F1 Records Unlikely To Be Broken

**journeyman racer** · 23rd April 2014, 00:33

If the time comes where someone wins a championship with one or zero wins, I wonder how it'll be received? I suppose it may depend on what car/team he drives for. If Rosberg won it this year for instance, I don't think he'd get as much applause/credibility for it, as a champ would in most cases. But when we look at Raikkonnen at Lotus the last couple of years, I think he would've got tremendous praise.

Even Kubica too in 08. I don't think he would've been diminished had he won.

Originally Posted by steveaki13

Good one.

I cant see anyone only winning 1 race in a championship winning season.

Thanks

**D28** · 23rd April 2014, 03:09

Originally Posted by steveaki13

Good one.

I cant see anyone only winning 1 race in a championship winning season.

The current point system rewards 2nd proportionally similarly to 1958 and 82, but 58 had points for FL.
Conceivably it could happen again, with a year similar to 1982. However the real kicker is the double points on tap for the last race. Someone could keep in play with a run of podiums and win the title on the last race. Wonder how that would go down.

**inimitablestoo** · 23rd April 2014, 08:33

That's another one that looked difficult to beat - 1982's 11 winners. Then we had eight winners at the start of 2012 and maybe that looked entirely beatable...

Especially with so many races now.

**journeyman racer** · 23rd April 2014, 14:48

What about John Watson's deepest starting spot to win a race? 22nd if you didn't know.

**pcal226** · 24th April 2014, 01:31

Originally Posted by journeyman racer

What about John Watson's deepest starting spot to win a race? 22nd if you didn't know.

I think that will be done. Vettel came from 23rd to 3rd at Abu Dhabi in 2012. Imagine if one of the Mercs got a grid penalty or something and had to start at the back this year. The way they've been dominating one of them could do it. I think what makes Watson's extra difficult is that he did it on a street circuit at Long Beach. That can't be easy.

**inimitablestoo** · 24th April 2014, 09:06

Well it can only be equalled this year! Unless they start adding more cars for some reason. But yes, it could be done - see Raikkonen's last-to-first drive at Suzuka in 2005 (he started somewhere near the back but, since there were only 20 cars that season, the record wasn't under any threat).

**jens** · 24th April 2014, 09:20

In 2003 Räikkönen was only 2 points shy of a WDC with a single win. I do think a championship in such circumstances is a possibility though the likeliness is pretty small.

In Hawthorn's case there were much fewer races in a season, so to put it into perspective with current almost 20 races, his wins have to be multiplied by 2 or 2.5.

Rosberg is a good case though and as mentioned, 1982 has another record - 11 winners. It was a very unique and messy season and to be honest, unlikely to be repeated. In some seasons we have got close to it (like 2008 or 2012), but I don't think current level and structure of competition enables us to see 5-7 almost evenly matched teams, who keep taking wins and points off each other all season. But that would be the only possibility, how we could possibly see a new record for the closeness of a season.

**journeyman racer** · 24th April 2014, 12:28

Originally Posted by pcal226

I think that will be done.

The more I think about it, with safety car situations and variable conditions, it could be knocked off.

Originally Posted by pcal226

I think what makes Watson's extra difficult is that he did it on a street circuit at Long Beach. That can't be easy.

There's a wider, variable gap in performance between qualifying and racing, in those days. I've watched the 83 USGP on YT. It seemed quite processional. Watson was up the front by 1/3 distance. Had the lead by 2/3, and just cruised to an easy win. As if he started on the front row.

Originally Posted by inimitablestoo

Well it can only be equalled this year!

Maybe. But I think, regardless of the size of the field, starting from pit lane would top it?.

Originally Posted by jens

In 2003 Räikkönen was only 2 points shy of a WDC with a single win.

Raikkonnen would've had to have won the last race to make it 2 wins?

**journeyman racer** · 24th April 2014, 12:46

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? Nicky Hayden has, embarrassingly imo, equalled that in motogp.

Originally Posted by jens

In Hawthorn's case there were much fewer races in a season, so to put it into perspective with current almost 20 races, his wins have to be multiplied by 2 or 2.5.

Yep, that's a good point.

How about Stirling Moss's record for most wins without a title? It'd be pretty hard, even with the increasing amount of races. Coulthard couldn't break it, and he was in a prime position to do it. Going by jens's logic, Moss's record would be the equivalent of 40+ wins without knocking off a title!

edit: Come to think of it. I can now recall many races (at Williams and early McLaren years) was denied by mechanical, circumstantial, or other non-driving errors. If you gave him every race where he was in a strong, leading position, he'd easily have had 20+ wins!