F1 Endurance Championship

[Zenarcher]

Welcome to the Formula One Endurance Championship, where having the fastest car doesn't mean much; instead, you need to be reliable, consistent and have a lot of luck on your side to win. The goal of this championship is to outlast your opponents by competing in as many races as possible from the start to the end of the season.

The rules... very strict!

1. If you are disqualified, fail to qualify, or fail to start the race, you will be eliminated from the championship. Sorry, but you're out if you miss a single race!

2. To be eligible for the next race, you must get the car across the finish line. You're out if you retire on the final lap. Those who have been lapped are exempt from this rule; they must just finish the race without retiring.

3. To qualify for the championship, you must start the first race of the season, as the goal is to see who can go a whole season without retiring. The Indy 500 race for the 1950s will not be included since the drivers will not be able to qualify.

Winners so far,

1950 - Johnny Claes
1951 - Giuseppe Farina
1952 - Alan Brown
1953 - Mike Hawthorn
1954 - Juan Manuel Fangio
1955 - Juan Manuel Fangio
1956 - Jean Behra
1957 - Juan Manuel Fangio
1958 - Harry Schell
1959 - Maurice Trintignant
1960 - Bruce McLaren
1961 - Phil Hill
1962 - Phil Hill
1963 - Richie Ginther
1964 - Richie Ginther
1965 - Graham Hill
1966 - Guy Ligier
1967 - Denny Hulme
1968 - Graham Hill
1969 - Denny Hulme
1970 - Graham Hill
1971 - Jackie Stewart
1972 - Jacky Ickx
1973 - François Cevert
1974 - Emerson Fittipaldi
1975 - Carlos Reutemann
1976 - Niki Lauda
1977 - Emerson Fittipaldi
1978 - Mario Andretti
1979 - Jochen Mass
1980 - Alan Jones
1981 - Carlos Reutemann
1982 - Michele Alboreto
1983 - Alain Prost
1984 - Elio de Angelis
1985 - Elio de Angelis
1986 - Ayrton Senna
1987 - Stefan Johansson
1988 - Alain Prost
1989 - Alain Prost
1990 - Jean Alesi
1991 - Ayrton Senna
1992 - Michele Alboreto
1993 - Ayrton Senna
1994 - Michael Schumacher
1995 - Gerhard Berger
1996 - Damon Hill
1997 - Mika Häkkinen
1998 - David Coulthard
1999 - Michael Schumacher
2000 - Giancarlo Fisichella
2001 - David Coulthard
2002 - Michael Schumacher
2003 - Ralph Schumacher
2004 - Rubens Barrichello
2005 - Tiago Monteiro
2006 - Fernando Alonso
2007 - Lewis Hamilton
2008 - Nick Heidfeld
2009 - Jenson Button
2010 - Felipe Massa
2011 - Sebastian Vettel
2012 - Kimi Räikkönen
2013 - Lewis Hamilton
2014 - Fernando Alonso
2015 - Lewis Hamilton
2016 - Daniel Ricciardo
2017 - Lewis Hamilton
2018 - Sebastian Vettel
2019 - Lewis Hamilton
2020 - Lewis Hamilton
2021 - Carlos Sainz Jr.
2022 - Lewis Hamilton

1950 - Only two men are in contention for the title after a rogue wave hits Monaco



The British Grand Prix kicked off the first year of the endurance competition at Silverstone. The race had a considerable number of retirements, the majority of which were due to technical issues. Farina won the race, but his good fortune was about to run out. A wave from the harbour flooded the track during the next race in Monaco, forcing many drivers to retire, including championship leader Farina, therefore the race was won by Gerard.

After two races, only Gerard and Claes remained in the championship, reducing the field to just two men. However, Gerard, who is known for paying close attention to the preparation of his cars in order to improve their reliability, decided not to compete in the third race in Switzerland for unclear reasons.

Thousands of people arrived to witness Johnny Claes race on his own, despite the fact that many thought it was strange but he still needed to finish the race to win the championship, which he did.

Claes could have retired after winning the Championship, but he wasn't finished yet; he wanted to see how far he could go, so he finished the next race in Belgium at the dangerous Spa circuit, and then his luck ran out in France on lap 11 when his engine overheated, but it didn't matter because Johnny Claes had won the first F1 Endurance Championship!



1951 - Farina benefits from car sharing



After a dismal start to the previous season for many drivers, they were looking forward to the new season. Yet, it rained during the first race in Switzerland, which presented them with an unexpected challenge; however, only three of them would crash out of the race; the other four retirements were due to technical issues. Despite the wet weather, fourteen drivers completed the race, with Fangio winning.

Only nine of the fourteen remaining drivers competed in the second race in Belgium; perhaps the scary, deadly circuit scared them away; we'll never know, but Farina won. Farina appeared to be on his way to winning the championship at the third race in France, and his competitors seemed to agree, making it simple for him. While Rosier had a technical issue and last year's winner Claes had an accident, Fangio and Ascari both shared their cars with another driver which eliminated them from the championship, giving Farina the advantage.

Farina had won his first championship, but he decided to continue on to the next race in Britain because, well, why not? He completed 75 of the 90 laps before his clutch failed, but it didn't matter because he had already secured the championship.



1952 - Ascari selects the Indy 500 over F1



Surprisingly, Ascari was supposed to have a chance to dominate this year; his car was undoubtedly fast and reliable, but he chose to skip the first race in order to compete in the Indy 500. With Ascari already out, the championship was open to anyone.

We're back on track in Switzerland, with more technical related retirements. Abecassis had a severe crash that left him badly bruised, the result of a driveshaft failure that spun his vehicle out of control. Collins, another member of his team, retired due to the same issue. HWM's manager, John Heath, was concerned and decided to retire his final two cars, Moss and Macklin, for safety reasons.

Taruffi won the opening race and took the lead in the championship race. Only five drivers competed in the second race in Belgium, and championship leader Taruffi spun off the course, leaving Behra with nowhere to go and collided with the spinning car of Taruffi. Both cars ended up in a ditch on the side of the track, but despite escaping their wrecks, they were both eliminated from the race and the championship. Only Brown and Brandon finished the race, which was enough for Brown to win the title because both men agreed to miss the next race in France.

[Rob Dylan]

Loving this concept. I like to think that the two Brits in 1952 just didn't want the French Grand Prix to be the glorious finale and so just agreed to end it a race early

Looking forward to at least one or two Heidfeld championships!

[Zenarcher]

Loving this concept. I like to think that the two Brits in 1952 just didn't want the French Grand Prix to be the glorious finale and so just agreed to end it a race early

Looking forward to at least one or two Heidfeld championships!

Ha yeah , perhaps they were turned off by what happened to Farina in 1951 when he retired from the race with only 15 laps to go. I believe Raikkonen has a chance to win a title. I remember reading in 2012/2013 about how many races he had completed without retiring.

1953 - Ascari's luck runs out, giving Hawthorn the upper hand



After two races, 15 drivers had already retired, leaving only, Hawthorn and Ascari, to compete. The two men fought it out through the races, with Ascari leading until the sixth race in Germany. Ascari appeared to have everything under control until a wheel hub came loose, causing the front right wheel to fly off the car.

Ascari managed to get the car back to the pits on three wheels, and his team Ferrari was able to fix the problem, allowing him to resume the race. However, Ascari would swap cars later in the race, which is against the rules in this championship, but he managed to fool the FIA and continue on, closing in on Hawthorn by setting the fastest lap, but then disaster!

