FORMULA 1

F1 drivers with the most grand prix starts before victory

May 10, 2024
GForze


Lando Norris lastly grew to become an F1 race winner after taking a long-awaited victory on the 2024 Miami Grand Prix. 

The win got here throughout Norris’ sixth yr within the sequence after being certainly one of F1’s highest-rated drivers for a number of seasons and coming near victory quite a few occasions. 

So when Norris lastly made that journey to the highest step of the rostrum, it meant he entered the highest 10 for essentially the most grand prix begins earlier than a driver’s maiden victory in F1. 

The place does Norris rank because of this and who else is on that listing? 

Sergio Perez, Racing Level, 1st place, on the rostrum with a Mexican flag

Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

  • Grand prix begins earlier than first win: 190 

  • First win: 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix 

  • Years in F1: 2011 – current  

  • Profession wins: 6 

  • Profession begins: 263 

  • Championships: 0 

Sergio Perez claimed a shock victory on the 2020 Sakhir GP for his maiden win. That was regardless of the then-Racing Level driver operating final on lap one after being hit by Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari at Flip 4 whereas battling for third.  
Perez was again contained in the factors on lap 20 earlier than a really temporary lap 55 digital security automotive left him preventing for a podium, as he didn’t pit whereas others did. He then claimed the lead on lap 64 after a botched double pitstop by Mercedes, who illegally fitted George Russell’s automotive with Valtteri Bottas’ front-tyres forcing the Briton to pit once more, whereas his team-mate had a 27.4 seconds cease because the workforce struggled to suit his front-left compound.   

It meant Perez lastly gained a grand prix at his one hundred and ninetieth try, which set a document for the longest wait as his entire profession as much as then had been spent in midfield equipment. Since, nevertheless, the floodgates have just about opened as Perez moved to Purple Bull in 2021 the place he has gained 5 grands prix. 

Carlos Sainz, Ferrari, 1st position

Carlos Sainz, Ferrari, 1st place

Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

  • Grand prix begins earlier than first win: 150 

  • First win: 2022 British Grand Prix 

  • Years in F1: 2015 – current 

  • Profession wins: 3 

  • Profession begins: 188 

  • Championships: 0 

Similar to Perez, Sainz spent many seasons within the midfield earlier than driving on the entrance because it took 5 years for his first podium on the 2019 Brazilian GP for McLaren. Sainz then had a golden alternative to win the 2020 Italian GP when he staged a late cost on Pierre Gasly, however finally completed half a second behind the Frenchman.  
His transfer to Ferrari in 2021 introduced extra near-misses till he gained from pole on the 2022 British GP. Nevertheless it was fairly the rollercoaster, as Sainz misplaced his result in Max Verstappen on lap 10 earlier than regaining it two excursions later after the Purple Bull driver ran over particles which brought about important ground harm.  

Ferrari then advised him to let a faster Leclerc overtake on lap 31, however Sainz was sooner on the lap 43 restart the place he regained the lead down Wellington Straight for his maiden victory after 150 grand prix begins.   

Podium: Race winner Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing second place Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing, third place Felipe Massa, Ferrari

Podium: Race winner Mark Webber, Purple Bull Racing second place Sebastian Vettel, Purple Bull Racing, third place Felipe Massa, Ferrari

Picture by: Rainer W. Schlegelmilch / Motorsport Images

Mark Webber began his F1 profession with backmarkers Minardi in 2002 earlier than a number of years within the midfield for Jaguar and Williams. The whole lot modified in 2007 when Webber moved to Purple Bull, who was a championship-contending outfit come 2009.  
It was throughout that yr that Webber set the document on the time for essentially the most grand prix begins (130) earlier than victory, as he gained the 2009 German GP on the weekend he additionally achieved his first pole. It didn’t come easily although, as Webber misplaced first at the beginning regardless of his aggressive defence the place bumping into Rubens Barrichello and clipping Lewis Hamilton’s rear-right tyre gave him a drive-through penalty.  

