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This is certainly an impressive list of F1 machines and an even more impressive list of victories. Having said this, I'd argue his record is even more impressive if you consider the 2007-2009 Toro Rosso cars to be Adrian Newey designs. If you include the STR2, STR3 and STR4, then Vettel's win at Monza in 2008 in the STR3 (I believe based on the same design as the RB4) not only adds yet another victory to this tally but also means that only three Newey designs from 1991 onwards have failed to win a grand prix (MP4/21, RB3/STR2 and RB11). Also, I think McLaren won 7 races in 2000 (4 for Mika Hakkinen and 3 for David Coulthard).

I find it interesting that he seemed to experience something of a lean spell in the mid-to-late 2000s, in the seven seasons from 2002 to 2008 his cars scored just five wins in this period if you exclude the MP4/20 (the 2005 McLaren won twice as many races as his other designs from those seasons put together). I do wonder whether McLaren benefitted from the single tyre rule in 2005, even more so than the other Michelin teams such as Renault, as they did much better that season than they did in either 2004 or 2006, with the exact opposite being true for Bridgestone-shod Ferrari. It's ironic that the only other Newey car from 2002 to 2008 to win multiple GPs was the MP4/17D in 2003, which was only used that season due to the issues with the MP4/18, yet Kimi Raikkonen was able to finish just two points short of Michael Schumacher in it.

2005 McLaren for sure benefitted from single tyre rule/Michelins. Back then Michelin did bring different kind of tyres for the teams to the tests and teams could choose the best suited tyres for them to use (said by Kimi, last year).
At Monaco 2005 Mclaren was able to use softer tyres than Renault, due to them being gentle to the tyres and we all know Kimi being one of the most gentle driver to the tyres as well.

Bizarre to think that his first race win in F1 was 1991, an astounding 30 years ago, his longevity far surpasses any tech director in the sports history and his car is still fighting for a title this year. Imagine if a designer from 1950 was leading the title fight in 1980! it's  mind numbing. It also answers the 90's favourite debate of Newey Vs Shuey rather decisively.

 

Almost more amazing is that in 30 years of racing his cars have only gone 4 seasons without a race win and 2 of those were spent building Red Bull up from the back of the grid.

 

 

This is certainly an impressive list of F1 machines and an even more impressive list of victories. Having said this, I'd argue his record is even more impressive if you consider the 2007-2009 Toro Rosso cars to be Adrian Newey designs. If you include the STR2, STR3 and STR4, then Vettel's win at Monza in 2008 in the STR3 (I believe based on the same design as the RB4) not only adds yet another victory to this tally but also means that only three Newey designs from 1991 onwards have failed to win a grand prix (MP4/21, RB3/STR2 and RB11). Also, I think McLaren won 7 races in 2000 (4 for Mika Hakkinen and 3 for David Coulthard).

 

I find it interesting that he seemed to experience something of a lean spell in the mid-to-late 2000s, in the seven seasons from 2002 to 2008 his cars scored just five wins in this period if you exclude the MP4/20 (the 2005 McLaren won twice as many races as his other designs from those seasons put together). I do wonder whether McLaren benefitted from the single tyre rule in 2005, even more so than the other Michelin teams such as Renault, as they did much better that season than they did in either 2004 or 2006, with the exact opposite being true for Bridgestone-shod Ferrari. It's ironic that the only other Newey car from 2002 to 2008 to win multiple GPs was the MP4/17D in 2003, which was only used that season due to the issues with the MP4/18, yet Kimi Raikkonen was able to finish just two points short of Michael Schumacher in it.

 

This is a gross oversimplification. Falling from winning 9 races in a row to not win a single one with a car that was firmly placed 2nd in the WCC and which his team rookie teammate won numerous races with is not simply natural change/decline. Getting beaten over one lap at 29 by a 37-year-old not known for his qualifying heroics is not simply natural change/decline. There is much more to this story.

 

Also, about that win in the Toro Rosso - probably one of the most overhyped wins in the history of F1. We have discussed this already here in the topic. That car was basically a Red Bull on steroids. It was a Newey designed chassis with a powerful Ferrari engine strapped to its back. Even Christian Horner confirmed that that car was better than the RB4 at that point. Just look at Bourdais - despite being practically nowhere during the entire season, he qualified 4th for that race. That weekend, the Toro Rosso was the car to beat. Yes, it was a very good first win from a young Vettel who kept it together until the flag. But it always amazes me how posterity treats that win like it was achieved with the equivalent of a 2021 Haas.

 

I really think it's just what others have mentioned - narrow operating window, when everything suited him, he was a beast, when things didn't suit him, he was more erratic (and his other weaknesses that I agree he has always had, became more pronounced)

 

I think the explanation that he "never had it", or "just isn't that good" is just as big of an oversimplification, when Vettel's performances against same teammates vary so much, from one year to another (eg. against Kimi 2015-2017). I'm fairly convinced that if you stick Ricciardo in the 2013 Red Bull instead of Webber, he wouldn't have beaten Vettel, but if you put Webber in the 2014 Red Bull, he probably would get much closer than he was in 2013.

 

As for the Toro Rosso in 2008. The car was obviously good, but it really only became a Q3 contender in the second half of the season, and it was then when Vettel started to really outperform Bourdais. So again - big difference in Vettel's performance once the car got updated (although you could also argue that it was Bourdais who underperformed, he was fast at certain tracks, but couldn't get a result in... Also due to some bad luck).

 

In dry conditions it was still far off Mclaren, Ferrari, BMW, maybe on par with Renault and Toyota. It was among the fastest in the wet in Monza, but he also outqualified Bourdais by about a second, and dominated the race. "Overhyped" I mean ok, maybe, but it's understandable, no? It was a first win for Toro Rosso and Vettel, it was entirely on merit, he was praised in the same manner Lewis was praised for 2007 Fuji or 2008 Silverstone ("maturity", while more experienced rivals were dropping the ball). And you know, it was sort of "arriving on the scene" moment.

 

The Mclaren was also a fast car during that quali session, so why didn't Lewis, the rainmaster and future GOAT do better? Well, he eliminated himself by trying to go on inters at the start of Q2, and then missed the best of conditions (while Massa, who made the same mistake managed to squeeze in).

Regarding Monza 2008 it was an absolutely brilliant race and win by Sebastian. It's up there with the best performances of any given driver during the modern F1 era.

 

He outqualified his teammate by almost a second and in the race completely outperformed him and everybody else from start to finish.

 

It's an arhetypical Vettel's victory: great qualifying, great start and total race control.

 

Yes, conditions suited the car, the rain helped to somewhat equalize the field. But he delivered in style and not having to rely on luck, technical problems of his competitors, etc. Ferrari with the same engine was nowhere to be seen that race, I don't think anybody would argue that Ferrari that year was arguably the best all around package. And Mclaren was was very good too, also in wet.

 

Besides, what is the car to beat concept? Mercedes has been the car to beat in 99% of the races since 2014. Ferrari was the car to beat in 2001-2004. Does it devalues all those victories? I don't think so. 

 

And it was not a fluke or very lucky win, like let's say Monza 2020 (even though I think Gasly drove very well still) or Canada 2008. And if it's not a fluke win then obviously the car has to be competitive on a certain circuit. It's like saying that Renault was the car to beat in Hungary 2003 or Arrows in 1997. Yes, in a way they were. But they were all brilliant drives.

 

It's very likely one of the most impressive maiden victories, does not matter how you try to spin it. If it's overhyped winning in Toro Rosso in merit, what does it make of let's say Leclerc's maiden victory at Spa, running an engine on steroids.

 

Who won a race as maiden win in a worse car? As you mentioned Leclerc won in an overpowered Ferrari, Lewis in a McLaren. The framing overpowered Newey car is just a way too downplay a great achievement. It was still a Torro Rosso and a midfield car that year that was very competitive in that particular  race. It wasn't a fluke win either helped by a safety car, it was won on pure pace. Newey did not create a world beater every year. I don't see want kind of argument that is - at all.

Actually it's not quite unique.  As a very perceptive commenter pointed out in 2011...

 

 

Take a look at Ascari's grid positions and wins.  It's of course not directly comparable, given the ease of overtaking, the more bunched-up grids (in some races, 7th would see you on the second row - and a second row considerably closer to pole than today), and the consequent lack of many bothering to get pole for the sake of a statistic (I think Reims was a valuable pole because of the 100 bottles of bubbly that came with it).

 

But Ascari had 9 wins from pole, 3 from 2nd, and 1 from 3rd. 

And the first race he lost in his big run of 9 consecutive was Reims - where he was in a slipstreaming battle.  And was beaten by team-mate Hawthorn in it.  Then in a similar event at Monza he got involved in a crash with the lapped Marimon while the canny Fangio finagled his way through.

 

I agree that it's not really comparable due to various reasons. But aside from that, the issue with Vettel here is that, as PlayboyRacer duly pointed it out, he is supposed to be up there with the absolute legends of this sport, a tier above the likes of Hakkinen, Ascari or Fittipaldi (and this is coming from a lifelong fan of Mika). 

 

It's not that unique actually.

Hakkinen won 20% of his races leading from start to finish and a handful where Coulthard led only for a couple of laps.

You can also see that almost all of his wins came in the same fashion as Vettel's. Same applies for Villeneuve's wins.

 

Obviously when you qualify upfront consistently, you will consistently find yourself in the best spot to have a clean race. If anything it's a quality, I don't understand why this should be highlighted as a weakness necessarily.

Perhaps Fernando, while a better driver overall, has never been the quickest in qualifying and then had to compensate this weakness by battling it through the field, for instance.

 

I think there were magical moments in Vettel's career. 

Starting with his first win in Monza. Yes he led, but it was a very special debut win. Winning 9 races is a big highlight. And once again demonstrates how consistent he could be. Yes it was a dominant car, but nobody else has ever come close to that record. Hamilton was arguably driving even more dominant cars in 2014,2015,2016, 2019 and never came close to that. Neither did Schumacher in 2002/2004.

 

 

Just looking at stats does not always tell the whole story.

Kimi and Rubens won from the back of the grid. They were great victories, really flashy. Vettel does not have wins like this.

But those were unique circumstances and everything has to come together for it to happen. While an absolutely epic win in Suzuka 2005, it really should have been a walk in the park in normal circumstances, as there was no competition in terms of speed to that Mclaren/Kimi, apart from Alonso.

 

 

Races like Spa 1995, etc. are special  precisely because they are unique. Surely extortionary drivers like Schumacher had them. But even for them it was not a regular thing. You can't expect every driver to have races like that. And that is the reason why those are remembered.

 

I think if anybody needs to be introduced into the career of Michael they really need to look at 3 seasons first:

 

2000: A lot of preassure, driving a Ferrari, failing to win during the last 3 previous years, especially making a very bad move in 1997. And arguably racing against a faster Mclaren, he pulled it off.

1998: Just relentless, everything seemed to go wrong, tyres, superior Mclaren with Newey, fast Hakkinen, SPA with Coulthard and dramatic Suzuka. He still managed to fight it till the end. In fact, for me it's perhaps the most remarkable campaigns since I'm watching F1. Stunning.

1995: Brilliant, it's not getting appreciated enough because somehow Hill and Coulthard managed to make a total mess of the season. Imagine if it was Vettel driving that Williams. He would be crucified, no less.

 

bonus: return races in 1999. Just epic, and unexpected by no one. I remember the articles at the time, with various experts debating wheter he would ever be able to return to his form.

 

This is something that I miss with Lewis. Perhaps, he is even a better racer than Michael, but for me he lacks those very special seasons. He had his tough one in 2007 against Fernando. But after that? 2008 was really scrappy, almost looked like no driver wanted to win it. And everything in his Mercedes years can only be compared to Michael from 2001-2004. Yep, very similar, very impressive, fully deserved. But unspectacular and boring in both instances for both drivers.