Ascari's Ferrari emitted smoke. Ascari took the car back to the pits and said "enough" as he exited the car and walked back to his hotel alone, the strain of the fastest laps had taken its toll on the engine, he was out of the championship but still had a chance to win if Hawthorn failed to catch up on points. Hawthorn finished the race and went on to win in Switzerland and Italy. Hawthorn made history by becoming the first man to complete an entire season without retiring! Hawthorn won his first championship.



1954 - The records book is rewritten by Fangio



Many people have wondered from the beginning of the endurance championship if it is possible to complete an entire season. Last year, Hawthorn accomplished just that, but can anyone complete the season and win every race? That man, of course, is none other than the legendary Fangio!

His luck hasn't been great so far, but in 1954 everything came together, many drivers were eliminated from the championship, including last year's champion Hawthorn, who was disqualified in the first race due to a push start. With eight wins in a row, Fangio dominated this year and of course won his first championship!



1955 - Heatwave In Argentina Eliminates Twenty Drivers



The Argentine Grand Prix was held in the middle of the summer because somebody thought it would be a good idea. The race took place in scorching heat, with temperatures reaching 40°C (104°F), and a track temperature of above 57°C. (135°F).

Fangio got off to a good start, but the race remained close in the early stages. On lap 22, Ascari made a mistake and crashed. His Lancia team planned to put Ascari in Villoresi's car in an attempt to fool the FIA, but Villoresi crashed out before that could happen. Because of the heat, many drivers had to pit and swap places with other drivers towards the middle of the race. Farina, the 1951 endurance champion, pitted due to exhaustion, and his car was taken over by Ferrari's spare driver Maglioli.

Even last year's champion Fangio had to stop for a drink of water. In the end, just a handful of drivers completed the three-hour race. Many drivers were eliminated from the championship because they swapped cars. Only Fangio and Mieres completed the three-hour race without switching cars. Fangio's right leg rubbed against the chassis structure as the W196 chassis heated up, yet despite receiving severe burns, he continued racing; his injuries took three months to heal. He is a true endurance champion at heart!

Both drivers competed in the next race at Monaco, but Fangio retired on lap 49 due to transmission problems, allowing Mieres to take the lead, but he too retired on lap 64 due to the same issue. After that, Fangio became a two-time champion.

[UncreativeUsername37]

1955 is up there with the craziest alternative seasons... the only better one I can think of is that non-scorers championship where Doornbos won 2005 by default. But I feel like this will deliver such things year after year. I mean, it already has....

[Zenarcher]

1955 is up there with the craziest alternative seasons... the only better one I can think of is that non-scorers championship where Doornbos won 2005 by default. But I feel like this will deliver such things year after year. I mean, it already has....

Yeah, the heatwave was interesting to read about, and it was mentioned briefly in Netflix's "A Life of Speed: The Juan Manuel Fangio Story." So far, the 1950s have been entertaining; let's hope this continues into the next decade!

1956 - Behra Unstoppable With Maserati



We're starting the season again in Argentina, but the weather is cooler this time, and only 15 drivers showed up, down from 22 from the year before, possibly because no one wanted to be burnt to alive again. Only three drivers completed the race; the rest either had a technical issue or swapped cars. Behra, Hawthorn, and Gendebien were given the go-ahead to compete in the next race at Monaco.

Gendebien decided not to go to Monaco and withdrew from the championship, leaving only Hawthorn and Behra. Hawthorn's engine had a problem shortly before the race began, and he withdrew from the race. Behra was crowned champion straight away, but he went on to race and win anyway. Behra kept racing to see how far he could go before retiring in Italy.



1957 - Fangio Scores Another Victory



We begin the season in Argentina, where, like last year, there was no dreadful heatwave, a number of drivers retired due to mechanical issues, and Fangio won the race. Only four of the remaining eight drivers competed in Monaco, with Moss crashing on lap 4, Schell retiring on lap 23 due to suspension issues, and Menditeguy spinning off on lap 51, while Fangio cruised to another victory.

As a result, Fangio was named champion for the third time! He went on to win in France, but his engine failed on lap 49 in Britain, forcing him to retire.



1958 - Only ten drivers compete in this year's championship



1958's grid was the smallest we've ever had, with only ten drivers. Moss won the first race, and Collins was the only one to retire in Argentina. Five of the remaining nine drivers arrived in Monaco, with Behra, Hawthorn, and Moss all retiring due to mechanical issues. Musso won, and Schell came in second, so the title race was now down to the two of them.

Schell won the Dutch Grand Prix comfortably over Musso, while Musso retired from the Belgian Grand Prix on lap 5 his tyre had blown and he had skidded off the track, but he was unharmed. Schell finished the race to win his first championship, but his car overheated and he had to retire on lap 41 at the following race in France.

[Rob Dylan]

1955 is up there with the craziest alternative seasons... the only better one I can think of is that non-scorers championship where Doornbos won 2005 by default. But I feel like this will deliver such things year after year. I mean, it already has....

How did the non-scoring championship work? Was it just a re-run of each season but only the real-life non-scorers taking part? Or was it a similar thing to this, whereby drivers were eliminated if they scored a point, and the last person to score a point won the championship?

[Bleu]

A potential title coming?

[Rob Dylan]

A potential title coming?

And a Monteiro title too

[Zenarcher]

A potential title coming?

If the top teams retire early, he might have a chance to catch up on points.

1959 - Three drivers are eliminated in Monaco due to spilled oil on the track



We start the season for the first time in Monaco and there was already danger when someone spilled some oil from an over-filled tank and von Trips skidded sideways on it, right in front of Allison and Halford. No one could do anything at such tight proximity, and three severely bent cars ended up on the pavement and out of the race, with the drivers escaping with minor cuts and bruises.

Gregory retired due to gearbox issues later in the race, and Graham Hills' car caught fire on lap 21. Schell went directly into the hay bales at the Casino Square on lap 48. He pulled the car out and started driving down the hill towards the Hotel Mirabeau, but he didn't go very far because both the oil and water radiators were damaged in the crash. Flockhart spun at the entry to the Casino square on lap 65 and stalled the engine.

Brabham won in Monaco and would win again at that the following race, putting him in a strong position for the championship. However, he retired in Germany due to transmission problems, giving Trintignant the advantage and allowing him to win the race. Trintignant fought on and was the only driver to make it to the end of the season, allowing him to collect enough points to claim his first championship.



1960 - The Heatwave returned to Argentina and knocked nine drivers out of the championship



We've returned to Argentina to begin the season, but the high temperatures have returned, though not as hot as the previous heatwave, but warm enough for some drivers to retire because of the heat. McLaren won the race, and just five of the remaining thirteen drivers competed in the second race in Monaco. All five drivers finished the race, and they all competed in the Dutch Grand Prix, where championship leader McLaren retired due to gearbox issues and Phil Hill had to retire because of engine problems.

Bonnier retired when the oil-filter bowl came adrift and all the oil spilled over his rear wheels before he realised what had happened; the engine broke and he spun off the track, bending the BRM but avoiding physical harm. Only Ireland and von Trips finished the race, although both drivers were forced to withdraw in Belgium due to mechanical problems. As a result, McLaren won his first title.



1961 - Phil Hill and Dan Gurney are in a tight race for the title



The 1961 season was unique in that many of the drivers completed half of the season for the first time, but it was obvious from the start that it would be a fight between two Americans, Phil Hill in the Ferrari and Dan Gurney in the Porsche.

