Retrospective Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race

[TomWazzleshaw]

Let's do 2008.

Australia - Williams: Rosberg 3rd, Nakajima 6th, also Bourdais until his engine failure
Malaysia - Kovalainen: his first McLaren podium, from 8th to 3rd
...
Monaco - Vettel - 5th in the Toro Rosso, the first race with the STR3
Canada - Basically every single point scorer. BMW for their only 1-2, Coulthard for his podium, Toyota for 4th and 6th, Massa for his awesome overtakes, Barrichello for finishing 7th while sick and having a bad strategy, Vettel for keeping himself on the road for a point
...
Brazil - Alonso and Vettel in a joint award: Fernando finishes 2nd, splitting the two Ferraris, Vettel overtakes Hamilton to play a key part of the thrilling end-race drama

Australia: Williams had a very strong pre-season program so nothing short of a podium was expected. Besides, KazNak was the clown who took Bobby K out of the race during the final Safety Car so this award should easily go to Bourdais.
Malaysia: Again, Kovalainen was expected to do well so I wouldn't give it to him. If anything, I'd give it to BMW Sauber as they were genuinely the quickest car on track that weekend with Kubica second and Heidfeld taking home fastest lap on what was a relatively normal weekend compared to the crash-fest in Australia
Monaco: The award should be given to Adrian Sutil. Full stop, new paragraph
Canada: If anything, this should be a solo-award for DC as BMW's victory had been some time coming by that point, Massa was having a comparative shocker of a weekend, the Toro Rosso was a better car than anyone else expected and minor points is par for the course for Toyota when they're not too busy shooting themselves in the foot. The only real competition probably would have been Barrichello who, by all rights, should have finished 4th if the Honda strategists weren't such incompetent fools.
Brazil: To make up for their loss in Canada, THIS one should go to Toyota as Trulli put in by far his strongest qualifying performance all year and a rare stroke of tactical genius put Glock in 4th place heading into the final lap and actually let him leapfrog Kovalainen at the end of it all.

[Shizuka]

Let's do 2008.

Australia - Williams: Rosberg 3rd, Nakajima 6th, also Bourdais until his engine failure
Malaysia - Kovalainen: his first McLaren podium, from 8th to 3rd
...
Monaco - Vettel - 5th in the Toro Rosso, the first race with the STR3
Canada - Basically every single point scorer. BMW for their only 1-2, Coulthard for his podium, Toyota for 4th and 6th, Massa for his awesome overtakes, Barrichello for finishing 7th while sick and having a bad strategy, Vettel for keeping himself on the road for a point
...
Brazil - Alonso and Vettel in a joint award: Fernando finishes 2nd, splitting the two Ferraris, Vettel overtakes Hamilton to play a key part of the thrilling end-race drama

Australia: Williams had a very strong pre-season program so nothing short of a podium was expected. Besides, KazNak was the clown who took Bobby K out of the race during the final Safety Car so this award should easily go to Bourdais.
Malaysia: Again, Kovalainen was expected to do well so I wouldn't give it to him. If anything, I'd give it to BMW Sauber as they were genuinely the quickest car on track that weekend with Kubica second and Heidfeld taking home fastest lap on what was a relatively normal weekend compared to the crash-fest in Australia
Monaco: The award should be given to Adrian Sutil. Full stop, new paragraph
Canada: If anything, this should be a solo-award for DC as BMW's victory had been some time coming by that point, Massa was having a comparative shocker of a weekend, the Toro Rosso was a better car than anyone else expected and minor points is par for the course for Toyota when they're not too busy shooting themselves in the foot. The only real competition probably would have been Barrichello who, by all rights, should have finished 4th if the Honda strategists weren't such incompetent fools.
Brazil: To make up for their loss in Canada, THIS one should go to Toyota as Trulli put in by far his strongest qualifying performance all year and a rare stroke of tactical genius put Glock in 4th place heading into the final lap and actually let him leapfrog Kovalainen at the end of it all.

Australia - I agree on this one
Malaysia - That is also a good reason
Monaco - OF COURSE! I forgot that Sutil for that
Canada - Yeah, good points. Coulthard was basically the only driver who kept his head cool that weekend, and Barrichello was 2nd... or 3rd, can't remember, before his last pit stop
Brazil - Alright, that should be Toyota's then. Fisichella was also good, he was... fifth for a while in the beginning? Or something like that, he was in the points.

[TomWazzleshaw]

Brazil - Alright, that should be Toyota's then. Fisichella was also good, he was... fifth for a while in the beginning? Or something like that, he was in the points.

Ah yes, completely forgot about Fisichella. From memory, he was in that position because he was the first driver to go from inters to slicks in the early going after the freak storm before the start of the race. Sadly though, he slid down the order after that point to a lowly 18th place.

[Shizuka]

It was interesting to see drag him that car to places where it didn't belong, however, having the original case of Fisichellitis, it's something expected from him.