 

Lewis's 2010 was very special, and I think very comparable to say a Schumi 1997. The racecraft he demonstrated in that season (the last without DRS) was some of the best in F1 ever (it was like Alonso's in 2012 but with even more of an edge to it). He had two imprudences in Monza and Singapore that were largely borne out of desperation at his equipment disadvantage as the Ferrari and Red Bull were out-developing them, and had already started the season from a better place. Without those two mistakes it would have been a better championship win than Prost's 1986. The McLaren could barely scratch any wins in the dry. There were multiple threats in the form of peers (Alonso) or people who were at least all-time greats (Vettel) as well as a formidable teammate (prime Button).

 

It's no coincidence that at all of the points when the field was most competitive (2009, 2010, 2012) Hamilton ended up being one of the heroes of the season. 

 

We're mostly going in circles because a contingent rightly (in my mind) declares that the driving competition in Shumi's heyday was wanting. Others counter that they only appeared so because Schumi rendered them so. But, as Atreiu has already said, Schumi can take wins, poles, podiums, championships (in other words, accomplishments) off of you, but he can't take away the caliber of driving you present to the viewer. And in that regard, your Alesis, Bergers, Hills, Villeneuve's, etc. are incontrovertibly some ways below, your Alonsos, Vettels, Verstappens, Leclercs, even Ricciardo, etc. 

Christian Horner

 

 

The 46-year-old Englishman has transformed a modest group center team into a team capable of dominating F1 for four years, becoming a permanent part of the sport's elite

The 'Red Bull phenomenon' is and remains one of the most particular events in the entire history of Formula 1. A team sponsored by an energy drink brand that not only wins in a few years (that was also successful at Benetton, more brand certainly not motorsport) but it is permanently positioned at the top, becoming one of the reference points of world motorsport. In 2005, when Dietrich Mateschitz bought the Jaguar F1 to transform it into Red Bull Racing, few could have predicted that the boy who ran the hut, Christian Horner , a 32-year-old with good hopes who in 1997 had founded an F3000 team, would have just become 10 years later one of the most successful managers in F1 history.

 

Thinking about it, Horner's story is perfect for a team like Red Bull. Young, ambitious and intelligent, the Englishman began his motorsport career at 19 as a driver. It achieves good results in Formula Renault, Formula 3 and F3000. The turning point of his life, however, came in 1997, when he created Arden International, just 24 years old, to race in the F3000. This is the context in which he comes into contact with Helmut Marko , former pilot owner of the RSM Marko, a team that in 1999 will become Red Bull Junior Team. Horner takes little to understand that he is worth more as a manager than as a pilot and in a few years he hangs his helmet on the nail. From behind a desk he transforms Arden into one of the teams to beat, tightening relationships with Marko more and revealing an exceptionaltalent scout .

 

When the powerful Austrian brand decides to implement the big leap, the choice is quickly made: Horner becomes team principal, Marko a sort of special consultant. Purists don't like the idea and mock the new team, but Mateschitz, Marko and Horner have the long run vision. Year after year Red Bull grows. The first points arrived (fourth place with David Coulthard in the first ever race, in Australia in 2005), then the first podiums (always the Scotsman in Monaco in 2006). Then, above all, the best designer out there comes to the tune of millions: Adrian Newey . In 2006, a satellite stable, the Toro Rosso, also emerged from the ashes of Minardi. Paradoxically, in 2008 it found the victory before the 'parent company', with Sebastian Vettelin Monza. Just the young German becomes the emblem of the functionality of the Red Bull nursery. The eyes of Horner and Marko and the huge amount of money available allow Red Bull to create an Academy.

 

Horner uses the regulatory change of 2009 to bring the team closer to the top and with the Vettel-Webber duoin the car the successes begin to arrive. Since 2010, Red Bull has simply been the car to beat. The English manager, at 37, finds himself managing a very young team that plays world titles against giants such as Ferrari and McLaren and which, moreover, has two drivers who do not collaborate. Here is perhaps the main masterpiece of Horner, who despite some spectacular accident (Turkey 2010) manages to manage the relationship between Vettel and Webber keeping both in contention for the world championship. The failure to exchange positions between the two in Brazil, which could have brought the Australian to -1 from Fernando Alonso in view of the last race, is derided by everyone. But in the end, with a little luck, he's right. Sebastian Vettel, the 'designated' driver, wins the world championship in Abu Dhabi, after the cruel and ingenious 'love' pulled by the unaware Webber.

 

The rest is history. After the golden four-year period 2010-2013, Red Bull tries to adapt to the new regulations by starting from the young: Daniel Ricciardo spodesta Vettel, who emigrates to Ferrari. Then comes Max Verstappen , also a future designated champion, around which Horner and Marko build the team and for which they venture a move that is currently paying off: abandoning Renault engines in order to have a dedicated manufacturer, Honda. In conclusion, the numbers remain. Since Horner and Red Bull are in F1 the team has been the second most successful , behind only Mercedes. Not bad for the youngest ex-team principal in history and for an energy drink brand.

 

https://www.formulap...rko-474185.html

 

Translated from italian

Hamilton - Lewis obviously has plenty of brilliant seasons under his belt, and his clean 2015 deserves a mention too, but I feel his 2017 with a difficult Mercedes is criminally underrated. Lewis went wheel to wheel with his main rival Vettel three or four times, and came out the winner each one of them. Masterful at avoiding incidents, I feel he wasn't as complete a driver in 2012 or 2010. 

Bottas - For me his 2014 pips 2016 and 2017. His mid-season cool-headedness and podium streak was something to behold. 

Vettel - 2011 and 2015 deserve a honourable mention, but Seb's 2013 was absolutely relentless. Say whatever you like about Newey-mobiles and blah blah, but people forget Webber was absolutely nowhere near Seb that year. 

Raikkonen - 2005 slightly pips out 2003 and 2007 because of his team-mate; especially in quali-trim, Kimi was the scary monster I was expecting JPM to be. Who can forget those quali laps at Monaco and Monza?

Ricciardo - it's often overlooked how good his 2016 was, but 2014 he was a revelation. Whenever Mercedes dropped the ball, Danny Ric was there to collect it. Not to mention his exciting overtaking form. 

Verstappen - 2017 was ridden with unluck, yet it didn't impact Max's form and he truly got rewarded end-season, remembering especially the great drive at Sepang. 

Hulkenberg - the German's got a tendency to put together brilliant half-seasons and be a bit inconsistent on the other half; end of 2012 and 2013, start of 2014, end of 2016, versus the less impressive other halves... But I would rate Nico's 2017 the best overall: entering the year, I think Renault was complete shambles (as demonstrated by Palmer's struggles) and it looked like it was the Hulk himself that was carrying the team from the bottom of the midfield back to the top of it. 

Sainz - been relatively consistent over his career really, but for me 2016 would stand out of the bunch

Grosjean - Romain has always been an up and down driver depending on his brakes - sometimes producing amazing drives into top places with cars that don't belong, sometimes looking like a complete idiot. 2015 was probably the season with the biggest ratio for the former instead of the latter, with the Spa podium as a particular highlight. 

Magnussen - similarly to his team-mate, Kevin is a bit of an up-and-down driver, sometimes truly struggling with a Jolyon Palmer. But his 2018 has been more of the former. 

Ocon - he's beating Perez with more of a regularity than last year. So, 2018.

Perez - hard to choose between the surprisingly mature, high-peaking 2012, and the clean and consistent 2016 that saw his team-mate Hulk leave Force India with his stock well lower than it had been - but I would lean for the latter if pressed. 

Alonso - I'm not as convinced about 2012 as everybody else seems to be (for me it had something to do with Massa being in the wrong place mentally as well); for me Fred's 2006 was even more impressive; going into a true one on one battle with the beast still relatively fresh-faced, and coming out as the winner. But you still have to honourably mention his giant-punching 2008 and 2009 with terrible cars, 2013 and 2014, 2016...

Vandoorne - I mean, 2017 was not that bad. About what you'd have expected from a rookie entering a McLaren team, with Alonso having had a bit of time to build it around himself.

Gasly and Hartley - well duhh... They are both driving better in 2018 than last year, no? 

Ericsson - has looked like he gets a little bit better every year, up until around Baku this year that is. So I'm going with 2017 and potentially ending Wehrlein's prospective F1 career by looking essentially not significantly weaker than him. 

Stroll - had streaks of form in 2017 where he looked like he truly belongs, especially at the end of the European tour. However, when he couldn't find the pace then he truly could not find the pace - hence, it's hard to assess whether him not performing this year is entirely due to the car, or due to him and Sirotkin being unable to hook it up without the experience of Felipe...

Just a couple of things i'd like to touch on:

 

(1) "I feel he wasn't as complete a driver in 2012 or 2010"

 

Irrespective of how "complete" or "incomplete" one considers Hamilton in 2012,  his on track performance was near flawless. Perhaps "twittergate" was the only real blot against him that year.  Otherwise, with a car  that was often breaking down, combined with a pitwall in total chaos, he maintained a high level.

 

(2) "I feel his 2017 with a difficult Mercedes is criminally underrated".

 

 

Agreed.

 

While W08 was often fastest over 1 lap, higher top speed, the SF70H  was often  more "stable" in race trim. I'm gonna say it, but there is even a large body of professional opinion that think Ferrari had the better car in 2017.

 

 Hamilton, again, was largely error free & consistent ( he had a couple of subpar weekends, like Russia, but to be fair,so did everyone else).

 

Hamilton - Lewis obviously has plenty of brilliant seasons under his belt, and his clean 2015 deserves a mention too, but I feel his 2017 with a difficult Mercedes is criminally underrated. Lewis went wheel to wheel with his main rival Vettel three or four times, and came out the winner each one of them. Masterful at avoiding incidents, I feel he wasn't as complete a driver in 2012 or 2010. 

Bottas - For me his 2014 pips 2016 and 2017. His mid-season cool-headedness and podium streak was something to behold. 

Vettel - 2011 and 2015 deserve a honourable mention, but Seb's 2013 was absolutely relentless. Say whatever you like about Newey-mobiles and blah blah, but people forget Webber was absolutely nowhere near Seb that year. 

Raikkonen - 2005 slightly pips out 2003 and 2007 because of his team-mate; especially in quali-trim, Kimi was the scary monster I was expecting JPM to be. Who can forget those quali laps at Monaco and Monza?

Ricciardo - it's often overlooked how good his 2016 was, but 2014 he was a revelation. Whenever Mercedes dropped the ball, Danny Ric was there to collect it. Not to mention his exciting overtaking form. 

Verstappen - 2017 was ridden with unluck, yet it didn't impact Max's form and he truly got rewarded end-season, remembering especially the great drive at Sepang. 

Hulkenberg - the German's got a tendency to put together brilliant half-seasons and be a bit inconsistent on the other half; end of 2012 and 2013, start of 2014, end of 2016, versus the less impressive other halves... But I would rate Nico's 2017 the best overall: entering the year, I think Renault was complete shambles (as demonstrated by Palmer's struggles) and it looked like it was the Hulk himself that was carrying the team from the bottom of the midfield back to the top of it. 

Sainz - been relatively consistent over his career really, but for me 2016 would stand out of the bunch

Grosjean - Romain has always been an up and down driver depending on his brakes - sometimes producing amazing drives into top places with cars that don't belong, sometimes looking like a complete idiot. 2015 was probably the season with the biggest ratio for the former instead of the latter, with the Spa podium as a particular highlight. 

Magnussen - similarly to his team-mate, Kevin is a bit of an up-and-down driver, sometimes truly struggling with a Jolyon Palmer. But his 2018 has been more of the former. 

Ocon - he's beating Perez with more of a regularity than last year. So, 2018.

Perez - hard to choose between the surprisingly mature, high-peaking 2012, and the clean and consistent 2016 that saw his team-mate Hulk leave Force India with his stock well lower than it had been - but I would lean for the latter if pressed. 

