If those 2 don't count as GP's, it's China 2005 where he came 8th after losing out during the safety car.

Felipe Massa - Either Belgian GP 2008, which he WON after Hamilton was disqualified!

Nick Heidfeld: One of the first 3 races of 2006 (does being Excluded in Nurburgring 2000 Qual count as a GP?) Also, USA 2005, even Italy 2005 where he did participate to an extent. It's probably Bahrain where he collided with Rosberg, before being overtaken by Nico on the way to 12th.

**Mia 01** · 29th Jul 12, 20:40

Hamilton is a spoilt brat, and thats´it.

No Senna !!!!

**steveaki13** · 29th Jul 12, 21:23

Originally Posted by Mia 01

Hamilton is a spoilt brat, and thats´it.

No Senna !!!!

Erm why here.

**Zico** · 29th Jul 12, 21:29

Originally Posted by Mia 01

Hamilton is a spoilt brat, and thats´it.

No Senna !!!!

Kimi wishes he was as quick as Lewis...

**steveaki13** · 29th Jul 12, 21:31

Pedro De La Rosa has 95 starts and 97 GP events so should start his 100th GP soon. I dont think that will be a glory race unfortunately

**N4D13** · 29th Jul 12, 21:41

I'm sorry, but I counted the 2005 US GP as a race when deciding which was Alonso's 100th GP. Actually, it was the 2007 Italian GP, in which he scored a hat-trick. It's the best 100th we've found so far, isn't it?

Edit: out of curiosity, I've looked into Barrichello's 100th GP and it seems to have been the 1999 Monaco GP. He retired in that race, although he did it after 71 laps and so it counts as if he ended it in ninth place.

**jens** · 29th Jul 12, 22:18

Originally Posted by rjbetty

Felipe Massa - Either Belgian GP 2008, which he WON after Hamilton was disqualified!

So is he the only driver ever to win in his 100th GP? Because many years ago I heard a statistic that no-one has won in his 100th GP and that's why it was considered a bad omen.

**steveaki13** · 29th Jul 12, 22:55

I make Jacques Villeneuve 100th GP the 2002 Australian GP, where a mass crash wiped out 10 odd cars and then Villeneuve had all sorts of issues and was laps down before flying off with a rear wing failure. Again that is subject to my maths being correct.

Olivier Panis at the European GP 2001 was the second retirement of a low key race.

Alain Prosts 100th event was British GP 1986 and he finished 3rd. Take into account a DNS and 2 Disqualifications and he then won his 100th race in Austria 1986.