F1 Champion Without Race Victory?

[greencroft]

Has the title ever been won by someone who does not win a single race?

An unlikely secnario I know but if the other Big 3 continue to mop up the wins and Lewis carries on packing in the podium finishes, then it is a possibility is it?

[Valve Bounce]

Has the title ever been won by someone who does not win a single race?

An unlikely secnario I know but if the other Big 3 continue to mop up the wins and Lewis carries on packing in the podium finishes, then it is a possibility is it?

There have been occasions where the WDC winner has only won 1 race.

I do know that Stirling Moss won more than 1 race in seasons that he didn't win the championship. But I think there are few who would begrudge him the accolade of being one of the finest racing drivers in history.

[ShiftingGears]

Nahh, Hawthorn only won one race in '58 and Keke Rosberg in '82 and were both world champions. Raikkonen came close in 03 as well with only one win. It is a possibility, but I very much doubt it.

[raphael123]

If it's going to happen, its more likely to happen now than at any other time, due to the new point system rewarding consistency rather than being the best.

[ojciec dyrektor]

with current point system its possible more then before

[jens]

I guess that sooner or later Lewis will also score his race wins.

[Dave B]

Equally, they'll almost certainly be a race soon where Lewis screws up.

[Valve Bounce]

With the large number of races these days, I find it difficult to believe that a driver capable of scoring enough oints to win the championship in around 20 or so races isn't lucky enough to win a single race.

[Periapt]

If it's going to happen, its more likely to happen now than at any other time, due to the new point system rewarding consistency rather than being the best.

"The Best" is a slippery concept and, in this case, it is highly dependent upon the relative value of victories vs. consistent podium finishes.

Assume that each race had a different winner and one driver was second in all 17 races. He would have beaten each of those winners 16 times while losing to them only once. He would clearly have amassed the greatest point total and by that measure would be the best driver.

Conversely, assume that only victories counted. It would then be possible for a driver to win 2 races and DNF 15 by crashing while another won a single race and finished on the podium in all 17 races. The two-race-winner would, by the scoring criteria, be the better.

And what of pole positions and fastest laps? Should they count towards the WDC? It seems reasonable to me that they should, but not enough to allow the second place finisher to outscore the victor of the race.


I agree that the current point system undervalues wins and should be changed. The trick is to find a scoring system that most people will accept as "fair".

Periapt

[Daika]

little bit offtopic: Is Maurice Hamilton father of Lewis or family related? because i notice that he gives commentary for the BBC. Little bit odd if he is, providing commentary on his own son, not very objective.