F1 Records Unlikely To Be Broken

[D28]

There is one stat that won't be broken, pending another change in the rules - smallest or largest numbers to have won a Grand Prix. Since 0 isn't one of the numbers the drivers can choose from, that can't even be equalled, while for reasons known only to them the German Grand Prix organisers insisted that entries for the 1952 race were given three-figure numbers. Thus Alberto Ascari's 101 - despite being the smallest number in the field - will remain the largest ever to have won a race.

But not the largest to have been fielded, of course, since that remains Lella Lombardi's #208 Brabham (a tie-up with Radio Luxembourg and its 208 MW frequency, terms which may have to be explained to younger readers )

Damon Hill used the 0 number in 1993-94 as neither Prost nor Senna wanted it. Williams team were the reigning WC but the driver had retired. Did F1 make a ruling that 0 would never be used again? If so what is their solution?

[D-Type]

Being pedantic, the 1952 German GP was not a F1 race as the Championship GPs that year were run for F2 cars.

[inimitablestoo]

Did F1 make a ruling that 0 would never be used again? If so what is their solution?

When the system changed this year to "think of a number" the range given was 1 to 99. Until then, had the World Champion not taken part, presumably the number 0 would have been used again - although this was a Max-era rule and it may have had something to do with a spat with Williams, so maybe not

[D28]

When the system changed this year to "think of a number" the range given was 1 to 99. Until then, had the World Champion not taken part, presumably the number 0 would have been used again - although this was a Max-era rule and it may have had something to do with a spat with Williams, so maybe not

It wasn't just a spat, the number 1 is a symbolic nod to the current World Champion; if he retires after winning, it is inappropriate to assign another to use it. Customarily the WC drivers team received numbers 1 and 2 next season, hence the rule to use 0 and 2. With Williams it happened 2 years in a row with Mansell and Prost retiring (temporarily for Mansell) It is quite likely to come up again, numbers 2 and 3 could be used, but I'm wondering does F1 have a solid plan.

[inimitablestoo]

I would point out that the 1974 F1 season did see the number 1 awarded to the reigning constructors' champion (Lotus) rather than driver (Jackie Stewart having retired). So there was a precedent there which Max decided not to follow...

[D28]

I would point out that the 1974 F1 season did see the number 1 awarded to the reigning constructors' champion (Lotus) rather than driver (Jackie Stewart having retired). So there was a precedent there which Max decided not to follow...

I see what you mean, Ronnie Peterson actually wearing number 1 in 1974. However, 1973 was one of the odd seasons where the driver and constructors titles were split to different teams. Williams won both titles in 92 and 93, so it would have been hard to award number 1 to another team. Again the symbolic importance of number 1 comes up.
I guess giving Williams numbers 2 and 3 would have been a solution.

[Ex-Jagboy]

There was a tragic coincidence at Silverstone in 1958, concerning the number 1, when at the Daily Express meeting in May, Archie Scott Brown drove his Lister Jag car No 1 into second place in the unlimited sports car race, only to lose his life in the very next race at Spa the following weekend, and later in July, Peter Collins won the British GP in his Ferrari ,car No 1, only to lose his life in his next race at Nurburgring a fortnight later,

[zako85]

Most Monaco GP wins: Senna (six).

Sadly, this is Senna's only record of significance that still stands. Schumacher came close to tying, but couldn't get the sixth win.

[D28]

Most Monaco GP wins: Senna (six).

Sadly, this is Senna's only record of significance that still stands. Schumacher came close to tying, but couldn't get the sixth win.

A fair assessment. Senna'a impressive record of poles was finally surpassed by Schumacher 68 to 65; he does retain some records for consecutive poles.
The 6 Monaco wins include 5 in a row, a record for consecutive wins. Virtually all F1 records favour the current or recent field of drivers, Schumacher had 90% more races than Senna for example, at 308 he is second only to Barricello.

[BDunnell]

Alright, I'll take this low amount of winning even further. Phil Hill has the record for the least amount of wins in a career for a champion, with 3. Is anyone going to "beat" that?

When viewed against the much smaller number of championship GPs held when Hill won the title, the statistic looks much less unimpressive.

Mention of Hill reminds me of another fact (if not a 'record' in any sense) that one hopes will never be repeated: that whenever a driver from the US has won the title, their team-mate has died in, or as a result of, an accident in the race in which the title was achieved.