Worst F1 drivers to have won a race...?

[Speed Badger]

We've all seen the 'best F1 driver never to have won a race' discussions (Amon, Brundle, Bellof, Warwick, Heidfeld etc).

However, I wondered what drivers do you think were undeserving of beating the best in the world on their day and winning an F1 race. They could have lucked into the win through others' unreliability or been in the right place at the right time due to safety cars etc. Or even were a mediocre driver who found themselves in a car they couldn't fail to win with.

My two pence worth, enter Pastor Maldonado...

[Smollet]

Vittorio Brambilla wasn't exactly a driving God but he lucked in. He crashed soon after passing the flag. The race was stopped due to heavy rain but instead of putting out a red flag the chequered one was shown thus ending the race.

Edited by Smollet on Tuesday 16th December 12:32

[Vocal Minority]

I am confused - I would agree Maldonado's win was suprising - but looking at the race in isolation (and if we are talking about not deserving to win a race we have to look at it in isolation) Maldonado deserved to win that.

I will agree suprising - but undeserved?

MAYBE you could argue Olivier Panis at Monaco in 96 as both Hill and Alesi retired from comfortable leads with mechanical issues - but then he still outlasted them in painful conditions. So is that really undeserving?

[Smollet]

Maldonado on that day drove excellently to hold off a very determined Fred. I'd say he thoroughly deserved the win.

[350Matt]

Thierry Boutsen
1990 hungary GP

[Speed Badger]

Sorry if I was not very clear, what I mean is F1 drivers who are generally poor to middling who, for whatever reason - attrition or some kind of weird divine possession - has enabled them to win when usually they are a bit hopeless. (ie Maldonado)

[rhysenna]

Perhaps Nannini at Suzuka in 1989 after Senna was DSQ. Can't think of many others.

[groomi]

Easy, Michael Schumacher. The 2005 joke race at Indianapolis where he literally had no competition.

[Smollet]

groomi said:

Easy, Michael Schumacher. The 2005 joke race at Indianapolis where he literally had no competition.

Apart from his teammate. Oh hang on I see what you mean

[Speed Badger]

Heinz-Harald Frentzen? Apart from one excellent season at Jordan, he was kind of an average driver, especially when in the 1997 Williams and only winning one race.

[Vocal Minority]

He always managed to punch above his weight in the Sauber, but I guess expectation may have gotten to him.

[Halmyre]

350Matt said:

Thierry Boutsen
1990 hungary GP

??? He qualified on pole and led from start to finish. That's not too shabby.

[Eric Mc]

Are you talking about F1 drivers wining F1 races - or races in any other category they may have raced in.

If F1 races, how about Giancarlo Baghetti's trio of wins in 1961 - and then never won another F1 race, ever.

[Speed Badger]

Yes winning F1 races. I suppose you could make a case for Fisichella & Trulli, possibly Johnny Herbert (nice guy & great driver though he is). All his 3 wins came via inherited means.

[Eric Mc]

I still propose Baghetti. Her won the first three F1 races he entered - and never won another F1 race ever again.

[FourWheelDrift]

Peter Gethin - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Gethin#Complete... the 1 win sits alone amongst many poor results. Was 11th in qualifying, won a 5 car massed finish using a better slipstream.

[Lynchie999]

Heikki Kov. ?? (even forgotten how to spell his name... )

[Muzzer79]

Definitely Olivier Panis at Monaco 96. That was a race won by whoever could keep going in one piece.

A little harsh, because he was likeable and undeniably talented, but Johnny Herbert aswell.

He won 3 times - the first being Silverstone in '95 (I was there ) when Hill and Schumacher took each other out

Then again the same year in Italy..........when Hill and Schumacher took each other out

Then the infamous '99 win at the Nurburgring for Stewart-Ford when it rained.

He was arguably unlucky in terms of timing with teams, and his Formula 3000(?) accident was undoubtedly a factor in later driving career but, objectively, he never won a GP purely on merit.





Oh, and Maldonado aswell.

[FourWheelDrift]

Muzzer79 said:

Definitely Olivier Panis at Monaco 96. That was a race won by whoever could keep going in one piece.

I was thinking of him as well, but 2nd was still a quick David Coulthard in the McLaren Mercedes. If he had dropped out and the 2 Saubers were 2nd & 3rd then it would be a no brainer.

[Smollet]

FourWheelDrift said:

Peter Gethin - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Gethin#Complete... the 1 win sits alone amongst many poor results. Was 11th in qualifying, won a 5 car massed finish using a better slipstream.

A bit harsh. He was a better driver than the results suggest and was the only man to beat F1 cars with a F5000 Chevron in a combined event if my memory serves me right.