Phil Hill had collected enough points in Italy to be declared champion but decided not to return to his home nation for one final race. (The real reason was that Phil Hill's teammate Wolfgang von Trips sadly died in a crash in real life, and the team decided not to go across to America for the season finale.) Dan Gurney however travelled to America and competed alone, claiming to be one of the few drivers to complete a season.

[Zenarcher]

1962 - Innes Ireland learns how to perform aerobatics



The season begins with the Dutch Grand Prix, where 11 drivers had their title ambitions dashed early mostly due to mechanical troubles. Surtees had a bad accident when his Lola's top-left wishbone broke, snapping the suspension and pulling the car off the track. A bounce through the gravel saw the Lola slam into the safety fencing lining the circuit's edge, smashing the rest of the front end, although the crumpled front end served well to protect Surtees from injury.

After Surtees returned and reported the failure, Lola decided to withdraw Roy Salvadori's second car a few laps later. With a quarter of the race remaining, Ireland suffered a brake failure into Tarzan and flipped over the safety fence. Despite the fact that the Brit was unharmed, he was bewildered following his unexpected aerobatics, which drew a lot of attention away from other events on the circuit.

Graham Hill won the race, with Phil Hill, the current champion, coming in third. Only six drivers showed up for the following event at Monaco, and only Phil Hill and Bonnier finished the race; the other drivers all had mechanical troubles. Bonnier's decision not to travel to Belgium allowed Phil Hill to win easily, and he then decided to retire from the championship early after securing his second title.



1963 - The drivers face difficult racing conditions due to the stormy weather in Belgium



We begin the season in Monaco, where eight drivers were eliminated, mainly due to mechanical issues, although Ireland was forced to retire after his gearbox failed when he slammed into the seawall. It rained at the next race in Belgium, and only three drivers finished; Brabham, Taylor, Surtees, and Graham Hill all retired due to technical issues, and Maggs broke his radiator after going off the track and onto the grass. There were calls for the race to be stopped, but the storm moved away from the circuit and the rain eased off.

Ginther was in a solid position for the championship title after winning the third race at the Dutch Grand Prix, while his closest challenger McLaren retired due to gearbox issues. Maggs' title chances were ruined when his car overheated. Ginther and Bonnier were the only drivers left. However, both would retire at the next race in France, with Ginther having issues with his radiator on lap 4, allowing Bonnier to take advantage, but his gearbox forced him to retire on lap 32. Ginther was crowned champion for 1963.



1964 - Ginther ties Fangio's record of eight victories in a season



We were down to just six drivers after the first race in Monaco, with ten drivers experiencing technical difficulties. Graham Hill won the race, and only Hailwood retired from the Dutch Grand Prix due to differential problems.

The remaining five drivers gathered in Belgium for the third round, where the weather was dry, but Siffert, Arundell, and Graham Hill had to withdraw due to technical issues, while Bonnier became ill and withdrew from the race, leaving just Ginther to finish and win the race. Ginther went on to win and finish every race left, taking eight victories along the way and dominating this year to win his second endurance championship.

[UncreativeUsername37]

Hey, some years where the last guy standing doesn't win!
And I love the picture for 1960.

How did the non-scoring championship work? Was it just a re-run of each season but only the real-life non-scorers taking part? Or was it a similar thing to this, whereby drivers were eliminated if they scored a point, and the last person to score a point won the championship?

Yeah, just taking out everyone who scored in real life.

[Zenarcher]

1965 - Jim Clark, like Alberto Ascari in 1952, chooses the Indy 500 over F1



For the first time ever, we began the season in South Africa, with only five retirements and Jim Clark winning. However, Jim Clark and Mike Spence decided to withdraw from the championship and race in the Indy 500 instead of going to Monaco, which surprised some because Jim Clark had a great chance to win this year, similar to what Ascari did in 1952. In Monaco, Graham Hill won, and by the third race in Belgium, we were down to just six drivers: Anderson did not start because of engine issues, and Surtees retired after just five laps with the same problem, while Stewart claimed victory.

Three races later, it was evident that the battle would be between Graham Hill and Jackie Stewart, but in Germany, both Jackie Stewart and Jo Siffert retired due to mechanical problems, leaving Graham Hill to win. Graham Hill won his first title and won the races in Italy and America before retiring from the final race in Mexico with only 9 laps to go before his engine failed. He came close to finishing the season without a retirement.



1966 - To stay in the championship fight with Guy Ligier, Lorenzo Bandini uses baler twine



11 drivers were already eliminated from the championship after the first race in Monaco, leaving only 6 drivers to compete in Belgium. Despite the fact that Guy Ligier and Jo Bonnier were not classified in real life, they both finished the race without retiring, allowing them to compete in the following race.

In Belgium, a number of drivers were involved in accidents: Jo Bonnier crashed into a farmhouse window, Jackie Stewart flew off the circuit, and his BRM wrapped itself around a telegraph pole. He was trapped in the car, which had flipped over and broken his shoulder, while Bob Bondurant and Graham Hill went into the ditch where the Scot was stuck. The race was won by Lorenzo Bandini and Guy Ligier managed to finish the race.

Lorenzo Bandini came dangerously close to being eliminated in France when his throttle cable snapped, causing the engine to die and forcing him to coast back to the pits for repairs. Unfortunately, the run back from Thillois was uphill, so Bandini leapt out of the car, tore baler twine from a straw bale, and tied the ends of the cable back together, which allowed him to coast back to the pits for repairs. The hasty fix was enough for him to drag the Ferrari into the pits for a new cable and return to racing, but this allowed Guy Ligier to win by a comfortable margin.

Despite Bandini's incredible efforts to stay in the championship, his hopes were shattered at the British Grand Prix, when Ferrari was unable to transport the cars out of Italy due to strikes in Italy. Ligier was able to win the next two races and be crowned champion as a result of this! In Germany as Ligier crashed before the race was due to start, he spun off into the trees only a short distance from the start. He was thrown out and suffered a broken knee and other minor injures, which ended his season, but it didn't matter because he had won.



1967 - In the first race, ten drivers are eliminated, leaving only four to turn up in Monaco



The first race of the season saw ten drivers retire, mostly due to technical issues, and by the second race in Monaco, we were down to just four drivers after Brabham and Surtees were eliminated when their engines failed, only Hulme and Rodrguez finished the race, and the championship battle was down to just two men.

The championship duel would not last long, as Rodrguez retired on lap 39 with gearbox troubles, handing Hulme an easy victory at the Dutch Grand Prix. Hulme continued to the fourth race in Belgium, but his engine broke after 14 laps, although he had won his first title anyway.

[Zenarcher]

1968 - Two F1 Endurance Champions go head-to-head



The first race, as expected, witnessed a huge number of retirements; 13 drivers had already been eliminated from the championship, and de Adamich was involved in an accident. It was only de Adamich's second Grand Prix start, and he was too hard on the throttle to correct the unexpected understeer when he struck oil at full speed. The Ferrari was therefore forced into a high-speed rotation, with only the safety barrier on the inside of the course breaking the spin, resulting in an unharmed driver and but a badly damaged car.

Four more drivers were eliminated in Spain, leaving only three drivers in Monaco. Beltoise had an accident at Massanet when he went into the kerb, breaking the front right suspension. After Monaco, only Graham Hill and Denny Hulme remained, both of whom had previously won the F1 Endurance Championship. The next race, in Belgium, saw the championship leader, Graham Hill, retire just 5 laps into the race due to a technical issue. Denny Hulme was now in a solid position to turn things around, but he, too, would retire with just 10 laps remaining. Graham Hill had won his second championship as a result of this.