However Webber was considerably sooner than anyone that day, as a powerful restoration drive noticed him retake the lead through the second pitstop window earlier than successful in a Purple Bull 1-2 by 9 seconds.  

4. Rubens Barrichello  

Podium: Race winner Rubens Barrichello, Ferrari F1 2000, second place Mika Hakkinen, Mclaren MP4-15, third place David Coulthard, Mclaren MP4-15

Podium: Race winner Rubens Barrichello, Ferrari F1 2000, second place Mika Hakkinen, Mclaren MP4-15, third place David Coulthard, Mclaren MP4-15

Picture by: Sutton Photographs

Barrichello spent seven years within the midfield till a powerful 1999, the place he scored three podiums for Stewart, caught the attention of Ferrari boss Jean Todt who signed him for 2000. 

He proved worthy of being Michael Schumacher’s quantity two by claiming six podiums in his opening 10 grands prix. However that first victory eluded Barrichello till the 2000 German GP, the place he miraculously gained from 18th on the grid. 
Barrichello first benefitted from an awesome begin as he gained eight positions on lap one, whereas Schumacher retired after colliding with Giancarlo Fisichella. He then step by step progressed up the order earlier than taking the lead on lap 34, when different drivers pitted for moist tyres however Ferrari stored him out as a result of the monitor was solely damp in elements. Barrichello was then fast sufficient on slick tyres to maintain his lead and finish seven years in F1 and not using a victory. 
Race winner Jarno Trulli, Renault F1 Team

Race winner Jarno Trulli, Renault F1 Workforce

Picture by: Sutton Photographs

Jarno Trulli spent the whole thing of his 14-year F1 profession racing within the midfield, which makes it no shock that he solely gained one grand prix. That got here for Renault on the 2004 Monaco GP, the place Trulli by no means misplaced place to win from pole on his 117th race begin. 

It had been an extended await his win as a result of Trulli spent the earlier seven seasons racing for Minardi, Prost, Jordan and Renault so two podiums throughout that spell was the perfect he may hope for.   

However Renault took an enormous step ahead in 2004 because it completed third within the championship earlier than successful the 2005 and 2006 titles with Fernando Alonso. But Trulli by no means drove for Renault throughout its championship-winning seasons as a result of he was dropped in the direction of the tip of 2004 after his relationship with workforce boss Flavio Briatore had deteriorated. 
Jenson Button

Jenson Button

Picture by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images

  • Grand prix begins earlier than first win: 113 

  • First win: 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix 

  • Years in F1: 2000-17 

  • Profession wins: 15 

  • Profession begins: 306 

  • Championships: 1 (2009) 

Jenson Button had a rocky begin to his F1 profession by driving for 3 groups in his opening 4 seasons. All of it lastly clicked for him in 2004 when Button scored the primary 10 podiums of his profession and completed third within the standings, though victory nonetheless eluded him. 

He was compelled to attend even longer when his British American Racing workforce regressed in 2005 because of the regulation modifications. However issues step by step improved when BAR partnered with Honda for 2006, resulting in Button’s maiden victory at that season’s thirteenth spherical. 

Though he had certified in fourth, an engine penalty dropped him to 14th. Nevertheless it was moist and Button shone in these situations as he stayed on-track whereas others spun out. Not pitting through the lap 25 security automotive then promoted Button to second, earlier than claiming the lead on lap 51 when Alonso spun off resulting from a driveshaft failure. Button’s lead was left unchallenged as he lastly gained after 113 grand prix begins – though he waited one other two-and-a-half years for his subsequent victory.  

Race winner Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG F1 W03 celebrates in parc ferme

Race winner Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG F1 W03 celebrates in parc ferme

Picture by: Sutton Photographs

  • Grand prix begins earlier than first win: 111 

  • First win: 2012 Chinese language Grand Prix 

  • Years in F1: 2006-16 

  • Profession wins: 23 

  • Profession begins: 206 

  • Championships: 1 (2016) 

Nico Rosberg’s maiden victory got here throughout his seventh yr in F1, however he was at all times highly-rated. He spent his first 4 years at Williams, the place he beat his team-mates – Alexander Wurz after which Kazuki Nakajima – within the closing three of these seasons whereas scoring two podiums in midfield equipment.  

