32 replies to this topic

[D.M.N.]

In the 1990's there were, for me any, a lot of teams that really didn't deserve to be in F1. Starting in the early 1990's Leyton House, Coloni and Life, along with probably another host of teams didn't deserve to be on the grid. For me, thank god they drove off into the sunset. If I was to call a team the "Best of the Worst"; I'd be tempted to go to Simtek. Pacific, despite having a utter dog of a car, IIRC, also hung in in there to the end.

However, for me, I'd give it to Lola. Not even making it to Round 2 in 1997 tells you something. How many seconds was it they were off the pace again?

[se7en_24]

Don't forget F1 was getting a lot more expensive by the time Lola joined - they were rubbish but I bet some of the other teams in the poll wouldn't have even made it to the grid in 1997.

My memory is fading, but I voted for Life.

Leyton House certainly don't deserve to be on the poll, nor March.

[Youichi]

Leyton House don't deserve to be on this list, they led races in 1988.

I vote Lola, as I recall they were 10 seconds off the pace, in Qualifying for thier one race.

[Risil]

Originally posted by Youichi
Leyton House don't deserve to be on this list, they led races in 1988.

They were a couple of laps away from winning the 1990 French Grand Prix. So I can't see how they can possibly be included with the other teams, other than the fact that their collapse was an embarassing display of mismanagement and self-destruction.

And March didn't even race in the 1990s. :

Either Life or anything with Lola involved, customer or works, IMO.

[turin]

it is not a contest


Life by a mile

[united]

Andrea Moda, anyone?

[IOU 16]

EuroBrun?

True, their troubles ended in 1990 with them closing, but they did run in the 90's.

They made 2 races in 1990 with a very competent Roberto Moreno.

[William Hunt]

Life and Andrea Moda ex aecquo.

But shouldn't this topic be in the Nostalgia section?

[Andy35]

Ferrari by a country mile. All that money and talent and all gone to waste.

2000's were a different story though, no longer were they cowboys and instead raised the game to new heights. Remarkable turnaround.

Regards

Andy

[MortenF1]

Lola. A monstrous twelve - 12 - seconds off pole Melbourne '97.

[DarthWillie]

Between Life and Moda, Moda probably. If you mention them to Perry McCarthy he may even cry

[F1Fanatic.co.uk]

Andrea Moda by a short nose from Life. Life's car was a stinker, but Moda were comically inept to boot. Wet tyres for dry qualifying anyone?

[Lifew12]

Life. That W12 engine was a monstrosity.

[JForce]

Originally posted by AndyW35
Ferrari by a country mile. All that money and talent and all gone to waste.

2000's were a different story though, no longer were they cowboys and instead raised the game to new heights. Remarkable turnaround.

Regards

Andy

I was going to suggest Ferrari as well, but not for the 90's I don't think. 80's, sure. But 12 seconds off pole? 12? Holy mother of God.

[Rogue]

Footwork Porsche, nuff said.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Is the question which is the single worst team of any single season or race from the period of 1990 to 1999, or which team consistently throughout that time period couldn't find their ass with both hands?

The latter is much more challenging and interesting question.


In a way you'd have to almost say Minardi. Yes they outlasted a lot of people but they never made much progress. Even now as STR they don't make much progress.

[Josta]

Andrea Moda easily. Turning up to a GP with no engines. Releasing Mccarthy 45 seconds before the end of quali. Deliberately sabotaging McCarthys car. Boss arrested for fraud.

I strongly recommend reading perry's book "flat out flat broke". Some of the things Moda got up to are amazing.

[Rob G]

Originally posted by Josta
Andrea Moda easily. Turning up to a GP with no engines. Releasing Mccarthy 45 seconds before the end of quali. Deliberately sabotaging McCarthys car. Boss arrested for fraud.

I agree 100%. The Life team had incredibly poor results, but I have to give them credit for at least trying to be innovative and ambitious, even though they were in way, way, WAY over their heads.

[potmotr]

Life, no question at all. An engine that would lunch itself after a matter of metres. A car so dangerous its designer threatened legal action against the team if it listed his name anywhere near it, and advised the first pilot Gary Brabham not to drive it.
Life are worse that Andrea Moda because at least Moda had a car designed by Nick Wirth which looked the part.
The also qualified for a race, which is way more than can be said for a few others from the 90s.
For further reading check out the hillarious www.f1rejects.com it has heaps of loser teams.

[giacomo]

Life, no contest.

[mursuka80]

I dont know about worst, but i always cheered for forti they were so cute little slow cars you gotta love them

[the9th]

could-barely-complete-a-lap-red-w12-powered?-on-the-verge-of-dismantling-itself-piece-of-cra...-machinery...
Life, the name was pure sarcasm!

[Scudetto]

Originally posted by AndyW35
Ferrari by a country mile. All that money and talent and all gone to waste.

That's a bit harsh. Winning the WCC in 1999 and finishing second in 1990, 1996, 1997 and 1998 are hardly the stats of the decade's worst team. Save for 1994, the mid 90's were hard on everybody who didn't have a Renault engine.

[fukkinen]

BAR, for sure.

Considering the BUDGET (British Tobacco), the presence of a WDC (JV) and a raising star (Zonta).
Villeneuve just failled to do a Schumacker.

[TennisUK]

Life by some margin...

I never witnessed the car, but I'd be interested to HEAR what what it sounded like - any video fo the thing "action" anywhere? 've never heard a high revving(well, I presume it was!) W12.

[pingu666]

thats got a w12 engine..

[TennisUK]

not very high revving ;) fun though!

[Tenmantaylor]

I chose not to vote... at first because I dont recall most of the teams well enough but after thinking about it a bit longer I dont really like the tone of the question. I take my hat off to all of the MDs, engineers and sponsors that made those teams happen, for taking a chance. Afterall, its better to give your best and fail than to sit on your arse and criticise.

I hope you see the irony in this post ;)

[pingu666]

Originally posted by TennisUK
not very high revving ;) fun though!

probably 3000ish max, i cant remmber, but its something like 24litres so not so bad ;)

[djellison]

Moda - monumental and seemingly willful and intentional incompetence with a boss mucking around in a pile of snow Alberto Tomba couldn't ski down

Doug

[Nobody]

Has to be Lola.

I remember people claiming that with Lola's experience, and racing pedigree, they would be winning races in the first season. They convinced MasterCard of this too...

[classicujem]

All the teams who employed pay drivers !

[mx5mario]

found this