1969 - Two more F1 Endurance Champions are challenging for the title



In the first race in South Africa, nine drivers were eliminated, and two more would be eliminated in Spain, including last year's champion Graham Hill. We were down to only four men by Monaco, and Denny Hulme was once again a title contender. Jean-Pierre Beltoise, like last year, retired at Monaco, but this time down to a technical issue, with Jackie Stewart the other driver to retire.

With only Denny Hulme and Bruce McLaren remaining, another title duel between two champions was set to take place. Unfortunately for Bruce McLaren, his suspension failed in the next race, Denny Hulme won the race and went on to win in France before retiring with a technical issue in Britain, but it didn't matter because Denny Hulme was now a two-time champion!



1970 - Hill equals Fangio's three-title record



Many drivers suffered engine difficulties at the opening race in South Africa, which was held in the scorching heat. The weather in Spain was also incredibly hot. A large crash took place that resulted in a fire. As soon as word of the crash and its circumstances reached the pits, BRM chose to withdraw Rodrguez' car as a precaution, suspecting another stub axle failure. Rodriguez was dissatisfied with being withdrawn. Graham Hill and Jackie Stewart were the only two drivers to finish the race.

Jackie Stewart may have 6 wins to his name, putting him fifth on the all-time list of drivers with the most victories, but he has yet to win a championship. This was his best chance as he started on pole for the following race in Monaco. He had a great start and was comfortably ahead of Graham Hill, but his engine began to sound rough, so he pitted. After changing several electrical components he rejoined but was now behind Graham Hill; he only needed to finish the race to keep his chances alive, but on lap 57 his engine couldn't handle it any further and it was over; Graham Hill went on to win the race and be named champion, tying Fangio's record of three titles.

Graham Hill continued to the next race in Belgium, but due to engine problems, he retired on lap 19. Graham Hill had a fantastic year after returning to racing following a life-threatening accident at the 1969 United States Grand Prix. Despite extensive knee surgery, he won the championship this year!

[Zenarcher]

1971 - Jackie Stewart finally wins his first championship



At the first race, twelve drivers were eliminated, with Andretti winning. Seven more drivers were eliminated from the championship in Spain, including Andretti, who had just won the first race in South Africa. Only Hulme, Ickx, and Stewart finished the race in Monaco, with Stewart now seeming to be in a strong position for this year's title. Wisell and Amon both retired with technical issues, leaving only Hulme, Ickx, and Stewart.

All three men would finish the fourth race, with Ickx taking the victory. Fans had hoped to see a title fight between Ickx and Stewart, but both Ickx and Hulme retired in France, allowing Stewart to win the race. Stewart then went on to win in his home country of Britain, then in Germany, but in Austria, he retired on lap 35. Jackie Stewart has finally won the F1 Endurance Championship after so many close calls!



1972 - Hulme is aiming for his third championship, while Ickx is attempting to win his first



F1 returns to Argentina to kick off the season, with last year's winner Stewart taking the win and 11 drivers being eliminated. However, Stewart retired from the second race due to gearbox problems, and Hulme, the two-time champion, won the race. Only seven drivers started the race in Spain, and only three finished it. Hulme, who was aiming to win his third championship, had his dreams shattered when he, like Stewart, retired due to gearbox problems. The race was won by Ickx, who was also a contender last year.

Only Pescarolo, Regazzoni, and Ickx remained in the championship at the fourth race, which took place in Monaco, with Ickx leading in points. Regazzoni lost control of his car on lap 51 and crashed into the barriers, putting him out, while Pescarolo crashed into the barriers just 7 laps later, leaving Ickx to finish the race and be declared champion. Ickx proceeded to the next race in Belgium, but due to a mechanical issue, he withdrew on lap 47.



1973 - Cevert, Fittipaldi, and Hulme are all battling for the championship



Fittipaldi started the season strongly with two wins, but Stewart, Hulme, and Cevert were all close behind. Stewart won the third race in South Africa, but last year's champion Ickx was forced to retire due to a crash with other drivers.

In Spain, the battle between Stewart, Hulme, Fittipaldi, and Cevert was still close, but Stewart withdrew on lap 47 after his brakes failed; he had been the favourite to win this year, and this had significantly opened up the championship; Fittipaldi went on to win the race. Remarkably, the three drivers would go on to win one race each in Belgium, Monaco, and Sweden. Fittipaldi led the championship before retiring in France following an accident.

Cevert and Hulme were now the only ones left. Cevert had won the race in France, but he couldn't defeat Hulme in Britain. Hulme was desperate to win his third championship, but his engine failed on lap 31 at the Dutch Grand Prix, allowing him to cruise to victory. He then went on to win in Germany before retiring on lap 6 in Austria. Cevert had done it, narrowly defeating Hulme!

[Aislabie]

1955 is up there with the craziest alternative seasons... the only better one I can think of is that non-scorers championship where Doornbos won 2005 by default. But I feel like this will deliver such things year after year. I mean, it already has....

A bunch of TFMT seasons were superb for similar reasons:

1951 - Reg Parnell, Franco Rol, Paco Godia and Stirling Moss all scored one win each, but the decider was Reg Parnell's DNS at Monza
1957 - Edgar Barth and Carel Godin de Beaufort's 1st and 2nd at the Nurburgring were the only finishes of the season... in F2 cars
1960 - Chuck Daigh had managed zero points from five attempts in the Scarab - only to win the US Grand Prix, and for those failed attempts to suddenly be his countback saviours.
1961 - Keith Greene's Gilby was the only car to finish a race all season
1964 - Ronnie Bucknum finished a race, Andre Pilette and Mario de Araujo Cabral did not. Nobody else eligible.
1969 - Francois Cevert topped the standings in his Tecno-Ford, with zero points and a best finish of a DNF
1972 - Rolf Stommelen and Eifelland absolutely romped it.
1987 - Pascal Fabre shithoused his way to glory in an AGS.
1996 - A bit of Forti-on-Forti action crown Luca Badoer champion. Only Forti was eligible and they went bust mid-season.
1998 - Only Minardi was eligible; NAKANOWINSLOL.
2004 - A titanic all-Minardi battle; eight wins each, and Baumgartner's third second-place was the deciding result.
2008 and 2009 - Both seasons were won by the real-life WDCs.

Andrea de Cesaris also became a three-time WDC. Stellar stuff.

[Zenarcher]

1974 - Denny Hulme is contending for the title once more



The first race, held in Argentina, saw hot weather cause problems for numerous drivers, including overheating and technical problems. In total, 13 drivers were eliminated, with Hulme taking the win. Fittipaldi won three of the next four races. By the time we arrived in Monaco, Fittipaldi, Hulme, and Hailwood were the only drivers left.

Hulme was in contention for a third championship, but his hopes were crushed early on the first lap when he crashed into the barriers and was forced to retire. After hitting an oil slick, Hailwood crashed into the barriers 11 laps into the race. Fittipaldi won this year's championship by winning the race. He raced for two more rounds before retiring due to engine issues on lap 27 of the French Grand Prix.

This was Denny Hulme's final season in F1 but an honourable mention goes out to him for being very consistent throughout his entire career, 1966 - 10th, 1967 - 1st, 1968 - 2nd, 1969 - 1st, 1970 - 4th, 1971 - 3rd, 1972 - 2nd, 1973 - 3rd and 1973 - 2nd. He's probably the most consistent driver we've had yet.