2007:

Australia - Hamilton for a podium debut, BMW for being surprisingly competitive. Super Aguri for being better than the works Honda outfit.
Malaysia - McLaren for the 1-2, although Hamilton's move on Massa was needed for this.
Bahrain - Coulthard until his retirement, Heidfeld for his pass on Alonso.
Spain - Sato for scoring SA's first point. Coulthard for his 5th place.
Monaco - Honda for getting into the Q3... Wurz for his 7th place... or how about Speed finishing in 9th place?
Canada - Sato, period.
US - Kovalainen for his first stint... or Vettel for scoring a point on debut.
France - Button for scoring a point for Honda, Kubica for bouncing back strong in 4th.
GB - Massa - 22nd to 6th.
Europe - Winkelhock! Or Red Bull. Wurz as well for staying on the road to 4th.
Hungary - Heidfeld for completing BMW's plan for that year: getting a podium on merit. Ralf Schumacher is in with a shout, however he was always good at our circuit...
Turkey - Davidson for one of those brilliant qualifying laps, Heidfeld for finishing 4th.
Italy - Hamilton for that pass on Räikkönen. Button for scoring another point.
Belgium - A very processional race, so this time around it has to be Sutil.
Japan - Vettel, Webber until the accident. Button for staying out with a broken nosecone. Kovalainen for finishing 2nd. Massa for the great battle with Kubica in the end. Sutil for scoring a point... out of all this, Sutil was the least expected, so maybe it has to be his again.
China - Kubica until his retirement. STR as a whole (4th, 6th). Button for 5th.
Brazil - Williams (Rosberg 4th, Nakajima 10th)

[DOSBoot]

For 1989:

Brazil - Mauricio Gugelmin: At his home race, he scores his only podium in a March. Not that far off from the leaders, and ahead of both Bennettons.

San Marino - Jonathan Palmer: Scores a point after starting 25th!

Monaco - Sefano Modena, and Alex Caffi: Modea for giving Brabham thier last podium, and Caffi for unrejectifying himself in a Dallara.

Mexico - Gabriele Tarquini: Get's his only career point in an AGS.

USA - Christian Danner: Unrejectifies himself. In a Rial!

Canada - Rene Arnoux: Get's the awful Ligier JS33 into 5th place. His final career points finish.

France - Jean Alesi: Started 16th, was running as high as 2nd, and evenually finished 4th. All on his debut race.

UK - Minardi: The team's first double points finish. Pierlugi Martini 5th, and Luis Perez-Sala scoring his only point with 6th.

Germany - Derek Warwick: Scores a well deserved point after being in contention for a win on two occassions.

Hungary - Eddie Cheever: Comes in 5th. His final points in F1.

Belgium - Stefan Johansson: Gets the Onyx into 8th place.

Italy - Jean Alesi: A 5th place for him while still comitting to F3000.

Portugal - Stefan Johansson: 3rd in an Onyx. Nuff said.

Spain - Philippe Alliot: Unrejectifies himself with a 6th place in the Lamborgini powered Lola-Larrousse.

Japan - Alessandro Nannini: For getting his first, and only win in F1. (Even if under controversial sircumstances.)

Australia - Satoru Nakajima: Starts 24th. In terrible conditions, he gets 4th. While setting fastest lap in the process.

[FantometteBR]

To pay homage to Pasta series, let's get back to IIDOTR for 1979:

Argentina: Elio de Angelis (almost scores a point in his first ever GP. Honourable Mention to Emmerson Fittipaldi's 6th place)

Brazil: Arrows (Mass and Patrese come out of lower grid positions to reliable performances)

South Africa: Jean-Pierre Jarier (a well done podium at Kyalami)

USA West: Alan Jones (Sir Frank and Mr. Head's team stats to rise with a 3rd place. De Angelis win the Honourable Mention)

Spain: Jean-Pierre Jarier (another good driving coming from top midfield rewarded with points)

Belgium: Riccardo Patrese and John Watson (two men that fought the odds and retirements to come with points. Scheckter 7th to 1st deserves a bit of mention here)

Monaco: Clay Regazzoni (From five places above DNQ to 2nd place...)

France: Jean-Pierre Jabouille (Turbo's first win in a historical race, in the one of the only three races Jabouille would complete that year, also his only points he scored!)

Britain: Jacky Ickx (in his second comeback race, scores a point and show he still has the game)

Germany: Geoff Lees (one-off with Mr. Ken's stable almost rewarded with a point)

Austria: Jody Scheckter (manages to score points and keep his title hopes very alive)

Netherlands: Jacky Ickx (last ever points come in a great back-to-front performence. Mention here Hector Rebaque's 7th with a second-hand Lotus)

Italy: Niki Lauda and Mario Andretti (Despite Jarier deserves more results-wise, both men had up and down-down season and deserve here a score)

Canada: Ricardo Zunino (shocker newcomer almost shocked at Montreal by finishing close to the points)

USA East: Alan Jones (charging to an impressive win, closing off season with WGPE's awakening)

[ibsey]

For 1989:

Brazil - Mauricio Gugelmin: At his home race, he scores his only podium in a March. Not that far off from the leaders, and ahead of both Bennettons.

Not Johnny Herbert for finishing (IIRC) 4th on his debut, after smashing up both his legs only a few months earlier?

EDIT; Also has Herbert been mentioned yet for his brilliant drive at the 1993 Brazilian GP, where he fought brilliantly & fairly with M Schumi. Before finishing only 1 second behind him in 4th position in the underfunded Lotus.

[DOSBoot]

For 1989:

Brazil - Mauricio Gugelmin: At his home race, he scores his only podium in a March. Not that far off from the leaders, and ahead of both Bennettons.

Not Johnny Herbert for finishing (IIRC) 4th on his debut, after smashing up both his legs only a few months earlier?

EDIT; Also has Herbert been mentioned yet for his brilliant drive at the 1993 Brazilian GP, where he fought brilliantly & fairly with M Schumi. Before finishing only 1 second behind him in 4th position in the underfunded Lotus.

Well, Herbert was in the Bennetton. One of the better cars that season, though I don't doubt his talent. Plus Mauricio qualified lower than Herbert, and still finished ahead of him with a March. Which I thought was more impressive. Especially since it was the team's only points score that year.

As for Brazil 93, yes, I did mention him.