Alonso - I'm not as convinced about 2012 as everybody else seems to be (for me it had something to do with Massa being in the wrong place mentally as well); for me Fred's 2006 was even more impressive; going into a true one on one battle with the beast still relatively fresh-faced, and coming out as the winner. But you still have to honourably mention his giant-punching 2008 and 2009 with terrible cars, 2013 and 2014, 2016...

Vandoorne - I mean, 2017 was not that bad. About what you'd have expected from a rookie entering a McLaren team, with Alonso having had a bit of time to build it around himself.

Gasly and Hartley - well duhh... They are both driving better in 2018 than last year, no?   

Ericsson - has looked like he gets a little bit better every year, up until around Baku this year that is. So I'm going with 2017 and potentially ending Wehrlein's prospective F1 career by looking essentially not significantly weaker than him. 

Stroll - had streaks of form in 2017 where he looked like he truly belongs, especially at the end of the European tour. However, when he couldn't find the pace then he truly could not find the pace - hence, it's hard to assess whether him not performing this year is entirely due to the car, or due to him and Sirotkin being unable to hook it up without the experience of Felipe...

Yes, 2008 STR was better than that year’s RBR.
Not a bad car and of course the Monza drive was very good. But let him win the title without a Newey car, then we can talk about greatness.

How come the 2008 STR somehow became a better car that year when it never matched RBR even closely in any other season? I don't buy that. The only thing that was obviously (but marginally) better with that STR was the Ferrari engine. Most of those 2008 STR great results came in rain and as we all know driver skill often becomes the deciding factor in the rain.

Yes, 2008 STR was better than that year’s RBR.
Not a bad car and of course the Monza drive was very good. But let him win the title without a Newey car, then we can talk about greatness.

 

Thats not the point tho.

The ppl. who would call Fernandos 2012 ferrari a "shitbox" are the same ones who would say the 2008 Toro Rosso was a "good car". when its clear as day that the toro rosso was nowhere near as competitive with its contemporaries as the 2012 ferrari was.

Vettel has plenty of flaws alright, but being slow or unable to extract the best out of his machinery in a race are not one of them.

Didnt you get the memo yet?
hamilton's been driving minardis for all of his career; Alonso almost won 2012 in a shitbox meanwhile Vettels 2008 Toro Rosso was actually a pretty good car.

Yes, 2008 STR was better than that year’s RBR.
Not a bad car and of course the Monza drive was very good. But let him win the title without a Newey car, then we can talk about greatness.

Vettel’s 2008 Monza win was MASSIVELY over-hyped. If you actually sit down, and look at the facts of the weekend, you will come to the realization that it wasn’t that amazing at all.

And the car should have been DQed for the entire season because it used RBR/Newey IP. <- My unpopular opinion.

Well, I care and that STR win with a newey-copy-car was lame.
 
It's not healthy if customer cars beat some of the constructor teams, possibly killing them off. It can end up like American open-wheels which is cheap and, for me, boring.

That was the exception to the rule, more often than not the customer teams will not beat the constructors. And it was fortunate because it resulted in Vettel's promotion to Red Bull and fast-tracked his career. How many other drivers have seemed to be terrific but never had a proper car to demonstrate their speed?

In all honesty, I can't find a single rational downside to how Vettel and STR won Monza 2008.

Looking at this as objectively as I can Vettel simply hasn't adjusted to the current regs. He is a top driver, no doubt, but then again so are most of the grid.

In my opinion he isn't a great yet though. Had he won championships with two teams, through different regs, or regularly competed at the sharp end in machinery that didn't deserve it, I'd change my mind.

Make no mistake the Red Bull in 2014 is a great car. Riciardo is proving that. And he's beating Vettel without much difficulty it appears.

I hypothesise that perhaps Vettel cannot compete against the current grid without the exhaust trickery that Newey produced.

And don't throw Monza 2008 at me...

 

 

The only thing I'll throw at you is that it is way too early to judge. So far their best result has come from Vettel.

Looking at this as objectively as I can Vettel simply hasn't adjusted to the current regs. He is a top driver, no doubt, but then again so are most of the grid.

In my opinion he isn't a great yet though. Had he won championships with two teams, through different regs, or regularly competed at the sharp end in machinery that didn't deserve it, I'd change my mind.

Make no mistake the Red Bull in 2014 is a great car. Riciardo is proving that. And he's beating Vettel without much difficulty it appears.

I hypothesise that perhaps Vettel cannot compete against the current grid without the exhaust trickery that Newey produced.

And don't throw Monza 2008 at me...

A bit of a sore loser. As much as I don't like Sebastian, he's wiped the floor with Webber who's in the same car. Take away Vettel and you don't see Webber having the last four titles. Yes, it's down to the car, but Vettel also has the extra speed to cope with it, unlike his teammate in the same car.

 

Just because Webber has been a fool for years and thankfully now leaves F1, does not lessen the greatness of the RB cars. After 2011 Webber should have been fired from Red Bull and from F1 in general, that pathetic was his performance. 

 

Difference is, Seb has taken the opportunities he had to take the titles in the last 4 years. Alonso could and should have done so in Abu Dhabi, but failed miserably. Also last year, Seb with a badly damaged car did everything exactly right to seal the championship. He won that one because of his cool and focused head. Alonso and his team in the sort-like situation in Abu Dhabi panicked badly and lost the championship themselves.

 

Seb had to fight hard for at least 2 of his WDCs (he fought hard as well for the others, just that others couldn't really follow him), while Alonso has basically been gifted all of his WDCs

 

Nonsense. Alonso was by far the best driver in 2006 and while it is true that the engine problems of Mercedes made it easier for Alonso in 2005, he still drove a perfect season, very high quality season. Far better than any season Vettel has ever managed.

Alonso deserved his titles completely, to say he was gifted his titles is borderline insane. 

Vettel on the otherhand should have won each title since 2009 (including) with ease, such was the dominance of his cars. That he had to fight for it so hard against Alonso in two of those seasons shows how great Alonso is and how much better than Vettel he is.

I'm not a particularly big fan of Alonso, but that doesn't make him wrong. Seb is an excellent driver these days, but frankly I believe that's down to Red Bull making him one. Vettel's success has been a virtuous circle as Gary Anderson put it. Every year he has less to prove and he can take things in a more and more relaxed mindset, while time is running out for the rest of the top guys.

 

If he were not a Red Bull driver, I don't believe he would have won a single championship title, let alone several. If Lewis or Fernando had been driving the RB5 derivatives, not only would I expect them to have been even more dominant, but having had a fair chance of beating Jenson to title in 2009. Vettel recently suggested that RB5 was good enough to do that.

 

Vettel's a wonderful driver, but I can't picture anyone considering him all-time great nevermind the greatest had he been anything besides a Red Bull man. Someone else would have got that recognition instead.

 

If Alonso had accepted the offer of Red Bull in 2009, he would be a 7x WDC by now, whereas Button and Vettel would be 0X WDC. Unlike Vettel, he would not have wasted the RB car in 2009, nor would have been taken to the last race in either 2010 and 2012. 

 

Exactly, but from Vettel fans. What that Red Bull chasis did in the wet before Monza:

 

2007 Nurburgring: Webber 3rd, Coulthard 5th, Speed and Liuzzi spun off

2007 Fuji: Coulthard 4th, Liuzzi 9th, Webber and Vettel crashed into each other while running 2nd and 3rd.

2007 China: Vettel 4th, Liuzzi 6th, Coulthard 8th, Webber 10th

2008 Monaco: Webber 4th, Vettel 5th, Coulthard and Bourdais retired.

 

Now consider the Ferrari engine in the Toro Rosso was way better than the Renault in the Red Bull at that time, and the fact that it was Monza, and suddenly it becomes a very far cry from the "he won in a Minardi" that Vettel's fans want us to believe.

 

Reality is the worst enemy of Vettel fans. TR was an excellent car that weekend, quite probably the best car of the weekend. That a driver like Bourdais, who was a complete failure in F1, was able to do so well with it, shows you just how great the car was.

 

Fernando Alonso is an idiot. His own two titles were a product of rule changes and loopholes.

 

I will never forget when he uttered the words "Formula one is not a sport anymore". I will celebrate the day when he's gone from the grid.

 

The only one whose titles are a product of rule changes is Newey Passenger Vettel. 

Well, if you want to ignore reliability problems, you'll have to blame Hamilton for not winning 2012.

Why? McLaren was not the fastest nor the best car of the year, both of those honours easily belong to Red Bull.

I would presume he considers the TR at Monza 2008 to be the best in the field, a lot of others also think that.

 

Don't put words in my mouth.

 

 

 

And Vettel does even have a win in a TR. A car that was not a winner car in any way.

 

Your point?

 

A winner in any way? It was designed by Newey! Point invalid.

Are you trying to say that the STR3 was as bad as the A18?

 

The A18 (Arrows) had 6 retirements out of 17 starts, and out of the 11 finishes, only 2 resulted in points. The only podium finish, 2nd - came from 3rd on the grid, while teammate qualified 19th, two seconds slower and didn't finish the race.

In comparison:

The STR3 (Toro Rosso) had 2 retirements out of 13 starts and out of the 11 finishes, 9 resulted in points The only podium finish,1st came from pole position, while teammate qualified 4th, 0.900 slower and finished 18th.

 

 

 

edit:

 

 

 

Interesting. 

 

This is the perfect moment to ask the following question, Do you think Alonso thinks he could have won the WDC several times (4 times for example) during these years if he were driving a Red Bull?

 

Yes. Lewis & Kimi definitely as well.

 

I think this needs to be addressed. The Toro Rosso of 2008 was designed by Newey, and had the more powerful Ferrari engine. Sebastien Bourdais, who got sacked from Toro Rosso for being crap, managed to put his Toro Rosso on the second row that GP. So, it clearly wasn't a "slow car".

Thank you

 

I too think that it's very important it's addressed that Adrian Newey, the designer who failed to come up with a championship winning car for almost a decade, designed the Toro Rosso that a brilliant Sebastian Vettel drove to an unprecedented win in Monza that year.

 

Credit where credit is due, right

Strange how a driver with such an obvious claim to a top F1 team has spent 3 seasons driving cars that have little or no chance of winning in F1.

 

It is vital that to succeed in F1, assuming a certain level of talent, that drivers must be well connected and onside very early on in their careers. If you have to scratch around in mediocre or average machines for several years then you are in peril of your skills and motivation being squandered and becoming sidelined. The difference in the F1 careers of Vettel and Hulkenberg is startling, the former has gone from strength to strength, from memory starting off with a single BMW entry in 2007 followed by several drives with Torro Rosso, then 2008 with TR and the Monza win then straight to RBR with 4 wins and runner up in the WDC followed by 3 and now probably 4 WDCs in a row. Much of this, in my opinion, made possible by Newey designed cars.

 

In my opinion Nico Hulkenberg is at least as capable as Vettel but despite his many pre-F1 successes he has had to rely upon Williams, Force India and now Sauber. Is he less marketable than others, or is he unlucky that there are already three German drivers in regular F1 seats, why for instance, as others have commented, did McLaren choose the inconsistent and overly aggressive Perez instead of Nico?

 

Let's hope Hulkenberg gets the Lotus ride or something comparable/better soon.

 

Yes,  the differences in their careers are quite surprising given that both are the same age and raced together in karting in Germany. Vettel was "lucky" to get the Red Bull backing and then the BMW backing after impressing them in the Formula BMW, that meant two teams pushing for him to get a drive in F1 while Hulk was still in F3-A1GP and had to wait a lot more to get to F1. Maybe, if he hadn't rejected the Red Bull junior team, he coud be now in RBR instead of Ricciardo.

 

Also, he's unlucky because there are a lot of Germans in F1 so it's difficult to find sponsors.