1975 - Fittipaldi, the defending champion, quits early in the season



Fittipaldi, last year's champion, got off to a fantastic start, winning the first two races while 15 drivers were eliminated from the championship. The crisis began at the fourth race in Spain when members of the Grand Prix Drivers Association were outraged that the barriers were not properly bolted together. As a result, they went on strike. The majority of the sport's top players declined to practise.

Track staff worked overnight to repair the barriers, and several of the teams sent mechanics to assist to ensure that everything was repaired in time for qualifying on Saturday. The drivers, on the other hand, were still sceptical, and the event organisers threatened legal action if the race was not held. Fittipaldi, the defending World Champion, was still furious and announced his withdrawal from the race the next morning and returned home. Having the reigning champion walk away and out of the championship was an unbelievable sight for the fans.

Only six drivers would start the race in Spain, with Mass emerging victorious, and he would go on to win in Monaco as well. It was only Reutemann, Mass, and Ickx at the sixth race of the season in Belgium. When the race began, Mass was already out due to an accident, while Ickx's brakes failed later in the race, resulting in Reutemann's victory. He continued to race and claimed three more victories to claim his first championship. His streak came to an end in Britain, where his engine failed on lap four.



1976 - After Hunt is eliminated early on, Lauda takes charge and dominates the season



This season is famed for the Lauda vs Hunt rivalry, but it never happened in this alternative championship; Hunt was eliminated in the first race, and it was obvious from the start that Lauda was unbeatable; he had a fast and reliable car. Lauda's job became easier as more competitors were eliminated from the championship.

Lauda was declared champion after Depallier, Mass, and Fittipaldi were eliminated at the fourth race in Spain. He went on to win in Belgium, Monaco, and France before withdrawing due to engine issues in France.

[Zenarcher]

1977 - In just two races, 19 drivers are eliminated



When some of the favourites to win this year, such as Lauda, Scheckter, and Andretti, were eliminated early on, it set the stage for a fascinating season. Incredibly, 12 drivers were eliminated in the first race, with another 7 eliminated in the second. By the third race, we were down to just two men, both of whom were F1 Endurance Champions.

Reutemann and Fittipaldi began the race in South Africa, with Reuttemann taking the victory. Unfortunately for Reutemann, he was involved in an accident early on at the next race in America, while Fittipaldi finished and won. Fittipaldi won again in Spain before retiring due to engine problems in Monaco. Fittipaldi has claimed his second world title.



1978 - Laffite attempts to challenge Andretti for the title



A large number of drivers were removed early in the season, with 16 being eliminated in the first two races. Laffite won the third race in South Africa, indicating that the title fight was now between Laffite and Andretti, with Pironi having a chance as well.

Andretti won the fourth race of the season, with Laffite finishing second, while Pironi failed to finish due to gearbox problems. It was now down to just two men, Andretti and Laffite, but as with most title fights, they don't last long, and Laffite's gearbox failed in Monaco. Andretti won in Monaco and went on to win in Belgium and Spain before his winning streak came to an end when his engine failed in Sweden. Andretti has claimed his first title.



1979 - After the Argentine Grand Prix strikes again, an unlikely contender emerges



The drivers and teams gathered for the 15th time for the Argentine Grand Prix, which has become famous in the Endurance Championship for heatwaves that make drivers really struggle. While the practice session in 1979 was extremely hot, the race itself was a little cooler, but still caused some cooling concerns. Patrese had already been eliminated when his brakes failed and he collided with Piquet during the warm-up lap, but Piquet was able to repair his car in time for the race to begin.

More action occurred at the start of the race when Scheckter and Watson collided, sending Watson's Ferrari spinning across the track. Pironi, Tambay, and Piquet T-boned him, while Watson was sent sliding off into the catch fencing, and thankfully no one was killed. The officials decided to stop the race and resume it later on. The remaining retirements were all due to mechanical issues, but it just goes to show that Argentina lived up to its reputation once again, eliminating 14 drivers this time.

Laffite had won the first two races and was in contention for the championship, but a puncture in the next race sent him spinning off the track and out of competition, while Reutemann went on to win the race. It came down to Reutemann, Mass, Regazzoni, and Fittipaldi in the fourth race in America. Everyone else, with the exception of Mass, retired due to mechanical issues, allowing Mass to win. He was only two points behind Reutemann in the overall standings. Mass started in Spain and finished first claiming 9 points, which was enough to secure his first championship. Mass didn't last long, however, as he crashed out in the next race at Belgium.

[Rob Dylan]

How to make the Spanish Grand Prix more exciting? Have Jochen Mass drive around for 75 laps around Jarama on his own

[Zenarcher]

How to make the Spanish Grand Prix more exciting? Have Jochen Mass drive around for 75 laps around Jarama on his own

I'm certain it wouldn't be the most boring Spanish race we've ever had . Jochen Mass took first place in my other alternative championship, which had teammates lapping ahead of each other. He won in 1982, and he's making it a bit of a habit of somehow managing to win these.

1980 - The Argentine Grand Prix was hit by another heatwave, resulting in the elimination of 17 drivers



When it comes to challenging the teams and drivers, the Argentine Grand Prix never disappoints. The race was also memorable for the drivers' threats to boycott the event due to the poor condition of the track, which was breaking up in numerous places in the infield due to the extreme heat of a Buenos Aires summer.

The home favourite Carlos Reutemann, who had an incredible start moving from 10th to 5th, attempted to pass Piquet going into the Ascari chicane. Reutemann went off the track and into the grass run-off area. Several other cars spun off the track, including Reutemann's teammate Jones, who took a fast pit stop to clean his air intakes before returning to the race. Soon after his adventure onto the grass, Reutemann retired with a blown engine. The Argentinean, unsure if he would race again after 1980, remained motionless in his car for a few minutes, then got out, sat on the track next to his car, and cried.

Alan Jones won the race, leaving only seven drivers to compete in the next race in Brazil, where Alain Prost won and local favourite Nelson Piquet was eliminated. Alain Prost broke his wrist in the next race in South Africa after crashing his McLaren at the Esses due to a suspension failure, so he was now eliminated, leaving only Ricardo Zunino to finish and win the race, and he had a chance to win the championship if he could just finish the next race in America, but unfortunately for Ricardo Zunino, he crashed. Alan Jones breathed a sigh of relief and celebrated winning his first championship.



1981 - Jones and Reutemann are competing for their second championship, while Piquet is fighting for his first



We were down to just 8 drivers for the second race in Brazil after 16 drivers were eliminated in the first race due to a variety of incidents including crashes, mechanical issues, and hot temperatures. The defending champion, Alan Jones, won the first race and finished second in Brazil, while Carlos Reutemann won the second race. On lap one, Mario Andretti, René Arnoux, and Brazilian Chico Serra all collided, leaving only five drivers to finish the race. Eddie Cheever and Patrick Tambay were eliminated from the championship after their cars experienced technical faults at the third race in Argentina, leaving only Carlos Reutemann, Nelson Piquet, and Alan Jones in contention. In San Marino, all three drivers finished, with Nelson Piquet collecting yet another victory.

Alan Jones and Nelson Piquet battled it out on the track in Belgium. Piquet was difficult to overtake, and despite Jones's best efforts, the Williams driver was unable to do so. Jones' frustration eventually got the best of him, and he made a move down the inside of Piquet's Brabham. When the two cars collided, Piquet was thrown wide off the track, into the barriers, and had to withdraw. Piquet returned to the pits furious, saying to Williams team boss Frank Williams that he wanted to break both of Jones' legs.