[Aerond]

My shot at 1994;

Brazil; Barrichello, came home 4th from 14th

Pacific; C.Fittipaldi, doing an incredible weekend for Footwork qualifying in top 10 and then snatching 3 points.

San Marino; Nicola Larini, not bad at all for a test driver!

Monaco; Martin Brundle, came home 2nd with the worst McLaren in many years.

Spain: Mark Blundell/Pierluigi Martini; Shared for impressive drive in not so good cars.

Canada: David Coulthard; Scored points in his 2nd Gp

France: H.H.Frentzen/P.Martini; One of his most impressing drives with less than half a season experience / Did bring the Minardi 5th again!!

Great Britain: Mika Hakkinen; competitive all weekend and managed to stand the late charge from Barrichello.

Germany: Ligier drivers; despite all the retirements they came in 2nd and 3rd!

Hungary: Jos Verstappen, charged from 11th to his first podium finish

Belgium: I guess Hakkinen for another great drive over better powered cars.

Italy: Gerhard Berger for nearly being able to win against the superior Williams

Portugal: Coulthard, as he finally shows he's able to drive for better things than minor points.

Jerez: Eddie Irvine; Great drive from 10th to 4th on a day with few retirements.

Japan: Nigel Mansell; not his greatest drive but simply for the genius of his rolling start proposal and the later battle with Alesi just for fun.

Australia: Olivier Panis; Not only he beat the record at the time for most kms. in a year but also managed to bring a couple of points home on the not so good Ligier.

[DOSBoot]

For 1988:

Brazil - Derek Warwick: Get's the Arrows into 4th after starting 11th.

San Marino - Alessandro Nannini: Scores his first career point in his second stint with Bennetton.

Monaco - Yannick Dalmas: Finished only a lap down in the Lola, while getting 7th after starting 21st.

Mexico - Arrows: Derek Warwick, and Eddie Cheever giving the team thier first double points finish in nearly 4 years.

Canada - Ivan Capelli: A solid 5th in the Judd powered March.

USA - Andrea de Cesaris, and Pierluigi Martini: 4th in a Rial for Andrea, and Martini for giving Minardi's first point.

France - March Engineering: A solid drive with both cars finishing 8th, and 9th.

UK - Nigel Mansell: Get's the awful Williams into 2nd place, while setting fastest lap in the process.

Germany - Bernd Schneider: Somehow manages to qualify the Zakspeed, and finish 12th on his home race.

Hungary - Stefano Modena: Gives Euroburn thier highest ever finish with an 11th place.

Belgium - Ivan Capelli: Gives March their first podium finish since the 1976 Italian GP, and after a nice climb from 14th.

Italy - Ferrari: For finally breaking McLaren's winning streak at thier home curcuit in the wake of Enzo Ferrari's death.

Portugal - Ivan Capelli: Another brilliant drive in the March. Qualified 3rd, and finished 2nd.

Spain - Williams: For finally getting on the ball, and having a decent race for once. Getting a 2nd, and 5th place finish from both drivers.

Japan - Philippe Streiff: Gains 10 places in the race to finish 8th while driving an AGS.

Australia - Nelson Piquet: Scores a 3rd podium for Lotus. Thier last for several years.

[FantometteBR]

Pasta Season Part II - 1980 IIDOTR

Argentina: Keke Rosberg (debuts in Fittipaldi with a podium)

Brazil: Marc Surer (takes an ATS to the near-points mark)

South Africa: Jochen Mass (take his Arrows to a 6th from 19th)

USA West: Emmerson Fittipaldi (from last to 3rd in the famous attrition of US streets)

Belgium: Gilles Villeneuve (one of the rare good performances of crappy Ferrari)

Monaco: Mario Andretti (takes the Lotus from next-to-last to 7th place)

France: Gilles Villeneuve (no points but finishing with his Ferrari)

Britain: Tyrrell (double points score for Daly and Jarier)

Germany: Bruno Giacomelli (puts Alfa Romeo to the points line)

Austria: Jean-Pierre Jabouille (repeat from France-79)

Netherlands: Alain Prost (drives the crap McLaren to a point)

Italy: Elio de Angelis (brings Lotus from the back of the grid to a 4th at home race)

Canada: Hector Rebaque (scores a point in his Brabham)

USA East: Bruno Giacomelli (for his pole position)

[DOSBoot]

For 1983:

Brazil - Marc Surer: Scores a point for Arrows after starting 20th.

Long Beach - John Watson: Qualified 22nd. Won the race. Nearly 30 seconds ahead of Niki Lauda, and over a minute ahead of everyone else.

France - Williams: Both cars finish 5th, and 6th after starting in the lower midfield.

San Marino - Patick Tambay: Kept the pressure on Riccardo Patrase to take a popular win for Ferrari.

Monaco - Danny Sullivan: Scores his only points in F1 with a 5th place.

Belgium - Toleman: Both cars hold together to finish 7th, and 8th. On the same lap as the leaders as well.

Detroit - Michele Alboreto: A last hurrah for the Cosworth DFV with a win at Ford's home city. Also Tyrrell's last.

Canada - Manfred Winkelhock: Qualifies 7th, and finishes 9th in the awful ATS.

UK - Nigel Mansell: On the first race for the 94T, a car that was built and desinged in 6 weeks, qualifies 18th, and finishes 4th on his home grand prix.

Germany - Andrea de Cesaris: His joint best result of 2nd place in the Alfa Romeo.

Austria - Jean-Pierre Jarier: Get's the awful Ligier into 7th, after starting 20th! Ahead of Keke Rosberg!

Holland - Derek Warwick: Unrejectified, while scoring Toleman's first points.