 

Hopefully Lotus will give him a drive for next yeat and he will finally be able to show how good he is.

Strange how a driver with such an obvious claim to a top F1 team has spent 3 seasons driving cars that have little or no chance of winning in F1.

 

It is vital that to succeed in F1, assuming a certain level of talent, that drivers must be well connected and onside very early on in their careers. If you have to scratch around in mediocre or average machines for several years then you are in peril of your skills and motivation being squandered and becoming sidelined. The difference in the F1 careers of Vettel and Hulkenberg is startling, the former has gone from strength to strength, from memory starting off with a single BMW entry in 2007 followed by several drives with Torro Rosso, then 2008 with TR and the Monza win then straight to RBR with 4 wins and runner up in the WDC followed by 3 and now probably 4 WDCs in a row. Much of this, in my opinion, made possible by Newey designed cars.

 

In my opinion Nico Hulkenberg is at least as capable as Vettel but despite his many pre-F1 successes he has had to rely upon Williams, Force India and now Sauber. Is he less marketable than others, or is he unlucky that there are already three German drivers in regular F1 seats, why for instance, as others have commented, did McLaren choose the inconsistent and overly aggressive Perez instead of Nico?

 

Let's hope Hulkenberg gets the Lotus ride or something comparable/better soon.

 

It's quite simple: Vettel got a spot in the Red Bull Junior Squad and Hülkenberg didn't. Same as with Hamilton. He was picked up by McLaren, a Di Resta for example had to take the route via DTM and is now trapped in a Midfield Team.

Strange how a driver with such an obvious claim to a top F1 team has spent 3 seasons driving cars that have little or no chance of winning in F1.

 

It is vital that to succeed in F1, assuming a certain level of talent, that drivers must be well connected and onside very early on in their careers. If you have to scratch around in mediocre or average machines for several years then you are in peril of your skills and motivation being squandered and becoming sidelined. The difference in the F1 careers of Vettel and Hulkenberg is startling, the former has gone from strength to strength, from memory starting off with a single BMW entry in 2007 followed by several drives with Torro Rosso, then 2008 with TR and the Monza win then straight to RBR with 4 wins and runner up in the WDC followed by 3 and now probably 4 WDCs in a row. Much of this, in my opinion, made possible by Newey designed cars.

 

In my opinion Nico Hulkenberg is at least as capable as Vettel but despite his many pre-F1 successes he has had to rely upon Williams, Force India and now Sauber. Is he less marketable than others, or is he unlucky that there are already three German drivers in regular F1 seats, why for instance, as others have commented, did McLaren choose the inconsistent and overly aggressive Perez instead of Nico?

 

Let's hope Hulkenberg gets the Lotus ride or something comparable/better soon.

REVISED Test Drivers
Formula One Test Drivers Archive

This is an attempt at archiving all instances of a driver testing a contemporary Formula One car. It includes official test drivers, Friday test drivers, one-off test drivers, and so on. It does not include instances of a regular driver testing during the off-season. Descriptions of the tests will appear in the future. Please post any missing testers in the Test Drivers thread in GF1’s Nostalgia Forum

Thanks in particular to the members of TBK/TBK Light for their assistance in posting pictures of many of the tests. Credit also to 8W’s test driver archive.

AGS
Didier Pironi (1986)
Ivan Capelli (1986)

Alfa Romeo
Giovanni-Batista Guidotti (1930s)
Consalvo Sanesi (1946-1951, 1953-1954)
Eddie Cheever (1983)
Giorgio Francia (1985-1986)
Pierre Dieudonne (1981)
Rene Arnoux (1986)
Stirling Moss (1951)
Teodoro Zeccoli (1978-1980)
Vittorio Brambilla (1978-1980)

Arrows/Footwork
Antônio Pizzonia (2002)
Alessandro Zanardi (1991)
Allen Berg (1984)
Barry Sheene (1978)
Darren Turner (1997)
David Brabham (1992-1993, 1996)
Emmanuel Collard (1998)
Gaston Mazzacane (2000)
Gregor Foitek (1989)
Hannu Mikkola (1984)
Jari Nurminen (1986)
Johnny Herbert (2001)
Jörg Müller (1994, 1997)
Jos Verstappen (1993)
Kelvin Burt (1996)
Kenny Bräck (1996)
Mark Webber (1999-2000)
Martin Brundle (1997)
Mika Hakkinen (1993)
Paul Stewart (1993)
Paul Warwick (1989)
Pedro Lamy (1995)
Perry McCarthy (1991)
Pierre Dieudonné (1985) Donnington
Sebastien Bourdais (2002)
Stephen Watson (1998)
Tom Coronel (1999)

Aston Martin
Reg Parnell (1955)

BAR (see also Tyrrell / Honda)
Adam Carroll (2004-2005)
Alan Van der Merwe (2004-2005)
Anthony Davidson (2001-2005)
Björn Wirdheim (2003)
Darren Manning (2000-2003)
Enrique Bernoldi (2004)
James Rossiter (2004) [Photo 2004]
Jean-Christophe Boullion (1999)
Kosuke Matsuura (2002)
Marc Hynes (2000)
Nelson Piquet Jr (2005)
Patrick Lemarié (1999-2003)
Ralph Firman (2002)
Ryo Fukuda (2002)
Takuma Sato (2001, 2003)
Tony Kanaan (2005)
Townsend Bell (2003)

Benetton (see also Toleman / Renault)
Alessandro Nannini (1987, 1996)
Alessandro Zanardi (1992-1993)
Alex Caffi (1987)
Alexander Wurz (1996-1997)
Allan McNish (1993-1995)
Andrea Montermini (1992)
Andy Wallace (1986)
Damon Hill (1988)
David Coulthard (1992)
David Hunt (1988)
Emanuele Pirro (1997)
Emmanuel Collard (1995)
Fernando Alonso (2001-2002)
Gary Brabham (1988)
Giancarlo Fisichella (1996)
Giorgio Pantano (2000)
Giovanna Amati (1986)
Giovanni Bonanno (1992)
Hidetoshi Mitsusada (2000)
Jackie Stewart (1989)
Jason Watt (1998)
Johnny Dumfries (1987-1990)
Johnny Herbert (1987, 1989)
Jordi Gene (1993)
Jos Verstappen (1993-1994, 1998)
King Constantine II of Greece (1990)
King Hussein of Jordan (1990)
Laurent Redon (1999)
Luca Badoer (1993)
Mark Webber (2000-2001)
Martin Brundle (1997)
Martin Donnelly (1987)
Maurizio Sandro Sala (1986)
Mika Hakkinen (1990)
Olivier Gavin (1997-1998?)
Paolo Barilla (1986-1987)
Paul Belmondo (1993)
Paul Stewart (1990)
Paul Tracy (1994)
Perry McCarthy (1992)
Roberto Moreno (1990)
Roberto Ravaglia (1988)
Stefano Modena (1987)
Vincenzo Sospiri (1996)

BMW Sauber (see also Sauber)
Alessandro Zanardi (2006)
Andy Priaulx (2008)
Augusto Farfus Jr (2007)
Christian Klien (2008)
Christian Vietoris (2007)
Graham Rahal (2008)
Ho-Pin Tung (2008)
Javier Villa (2008)
Marco Holzer (2006)
Marko Asmer (2008)
Nigel Mansell (2007)
Philipp Eng (2008)
Robert Kubica (2006)
Sebastian Vettel (2006-2007)
Timo Glock (2007)

To come (2008 Formula BMW World Final winner):
Alexander Rossi (2009)

BMW Sauber currently awards the winner of the Formula BMW World Final with an F1 test at the World Final the following year

Brabham
Ayrton Senna (1983)
Barry Sheene (1985)
Cees Siewertsen (1974)
Christian Danner (1983)
Corrado Fabi (1982)
Davy Jones (1983)
Elio de Angelis (1985)
Emanuele Pirro (1985)
Franco Uncini (1985)
Gary Brabham (1989)
Gunnar Nilsson (1975)
Hans-Joachim Stuck (1982)
Hector Rebaque (1981)
Ivan Capelli (1983)
Jackie Stewart (1978)
Josele Garza (1987)
Marco Lucchinelli (1985) Paul Ricard Nov 85
Mauro Baldi (1983)
Paolo Barilla (1984)
Pierluigi Martini (1983)
Roberto Guerrero (1983)
Stirling Moss (1983)
Thierry Boutsen (1981)
Tony Trimmer (1989)
Willy T. Ribbs (1985)

BRM
Jose Frolian Gonzalez (1952)
Juan Manuel Fangio (1952)
Ken Richardson (1940s-1950s)
Ken Wharton (1951)
Patrick Neve (1976)
Ron Flockhart (1954-1959)
Stirling Moss (1952, 1954-1956, 1959)

Coloni
Antonio Tamburini (1991)
Enzo Coloni (1987)
Luis Perez-Sala (1987)
Pedro Matos Chaves (1990)

Connaught
Stirling Moss (1954)

DAMS
Erik Comas (1995-1996)
Jan Lammers (1995)

Dome
Shinji Nakano (1996)
Marco Apicella (1996)
Michael Krumm (1996)
Naoki Hattori (1996)

Ensign
Arie Luyendijk (1975?)
Ole Vejlund (1974)

Ferrari
Alessandro Nannini (1992)
Andrea Montermini (1991)
Andrea Bertolini (2004-2008?)
Carlos Reutemann (1995, 2004)
Daniele Amaduzzo (1980s)
Dario Benuzzi (1988, 1991)
Eddie Cheever (1977)
Eddie Irvine (1995)
Edoardo Piscopo (2008)
Elio de Angelis (1978)
Fabrizio Giovanardi (2001)
Felipe Massa (2003)
Gerhard Berger (1986)
Giancarlo Fisichella (1995/6?)
Gianfranco Brancatelli (1975)
Gianni Morbidelli (1989-1993, 1997)
JJ Lehto (1989, 1992) Oct. 89 Estoril
Johnny Dumfries (1985)
Luca Badoer (1998-2008)
Luciano Burti (2002-2004)
Marc Gene (2004-2008)
Martino Severi (1959-1960)
Max Biaggi (1997, 1999)
Michele Alboreto (1983)
Mirko Bortolotti (2008)
Nicola Larini (1992-1998)
Richie Ginther (1960)
Roberto Moreno (1988-1989, 1998?)
Salvatore Cicatelli (2008)
Valentino Rossi (2004-2006, 2008)

In 2008, Ferrari awarded the top 3 drivers in the Italian Formula 3 Championship with a test. This may continue in the future

FIRST (see also Life)
Gabriele Tarquini (1989)

Force India (see also Spyker)
Christian Klien (2007)
Franck Montagny (2007)
Pedro de la Rosa (2008)
Ralf Schumacher (2007)
Roldan Rodriguez (2007)
Vitantonio Liuzzi (2007-2008)

Forti
Frank Lagorce (1996)

Hesketh
Harvey Postlethwaite (1974)

Honda (see also BAR)
Adam Carroll (2006)
Alan van der Merwe (2006)
Alexander Wurz (2008)
Andreas Zuber (2007)
Anthony Davidson (2006, 2008, also 2007?)
Bruno Senna (2008)
Cameron McConville (2008) - last person to test Honda F1 car
Christian Klien (2007)
Giorgio Mondini (2006)
Hisashi Tsukahara (2008)
James Rossiter (2006-2007/2008?)
Jos Verstappen (1999)
Luca Filippi (2007)
Lucas di Grassi (2008)
Marco Andretti (2006)
Mike Conway (2007-2008?)
Nicolas Minassian (1999)
Riccardo Patrese (2008)
Ronnie Bucknum (1963-1964)
Satoru Nakajima (1993)
Takashi Kogure (2008)