Jones, who had been freed from Piquet, swiftly caught up to Reutemann, giving the team a comfortable 1-2. Jones missed a gear on lap 19, ran wide, and crashed into the barriers. Jones limped out of his car, his left leg scalded from the accident's exploding radiator. In the following laps, this put Reutemann in the lead, and he went on to win the race and claim his second title! Reutemann tried to continue, but gearbox problems forced him to retire at the next race in Monaco.



1982 - The Grand Prix in San Marino has a significant impact on the championship



The first two races of the season were action-packed, with numerous crashes and accidents involving the drivers, and Rosberg was disqualified for driving an unweight car. Only seven drivers would start the third race, which took place in America, and only four would finish. Prost had won the first two races, but he retired due to brake failure in this one, allowing Alboreto to win.

Many teams boycotted the fourth race, which took place in San Marino, as part of a political war between the two major powers in Formula One, FISA and FOCA, that was unrelated to the event itself. Borgudd, Mass, Alboreto and Watson were the only drivers left in the competition who had not yet been eliminated. Only Alboreto would race, and he did so without mishap, meaning Alboreto had won his first championship. He continued to the next race in Belgium, but engine troubles forced him to retire on lap 29.



I've also been keeping track of how many victories each driver has had, so here's the current top ten,

1. Jackie Stewart 14
2. Emerson Fittipaldi 14
3. Juan Manuel Fangio 13
4. Carlos Reutemann 12
5. Graham Hill 11
6. Richie Ginther 9
7. Denny Hulme 8
8. Phil Hill 7
9. Niki Lauda 7
10. Jean Behra 6

[Butterfox]

You almost made Zunino a champion, no words.

[Bleu]

So my picks for the winners from 1992.

1992 Alboreto
1993 Senna
1994 Schumacher
1995 Berger
1996 Hill
1997 Häkkinen
1998 Coulthard
1999 M.Schumacher
2000 Fisichella
2001 Coulthard
2002 M.Schumacher
2003 R.Schumacher
2004 Barrichello
2005 Monteiro
2006 Alonso
2007 Hamilton
2008 Heidfeld
2009 Rosberg
2010 Massa
2011 Vettel
2012 Räikkönen
2013 Chilton
2014 Alonso
2015 Hamilton
2016 Ricciardo
2017 Hamilton
2018 Vettel
2019 Hamilton
2020 Hamilton

[Zenarcher]

You almost made Zunino a champion, no words.

Yeah, it's a pity because he was so close, but he won a race at least.

1983 - Prost comes out on top and sets a new record, as Mansell's left foot is crushed



There isn't much to say about this year because after Piquet was eliminated early in the season, Prost went on to dominate, winning nine races in a row, breaking Fangio and Ginther's record of eight wins in a single season. Prost had won his first world title.

Mansell's left foot was accidentally run over by his own team pushing his car in the pits as he was set to start the third race of the season in France. Despite being in immense pain, he started the race but had to stop after just 6 laps because the pain of pushing the pedals was too much to take.



1984 - Except for one man, everyone has mechanical problems



The first race resulted in the elimination of 19 drivers, the majority of whom were eliminated due to mechanical problems. Four more drivers were eliminated in the second race, this time also due to technical problems. Only four drivers remained in Belgium: de Angelis, Prost, Surer, and Boutsen. Both Prost and Boutsen, however, would retire due to mechanical troubles, leaving only de Angelis and Surer to compete in San Marino. Surer had had 20 laps to go when his car suffered an issue with the turbo, causing him to retire and allowing de Angelis to win the race.

de Angelis would stay in the championship for another seven races, winning six of them, before retiring due to a turbo issue at the German Grand Prix. de Angelis had won eight races in a row and claimed his first championship.



1985 - Elio de Angelis cruises to victory once more



At the first race in Brazil, 12 drivers were eliminated, while the second race of the season, held in Portugal, was hampered by cold and wet weather. On lap 30 of 67, Prost, who had won the first race and was aiming for his second title this season, spun off, but he wasn't the only one. Alliot also spun off. Only six drivers completed the race, with 1982 champion Alboreto in the Ferrari winning.

Alboreto stated after the race in Portugal that he was optimistic about this year, but his confidence was quickly shattered when an electrical issue forced him to withdraw. With less than 5 laps remaining in the race, Johansson and Warwick ran out of fuel. As a result, de Angelis was able to win, with Tambay and Ghinzani coming in second and third, respectively. Ghinzani did not qualify for the next race because he did not set a fast enough time, putting him out of the competition. de Angelis won the race after Tambay crashed on the first lap. Then de Angelis went on to win four more races, cruising to yet another driver's title! de Angelis has now won the F1 Endurance Championship two times!



Elio de Angelis now has 14 overall wins after winning 6 more races, and Alain Prost now has 14 wins as well. Both drivers are now at the top of the all-time win list, alongside Jackie Stewart and Emerson Fittipaldi.

Current top 10,

1. Jackie Stewart 14
2. Emerson Fittipaldi 14
3. Elio de Angelis 14
4. Alain Prost 14
5. Juan Manuel Fangio 13
6. Carlos Reutemann 12
7. Graham Hill 11
8. Richie Ginther 9
9. Denny Hulme 8
10. Niki Lauda 8

[Zenarcher]

1986 - After only two races, 21 drivers are out of the title fight due to mechanical problems



Many drivers are having a difficult time in the mid-80s, not through any fault of their own, but because their cars look to be extremely unreliable. As a result, 21 drivers were eliminated in the first two races. Senna led the championship after the second race, but he was forced to retire due to a technical failure at San Marino, leaving only Berger to finish the race and win.

After Berger had to abandon the race at Monaco due to steering problems, Senna won his first title by just one point.



1987 - The title is up for grabs between Stefan Johansson and Nigel Mansell



Mechanical troubles hampered several drivers' chances this season, and after two races, we were down to just five drivers. Mansell and Prost each won one race, but they were eliminated from the championship by the third race.

After the third race, Johansson and Streiff were the only two drivers left. Mansell and Johansson were tied for the championship lead with 10 points each, but Johansson's victory was enough for him to take the lead. Both Johansson and Streiff were eliminated in the fourth race at Monaco, allowing Johansson to win his first championship.



1988 - Senna is disqualified early in the season, allowing Prost to take control



Senna and Prost were the two favourites for this year, as McLaren had one of the most dominant cars in F1 history that was also very reliable. However, Senna's hopes of securing his second title were crushed at the first race, which was held in his home country of Brazil, as Senna was disqualified. He was disqualified for changing cars after the green flag had been displayed during the parade lap, which was against the rules.

With Senna out of the picture, Prost was able to dominate the season, winning seven races being the only driver left until he retired from a race due to a technical issue. Prost, who had previously won in 1983, had now won his second world championship.

With 22 career victories, Prost now holds the record for the most career wins.

[Bleu]

1987 was so close to have a great result for reject community.

Pascal Fabre retired just two laps (his race time is 3 minutes 17 seconds below Prost's winning time) before the finish in Belgium. He then went on to finish next four races.

[Zenarcher]

1987 was so close to have a great result for reject community.

Pascal Fabre retired just two laps (his race time is 3 minutes 17 seconds below Prost's winning time) before the finish in Belgium. He then went on to finish next four races.

Indeed, and he would have gone on to win four races and collected 38 points for the season. It's very unfortunate how close he came to that.