It led to his Mercedes transfer in 2010 the place he beat team-mate Schumacher within the 2010 and 2011 standings, however solely scored three podiums because the Silver Arrows was not but the drive it later grew to become. 

Mercedes’ tempo remained just about the identical for 2012, however a lap of the gods gave Rosberg his first pole by half-a-second at that season’s Chinese language GP. Rosberg carried that tempo into Sunday, the place he managed the race all through to present Mercedes its first win since 1955 and his first after 111 grand prix begins. 

=8. Lando Norris 

Lando Norris, McLaren

Lando Norris, McLaren

Picture by: Erik Junius

  • Grand prix begins earlier than first win: 110 

  • First win: 2024 Miami Grand Prix 

  • Years in F1: 2019 – current 

  • Profession wins: 1 

  • Profession begins: 110 

  • Championships: 0 

Norris’ victory adopted a number of missed alternatives, seeing him additionally acquire F1’s document for essentially the most podiums (15) and not using a victory. He made his McLaren and F1 debut in 2019, however it wasn’t till 2021 that Norris was ready to win races. 

His first alternative was the 2021 Italian GP when Norris completed behind Daniel Ricciardo in a McLaren 1-2, regardless of persistently beating the Australian that yr. Norris claimed his maiden pole two weeks later in Russia earlier than main a lot of the race, till he aquaplaned off with two laps left after failing to vary his slick tyres when rain began to fall.  

Purple Bull’s dominance over the following two years restricted alternatives, however Norris’ day lastly arrived on the 2024 Miami GP when he gained from fifth. It got here after operating an extended first stint, which ended when he pitted underneath a security automotive inflicting Norris to steer the lap 33 restart. Nevertheless it was not all luck, as Norris gained 7.6 seconds on Verstappen within the closing 25 laps for his first F1 win. 

=8. Giancarlo Fisichella 

Podium: Giancarlo Fisichella, Jordan celebrates

Podium: Giancarlo Fisichella, Jordan celebrates

Picture by: Sutton Photographs

Fisichella had an awesome likelihood to win the 1997 German GP in his first full season of F1, when he was intently battling Gerhard Berger for the lead till a puncture on his Jordan’s rear-right tyre ruined his probabilities.  
One other alternative introduced itself on the 1998 Austrian GP when Fisichella, now driving for Benetton, began from pole however retired on lap 21 after a collision with Jean Alesi. Fisichella additionally spun out of the lead on the 1999 European GP, so his early F1 years have been stuffed with missed alternatives because the Italian appeared destined to by no means win.  

However Fisichella’s likelihood lastly got here on the 2003 Brazilian GP when he, now again at Jordan, gained from eighth on the grid. The important thing to that victory was a lap seven pitstop the place Fisichella took on sufficient gas to final till the tip of a really moist race, which had half of the grid retire.  

Mika Hakkinen, Mclaren

Mika Hakkinen, Mclaren

Picture by: Motorsport Images

  • Grand prix begins earlier than first win: 96 

  • First win: 1997 European Grand Prix 

  • Years in F1: 1991-01 

  • Profession wins: 20 

  • Profession begins: 161 

  • Championships: 2 (1998-99) 

It took seven seasons for Mika Hakkinen to drive a automotive that might battle for wins all through a marketing campaign, as Lotus after which McLaren each went by a tough interval. 

However David Coulthard ended McLaren’s three-year winless run by successful the 1997 season-opener, forward of a marketing campaign through which he had the higher hand on Hakkinen who completed 9 factors beneath within the standings. 
Hakkinen nonetheless had probabilities to win although, as his engine blew whereas main the British GP with seven laps left. However Hakkinen lastly grew to become a grand prix winner after 96 race begins on the season-finale in Jerez. He did require some luck although, as Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve’s lap 48 collision handed Hakkinen the lead earlier than successful in a McLaren 1-2. 

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