A World Champion with no wins?

[FB]

A question for those more statistically minded than me, does the new points system lend itself to a great possibility of a WDC without a single win in 2010? Massa is sitting in 2nd place in the drivers table only 4 points behind Alonso - could we be on for our first World Champion without a single race win in a season?

 

[genji]

A question for those more statistically minded than me, does the new points system lend itself to a great possibility of a WDC without a single win in 2010? Massa is sitting in 2nd place in the drivers table only 4 points behind Alonso - could we be on for our first World Champion without a single race win in a season?

I would say less so than the 10-8-6 system because a second place finish gives more away to the winner. Not as much as the 10-6-4 system, but no - I would think it's harder to win the WDC without any victories than it was last year.

 

[Brogan]

It's entirely possible but improbable I would have thought.

There are 17 races left so let's assume Massa finishes 2nd or 3rd in all of them, equally split.
That would give Massa a total of 315 points.

If Vettel and Alonso trade wins and 2nd/3rd places then that will still put them on 347 and 406 points respectively.
It would need at least another driver, possibly 2 to take wins so the 25 points are spread around more.

Even if Massa finishes 2nd in all of them his points total will still only be 339 which will still be lower than 347 & 382.

This would work:

Race	Massa	Alonso	Vettel	Button

1	18	25	12	6

2	15	12	0	25

3	18	12	15	25

4	18	12	15	25

5	18	12	15	25

6	18	12	15	25

7	18	12	15	25

8	18	12	15	25

9	18	15	25	12

10	18	15	25	12

11	18	15	25	12

12	18	15	25	12

13	18	15	25	12

14	18	25	12	15

15	18	25	12	15

16	18	25	12	15

17	18	25	12	15

18	18	25	12	15

19	18	25	12	15

Total	339	334	299	331

 

[Boyle]

With so many top drivers in competitive cars who will share the wins around then it is certainly possible.

However, I can't see it happening with Massa as he will definitely win a race this year - Turkey, Valencia, Singapore, Interlagos and Abu Dhabi being his best bets. He seems to have a knack at racing backwards...

 

[snowy]

Can you imagine the rumpus that would ensue if it actually happened!? You thought the reaction to Bahrain was bad, wait to you hear the howls of derision... ... if anyone other than Felipe won this way.

I think Felipe could actually get away with it, anyone else and it would be a media bloodbath.

 

[Muddytalker]

I don't think many people think less of Keke Rosberg for winning the title in '82, and he didn't get his sole win until the 14th round of the season. Even then, he only took the lead from Alain Prost on the last lap or so - Had he been 2nd, he would still have won the title.
Whilst there were some extenuating circumstances that year (Villeneuve [RIP] and Pironi's accidents, and FISA/FOCA war meaning only a few cars raced at Imola), it's not unreasonable to think that the 19 races this year could be spread out thinly across the top 7 or 8 drivers, with a dark horse thrown in also.
If anyone is going to win without winning a race, I'm looking at the young floppy-haired German in car number 4. What's his name again?

 

[Andrea_Moda_Rules]

Didn't Keke Rosberg almost do it in 1982 by winning the Championship with one win?

Well in that case then there is a chance if still a highly unlikely one. As somebody said above it needs wins to be spread around, Like in 1982, It needs unreliability or inconsistency from the other contenders, like 1982, And the concerning driver would need consistency and to be always there or thereabout, like 1982.

Its an unusual set of circumstances, nut not totally unprecedented.

with the way things have worked out it could be the best chance of this happening since 1982.

 

[teabagyokel]

It would need a 1982-like scenario. I just don't see anyone actually podiuming for most of the season and not breaking the glass ceiling, Heidfeld-like! Its unlikely, lets not worry about it only 2 races in!