Jaguar (see also Stewart / Red Bull)
Andre Lotterer (2000-2003)
Björn Wirdheim (2004)
Christian Danner (2001)
Dario Franchitti (2000)
Fernando Alonso (2002)
James Courtney (2002-2003) - did not test again after injury at Monza
Luciano Burti (2000)
Martin Brundle (2004)
Narain Karthikeyan (2001)
Niki Lauda (2002) - the Austrian’s first taste of an F1 car in years
Pedro De La Rosa (2001)
Tomas Scheckter (2000-2001)
Townsend Bell (2003)

Jordan (see also Midland)
Andrew Gilbert-Scott (2000, 2003?)
Anthony Davidson (2005)
Björn Wirdheim (2003)
Brian Hart (1994)
Chanoch Nissany (2004)
Christijan Albers (2004)
Colin McRae (1996)
Darren Turner (1997)
David Kennedy (1999)
Derek Daly (2004)
Emmanuel Collard (1995)
Emanuele Naspetti (1993)
Fabrizio de Simone (1996)
Franck Montagny (2005)
Gianni Morbidelli (1996)
Jaroslav Janis (2003)
Jason Tahinci (2005)
Jean-Christophe Bouillion (1995?-1996)
John Watson (1990)
Jos Verstappen (1999)
Juichi Wakisaka (1998)
Justin Wilson (2001)
Kelvin Burt (1994)
Laurent Aïello (1995)
Marcel Lasee (2002)
Mario Dominguez (2004-2005?) - was reported as securing a Jordan F1 drive
Martin Brundle (1995, 1999)
Martin Donnelly (1993)
Narain Karthikeyan (2001)
Nicky Pastorelli (2005)
Nicolas Kiesa (2005)
Nigel Mansell (1996, 2004)
Pedro De la Rosa (1997-1998)
Phil Andrews (1993)
Ralf Schumacher (1996)
Ralph Firman (2003)
Ricardo Zonta (1997, 2001)
Richard Lyons (2003)
Robert Doornbos (2004)
Sakon Yamamoto (2005)
Satoshi Motoyama (2003)
Shinji Nakano (1999)
Takuma Sato (2000)
Timo Glock (2004)
Tomas Enge (1999-2000)
Vittorio Zoboli (1993-1994)
Zsolt Baumgartner (2003)

Lancia (see also Ferrari)
Alberto Ascari (1954)
Eugenio Castellotti (1954)
Luigi Villoresi (1954)

Larrousse
Andrea Montermini (1992)
Emanuele Pirro (1989)
Emmanuel Clerico (1994)
Elton Julian (1994?)
Jean-Marc Gounon (1993)
Olivier Beretta (1993)
Paul Belmondo (1992)

Life (see also FIRST)
Franco Scapini (1989-1990)

Ligier (see also Prost)
Alain Prost (1992)
Derek Daly (1995) Magny-Cours
Emmanuel Collard (1990-1991)
Eric Bernard (1993)
Erik Comas (1990)
Franco Forini (1988)
Frank Lagorce (1994-1995)
Jackie Stewart (1978)
Jacques Laffite (1988, 1996)
Jean-Louis Schlesser (1989)
JJ Lehto (1994)
Jörg Müller (1994)
Kelvin Burt (1996)
Kenny Brack (1996)
Max Papis (1994)
Michael Schumacher (1994)
Michel Ferté (1985)
Niki Lauda (1977)
Philippe Alliot (1985) Paul Ricard Nov 1985
Philippe Streiff (1985) Paul Ricard Nov


Lola (see also Larrousse)
Allan McNish (1995)

Lotus
Alessandro Zanardi (1994)
Bob Evans (1979)
Brian Henton (1975)
Christian Horner (1993)
Dave Scott (1981)
Derek Warwick (1985-1986?)
Jackie Stewart (1978, 1989)
Jim Crawford (1975)
Johnny Dumfries (1984)
Johnny Herbert (1988, 1990-1991)
Martin Donnelly (1988-1989)
Max Papis (1994)
Nelson Piquet (1987)
Oliver Beretta (1992)
Roberto Moreno (1981-1982)
Stephen South (1979)
Tony Trimmer (1970s)
Warren Hughes (1994)
Wayne Gardner (1993) - Australian motorcycling rider

March/Leyton House
Andy Wallace (1987, 1990)
Bruno Giacomelli (1989-1990) Dec 1989 Estoril
Gary Brabham (1989)
Giovanni Lavaggi (1992)
Jackie Stewart (1989)
Kris Nissen (1987)
Markku Alen (1989)
Mauricio Gugelmin
Ronnie Peterson (?)

Maserati
Sergio Sighinolfi (1950s)

Matra
Graham Hill (1972)
Niki Lauda (1972)

McLaren
Alain Prost (1994-1996)
Alan Jones (1983)
Alex Lloyd (2004)
Alexander Wurz (2001-2005)
Allan McNish (1990-1994)
Andrew Kirkaldy (1999)
Arie Luyendijk (1976)
Ayrton Senna (1983)
Bernd Schneider (1995)
Cheng Congfu (2004)
Dario Franchitti (1995)
Darren Turner (1997, 2003-2004)
Dave Scott (1982)
David Coulthard (1990)
Eddie Jordan (1979)
Emanuele Pirro (1988-1989, 1991)
Gary Paffett (2002-2003, 2005-2008)
Gil de Ferran (1994)
Giorgio Pantano (2001)
Henri Toivonen (1982)
Huub Rothengatter (1976)
Jackie Stewart (1978)
Jamie Davies (1995)
Jamie Green (2004)
Jan Magnussen (1995-1996)
Jean Alesi (2002)
Jenson Button (1999)
Johnny Dumfries (1984)
John Watson (1988)
Jonathan Palmer (1981, 1989-1992) Dez 89 Estoril
Jonny Kane (1995)
Jos Verstappen (1993)
Laurent Aiello (1994)
Lewis Hamilton (2004, 2006)
Marcel Fässler (2001)
Mario Haberfeld (1999)
Mark Blundell (1991-1992, 1995)
Martin Brundle (1983)
Murray Walker (1983?)
Michael Andretti (1991)
Mika Hakkinen (1993, 2006)
Nick Heidfeld (1997-1999)
Niki Lauda (1981)
Oliver Gavin (1993, 1997)
Oliver Jarvis (2007)
Olivier Panis (2000)
Patrick Tambay (1975)
Paul di Resta (2007-2008)
Pedro de la Rosa (2003-2008)
Philippe Alliot (1993-1994)
Quique Mansilla (1982)
Ralf Schumacher (1996)
Ralph Firman (1995)
Raul Boesel (1981)
Ricardo Zonta (1998)
Roberto Moreno (1991)
Sarah Fisher (2002)
Stefan Bellof (1983)
Stefan Johansson (1982, 1991)
Tommy Byrne (1982)
Thierry Boutsen (1980, 1982)
Thierry Tassin (1981)
Yannick Dalmas (1994)

To come (McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winners):
Alexander Sims (2009?)
Oliver Turvey (2009?)
Stefan Wilson (2009?)

McLaren currently awards an F1 test to the winner of the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award

Mercedes-Benz
Dr Rudolf Uhlenhaut (1930s, 1954-1955)

Midland (see also Jordan / Spyker)
Adrian Sutil (2006)
Adrián Vallés (2006)
Alexandre Premat (2006)
Christijan Albers (2005)
Ernesto Viso (2006)
Fabrizio Del Monte (2005-2006)
Giorgio Mondini (2006)
Jeffrey van Hooydonk (2005-2006?)
Markus Winkelhock (2005-2006)
Max Biaggi (2006)
Nicky Pastorelli (2005
Roman Rusinov (2005-2006?)
Ronnie Quintarelli (2006)
Thomas Biagi (2005-2006)
Tiago Monteiro (2005)

Minardi (see also Toro Rosso)
Alessandro Nannini (1984
Andrea Piccini (2001)
Antonio Garcia (2002)
Bas Leinders (2004)
Bryan Herta (2002)
Chanoch Nissany (2004-2005) - Israeli test driver, brought oodles of money to team
Christian Pescatori (1994)
Christijan Albers (2001, 2003-2004)
Danilo Rossi (1994)
David Saelens (2002)
Davide Rigon (2005)
Donny Crevels (1998)
Enrico Toccacelo (2005)
Esteban Tuero (1996-1997)
Fabrizio del Monte (2003)
Fernando Alonso (1999-2000)
Franco Scapini (1987)
Franck Montagny (2002)
Gaston Mazzacane (1999)
Giancarlo Fisichella (1994-1995)
Giorgio Vinella (2000)
Heikki Kovalainen (2003)
Jeffrey van Hooydonk (2004)
Jirko Malchárek (2002)
José María López (2003)
Josele Garza (1988)
Juan Cáceres (2005)
Katherine Legge (2005)
Laurent Redon (1997-1998)
Luca Badoer (1994, 1997)
Luca Filippi (2005)
(Luis Perez?) Sala (1990)
Marco Apicella (1987, 1989)
Matteo Bobbi (2002-2003)
Max Wilson (1999)
Michele Alboreto (1985)
Narain Karthikeyan (2003)
Nicky Pastorelli (2005)
Nicolas Kiesa (2005)
Norbert Siedler (2003)
Norberto Fontana (1999)
Olivier Martini (1997)
Paolo Barilla (1988-1989)
Pastor Maldonado (2004)
Patrick Friesacher (2004)
Patrick Huisman (2004)
Paul Stoddart (2005) - drove the car while he was team principal
Peter Sundberg (1999)
Pierluigi Martini (1984, 1988)
Roldán Rodríguez (2005)
Sergey Zlobin (2002, 2004)
Tarso Marquès (1996-1997)
Thomas Biagi (1994)
Tiago Monteiro (2004)
Tom Kristensen (1997)
Will Davidson (2004) - Gifted F1 test by compatriot Paul Stoddart
Will Power (2004) - Gifted F1 test by compatriot Paul Stoddart

Modena/Lamborghini
Eric van de Poele (1990)
Giovanni Aloi (1990)
Mauro Baldi (1990-1991)
Marco Apicella (1990-1991)
Nicola Larini (1990)

Osella
Enrico Bertaggia (1989)
Enzo Osella (1983)
Fabrizio Barbazza (1985)
Fabrizio Tabaton (1983)
Gianfranco Tacchino (1985)
Giorgio Francia (1985)
Juan Manuel Fangio II (1984)
Marco Greco (1991)

Pacific
Katsumi Yamamoto (1995)
Oliver Gavin (1994)
Paul Belmondo (1995)

Prost (see also Ligier)
Emmanuel Collard (1997)
Enrique Bernoldi (2000)
Jaroslav Janis (2001)
Jenson Button (1999)
Jonathan Cochet (2001)
Oriol Servià (2000-2001)
Pedro de la Rosa (2001)
Stephane Samson (2001)
Stephane Sarrazin (1999-2001)

RAM
Eliseo Salazar (1983)
Nelson Piquet (1983)
Pierre Dieudonne (1985)
Rupert Keegan (1986)
Thierry Boutsen (1981, 1983)

Red Bull Racing (see also Jaguar)
Brendon Hartley (2008) - stood in for injured Mark Webber
Filipe Albuquerque (2007)
Karun Chandhok (2007)
Luciano Burti (2008)
Martin Brundle (2006, 2008)
Michael Ammermuller (2006-2007)
Mikhail Aleshin (2008)
Neel Jani (2004)
Robert Doornbos (2006-2007)
Scott Speed (2005)
Sebastian Vettel (2007)
Sebastien Buemi (2007-2008)
Sebastien Loeb (2008)
Vitantonio Liuzzi (2004-2006)

