The 2014 season has been truly amazing for a number of reasons, but there is one aspect that I find incredibly intriguing. In Austin we saw the winner of the race overtake the man that finished 2nd for the Sixth time this year. It's certainly the most we've seen in recent times, and I am going to try and progress as far back in time as the data allows.
Here is the breakdown from 2007-2014.
2007 (Once)
Europe - Alonso on Massa (Lap 56)
2008 (Once)
Germany - Hamilton on Piquet (Lap 60)
2009 (Once)
Belgium - Raikkonen on Fisichella (Lap 5)
2010 (Once)
Turkey - Hamilton on Button (Lap 49)
2011 (Twice)
China - Hamilton on Vettel (Lap 52)
Germany - Hamilton on Alonso (Lap 33)
2012 (Four Times)
Malaysia - Alonso on Perez (Lap 16)
Great Britain - Webber on Alonso (Lap 48)
Italy - Hamilton on Perez (Lap 29)
United States - Hamilton on Vettel (Lap 42)
2013 (Thrice)
Malaysia - Vettel on Webber (Lap 46)
Bahrain - Vettel on Raikkonen (Lap 15)
Spain - Alonso on Raikkonen (Lap 39)
2014 (Six Times)
Bahrain - Hamilton on Rosberg (Lap 19)
Canada - Ricciardo on Rosberg (Lap 68)
Hungary - Ricciardo on Alonso (Lap 68)
Singapore - Hamilton on Vettel (Lap 54)
Japan - Hamilton on Rosberg (Lap 29)
United States - Hamilton on Rosberg (Lap 24)
So in the last 8 years, the Grand Prix winner has only overtaken the second placed man on 19 occasions, with 1/3 of those coming this season. Amazingly, Lewis Hamilton has won 10 of these 19 GP. Alonso, has three wins. Vettel, and Ricciardo have two wins a piece.
I'm probably gonna have to go back to the 70's to find another season featuring 6 races with the victor overtaking P2 on track.
Here is the breakdown from 2007-2014.
2007 (Once)
Europe - Alonso on Massa (Lap 56)
2008 (Once)
Germany - Hamilton on Piquet (Lap 60)
2009 (Once)
Belgium - Raikkonen on Fisichella (Lap 5)
2010 (Once)
Turkey - Hamilton on Button (Lap 49)
2011 (Twice)
China - Hamilton on Vettel (Lap 52)
Germany - Hamilton on Alonso (Lap 33)
2012 (Four Times)
Malaysia - Alonso on Perez (Lap 16)
Great Britain - Webber on Alonso (Lap 48)
Italy - Hamilton on Perez (Lap 29)
United States - Hamilton on Vettel (Lap 42)
2013 (Thrice)
Malaysia - Vettel on Webber (Lap 46)
Bahrain - Vettel on Raikkonen (Lap 15)
Spain - Alonso on Raikkonen (Lap 39)
2014 (Six Times)
Bahrain - Hamilton on Rosberg (Lap 19)
Canada - Ricciardo on Rosberg (Lap 68)
Hungary - Ricciardo on Alonso (Lap 68)
Singapore - Hamilton on Vettel (Lap 54)
Japan - Hamilton on Rosberg (Lap 29)
United States - Hamilton on Rosberg (Lap 24)
So in the last 8 years, the Grand Prix winner has only overtaken the second placed man on 19 occasions, with 1/3 of those coming this season. Amazingly, Lewis Hamilton has won 10 of these 19 GP. Alonso, has three wins. Vettel, and Ricciardo have two wins a piece.
I'm probably gonna have to go back to the 70's to find another season featuring 6 races with the victor overtaking P2 on track.