Ask The Apex

[FB]

Nelson Piquet was the master of taking fewer wins than his rivals but still taking the title. He did it in '83 and '87. In both Alonso's Championship years he ended on the same number of wins as Raikkonen in '05 and Schumacher in '06.

The key to being World Champion is consistency. It's a marathon not a sprint...

 

[KekeTheKing]

My question was specific to inter-team battles though.

And it's seems strange that it happened twice when only 11 of 16 scores counted. Obviously 87 and 89 are very dramatic seasons though with Nigel getting injured at Suzuka and Senna being DQ'd.

Piquet has said himself that 87 should have been a Mansell year.

 

[gethinceri]

No, your question was not, it was intra-team specific.

 

[teabagyokel]

I thought we thought the medals idea was shite.

 

[cider_and_toast]

It is.

 

[cider_and_toast]

One for the statto's. Was the 1980 Dutch GP the last time that three cars from the same team (Lotus) qualified for a race? (Andretti, De Angelis, Mansell).

 

[FB]

No, at the Canadian GP in 1980 Jarier, Daly and Thackwell all qualified for Tyrrell. Unfortunately Thackwell had to give up his car to Jarier after the other two Tyrrells were bent at the first start.

Until Jaime Alguersuari in 2009 Thackwell was the youngest man to qualify for a GP. Think there might have been one or two younger since then.

 

[cider_and_toast]

Couldn't see that for looking.

Cheers FB

 

[marksawatsky]

Any idea why Keke Rosberg stopped doing interviews in 2010? Why doesn't he come to watch Nico race? I saw his recent interview and it doesn't really answer these questions.

 

[cider_and_toast]

FB

I've just discovered we were both wrong regarding 3 car qualification. The last time three cars from the same team qualified for a race was the 1985 German GP.

Renault entered a third car carrying the first on-board camera to be used in a race. Francois Hesnault drove the car alongside Patrick Tambay and Derek Warwick.

Hesnault qualified 23rd meaning that Martini in the single Minardi did not make the cut finishing qualifying in 27th.

Hesnault's race lasted 8 laps before the clutch failed.

You learn something new everyday.

 

[FB]

I'm sure this has been asked before but I'm going to ask it again, which circuit has seen the most first time winners?

 

[Incubus]

I don't know but in terms of percentage Montreal must be right up there. Gilles Villeneuve, Boutsen, Alesi, Hamilton, Kubica, Ricciardo have all won their first there.

 

[Galahad]

If we ignore Indianapolis in the 1950-60 Indy 500 guise, which we always should, then this is the list:

1. Monte Carlo 9 (63 events held)
Fangio 1950
Trintignant 1955
Jack Brabham 1959
Hulme 1967
Beltoise 1972
Depailler 1978
Patrese 1982
Panis 1996
Trulli 2004

2. Monza 7 (66)
Phil Hill 1960
Stewart 1965
Scarfiotti 1966
Regazzoni 1970
Gethin 1971
Montoya 2001
Vettel 2008

3. Montreal 6 (37)
Gilles Villeneuve 1978
Boutsen 1989
Alesi 1995
Hamilton 2007
Kubica 2008
Ricciardo 2014

4. Osterreichring 4 (18)
Watkins Glen 4 (20)
Zandvoort 4 (30)
Hungaroring 4 (31)
Nurburgring 4 (40)
Silverstone 4 (50)

10. Dijon 3 (6)
Reims 3 (11)
Kyalami 3 (20)
Interlagos 3 (34)
Spa 3 (49)

15. Aintree 2 (5)
Rouen 2 (5)
Anderstorp 2 (6)
Zolder 2 (10)
Estoril 2 (13)
Brands Hatch 2 (14)
Mexico City 2 (17)
Catalunya 2 (26)
Imola 2 (27)
Hockenheim 2 (35)

There are two circuits which have seen debut victors in their only world championship event: Sebring (1959 US Grand Prix, Bruce McLaren's first victory) and Zeltweg (1964 Austrian Grand Prix, the sole win for Lorenzo Bandini).

Magny-Cours never saw a debut winner in 18 events. Of current circuits, Bahrain is on 12; Marina Bay 8 and Yas Marina, 7.

Catalunya saw a first debut victor at the 22nd time of asking: Pastor Maldonado in 2012.

 

[FB]

I'm surprised and not at Monaco coming top of the list. It's the oldest circuit on the calendar so it's more likely to have more first time winners and there is often a high attrition rate meaning those usually at the front might not win. Anyway, thanks Galahad

 

[Incubus]

It would be interesting to include pre- and non-championship Grand Prix to that list but that would take bloody ages to research.

<cheeky comment alert> Wouldn't it Galahad ?

 

[Galahad]

It would be interesting to include pre- and non-championship Grand Prix to that list but that would take bloody ages to research.

<cheeky comment alert> Wouldn't it Galahad ?

Yep. Not going to happen.

 

[Bill Boddy]

Where's the disappointed button?

 

[teabagyokel]

Bill Boddy - He's just retired.

 

[Wombcat]

For a second I thought that Bill Boddy meant a button with which you could express disappointment about a post.

 

[Bill Boddy]

That is it Wombcat, I was hoping for one of Galahad's superb analyses which could open the whole world of car racing from day 1 to us all.