Renault (see also Benetton)
Allan McNish (2003)
Alvaro Parente (2008)
Alx Danielsson (2007)
Carlos Sainz (2006)
Christian Danner (2007)
Damon Hill (2006)
Derek Warwick (1983)
Eddie Cheever (1982)
Fernando Alonso (2002) - official test driver before promotion to race driver in ‘03
Franck Montagny (2003-2005)
Giedo van der Garde (2008)
Gerard Larrousse (1983)
Giorgio Mondini (2005)
Jacques Laffite (2007)
Jacques Villeneuve (2004) - tested prior to unsuccessful 3-race stint with team
Jan Lammers (1983)
Jean-Pierre Jabouille (1976)
Jean-Pierre Jaussaud (1980)
Jean Ragnotti (1983)
John Nielsen (1983)
Johnny Rives (Journalist L'Equipe) (1984)
José María López (2003, 2005-2006)
Heikki Kovalainen (2003-2006)
Lucas Di Grassi (2005, 2007-2008)
Nelson Piquet (1984)
Nelson Piquet Jr (2006-2007)
Nigel Roebuck (1982)
Oliver Gavin (2002)
Patrick Tambay (1983)
Philippe Streiff (1983)
Ricardo Zonta (2007)
Richard Hammond (2007)
Robert Kubica (2005)
Romain Dumas (2002)
Romain Grosjean (2008)
Sakon Yamamoto (2008)
Satoshi Motoyama (2004)
Sebastien Bourdais (2002, 2003)
Sebastien Loeb (2007)
Tiago Monteiro (2002)

Renault currently awards the winner of the World Series by Renault with an F1 test

Reynard
Christian Danner (1991)

Rial
Thomas Danielsson (1989)
Michael Bartels (1988)

Sauber (see also BMW Sauber)
Alexander Wurz (1996)
Enrique Bernoldi (1996, 1999-2000)
Felipe Massa (2001, 2003)
Jean-Louis Schlesser (1992)
John Watson (1996)
Jonathan Palmer (1996)
Jörg Müller (1998-1999)
Karl Wendlinger (1995)
Kimi Raikkonen (2000)
Kris Nissen (1994)
Marc Surer (1996)
Michael Schumacher (1997)
Mika Salo (1994)
Neel Jani (2003-2004)
Nicola Larini (1996)
Norberto Fontana (1995-1997)
Vitantonio Liuzzi (2004)

Scuderia Italia (Dallara)
Andrea Montermini (1990)

Spirit
Emerson Fittipaldi (1984)
Fulvio Ballabio (1984)
Thierry Boutsen (1982)

Spyker (see also Midland / Force India)
Adrián Vallés (2007)
Fairuz Fauzy (2007)
Giedo van der Garde (2007)
Markus Winkelhock (2007)
Roldan Rodriguez (2007)

Stewart (see also Jaguar)
Eddie Irvine (1999)
Jackie Stewart (1997)
Mario Haberfeld (1998)
Luciano Burti (1999)

Super Aguri
Aguri Suzuki (2007)
Christian Danner (2007)
Giedo van der Garde (2007)
James Rossiter (2007-2008)
Martin Brundle (2007)
Mike Conway (2007)
Sakon Yamamoto (2006-2007)

Toleman (see also Benetton)
Alessandro Nannini (1985) Paul Ricard Nov 1985
Emanuele Pirro (1985)
Gabriele Tarquini (1985) Paul Ricard Nov 1985
Ivan Capelli (1984)
John Watson (1985)
Maurizio Sandro Sala (1985)
Manfred Winkelhock (1984)
Oscar Larrauri (1985) Estoril Dec 1985
Paolo Barilla (1985) Estoril Dec 1985
Roberto Moreno (1984)
Volker Weidler (1985) Estoril Dec 1985

Toro Rosso (see also Minardi)
Brendon Hartley (2008)
Gerhard Berger (2008)
Jaime Alguersuari (2008)
John Hopkins (2006)
Neel Jani (2005-2006)
Sebastien Bourdais (2006-2007)
Sebastien Buemi (2008)
Takuma Sato (2008)
Vitantonio Liuzzi (2005)

Toyota
Alex Storckenfeld (2002)
Allan McNish (2000-2001)
Andrea Caldarelli (2008)
Andy Soucek (2006)
Borja García (2005)
Franck Montagny (2006-2007)
Franck Perera (2004-2005)
Helio Castroneves (2002)
Henkie Waldschmidt (2008)
Kamui Kobayashi (2006-2008)
Katsuyuki Hiranaka (2004)
Kohei Hirate (2007)
Mika Salo (2001)
Olivier Panis (2005-2006)
Peter Windsor (2004)
Scott Dixon (2004)
Stéphane Sarrazin (2002)
Ricardo Zonta (2003-2006)
Ryan Briscoe (2002-2005)
Toranosuke Takagi (2003)

Tyrrell
Chico Serra (1983)
Emmanuel Collard (1996)
Eric van de Poele (1993)
Gabriele Tarquini (1995)
Huub Rothengatter (198?)
Jackie Stewart (1975, 1978)
Jean-Christophe Boullion (1998)
Kelvin Burt (1993)
Kris Nissen (1980)
Mike Gascoyne (1998)
Mike Thackwell (1980)
Patrick Lemarié (1998-1999)
Piercarlo Ghinzani (1983)
Stefan Johansson (1983)
Tom Kristensen (1998)
Toranosuke Takagi (1997)

Williams
Adrian Newey (1993)
Al Unser Jr (1991)
Alain Menu (1993, 1995)
Alexander Wurz (2006)
Allard Kalff (1993)
Aluizio Coelho (1998)
Andy Priaulx (2005)
Antônio Pizzonia (1999, 2002, 2004-2005)
Ayrton Senna (1983)
Bernard Dudot (1993)
Bruno Junqueira (1999, 2000)
Damon Hill (1991-1992)
Dani Clos (2008)
Danny Ongais (1978)
Darren Manning (1999)
David Cook (1996)
David Coulthard (1993-1994)
Denis Chevrier (1993)
Derek Daly (1993)
Dirk Muller (2002)
Eddie Cheever (1978)
Emmanuel Collard (1994)
Geoff Lees (1987)
Giacomo Agostini (1978)
Giorgio Pantano (2002)
Gunnar Nilsson (1975)
Guy Smith (1995)
Ho-Pin Tung (2003)
Jackie Stewart (1989, 2006)
Jacques Laffite (1982)
Jacques Villeneuve (1995)
Jean-Christophe Boullion (1994-1997)
Jean-Louis Schlesser (1983, 1985, 1987-1988)
Jean-Pierre Jarier (1981)
Jean Ragnotti (1993)
Jeff Gordon (2002)
João Paulo Oliveira (2006)
Jochen Mass (1993)
Johnny Robinson (1991-1992)
John Watson (1993)
Jonathan Kennard (2008)
Jonathan Palmer (1981-1983)
Jörg Müller (1999)
Juan Pablo Montoya (1997-1998)
Kazuki Nakajima (2007)
Kazuyoshi Hoshino (1987)
Kelvin Burt (1993)
Keke Rosberg (1981)
Kenny Bräck (1993)
Lella Lombardi (1978)
Luciano Burti (2005-2006)
Marc Gene (2001-2004)
Marc Hynes (1997)
Mark Blundell (1989-1991, 2007)
Marko Asmer (2003)
Martin Brundle (1983, 1988)
Max Wilson (1997-1998)
Mick Doohan (1998)
Mike Thackwell (1984-1985) Estoril Dez 1985
Narain Karthikeyan (2005-2007)
Nelson Piquet (1985, 2004)
Nico Rosberg (2002-2005)
Nicolas Minassian (1997)
Norbert Haug (1988)
Olivier Beretta (2003-2004)
Patrick Head (1993)
Perry McCarthy (1993)
Ricardo Sperafíco (2003)
Riccardo Patrese (1996)
Sam Bird (2007)
Scott Dixon (2004, 2003?)
Sebastian Vettel (2005)
Soheil Ayari (1997)
Tiff Needell (1991, 2005)
Tommi Makinen (1998)
Vitantonio Liuzzi (2002)

Williams will award the winner of the FIA Formula 2 Championship with a test

Wolf
Jackie Stewart (1978)

Vanwall
Stirling Moss (1954)

Zakspeed
Aguri Suzuki (1988)
Christian Danner (1988)
Csaba Kesjar (1987)
Hans Kauffman (1987) Dec 1987 Estoril
Joachim Winkelhock (1988)
Kris Nissen (1986-1987?)
Luis Perez Sala (1986)
Manfred Winkelhock (1984 and 1987) Dec. 87 Estoril
Norbert Haug (1987)

1989-1994 Bridgestone/Mugen Tyre Tests
Aguri Suzuki - Tyrrell (1992-1993)
Christian Danner - Reynard (1990)
Heinz-Harald Frentzen - Tyrrell (1993)
Johnny Herbert - Tyrrell (1992)
Mauro Martini - Tyrrell (1992-1994)
Paolo Barilla - Reynard (1989)
Volker Weidler - Tyrrell (1990-1992)

1996 Bridgestone Tyre Tests
Aguri Suzuka - Footwork/Ligier
Damon Hill - Ligier
Jos Verstappen - Footwork/Ligier
Tarso Marquès - Footwork/Ligier

2000 Michelin Tyre Tests
Jörg Müller - Williams
Max Wilson - Jaguar
Tom Kristensen - Jaguar/Williams

Tests That Never Happened
Andrea Montermini (Lola, 1997 - announced as test driver, but never drove the car)
Jacky van de Ende (Stewart, 1997 - awarded test, but never drove the car)

Oddities - Tests But Official Entries

- Bernie Ecclestone entered the 1958 Monaco and British Grand Prix in a private Connaught

- Stirling Moss entered the 1960 Monaco Grand Prix for Scarab for testing in practice after being invited by team owner Lance Reventlow

- Mike Hawthorn entered the 1956 Belgian Grand Prix for Maserati for testing in practice


Source:
http://cfm.globalf1.net//?page_id=100

and updated by Ricardo Pereira (rpereira)

Test Drivers
Formula One Test Drivers Archive

This is an attempt at archiving all instances of a driver testing a contemporary Formula One car. It includes official test drivers, Friday test drivers, one-off test drivers, and so on. It does not include instances of a regular driver testing during the off-season. Descriptions of the tests will appear in the future. Please post any missing testers in the Test Drivers thread in GF1’s Nostalgia Forum

Thanks in particular to the members of TBK/TBK Light for their assistance in posting pictures of many of the tests. Credit also to 8W’s test driver archive.