Italy - Elio de Angelis: Scores his only points of the season with a 5th at his home race.

Europe - Toleman: Their first, and only double points finish.

South Africa - Andrea de Cesaris: His best overall career result. A 2nd place less than 10 seconds behind the winner.

[Benetton]

1998 Monaco - Mika Salo.

1998 Canada - Shinji Nakano (he was in the top 10 already after the first safety car and ran as high as 6th on pure pace IIRC).

[Onxy Wrecked]

2004 United States Grand Prix - You know the rest.

Takuma Sato on the podium and HWNSNBM in 8th.

[DOSBoot]

For 1984:

Brazil - Eddie Cheever: For getting the gas guzzleing Alfa-Romeo into 4th place.

South Africa - Dereck Warwick: Scores his first podium in the Renault.

Belgium - Michele Alboreto: Dominates the race to get the win on his third race with Ferrari.

San Marino - Thierry Boutsen: 5th in the Arrows after starting 20th.

France - Nigel Mansell: For finishing ahead of his teammate for once.

Monaco - Ayrton Senna and Stefan Bellof: Senna for his 2nd place in the wet while catching Prost, and Bellof for catching both of them.

Canada - Nelson Piquet's Engine: After 6 consecutive scoreless races, the BMW hold together to get a grand slam.

Detroit - Martin Brundell: Comes in a close 2nd while callanging Nelson Piquet for the win. (Which sadly was disqualified.)

Dallas - Piercarlo Ghinzani: 5th. In an Osella!

U.K. - Ayrton Senna: Another podium for Toleman.

Germany - Renault Engines: For almost all of thier engines holding together to get to the end of the race.

Austria - Arrows: For scoring thier first double points finish in the team's history.

Netherlands - Francois Hesnault: His highest career finish of 7th, after sarting 20th.

Italy - Jo Gartner, Gerhard Berger, and Stefan Johansson: Gartner for coming in 5th in an Osella after starting way back in 24th. (Sadly, he was ineligible for points.) Beger for coming in 6th in the ATS. (But he too was ineligible for points.) Johansson for unrejectifying himself with a 4th place on his first stint with Toleman.

Europe - Mauro Baldi: Started 24th in the Spirit. Comes in 8th.

Portugal - Ayrton Senna: Gives Toleman's last race a solid 3rd on the podium.

[Faustus]

Portugal - Ayrton Senna: Gives Toleman's last race a solid 3rd on the podium.

Do you mean his last race with Toleman? It wasn't Toleman's last race.
Wasn't he third on the grid? Not an entirely unexpected result, I think. I would have thought Lauda would be a better choice. 11th on the grid, came through to take 2nd and win the championship by the smallest possible margin. Typical intelligent Lauda drive.

[DOSBoot]

Portugal - Ayrton Senna: Gives Toleman's last race a solid 3rd on the podium.

Do you mean his last race with Toleman? It wasn't Toleman's last race.
Wasn't he third on the grid? Not an entirely unexpected result, I think. I would have thought Lauda would be a better choice. 11th on the grid, came through to take 2nd and win the championship by the smallest possible margin. Typical intelligent Lauda drive.

Excuse me, HIS last race for Toleman, as well as the team's last points finish. Lauda had been doing that stuff all season, so by then, it wasn't much of a surprise either.

[ibsey]

How about Stirling Moss winning the 1961 Monaco GP, in the underpowered Rob Walker Racing Lotus 18. Beating the both works Ferrari's in the process. Am I right in thinking that Moss claimed that was his greatest F1 victory?

Similarly how about the race Jonesy won in the Shadow. Was it the 1977 Austrian GP?

Or the 1975 Dutch GP when Hunt won with the Hesketh.

[ibsey]

Another one to mention here is Patrese in the 1978 South African GP. The Italian in only Arrow's 2nd race, fought his way to the front after a spirited wheel-to-wheel battle with Scheckter's Wolf & looked certain for victory. Then, with only a few laps to go, his engine blew.

Incidentally towards the end of that same race Andretti was catching Depailler for the lead however he ran out of fuel before the finish & was especially livid about this. Why? Well because to keep the weight of the car down, the Lotus team manager, Colin Chapman, had taken some fuel on the grid.

Has anyone yet mentioned Berger's victories at Hockenhiem in 1994 or 1997? I would say his 1997 victory was an especially great drive since his father passed away only a few days prior to that event & he had been out for 3 races due to illness, & probably knew by then his Benetton drive & probably his career was coming to an end.

[pasta_maldonado]

Another one to mention here is Patrese in the 1978 South African GP. The Italian in only Arrow's 2nd race, fought his way to the front after a spirited wheel-to-wheel battle with Scheckter's Wolf & looked certain for victory. Then, with only a few laps to go, his engine blew.

So Arrows being suprisingly compeitive a year later in 197 wasn't totally unexpected! /PMMF reference (rFactor Alternate F1)

[ibsey]

Belgium - Toleman: Both cars hold together to finish 7th, and 8th. On the same lap as the leaders as well.

Great drive there, particularly by Warwick as had been mentioned previously. However I would like to mention de Cesaris' race. There are no other words for it, he was simply stunning in quali he was 3rd (0.2 seconds off pole & massive 4.4 seconds quicker than his teammate). Furthermore he got the lead at both starts and led for the first third of the race before his Alfa Romeo's engine expired, scoring his only career fastest lap...Even James Hunt was impressed by that drive (& that is says alot!)

[DOSBoot]

Belgium - Toleman: Both cars hold together to finish 7th, and 8th. On the same lap as the leaders as well.