1989 - In a qualifying session, Prost eliminates his rival, Herbert



After been robbed of a proper duel between the two drivers the previous year, this year was all about Senna vs Prost once again. They had the fastest car on the grid as well as one of the most reliable. Senna started on pole but finished 11th in the season's opening race, missing out on some important points. Mansell won the first race but retired on lap 23 in San Marino due to gearbox problems, with Senna taking the victory and Prost coming in second.

Senna would go on to win in Monaco and Mexico, but Prost retained the championship lead due to his consistent top-three finishes. Nannini and Herbert were still in contention for the championship; if Senna or Prost were eliminated, they had a chance. Prost won the fifth race of the season in America, but Senna and Nannini both retired. Senna's car had an electrical problem. Nannini's Benetton was badly damaged in the morning warm-up session, forcing him to start the race not only in the spare car but also wearing a neck brace. Nannini's neck could only handle 10 laps of racing before he had to retire to the pits.

Both Prost and Herbert participated in the Canadian Grand Prix, with Prost leading Herbert by 18 points. So Prost chose to eliminate his rival in a way we've never seen before and it was a spectacular scene for the crowd. Prost set a lap time 4.3 seconds faster than Herbert on Saturday, meaning he didn't qualify for the race for being too slow. Prost had secured the championship before the race had even begun. The next day, Prost would retire on lap 2 due to front suspension failure. Alain Prost has now won three championships! He joins Juan Manuel Fangio and Graham Hill as the only other drivers to have won three titles. So far, no one has won more than three.



1990 - Senna tries to hold off Piquet and Alesi



Senna started the year with two victories and was on his way to winning his second Formula One Endurance Championship, but he was eliminated in San Marino when his right rear tyre punctured. Senna, on the other hand, had the championship lead and just had to hope he could keep it.

The San Marino Grand Prix was completed by only Piquet and Alesi. They went on to the next round in Monaco, where Piquet was disqualified after spinning and stalling his engine approaching Loews Hairpin; he received a push start from the marshals and was disqualified as a result. Alesi finished the race and had enough points to win the championship, but he didn't last long and retired after spinning off the circuit at the next race in Canada.



1991 - Senna wins his second title after dominating the championship



Senna has gotten close to winning his second title several times since earning his first in 1986. Finally, everything went into place for him this year; he won the first four races, lasted longer than any other driver, and no one came close to challenging him, resulting in Senna's second championship.

[Zenarcher]

1992 - When Mansell was eliminated, he had a 31-point lead over Alboreto



Mansell knew going into the season that this would be his greatest chance of winning, as he had an exceptionally quick and reliable car. Mansell dominated the season in the beginning, winning six races in a row and amassing 60 points by the time he won in Monaco, leaving only himself and 1982 champion Alboreto.

Mansell was eliminated after spinning off in the seventh race of the season, which was hosted in Canada. Alboreto was the eventual winner of the race. Mansell had 60 points while Alboreto had 29 at this point in the championship. Alboreto would have to score at least 32 points to win the championship. Mansell needed to hope that Alboreto would be eliminated before then, but luck was not on his side; instead, Alboreto finished in France, Britain, Germany, and Hungary, allowing him to steal Mansell's title chances and become a two-time champion! Alboreto's season was brought to an end in Belgium due to gearbox issues.



1993 - 21 drivers were eliminated from the South African Grand Prix with some due to a thunderstorm



At the South African Grand Prix, 21 drivers were eliminated due to a number of incidents early in the race, with some drivers colliding with one another or making mistakes, while others experienced technical issues. However, as the race neared its end, the remaining seven drivers had to contend with a thunderstorm. The heavy rain got harder in the final eight laps, and Berger slid wide off the slippery track, barely avoiding hitting the barriers.

Berger would eventually have to retire due to an engine failure. The majority of the drivers were tiptoeing their way around in the torrential rain, with few opting to pit for wet tyres due to the race's close proximity. With over a minute and a half between him and Senna on the final lap, Prost chose not to overtake the battling Warwick and Lehto before the finish, leaving the two cars to complete an extra lap in the rain. On the final lap, Warwick, who was desperately trying to keep up with Lehto, went flying into the gravel trap, ruining a points finish position. As a result, Prost won comfortably.

The championship leader, Prost, lost control in the second race and, unable to avoid Fittipaldi's car, crashed into him, putting both of them out of the championship. The race was once again hampered by torrential rain, as it had been in South Africa. Prost's chances of capturing a fourth championship had vanished. Only Senna and Blundell were able to complete the race, with Senna taking the victory. Blundell was driven off the track by Senna in the Esses during the European Grand Prix and subsequently spun off back into the gravel trap while attempting to rejoin the track. Senna went on to win the race and claim his third title! With a technical issue, he would retire from the next race.



1994 - The season is dominated by Schumacher



With the exception of Panis, who stayed in the competition longer than the majority of drivers, Schumacher entirely dominated this season. Schumacher won seven races and earned a total of 70 points, securing his first Formula One Endurance Championship.

Schumacher's season came to an end at the British Grand Prix when he was given a five-second stop-go penalty on lap 14 and failed to serve it by lap 21, resulting in him being shown the black flag twice, forcing him to pit immediately. Schumacher first refused to acknowledge the black flag, claiming that he had not seen it. Benetton informed the race officials that the 5-second stop-go penalty had been misinterpreted, and after speaking with the team, the officials retracted the black flag, allowing Schumacher to serve the stop-go penalty at the end of the lap 27. The stewards fined Benetton $25,000 and issued a severe warning to the team and its driver, Michael Schumacher, for ignoring Schumacher's five-second stop-go penalty and the resulting black flag. The punishment was upped to a $500,000 fine for the team and a two-race ban for Schumacher by the FIA World Motorsport Council on July 26. Schumacher was also disqualified from his second-place finish in the British Grand Prix by the WMSC.

[Rob Dylan]

1992 must be one of the strangest championships I have ever seen well done

[Zenarcher]

1992 must be one of the strangest championships I have ever seen well done

It's a great example of how lasting it longer than everyone else can make a difference

Also, watching the race yesterday reminded me of the Endurance Championship, where there was only one driver on the starting grid, like what we often see here. Who'd have imagined that alternate championships might become a reality one day?

[Rob Dylan]

1992 must be one of the strangest championships I have ever seen well done

It's a great example of how lasting it longer than everyone else can make a difference

Also, watching the race yesterday reminded me of the Endurance Championship, where there was only one driver on the starting grid, like what we often see here. Who'd have imagined that alternate championships might become a reality one day?

Trust me, knowing Hamilton's insane reliability, we're gonna be seeing a LOT of that

[Zenarcher]

It's been nearly a year, but the Endurance Championship is back, complete with all of its quirks!

1995 - In just two races, 22 drivers were eliminated



Last year's champion Schumacher had the best start to the season, but he crashed out of the San Marino Grand Prix, leaving Berger, Alesi, and Diniz as the only drivers still in contention. Both Alesi and Diniz would have technical issues in the following race. Berger was able to secure his first title by winning in Spain and Monaco.



1996 - Damon Hill dominates with 5 wins



No one came close to challenging Damon Hill this year because he possessed everything you need to be a great title contender for the Endurance Championship: speed and reliability.



1997 - Coulthard and Berger fail to put up a fight against Häkkinen



In the first two races, both Coulthard and Berger won one race each, but it was Häkkinen who would outlast them and go on to win his first Endurance Championship.



