Wild Formula 1 Statistic Proves Drivers Stick Around For Way Too Long

Last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps broke a new record, setting an interesting precedent in F1. For the first time in the history of the sport every driver in the top ten finishing positions is a former Grand Prix winner. In order, following George Russell’s disqualification, the drivers came home Lewis Hamilton, Oscar Piastri, Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz, Sergio Perez, Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon, and Daniel Ricciardo.

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Some might point to this interesting tidbit of F1 knowledge and believe that it proves the grid is getting more competitive and every driver there deserves their seat, but they’d be wrong. Around half of the F1 grid doesn’t deserve a seat in the so-called pinnacle of motorsport, and teams are way too scared of change to try new talent, so they keep passing the same half-dozen mid-tier drivers around, even past their prime.

Hamilton and Verstappen are the two most recent champions, and the only two drivers to have more than one win in 2024 thus far, so that’s a given. Alonso is also a champ, but hasn’t won a Grand Prix in over a decade. Perez is on a bit of a downturn, and despite being in the best car, hasn’t stood on the top step of the podium since April 2023. Likewise, Ricciardo has eight wins to his name, but only one of those has come since he left Red Bull in 2018. Ocon kind of lucked into his lone win at Hungary in 2021. The McLaren pair recently netted their maiden wins, so good for them!

It could be argued that, depending on their career trajectories from here, of the top ten finishers, Perez, Sainz, Alonso, Ocon, and Ricciardo may never see another Grand Prix victory again.

There are thirteen race winners currently on the F1 grid, with Russell, Pierre Gasly, and Valtteri Bottas the three not making this historic top-ten finish. Gasly and Bottas are definitely finished with their winning for the remainder of their careers.