Great drive there, particularly by Warwick as had been mentioned previously. However I would like to mention de Cesaris' race. There are no other words for it, he was simply stunning in quali he was 3rd (0.2 seconds off pole & massive 4.4 seconds quicker than his teammate). Furthermore he got the lead at both starts and led for the first third of the race before his Alfa Romeo's engine expired, scoring his only career fastest lap...Even James Hunt was impressed by that drive (& that is says alot!)

I thought about that, especially since that was probably De Cesaris' best chance at winning a race. But I was trying to look for what would be the best reaction from me if I was seeing this race like I was there at that current moment. This was the point when Toleman started to pick up the pieces, and where becoming very competitive. It was the team's first race in which both cars had a classified finish, coupled with Warwick coming in 7th after starting 22nd, is what sealed the deal for me. It can be very hard sometimes to make a decision like that in some races. (Especially who I chose for Italy in 1984.) I justtry and look for the one that seems to impress me the most while reading or watching it.

[ibsey]

Belgium - Toleman: Both cars hold together to finish 7th, and 8th. On the same lap as the leaders as well.

Great drive there, particularly by Warwick as had been mentioned previously. However I would like to mention de Cesaris' race. There are no other words for it, he was simply stunning in quali he was 3rd (0.2 seconds off pole & massive 4.4 seconds quicker than his teammate). Furthermore he got the lead at both starts and led for the first third of the race before his Alfa Romeo's engine expired, scoring his only career fastest lap...Even James Hunt was impressed by that drive (& that is says alot!)

I thought about that, especially since that was probably De Cesaris' best chance at winning a race. But I was trying to look for what would be the best reaction from me if I was seeing this race like I was there at that current moment. This was the point when Toleman started to pick up the pieces, and where becoming very competitive. It was the team's first race in which both cars had a classified finish, coupled with Warwick coming in 7th after starting 22nd, is what sealed the deal for me. It can be very hard sometimes to make a decision like that in some races. (Especially who I chose for Italy in 1984.) I justtry and look for the one that seems to impress me the most while reading or watching it.

No worries, I know how difficult it can be sometimes just single out a great drive from a particular race. In any case I guess the whole thing is subjective anyway i.e. people look for different things. And I very much enjoy reading peoples suggestions on this thread (including yours of course).

I mean personally I would give it to Keke Rosberg, purely on the way he was able to manhandle his car at some 180 mphs coming out of the top of Eau Rouge. As those kind of moments are what really matters to me. Just like I had nominate Keke for simliar reasons earlier in this thread for his spectacular driving out of Casino Sq at Monaco 1983 (over Marc Surer's drive). But perhaps this view is not shared by most.

Instead others may look at the performance or results over the race or even weekend. Rather than just a single moment within a race. So I do appreciate Rocks with Salt nomination of Warwick earlier in this thread & your nomination of Toleman. Which in truth are probably 'better' nominations that my Keke one...but who can explain love?...& I do love Keke's driving at Spa & Monaco 1983.

So I'd just thought I'd mention de Cesaris' drive here, to add to the mix in case people weren't aware of it & the 'other' side to Andrea.

[DOSBoot]

Anyways, here's my take for 1985:

Brazil - Tyrrell: After a controversial 1984 season, the team redeems themselves with a 7th, and 8th place after starting near the back of the field.

Portugal - Ayrton Senna: Dominates the race to get his first career victory. As well as Lotus' first since 1982.

San Marino - Stefan Johansson: In only his second race for Ferrari, he comes close to outright victory after starting 15th.

Monaco - Ligier: Both cars finish 4th, and 6th. Thier first double points finish in nearly three years.

Canada - Nigel Mansell: Works his way up to score a point after starting 16th.

Detroit - Stefan Bellof: Get's the outdated Tyrrell with the ancient Cosworth DFV into 4th place. After starting 19th!

France - Nelson Piquet: Gives 110% of himself to give Brabham thier last victory.

U.K. - Jacques Laffite: Podium for Ligier. Thier first since 1982.

Germany - Pierluigi Martini: Simply for getting Minardi thier first classified finish. Despite thier engine blowing late in the race.

Austria - Ayrton Senna: 2nd after a nice climb from an unusually low start of 14th.

Netherlands - Niki Lauda: Holds of Prost for the last 12 laps to score his final career win.

Italy - Brabham: Both cars finish 2nd, and 4th. With Marc Surer coming close to the podium.

Belgium - Derek Warwick: Finishes 6th in the Renault after starting 14th.

Europe - Marc Surer: Was running as high as 2nd, before his turbo blew late in the race.

South Africa - Arrows: A double points finish for the team with a nice 5th, and 6th place.

Australia - Philippe Streiff and Ivan Capelli: Strieff for being unrejectified in only his sixth career race by coming in 3rd in a Ligier, and Capelli for being unrejectified in only his second career race by coming in 4th in the Tyrrell.

[FantometteBR]

Let's go back to where it begun, 1950 IIDOTR (bar Indy 500)

Britain: Reg Parnell (a third place, his only points in the season, with an almighty Alfa Romeo, period)

Monaco: Prince Bira (escapes the pile-up starting 15th and grabs up two points)/Louis Chiron (gets home race podium)

Switzerland: Louis Rosier (takes a Talbot Lago to the podium)

Belgium: Johnny Claes (from last to 8th at his home race)

France: Peter Whitehead (from last to 3rd with a Ferrari!)

Italy: Philippe Etancelin (Veteran driver goes from midfield to 5th)

[ibsey]

Emerson Fittipaldi finishing a competitive second place, in his brother's team after fighting with Mario Andretti and Gilles Villeneuve,at Brazil 1978.