AGS
Didier Pironi (1986)
Ivan Capelli (1986)

Alfa Romeo
Giovanni-Batista Guidotti (1930s)
Consalvo Sanesi (1946-1951, 1953-1954)
Eddie Cheever (1983)
Giorgio Francia (1985-1986)
Pierre Dieudonne (1981)
Rene Arnoux (1986)
Stirling Moss (1951)
Teodoro Zeccoli (1978-1980)
Vittorio Brambilla (1978-1980)

Arrows/Footwork
Antônio Pizzonia (2002)
Alessandro Zanardi (1991)
Allen Berg (1984)
Barry Sheene (1978)
Darren Turner (1997)
David Brabham (1992-1993, 1996)
Emmanuel Collard (1998)
Gaston Mazzacane (2000)
Gregor Foitek (1989)
Hannu Mikkola (1984)
Jari Nurminen (1986)
Johnny Herbert (2001)
Jörg Müller (1994, 1997)
Jos Verstappen (1993)
Kelvin Burt (1996)
Kenny Bräck (1996)
Mark Webber (1999-2000)
Martin Brundle (1997)
Mika Hakkinen (1993)
Paul Stewart (1993)
Paul Warwick (1989)
Pedro Lamy (1995)
Perry McCarthy (1991)
Sebastien Bourdais (2002)
Stephen Watson (1998)
Tom Coronel (1999)

Aston Martin
Reg Parnell (1955)

BAR (see also Tyrrell / Honda)
Adam Carroll (2004-2005)
Alan Van der Merwe (2004-2005)
Anthony Davidson (2001-2005)
Björn Wirdheim (2003)
Darren Manning (2000-2003)
Enrique Bernoldi (2004)
James Rossiter (2004) [Photo 2004]
Jean-Christophe Boullion (1999)
Kosuke Matsuura (2002)
Marc Hynes (2000)
Nelson Piquet Jr (2005)
Patrick Lemarié (1999-2003)
Ralph Firman (2002)
Ryo Fukuda (2002)
Takuma Sato (2001, 2003)
Tony Kanaan (2005)
Townsend Bell (2003)

Benetton (see also Toleman / Renault)
Alessandro Nannini (1987, 1996)
Alessandro Zanardi (1992-1993)
Alex Caffi (1987)
Alexander Wurz (1996-1997)
Allan McNish (1993-1995)
Andrea Montermini (1992)
Andy Wallace (1986)
Damon Hill (1988)
David Coulthard (1992)
David Hunt (1988)
Emanuele Pirro (1997)
Emmanuel Collard (1995)
Fernando Alonso (2001-2002)
Gary Brabham (1988)
Giancarlo Fisichella (1996)
Giorgio Pantano (2000)
Giovanna Amati (1986)
Giovanni Bonanno (1992)
Hidetoshi Mitsusada (2000)
Jackie Stewart (1989)
Jason Watt (1998)
Johnny Dumfries (1987-1990)
Johnny Herbert (1987, 1989)
Jordi Gene (1993)
Jos Verstappen (1993-1994, 1998)
King Constantine II of Greece (1990)
King Hussein of Jordan (1990)
Laurent Redon (1999)
Luca Badoer (1993)
Mark Webber (2000-2001)
Martin Brundle (1997)
Martin Donnelly (1987)
Maurizio Sandro Sala (1986)
Mika Hakkinen (1990)
Olivier Gavin (1997-1998?)
Paolo Barilla (1986-1987)
Paul Belmondo (1993)
Paul Stewart (1990)
Paul Tracy (1994)
Perry McCarthy (1992)
Roberto Moreno (1990)
Roberto Ravaglia (1988)
Stefano Modena (1987)
Vincenzo Sospiri (1996)

BMW Sauber (see also Sauber)
Alessandro Zanardi (2006)
Andy Priaulx (2008)
Augusto Farfus Jr (2007)
Christian Klien (2008)
Christian Vietoris (2007)
Graham Rahal (2008)
Ho-Pin Tung (2008)
Javier Villa (2008)
Marco Holzer (2006)
Marko Asmer (2008)
Nigel Mansell (2007)
Philipp Eng (2008)
Robert Kubica (2006)
Sebastian Vettel (2006-2007)
Timo Glock (2007)

To come (2008 Formula BMW World Final winner):
Alexander Rossi (2009)

BMW Sauber currently awards the winner of the Formula BMW World Final with an F1 test at the World Final the following year

Brabham
Ayrton Senna (1983)
Barry Sheene (1985)
Cees Siewertsen (1974)
Christian Danner (1983)
Corrado Fabi (1982)
Davy Jones (1983)
Elio de Angelis (1985)
Emanuele Pirro (1985)
Franco Uncini (1985)
Gary Brabham (1989)
Gunnar Nilsson (1975)
Hans-Joachim Stuck (1982)
Hector Rebaque (1981)
Ivan Capelli (1983)
Jackie Stewart (1978)
Josele Garza (1987)
Marco Lucchinelli (1985) Paul Ricard Nov 85
Mauro Baldi (1983)
Paolo Barilla (1984)
Pierluigi Martini (1983)
Roberto Guerrero (1983)
Stirling Moss (1983)
Thierry Boutsen (1981)
Tony Trimmer (1989)
Willy T. Ribbs (1985)

BRM
Jose Frolian Gonzalez (1952)
Juan Manuel Fangio (1952)
Ken Richardson (1940s-1950s)
Ken Wharton (1951)
Patrick Neve (1976)
Ron Flockhart (1954-1959)
Stirling Moss (1952, 1954-1956, 1959)

Coloni
Antonio Tamburini (1991)
Enzo Coloni (1987)
Luis Perez-Sala (1987)

Connaught
Stirling Moss (1954)

DAMS
Erik Comas (1995-1996)
Jan Lammers (1995)

Dome
Shinji Nakano (1996)
Marco Apicella (1996)
Michael Krumm (1996)
Naoki Hattori (1996)

Ensign
Arie Luyendijk (1975?)
Ole Vejlund (1974)

Ferrari
Alessandro Nannini (1992)
Andrea Montermini (1991)
Andrea Bertolini (2004-2008?)
Carlos Reutemann (1995, 2004)
Daniele Amaduzzo (1980s)
Dario Benuzzi (1988, 1991)
Eddie Cheever (1977)
Eddie Irvine (1995)
Edoardo Piscopo (2008)
Elio de Angelis (1978)
Fabrizio Giovanardi (2001)
Felipe Massa (2003)
Gerhard Berger (1986)
Giancarlo Fisichella (1995/6?)
Gianfranco Brancatelli (1975)
Gianni Morbidelli (1989-1993, 1997)
JJ Lehto (1989, 1992) Oct. 89 Estoril
Johnny Dumfries (1985)
Luca Badoer (1998-2008)
Luciano Burti (2002-2004)
Marc Gene (2004-2008)
Martino Severi (1959-1960)
Max Biaggi (1997, 1999)
Michele Alboreto (1983)
Mirko Bortolotti (2008)
Nicola Larini (1992-1998)
Richie Ginther (1960)
Roberto Moreno (1988-1989, 1998?)
Salvatore Cicatelli (2008)
Valentino Rossi (2004-2006, 2008)

In 2008, Ferrari awarded the top 3 drivers in the Italian Formula 3 Championship with a test. This may continue in the future

FIRST (see also Life)
Gabriele Tarquini (1989)

Force India (see also Spyker)
Christian Klien (2007)
Franck Montagny (2007)
Pedro de la Rosa (2008)
Ralf Schumacher (2007)
Roldan Rodriguez (2007)
Vitantonio Liuzzi (2007-2008)

Forti
Frank Lagorce (1996)

Hesketh
Harvey Postlethwaite (1974)

Honda (see also BAR)
Adam Carroll (2006)
Alan van der Merwe (2006)
Alexander Wurz (2008)
Andreas Zuber (2007)
Anthony Davidson (2006, 2008, also 2007?)
Bruno Senna (2008)
Cameron McConville (2008) - last person to test Honda F1 car
Christian Klien (2007)
Giorgio Mondini (2006)
Hisashi Tsukahara (2008)
James Rossiter (2006-2007/2008?)
Jos Verstappen (1999)
Luca Filippi (2007)
Lucas di Grassi (2008)
Marco Andretti (2006)
Mike Conway (2007-2008?)
Nicolas Minassian (1999)
Riccardo Patrese (2008)
Ronnie Bucknum (1963-1964)
Satoru Nakajima (1993)
Takashi Kogure (2008)

Jaguar (see also Stewart / Red Bull)
Andre Lotterer (2000-2003)
Björn Wirdheim (2004)
Christian Danner (2001)
Dario Franchitti (2000)
Fernando Alonso (2002)
James Courtney (2002-2003) - did not test again after injury at Monza
Luciano Burti (2000)
Martin Brundle (2004)
Narain Karthikeyan (2001)
Niki Lauda (2002) - the Austrian’s first taste of an F1 car in years
Pedro De La Rosa (2001)
Tomas Scheckter (2000-2001)
Townsend Bell (2003)

Jordan (see also Midland)
Andrew Gilbert-Scott (2000, 2003?)
Anthony Davidson (2005)
Björn Wirdheim (2003)
Brian Hart (1994)
Chanoch Nissany (2004)
Christijan Albers (2004)
Colin McRae (1996)
Darren Turner (1997)
David Kennedy (1999)
Derek Daly (2004)
Emmanuel Collard (1995)
Emanuele Naspetti (1993)
Fabrizio de Simone (1996)
Franck Montagny (2005)
Gianni Morbidelli (1996)
Jaroslav Janis (2003)
Jason Tahinci (2005)
Jean-Christophe Bouillion (1995?-1996)
John Watson (1990)
Jos Verstappen (1999)
Juichi Wakisaka (1998)
Justin Wilson (2001)
Kelvin Burt (1994)
Laurent Aïello (1995)
Marcel Lasee (2002)
Mario Dominguez (2004-2005?) - was reported as securing a Jordan F1 drive
Martin Brundle (1995, 1999)
Martin Donnelly (1993)
Narain Karthikeyan (2001)
Nicky Pastorelli (2005)
Nicolas Kiesa (2005)
Nigel Mansell (1996, 2004)
Pedro De la Rosa (1997-1998)
Phil Andrews (1993)
Ralf Schumacher (1996)
Ralph Firman (2003)
Ricardo Zonta (1997, 2001)
Richard Lyons (2003)
Robert Doornbos (2004)
Sakon Yamamoto (2005)
Satoshi Motoyama (2003)
Shinji Nakano (1999)
Takuma Sato (2000)
Timo Glock (2004)
Tomas Enge (1999-2000)
Vittorio Zoboli (1993-1994)
Zsolt Baumgartner (2003)

Lancia (see also Ferrari)
Alberto Ascari (1954)
Eugenio Castellotti (1954)
Luigi Villoresi (1954)

Larrousse
Andrea Montermini (1992)
Emanuele Pirro (1989)
Emmanuel Clerico (1994)
Elton Julian (1994?)
Jean-Marc Gounon (1993)
Olivier Beretta (1993)
Paul Belmondo (1992)

Life (see also FIRST)
Franco Scapini (1989-1990)

Ligier (see also Prost)
Alain Prost (1992)
Emmanuel Collard (1990-1991)
Eric Bernard (1993)
Erik Comas (1990)
Franco Forini (1988)
Frank Lagorce (1994-1995)
Jackie Stewart (1978)
Jacques Laffite (1988, 1996)
Jean-Louis Schlesser (1989)
JJ Lehto (1994)
Jörg Müller (1994)
Kelvin Burt (1996)
Kenny Brack (1996)
Max Papis (1994)
Michael Schumacher (1994)
Michel Ferté (1985)
Niki Lauda (1977)
Philippe Alliot (1985) Paul Ricard Nov 1985
Philippe Streiff (1985) Paul Ricard Nov


Lola (see also Larrousse)
Allan McNish (1995)

Lotus
Alessandro Zanardi (1994)
Bob Evans (1979)
Brian Henton (1975)
Christian Horner (1993)
Dave Scott (1981)
Derek Warwick (1985-1986?)
Jackie Stewart (1978, 1989)
Jim Crawford (1975)
Johnny Dumfries (1984)
Johnny Herbert (1988, 1990-1991)
Martin Donnelly (1988-1989)
Max Papis (1994)
Nelson Piquet (1987)
Oliver Beretta (1992)
Roberto Moreno (1981-1982)
Stephen South (1979)
Tony Trimmer (1970s)
Warren Hughes (1994)
Wayne Gardner (1993) - Australian motorcycling rider

March/Leyton House
Andy Wallace (1987, 1990)
Bruno Giacomelli (1989-1990) Dec 1989 Estoril
Gary Brabham (1989)
Giovanni Lavaggi (1992)
Jackie Stewart (1989)
Kris Nissen (1987)
Markku Alen (1989)
Mauricio Gugelmin
Ronnie Peterson (?)

