Whose is the next name to add to the roster of F1 champs?

[Tony2or4]

There are 32 (I think) different names on the list of F1 drivers who have become champion.

Who will be number 33?

Is he one of the current drivers, or has he (or she) yet to break into the formula?

Your thoughts, ladies and gentlemen.

[wildman0609]

I've been think about this for a while. It'd difficult to see where the next WDC will come from. If Riciardo gets the red bull seat he could be a good bet, or Grosjean.

[RealSquirrels]

hulkenberg, somehow.

[shibby!]

Vettel?

Oh wait, thats just this year... AGAIN!

Perez? might get a decent car next year!
Rosberg? Assuming the Merc is decent, and Hamilton doestn do as well as he could.

[kybo]

wildman0609 said:

I've been think about this for a while. It'd difficult to see where the next WDC will come from. If Riciardo gets the red bull seat he could be a good bet, or Grosjean.

The next question would be when??

With Vettel racing, I don't think the other driver would better him, whoever it is. Same with Grosjean, with Kimi as Team mate.

Massa...if Ferrari can deliver a car (but would he ever outscore Alonso)

How many current drivers (that have won it) would need to retire, before a newcomer to the list is born?

I predict no new champ within 5 years, but agree that Ricciardo and Grosjean are good choices for it.

S

[RealSquirrels]

i think vettel will be much less competitive next year, with absolutely no exhaust blown diffuser effect.

[wildman0609]

kybo said:

I predict no new champ within 5 years,
S

I agree, forgot to add Rosberg.

[valais]

The next WDC who hasn't yet got a title?

Very good question.

From the top cars: I'm not sure Rosberg can build a campaign. Massa is too peaky. Grojean is fast but inconsistent.

I think Hulkenburg is a great talent. Bottas will get picked up by a bigger team, I think he is very quick driver, just needs some more experience.

[LordGrover]

Is it unusual to have so many ex-WDCs still running?
I'd not noticed until this question was posed.

[valais]

LordGrover said:

Is it unusual to have so many ex-WDCs still running?
I'd not noticed until this question was posed.

Yes, last year was the highest:

Button (1)
Hamilton (1)
Raikkonen (1)
Alonso (2)
Vettel (3)
Schumacher (7)

Every WDC since 2000 was racing in 2012.

I did look back, I can't remember if there was a year with anywhere near as many. 2/3/4 seems to be more common.

[PhillipM]

RealSquirrels said:

i think vettel will be much less competitive next year, with absolutely no exhaust blown diffuser effect.

Yep, Webber should have been back on similar pace next year, instead he's going to Porsche, doh.

[Tony2or4]

LordGrover said:

Is it unusual to have so many ex-WDCs still running?
I'd not noticed until this question was posed.

It is unusual. Looking back, the first race of 1968 had Clark, G Hill, Hulme, Surtees and Brabham.

The 1970 season had Brabham, Hulme, Stewart, G Hill and Surtees.

2011: Schumacher, Alonso, Hamilton, Button, Vettel.

2012: Schumacher, Alonso, Hamilton, Button, Vettel, Raikkonen (6 - a record I believe).

There must have been a number of races in which no champions at all took part: one that comes to mind was Spain 1975, when Fittipaldi was the only champion running that season, but he sat out the Spanish race as a protest against safety standards.

Can anyone remind us of any other champ-less races?

Edited by Tony2or4 on Thursday 15th August 15:58

[Tony2or4]

The number of new champions produced by each decade were:

1950s: 5

1960s: 6

1970s: 6

1980s: 5

1990s: 5

2000s: 5

A definite consistency! So what chance have we of producing 5 new champions during the next 7 years??

[valais]

Gaz. said:

Over half of 1994.

1994 had 46 drivers compete as well through the year (some for only a race) - quite a field.

[Tony2or4]

Gaz. said:

Tony2or4 said:

Can anyone remind us of any other champ-less races?

Over half of 1994.

Monaco
Spain
Canada
Britain
Germany
Hungary
Belgium
Italy
Portugal

Hill, Hakkinen & Schumacher were yet to win their championships.

Yep, good call, that man.

[We can't really count the 1950 season, can we!]

[Tony2or4]

Gaz. said:

...1994.

Hill, Hakkinen & Schumacher were yet to win their championships.

Which raises the next question: which season had the largest number of future champions taking part??

[Vocal Minority]

Not the most, because 07 (at least beats it), but the all-round weirdness/remarkable-ness of 1994 had future champs in Hakkinen, Schumacher and Hill (as did 3 races of 1993).

1991/92 would have had Schumacher, Hakkinen and Mansell too.

2008 would have had 3: Vettel, Button, Hamitlon.

Quite a few with 3 come to think of it!

[Tony2or4]

Tony2or4 said:

Which raises the next question: which season had the largest number of future champions taking part??

Right, done the research, and the answer is.............


Jointly, with 5 future champions each:


1975: Lauda, Hunt, Andretti, Scheckter, Jones

1978: Andretti, Scheckter, Jones, Piquet, Rosberg

1980: Jones, Piquet, Rosberg, Prost, Mansell


[Can't count 2002 onwards, because each of those years included drivers who are still taking part and so could, theoretically, become champion one day.]


Interesting that 1999 was unique in having not a single future champion taking part (ie any 1999 contender who would win a championship in the future had already won at least one up to that point).


Not counting the winner (Farina) of the first championship, in 1950, the 2 drivers who became champ after the smallest number of seasons were Fangio and Villeneuve (2 each). The champion after the largest number of seasons, by some margin, was Mansell (13).

[RealSquirrels]

hamilton won a championship in his 2nd season too

[Tony2or4]

RealSquirrels said:

hamilton won a championship in his 2nd season too

Oops, quite right! Gawd, how did I miss that, with me being a big Hamilton fan?? I've even got a painting of him winning the British GP in his second - his championship - year!