[FullMetalJack]

For 1983:

Austria - Jean-Pierre Jarier: Get's the awful Ligier into 7th, after starting 20th! Ahead of Keke Rosberg!

IIDOTR and ROTR simultaneously. Although Reject of the Race is much more deserving, Jarier's drive in Austria alone probably warranted Reject of the Year. When Murray Walker's criticising your driving, you know you're doing badly.

[ibsey]

For 1983:

Austria - Jean-Pierre Jarier: Get's the awful Ligier into 7th, after starting 20th! Ahead of Keke Rosberg!

IIDOTR and ROTR simultaneously. Although Reject of the Race is much more deserving, Jarier's drive in Austria alone probably warranted Reject of the Year. When Murray Walker's criticising your driving, you know you're doing badly.

I loved the way James Hunt and even Murray...who's not usually prone to this sort of thing starts ripping into J.P. Jarrier for holding up Tambay, and allowing Arnoux to take the lead. The best bits from James Hunt's abuse includes...

"He'll be thanking Jarrier later with a knuckle sandwich...that was completely out of order Jarrier shouldn't be allowed to drive a GP car...he's got the mental age of 10 years old...a knuckle sandwich is the minimal penalty Jarrier should chew on...he's done it at every opportunity which is pretty frequent as he's always seems to be at the back of the grid".

Murray says in reply "that was a crash piece of driving from Jarrier". I'm sure Murray was about to say another descriptive word begining with 'c' & sounds very much like "crash". But skillfully managed to save the situation at the last minute.

Then later on when the TV shows Jarrier's pit stop...James Hunt states..."Thats a pretty slow one there, pity they didn't keep him there really"

[dinizintheoven]

Murray says in reply "that was a crash piece of driving from Jarrier". I'm sure Murray was about to say another descriptive word begining with 'c' & sounds very much like "crash".

"Crass", possibly? I was sure I'd heard this bit of commentary before, but it's not one of those on YouTube so I can't check. Was this one of those races where Murray would send his commentary down the phone? That might have added to the confusion.

EDIT: got it...

Even the gentlemanly Walker also made rare scathing comments on Jarier's driving, he said "In all my years as a commentator, but certainly no driver, I have to admit, that was an awful and crass piece of driving by Jarier." At this point in the season, in terms of his Formula One status, Jarier was at the point of no return.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Pierre_Jarier

[ibsey]

Murray says in reply "that was a crash piece of driving from Jarrier". I'm sure Murray was about to say another descriptive word begining with 'c' & sounds very much like "crash".

"Crass", possibly? I was sure I'd heard this bit of commentary before, but it's not one of those on YouTube so I can't check. Was this one of those races where Murray would send his commentary down the phone? That might have added to the confusion.

EDIT: got it...

Even the gentlemanly Walker also made rare scathing comments on Jarier's driving, he said "In all my years as a commentator, but certainly no driver, I have to admit, that was an awful and crass piece of driving by Jarier." At this point in the season, in terms of his Formula One status, Jarier was at the point of no return.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Pierre_Jarier

Thanks for looking up that up dinizintheoven . I am usually laughing my head off after hearing James Hunt going apesh*t at Jarrier. So apologies for getting Murray's comments slightly wrong & for any confusion it might have caused. I was looking on utube as well for the clip. A bit surprised that they didn't seem to have it (at least the BBC verison). Shame really since IMO that was perhaps one of the best bits of commentary ever.

[JJMonty]

Murray says in reply "that was a crash piece of driving from Jarrier". I'm sure Murray was about to say another descriptive word begining with 'c' & sounds very much like "crash".

"Crass", possibly? I was sure I'd heard this bit of commentary before, but it's not one of those on YouTube so I can't check. Was this one of those races where Murray would send his commentary down the phone? That might have added to the confusion.

EDIT: got it...

Even the gentlemanly Walker also made rare scathing comments on Jarier's driving, he said "In all my years as a commentator, but certainly no driver, I have to admit, that was an awful and crass piece of driving by Jarier." At this point in the season, in terms of his Formula One status, Jarier was at the point of no return.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Pierre_Jarier

Thanks for looking up that up dinizintheoven . I am usually laughing my head off after hearing James Hunt going apesh*t at Jarrier. So apologies for getting Murray's comments slightly wrong & for any confusion it might have caused. I was looking on utube as well for the clip. A bit surprised that they didn't seem to have it (at least the BBC verison). Shame really since IMO that was perhaps one of the best bits of commentary ever.

It was on page 38 of the youtube rejects thread. But the youtube account has been closed down

[DOSBoot]

My take for 1990:

U.S.A. - Jean Alesi: Gave Senna a run for his money by holding him off for several laps in the inferior Tyrrell, and finished 2nd.

Brazil - Nigel Mansell: For carrying on to finish 4th, despite not having a rollbar.

San Marino - Riccardo Patrase: Finally wins a race after a seven year hiatus. On home soil as well.

Monaco - Alex Caffi: Scores two points for Arrows after starting 22nd. The team's only points finish of the season.

Canada - Sefano Modena: Gets close to scoring another points finish for Brabham.

Mexico - Alain Prost: Started 13th. Won the race in a classic Prost drive.

France - Leyton House: After failing to qualify in the previous race, both cars lead 1-2 for several laps. With Ivan Capelli coming very close to victory.

U.K. - Larrouse Lola: Eric Bernard unrejectified with a solid 4th place. While Aguri Suzuki finishes 6th.

Germany - Alessandro Nannini: Made his tires last to hold off Senna for a while, and eventually finish 2nd.