1998 - Häkkinen tries but fails to win a second championship



Häkkinen had a strong start to the season, winning the first three races, but gearbox problems in San Marino forced him out of the race. He needed to hope that his teammate Coulthard would retire soon, but Coulthard battled on and won the race and the following one in Spain, securing him the title.

[James1978]

Russell must surely have got this one this year as all 4 of the Red Bull/Ferrari drivers have had at least 1 DNF?

[CarloSpace]

Russell must surely have got this one this year as all 4 of the Red Bull/Ferrari drivers have had at least 1 DNF?

So far... One DNF and you're out and a backmarker with no DNF's will probably take it

[James1978]

Just double-checked - Hamilton and Ocon are the only other drivers to finish every race so far!

[Zenarcher]

1999 - Michael Schumacher claims his second Endurance Championship Title



In 1999, Michael Schumacher had an easy season with little competition, as more than half of the grid was eliminated after the first race.



2000 - Michael Schumacher wins six races but fails to win his third championship



Schumacher won the first six races of the season, but after the fourth race, it was just himself and Fisichella. Schumacher retired from the Monaco Grand Prix due to exhaust/suspension problems. He had a 28-point advantage against Fisichella at the time.

Fisichella's only task now was to catch up and avoid crashing. He went on to win the next three races and the championship in France, but his season was cut short when he crashed out on the first lap of the next race in Austria.



2001 - David Coulthard wins his second Endurance Championship, while Jean Alesi throws away a golden opportunity



After the first two races, the majority of the drivers were eliminated, leaving only Coulthard and Alesi in contention. With only 15 laps remaining in the race, Coulthard retired in Canada due to engine problems. He had a 31-point advantage over Alesi, but he remembered what happened to Schumacher the year before.

Alesi was ready to go for his second title. Could he repeat the achievement that he had accomplished in 1990? Following his victory in Canada, he and Coulthard were separated by just 21 points. However, with just three laps to go at the next race, Alesi spun off, his championship dreams were shattered, and Coulthard was ecstatic to win his second endurance title.

[James1978]

Well 2002 will be just as rubbish as real life!

[Zenarcher]

2002 - In a single season, Michael Schumacher completely destroys every record

Well 2002 will be just as rubbish as real life!

Couldn't be more true If anyone believed that a driver dominating a season was boring, then this alternate championship for 2002 takes the idea to a whole new level. Juan Pablo Montoya offered some competition early in the season, but didn't last for long.

Michael Schumacher broke Alain Prost's record of having 9 wins in a single season with 7 more wins!

Most wins in a season (so far up to 2002),

2002 - M Schumacher 16
1983 - Prost 9
1954 - Fangio 8
1964 - Ginther 8
1984 - de Angelis 8
1976 - Lauda 7
1988 - Prost 7
1994 - M Schumacher 7
1956 - Behra 6
1974 - Fittipaldi 6
1985 - de Angelis 6
1992 - Mansell 6
2000 - M Schumacher 6



2003 - Joining his brother in the Endurance Champion Club is Ralph Schumacher



In the early races, there were a number of drivers still fighting for the championship, with Kimi Raikkonen appearing to be the favourite. However, when Kimi Raikkonen was eliminated in Spain, Ralph Schumacher was the only driver left, and he went on to win six races which secured him his first Endurance championship.

[Zenarcher]

2004 - Ferrari dominates again but not with Michael Schumacher



Michael Schumacher had won the first five races of the season and was in a good position to win his fourth championship but then he was eliminated in Monaco. As a result, his teammate Rubens Barrichello went on to win an astonishing 10 consecutive races and win the championship.



2005 - Alonso and Monteiro compete against one another for their first Endurance Title



The strange United States Grand Prix of 2005, in which only six drivers would start the race had little impact on the championship because Monteiro was the only remaining competitor at that stage. Monteiro, who had to make up ground in the standings after Alonso's good start, is the winner for the 2005 season. Monteiro did an impressive job, winning 9 races to win his first Endurance championship.



2006 - Although Fernando Alonso dominates and wins his first championship, he is unable to surpass any of Michael Schumacher's records



This season, Alonso dominated, winning every race he started, with a total of 12 wins. He was only challenged by Barrichello until he was eliminated.



2007 - Lewis Hamilton, a rookie driver, wins his first championship but only by 8 points



Alonso, the winner from last year, faced off against Hamilton, his new rookie teammate. First to go was Alonso, then Hamilton but he had just enough points to win his first title, while Kovalainen was incapable of stopping him, it was just too late.

[dr-baker]

In these days of ultra reliability, particularly for the top teams, it is nice to see Tiago take a surprise win in amongst the top drivers winning either side of his year.

[Zenarcher]

I last updated my list of driver with the most victories in their careers in 1988, so here is how it stands as of 2007,

1. Michael Schumacher 41
2. Fernando Alonso 26
3. Alain Prost 24
4. Jackie Stewart 14
5. Emerson Fittipaldi 14
6. Elio de Angelis 14
7. Juan Manuel Fangio 13
8. Carlos Reutemann 12
9. Ayrton Senna 12
10. Graham Hill 11
11. Rubens Barrichello 10
12. Richie Ginther 9
13. David Coulthard 9
14. Tiago Monteiro 9
15. Denny Hulme 8
16. Niki Lauda 8
17. Michele Alboreto 8
18. Nigel Mansell 8
19. Phil Hill 7
20. Jean Behra 6
21. Mario Andretti 6
22. Ralf Schumacher 6

In these days of ultra reliability, particularly for the top teams, it is nice to see Tiago take a surprise win in amongst the top drivers winning either side of his year.

Also it was enough to put him into the top 15 all time winners

2008 - Hamilton attempts to win a second championship but falls short as Heidfeld dominates with 13 victories



Hamilton, the defending champion, made a strong start to the season, picking up four victories in the first six races, but he was eliminated in Canada, leaving only Heidfeld, who went on to win 12 consecutive races and earn his first championship.



2009 - The most competitive championship battle since 2000



Button dominated the first half of the season but started to fall back as Rosberg, Webber, and even last year's champion Heidfeld started to pick up victories. To make matters worse for Button, he was also eliminated before them, but fortunately for him, Webber, his main rival this year, was also eliminated at the following race.

With only four races left, Heidfeld, Rosberg, and Glock battled it out for the championship lead. Heidfeld was eliminated in Singapore. Is that Glock? Oh my goodness me yes it is, a win in Singapore was necessary to demonstrate to Rosberg that this was not his title to win. However, Glock's luck ran out at the following race in Japan when he had a bad accident that required a helicopter to transport him to the hospital. Then Glock declared he would not compete in the race, leaving Rosberg as the last driver left.

Rosberg would go on to win in Japan, but gearbox problems forced him to retire the car at the next race in Brazil. He was only 5 points away from defeating Button, and a win there would have secured him the title.



2010 - Rosberg and Webber's first Endurance title is denied by Massa



Webber began 2010 by winning more races than any other driver, he had just missed out on the championship the year before, but he was eliminated halfway through this year. Rosberg thought this was now his chance, but he was quickly eliminated. There was only one driver left, Massa who went on to win five races, giving him his first championship.



2011 - Vettel dominates and makes an effort to break Schumacher's records



This year, unlike the previous two, there were no close title battles because Vettel won the most races and lasted the longest. Just two victories separated him from Schumacher's 16 in a single season as he won a total of 14 races.

[dr-baker]

I imagine that 2022 will end up being a tight battle between Perez and Russell.