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“Analysing Formula 1”
(Innovative Insights into Winners and Winning in Grand Prix Racing Since 1950)
By Roger Smith
Review by Gregg Leary
Category:Formula One
As a researcher for SPEED’s “Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain,” I am keenly aware of the responsibility of using statistics properly. Otherwise they can lead to skewed information. As Benjamin Disraeli said, “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics.”
Fortunately Roger Smith is THE man for the job of interpreting Formula 1 statistics appropriately. “Smith has spent his professional life working with and making use of statistics, latterly as Managing Director, Europe, Nielsen Television Ratings.” He has also been a lifelong Formula 1 fan. (“I have lived and breathed Grand Prix motor racing these past 50 years.”) Combining those two factors makes him the ideal choice to write the definitive book on analyzing Formula 1.
You may be thinking, “What a boring sounding book!” To the contrary, “Analysing Formula 1” is remarkably entertaining. The 232 pages are divided into 10 Chapters with dozens of supporting graphs, charts and photographs.
The dust jackets states: “This informative book will appeal as much to the connoisseur as the more casual Formula 1 follower. Its compelling text and numerous graphics, tables and photographs combine to offer unique insights and new perceptions, bringing a fresh and dynamic perspective to 58 years of Grand Prix racing. That frequently asked question-who is the greatest driver of all?- provides a fascinating thread as the author brings his statistical firepower to the case and comes up with some illuminating conclusions.”
Chapter 1: Champions of the World
Chapter 2: Serial Winners
Chapter 3: The Man to Beat
Chapter 4: Evolutionary Eras
Chapter 5: Races and Circuits
Chapter 6: Cars and Teams
Chapter 7: Drivers and Danger
Chapter 8: Winning Ways
Chapter 9: Victory Profiles
Chapter 10: Contentious Conclusions
Appetizing morsels from “Analysing Formula 1” (Information accurate through 2007)
In the first 58 Seasons of Formula 1 (1950-2007):
29 Drivers have been crowned World Champions.
14 Multiple World Champions have won 43 of the 58 Championships.
Schumacher’s 91 wins are only one win short of Prost’s 51 and Senna’s 41 combined.
Only Schumacher and Fangio have won more than two Championships in a row.
Fangio won 5 Championships in only 7 full seasons. Making this legend a favorite among reporters, essay writers and other publicists.
Schumacher won 7 Titles in 16 seasons.
37 nations have provided F1 drivers.
16 countries have manufactured cars for the grid.
26 nations across six continents have staged Grand Prix races.
7 of 11 Formula 1 teams are based in Britain.
Great Britain has won 12 (now 13) World Championships.
Brazil is second with 8.
Mike Thackwell was the youngest driver to start a Grand Prix race. (In 1980 at 19 years, 159 days) He crashed in the first corner at Montreal with his teammate!
Oldest winner of a Grand Prix: Luigi Fagioli at 53. (He shared the win with Fangio in the 1951 French GP.)
Average age of the starting grid:
1950: 41
2007: 29
The longest to reach a Formula One Title: Nigel Mansell, 13 seasons, 176 races.
Most starts without a win: Andrea de Cesaris: 208.
Most wins: Michael Schumacher: 91.
From 1950-2007:
774 races
624 drivers
17,499 starts
88 winners
Just two countries have staged a Grand Prix every year from 1950-2007. Can you name them? (Italy and Britain)
Who won the very first Grand Prix at Silverstone in 1950? (Giuseppe Farina)
Only 26 marques have won races in 58 years.
The 1961 Dutch Grand Prix was unique in that it had NO retirements.
Roger Smith’s concept of “Strike Rate,” (number of wins based on number of starts) is an enlightening statistic. Fangio’s 47% is the best of all time, followed by Ascari’s 42% and Schumacher’s 37%. Strike rate combined with the quality of equipment and the difficulty of the competition helps determine the Magnificent Seven. They are: Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Stirling Moss, Jackie Stewart, Michael Schumacher, Jim Clark and Juan Manuel Fangio.
So who is the greatest of all time? Read Roger Smith’s “Analysing Formula 1” for the answer-and a compelling case supported by amazing documentation. It rates five of five lug nuts. It’s a perfect read for the holidays and a great way to prepare for the 2009 Formula One season.