Hungary - Thierry Boutsen: Holds off Senna for most of the race to score his third career victory.

Belgium - Leyton House: Again, the team does well with Maurício Gugelmin, and Ivan Capelli finishing 6th, and 7th.

Italy - Derek Warwick: For simply having the guts to race after that high speed collision on the opening lap. He continued on in the spare car.

Potugal - Nigel Mansell: Get's the win despite a hairy collision with Philippe Alliot which almost took him out.

Spain - Nicola Larini: Comes close to scoring a point for Ligier after starting 20th.

Japan - Aguri Suzuki: 3rd. In a Larrousse. On his home race.

Australia - Nelson Piquet: Get's a consecutive win by making his tires last the entire race, and holding off Mansell. A great way to get 3rd in the drivers championship.

[JJMonty]

My take for 1990:

U.S.A. - Jean Alesi: Gave Senna a run for his money by holding him off for several laps in the inferior Tyrrell, and finished 2nd.

Brazil - Nigel Mansell: For carrying on to finish 4th, despite not having a rollbar.

San Marino - Paolo Barilla: Career best finish of 11th on Italian soil, in an Italian car.

Monaco - Alex Caffi: Scores two points for Arrows after starting 22nd. The team's only points finish of the season.

Canada - Sefano Modena: Gets close to scoring another points finish for Brabham.

Mexico - Alessandro Nannini: Started 14th. Finished 4th.

France - Leyton House: After failing to qualify in the previous race, both cars lead 1-2 for several laps. With Ivan Capelli coming very close to victory.

U.K. - Larrouse Lola: Eric Bernard unrejectified with a solid 4th place. While Aguri Suzuki finishes 6th.

Germany - Alessandro Nannini: Made his tires last to hold off Senna for a while, and eventually finish 2nd.

Hungary - Lotus: Derek Warwick and Martin Donnelly finish 5th, and 7th for the team.

Belgium - Leyton House: Again, the team does well with Maurício Gugelmin, and Ivan Capelli finishing 6th, and 7th.

Italy - Derek Warwick: For simply having the guts to race after that high speed collision on the opening lap. He continued on in the spare car.

Potugal - Nigel Mansell: Get's the win despite a hairy collision with Philippe Alliot which almost took him out.

Spain - Nicola Larini: Comes close to scoring a point for Ligier after starting 20th.

Japan - Aguri Suzuki: 3rd. In a Larrousse. On his home race.

Australia - Nelson Piquet: Get's a consecutive win by making his tires last the entire race, and holding off Mansell. A great way to get 3rd in the drivers championship.

Really? Some I'd have to disagree with! :O

U.S.A - Agree

Brazil - Really? I never even knew about that :O Link me up to something that mentions it please because the review doesn't show it

San Marino - Patrese surely? First win in 7 years and for once did everything right to get to the finish line without cocking up/mechanical gremlins robbing him of victory

Monaco - Caffi was 5th out of 6 finishers, 2 laps down. That was more luck than Improbability drive - similar to Danner the year before in Phoenix i.e. "you lucky bastard!". Surely Alesi for finishing in 2nd, little over 1 second behind Senna in a car which all weekend, was in positions it didn't deserve to be?

Canada - I would have voted either Piquet for showing some of the old form that people loved/hated about him or Berger for finishing first, 50 seconds ahead of Senna - the rain master!!!

Mexico - How about Prost? 13th - 1st! Or Mansell/Berger for that very brave, very risky but very fair battle? What I would call a good example of pushing to the limit but still being fair to one another.

France - Agree

U.K - Agree

Germany - Agree

Hungry - Lotus were always on the verge of points in many races, they just took advantage of Ferrari's DNF's to get some. I would have said Boutsen with-standing the pressure of Nannini, Berger and Senna for the whole race to win would have been voted best!

Belgium - Agree

Italy - Had Alesi not crashed, I would have said him for driving a car that was apparently 80bhp down on the Honda's & Ferrari's and managing to keep it up in 3rd! I agree, Warwick certainly had balls for driving that car again.

Portugal - Agree

Spain - Tempted to give it to Warwick again, balls of steel this man. Having had to see his team-mate get seriously injured in a car that disintegrated - leaving him with no faith over his car. Then qualify it in the top 10 and be on the verge of scoring points until his car broke down. I'd say that's a bloody good effort for someone who had a traumatic weekend!

Suzuka - Moreno or Suzuki deserve it to be fair. Suzuki for said reasons above, but for Moreno to jump into a car with little warning and go from frequent DNQ'er to podium finisher!

Adelade - Agree

[ibsey]

How about Prost during the 1987 Japanese GP? A race in which Alain, in his Mclaren TAG finished a lap behind the winner (Berger's Ferrari) & did not so much as score a point. This is why Nigel Roebuck rates it as Prost’s greatest drive...

At the start of the second lap, running on the tail of Berger’s leading Ferrari, he picked up a puncture – which meant running a whole lap very slowly before he could get back to the pits.

Although his position was obviously hopeless – it took him 22 laps to catch the next car in front of him – he drove as if the World Championship depended on it. Although Berger led all the way, in the course of the race Prost made up almost a whole lap on him, and twice lapped in 1min 43.8sec. The quickest lap by any other driver was 1min 45.5sec, set by Senna.

In the end Alain finished seventh, but that day he seemed to be running at the limit for the sake of it, simply to show how the race might have gone, had he not punctured.

Source; http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/ask_n ... -of-prost/

[FullMetalJack]

San Marino - Paolo Barilla: Career best finish of 11th on Italian soil, in an Italian car.

San Marino - Patrese surely? First win in 7 years and for once did everything right to get to the finish line without cocking up/mechanical gremlins robbing him of victory

I agree on San Marino, Paolo Barilla definitely doesn't deserve IIDOTR, he only qualified for the race because Martini crashed and had to withdraw from the race weekend.

[Salamander]

How about Prost during the 1987 Japanese GP? A race in which Alain, in his Mclaren TAG finished a lap behind the winner (Berger's Ferrari) & did not so much as score a point. This is why Nigel Roebuck rates it as Prost’s greatest drive...

At the start of the second lap, running on the tail of Berger’s leading Ferrari, he picked up a puncture – which meant running a whole lap very slowly before he could get back to the pits.

Although his position was obviously hopeless – it took him 22 laps to catch the next car in front of him – he drove as if the World Championship depended on it. Although Berger led all the way, in the course of the race Prost made up almost a whole lap on him, and twice lapped in 1min 43.8sec. The quickest lap by any other driver was 1min 45.5sec, set by Senna.

In the end Alain finished seventh, but that day he seemed to be running at the limit for the sake of it, simply to show how the race might have gone, had he not punctured.

Source; http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/ask_n ... -of-prost/

And this is proof that anyone who decries Prost for not being 'a real racer' is a complete and utter philistine.

[ibsey]

How about Prost during the 1987 Japanese GP? A race in which Alain, in his Mclaren TAG finished a lap behind the winner (Berger's Ferrari) & did not so much as score a point. This is why Nigel Roebuck rates it as Prost’s greatest drive...

At the start of the second lap, running on the tail of Berger’s leading Ferrari, he picked up a puncture – which meant running a whole lap very slowly before he could get back to the pits.

Although his position was obviously hopeless – it took him 22 laps to catch the next car in front of him – he drove as if the World Championship depended on it. Although Berger led all the way, in the course of the race Prost made up almost a whole lap on him, and twice lapped in 1min 43.8sec. The quickest lap by any other driver was 1min 45.5sec, set by Senna.

In the end Alain finished seventh, but that day he seemed to be running at the limit for the sake of it, simply to show how the race might have gone, had he not punctured.

Source; http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/ask_n ... -of-prost/

And this is proof that anyone who decries Prost for not being 'a real racer' is a complete and utter philistine.

Prost further demonstrated his 'real racer' qualities, at Spa 1986 (like Suzuka a 'real' driver's race track). This is how Wikipedia describes Prost's race;

Senna had made a good start from the 2nd row and when Berger's car twitched under brakes Senna went to the outside and then turned hard into the right hand corner. In doing so he squeezed out Berger who in turn squeezed out Prost while avoiding Senna. Prost, who had gone inside when the Benetton twitched, hit the inside barrier damaging the nose of his car with the right front wing drooping on the ground. He then drove over Berger's wheel launching the rear of his McLaren into the air...

...Both Berger and Prost pitted at the end of lap 1 with Berger in for a long stop for repairs and Prost for a new nose cone, amazingly his rear suspension survived intact despite its unscheduled first corner flight. Mansell disposed of Senna on lap 2 and gave chase to his team mate. Piquet led until suffering turbo failure on lap 16 leaving Mansell in front from Senna. Prost emerged last on the road and only a few hundred metres in front of the leading Williams and knowing that he had to run 1 lap less than the rest set about the drive of the race as he was able to use more boost with little worry about fuel consumption. On his way to being the last car on the lead lap and finishing in sixth place he set a new lap record of 1:59.282 on lap 31.

Source; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1986_Belgian_Grand_Prix

IIRC apparently when the Mclaren mechanics looked at Prost car after the race, they were amazed to find the chassis severely bent. No doubt as a result of that 1st corner collison. Which made the fact that Prost was able to set a new lap record, with the car as it was even more remarkable.

I guess the true magnitude of some of Prost's best drives like the two mentioned, aren't always appreciated as much as they should be, simply because people don't really know the background behind them.

Another great drive worth a mention I believe is Marc Surer who finished 4th in his Ensign-Ford at the 1981 Brazilian GP. Ahead of Elio de Angelis in the Lotus-Ford & Jacques Laffite in the Ligier-Matra (a championship contender for that year!). Marc even managed to get the fastest lap of the race. What makes this particularly remarkable was that this was on the back of a somewhat troubled time; after he had broke his legs testing an ATS at Kyalami in 1980.

[DOSBoot]

Mexico - How about Prost? 13th - 1st! Or Mansell/Berger for that very brave, very risky but very fair battle? What I would call a good example of pushing to the limit but still being fair to one another.

Hungry - Lotus were always on the verge of points in many races, they just took advantage of Ferrari's DNF's to get some. I would have said Boutsen with-standing the pressure of Nannini, Berger and Senna for the whole race to win would have been voted best!

Forgot about those two. Probably will change them soon. As for the rest, I'll stand by them.

[JJMonty]

Mexico - How about Prost? 13th - 1st! Or Mansell/Berger for that very brave, very risky but very fair battle? What I would call a good example of pushing to the limit but still being fair to one another.

Hungry - Lotus were always on the verge of points in many races, they just took advantage of Ferrari's DNF's to get some. I would have said Boutsen with-standing the pressure of Nannini, Berger and Senna for the whole race to win would have been voted best!

Forgot about those two. Probably will change them soon. As for the rest, I'll stand by them.

Even Barilla's?

[ibsey]

James Hunt, finished 2nd in his Hesketh March at the 1973 US Grand Prix despite described as one of the very few drivers who actually looked pale and visibly shaken following François Cevert’s death the day before. An accident which couldn’t have been more horrific. Yet remarkably he went on to drive a storming race the next day!