Maserati
Sergio Sighinolfi (1950s)

Matra
Graham Hill (1972)
Niki Lauda (1972)

McLaren
Alain Prost (1994-1996)
Alan Jones (1983)
Alex Lloyd (2004)
Alexander Wurz (2001-2005)
Allan McNish (1990-1994)
Andrew Kirkaldy (1999)
Arie Luyendijk (1976)
Ayrton Senna (1983)
Bernd Schneider (1995)
Cheng Congfu (2004)
Dario Franchitti (1995)
Darren Turner (1997, 2003-2004)
Dave Scott (1982)
David Coulthard (1990)
Eddie Jordan (1979)
Emanuele Pirro (1988-1989, 1991)
Gary Paffett (2002-2003, 2005-2008)
Gil de Ferran (1994)
Giorgio Pantano (2001)
Henri Toivonen (1982)
Huub Rothengatter (1976)
Jackie Stewart (1978)
Jamie Davies (1995)
Jamie Green (2004)
Jan Magnussen (1995-1996)
Jean Alesi (2002)
Jenson Button (1999)
Johnny Dumfries (1984)
John Watson (1988)
Jonathan Palmer (1981, 1989-1992) Dez 89 Estoril
Jonny Kane (1995)
Jos Verstappen (1993)
Laurent Aiello (1994)
Lewis Hamilton (2004, 2006)
Marcel Fässler (2001)
Mario Haberfeld (1999)
Mark Blundell (1991-1992, 1995)
Martin Brundle (1983)
Murray Walker (1983?)
Michael Andretti (1991)
Mika Hakkinen (1993, 2006)
Nick Heidfeld (1997-1999)
Niki Lauda (1981)
Oliver Gavin (1993, 1997)
Oliver Jarvis (2007)
Olivier Panis (2000)
Patrick Tambay (1975)
Paul di Resta (2007-2008)
Pedro de la Rosa (2003-2008)
Philippe Alliot (1993-1994)
Quique Mansilla (1982)
Ralf Schumacher (1996)
Ralph Firman (1995)
Raul Boesel (1981)
Ricardo Zonta (1998)
Roberto Moreno (1991)
Sarah Fisher (2002)
Stefan Bellof (1983)
Stefan Johansson (1982, 1991)
Tommy Byrne (1982)
Thierry Boutsen (1980, 1982)
Thierry Tassin (1981)
Yannick Dalmas (1994)

To come (McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winners):
Alexander Sims (2009?)
Oliver Turvey (2009?)
Stefan Wilson (2009?)

McLaren currently awards an F1 test to the winner of the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award

Mercedes-Benz
Dr Rudolf Uhlenhaut (1930s, 1954-1955)

Midland (see also Jordan / Spyker)
Adrian Sutil (2006)
Adrián Vallés (2006)
Alexandre Premat (2006)
Christijan Albers (2005)
Ernesto Viso (2006)
Fabrizio Del Monte (2005-2006)
Giorgio Mondini (2006)
Jeffrey van Hooydonk (2005-2006?)
Markus Winkelhock (2005-2006)
Max Biaggi (2006)
Nicky Pastorelli (2005
Roman Rusinov (2005-2006?)
Ronnie Quintarelli (2006)
Thomas Biagi (2005-2006)
Tiago Monteiro (2005)

Minardi (see also Toro Rosso)
Alessandro Nannini (1984
Andrea Piccini (2001)
Antonio Garcia (2002)
Bas Leinders (2004)
Bryan Herta (2002)
Chanoch Nissany (2004-2005) - Israeli test driver, brought oodles of money to team
Christian Pescatori (1994)
Christijan Albers (2001, 2003-2004)
Danilo Rossi (1994)
David Saelens (2002)
Davide Rigon (2005)
Donny Crevels (1998)
Enrico Toccacelo (2005)
Esteban Tuero (1996-1997)
Fabrizio del Monte (2003)
Fernando Alonso (1999-2000)
Franco Scapini (1987)
Franck Montagny (2002)
Gaston Mazzacane (1999)
Giancarlo Fisichella (1994-1995)
Giorgio Vinella (2000)
Heikki Kovalainen (2003)
Jeffrey van Hooydonk (2004)
Jirko Malchárek (2002)
José María López (2003)
Josele Garza (1988)
Juan Cáceres (2005)
Katherine Legge (2005)
Laurent Redon (1997-1998)
Luca Badoer (1994, 1997)
Luca Filippi (2005)
(Luis Perez?) Sala (1990)
Marco Apicella (1987, 1989)
Matteo Bobbi (2002-2003)
Max Wilson (1999)
Michele Alboreto (1985)
Narain Karthikeyan (2003)
Nicky Pastorelli (2005)
Nicolas Kiesa (2005)
Norbert Siedler (2003)
Norberto Fontana (1999)
Olivier Martini (1997)
Paolo Barilla (1988-1989)
Pastor Maldonado (2004)
Patrick Friesacher (2004)
Patrick Huisman (2004)
Paul Stoddart (2005) - drove the car while he was team principal
Peter Sundberg (1999)
Pierluigi Martini (1984, 1988)
Roldán Rodríguez (2005)
Sergey Zlobin (2002, 2004)
Tarso Marquès (1996-1997)
Thomas Biagi (1994)
Tiago Monteiro (2004)
Tom Kristensen (1997)
Will Davidson (2004) - Gifted F1 test by compatriot Paul Stoddart
Will Power (2004) - Gifted F1 test by compatriot Paul Stoddart

Modena/Lamborghini
Eric van de Poele (1990)
Giovanni Aloi (1990)
Mauro Baldi (1990-1991)
Marco Apicella (1990-1991)
Nicola Larini (1990)

Osella
Enrico Bertaggia (1989)
Enzo Osella (1983)
Fabrizio Barbazza (1985)
Fabrizio Tabaton (1983)
Gianfranco Tacchino (1985)
Giorgio Francia (1985)
Juan Manuel Fangio II (1984)
Marco Greco (1991)

Pacific
Katsumi Yamamoto (1995)
Oliver Gavin (1994)
Paul Belmondo (1995)

Prost (see also Ligier)
Emmanuel Collard (1997)
Enrique Bernoldi (2000)
Jaroslav Janis (2001)
Jenson Button (1999)
Jonathan Cochet (2001)
Oriol Servià (2000-2001)
Pedro de la Rosa (2001)
Stephane Samson (2001)
Stephane Sarrazin (1999-2001)

RAM
Eliseo Salazar (1983)
Nelson Piquet (1983)
Rupert Keegan (1986)
Thierry Boutsen (1981, 1983)

Red Bull Racing (see also Jaguar)
Brendon Hartley (2008) - stood in for injured Mark Webber
Filipe Albuquerque (2007)
Karun Chandhok (2007)
Luciano Burti (2008)
Martin Brundle (2006, 2008)
Michael Ammermuller (2006-2007)
Mikhail Aleshin (2008)
Neel Jani (2004)
Robert Doornbos (2006-2007)
Scott Speed (2005)
Sebastian Vettel (2007)
Sebastien Buemi (2007-2008)
Sebastien Loeb (2008)
Vitantonio Liuzzi (2004-2006)

Renault (see also Benetton)
Allan McNish (2003)
Alvaro Parente (2008)
Alx Danielsson (2007)
Carlos Sainz (2006)
Christian Danner (2007)
Damon Hill (2006)
Derek Warwick (1983)
Fernando Alonso (2002) - official test driver before promotion to race driver in ‘03
Franck Montagny (2003-2005)
Giedo van der Garde (2008)
Gerard Larrousse (1983)
Giorgio Mondini (2005)
Jacques Villeneuve (2004) - tested prior to unsuccessful 3-race stint with team
Jan Lammers (1983)
Jean-Pierre Jabouille (1976)
Jean-Pierre Jaussaud (1980)
Jean Ragnotti (1983)
John Nielsen (1983)
José María López (2003, 2005-2006)
Heikki Kovalainen (2003-2006)
Lucas Di Grassi (2005, 2007-2008)
Nelson Piquet (1984)
Nelson Piquet Jr (2006-2007)
Nigel Roebuck (1982)
Oliver Gavin (2002)
Patrick Tambay (1983)
Philippe Streiff (1983)
Ricardo Zonta (2007)
Richard Hammond (2007)
Robert Kubica (2005)
Romain Dumas (2002)
Romain Grosjean (2008)
Sakon Yamamoto (2008)
Satoshi Motoyama (2004)
Sebastien Bourdais (2002, 2003)
Sebastien Loeb (2007)
Tiago Monteiro (2002)

Renault currently awards the winner of the World Series by Renault with an F1 test

Reynard
Christian Danner (1991)

Rial
Thomas Danielsson (1989)
Michael Bartels (1988)

Sauber (see also BMW Sauber)
Alexander Wurz (1996)
Enrique Bernoldi (1996, 1999-2000)
Felipe Massa (2001, 2003)
Jean-Louis Schlesser (1992)
John Watson (1996)
Jonathan Palmer (1996)
Jörg Müller (1998-1999)
Karl Wendlinger (1995)
Kimi Raikkonen (2000)
Kris Nissen (1994)
Marc Surer (1996)
Michael Schumacher (1997)
Mika Salo (1994)
Neel Jani (2003-2004)
Nicola Larini (1996)
Norberto Fontana (1995-1997)
Vitantonio Liuzzi (2004)

Scuderia Italia (Dallara)
Andrea Montermini (1990)

Spirit
Emerson Fittipaldi (1984)
Fulvio Ballabio (1984)
Thierry Boutsen (1982)

Spyker (see also Midland / Force India)
Adrián Vallés (2007)
Fairuz Fauzy (2007)
Giedo van der Garde (2007)
Markus Winkelhock (2007)
Roldan Rodriguez (2007)

Stewart (see also Jaguar)
Eddie Irvine (1999)
Jackie Stewart (1997)
Mario Haberfeld (1998)
Luciano Burti (1999)

Super Aguri
Aguri Suzuki (2007)
Christian Danner (2007)
Giedo van der Garde (2007)
James Rossiter (2007-2008)
Martin Brundle (2007)
Mike Conway (2007)
Sakon Yamamoto (2006-2007)

Toleman (see also Benetton)
Alessandro Nannini (1985) Paul Ricard Nov 1985
Emanuele Pirro (1985)
Gabriele Tarquini (1985) Paul Ricard Nov 1985
Ivan Capelli (1984)
John Watson (1985)
Maurizio Sandro Sala (1985)
Manfred Winkelhock (1984)
Oscar Larrauri (1985) Estoril Dec 1985
Paolo Barilla (1985) Estoril Dec 1985
Roberto Moreno (1984)
Volker Weidler (1985) Estoril Dec 1985

Toro Rosso (see also Minardi)
Brendon Hartley (2008)
Gerhard Berger (2008)
Jaime Alguersuari (2008)
John Hopkins (2006)
Neel Jani (2005-2006)
Sebastien Bourdais (2006-2007)
Sebastien Buemi (2008)
Takuma Sato (2008)
Vitantonio Liuzzi (2005)

Toyota
Alex Storckenfeld (2002)
Allan McNish (2000-2001)
Andrea Caldarelli (2008)
Andy Soucek (2006)
Borja García (2005)
Franck Montagny (2006-2007)
Franck Perera (2004-2005)
Helio Castroneves (2002)
Henkie Waldschmidt (2008)
Kamui Kobayashi (2006-2008)
Katsuyuki Hiranaka (2004)
Kohei Hirate (2007)
Mika Salo (2001)
Olivier Panis (2005-2006)
Peter Windsor (2004)
Scott Dixon (2004)
Stéphane Sarrazin (2002)
Ricardo Zonta (2003-2006)
Ryan Briscoe (2002-2005)
Toranosuke Takagi (2003)

Tyrrell
Chico Serra (1983)
Emmanuel Collard (1996)
Eric van de Poele (1993)
Gabriele Tarquini (1995)
Huub Rothengatter (198?)
Jackie Stewart (1975, 1978)
Jean-Christophe Boullion (1998)
Kelvin Burt (1993)
Kris Nissen (1980)
Mike Gascoyne (1998)
Mike Thackwell (1980)
Patrick Lemarié (1998-1999)
Piercarlo Ghinzani (1983)
Stefan Johansson (1983)
Tom Kristensen (1998)
Toranosuke Takagi (1997)

Williams
Adrian Newey (1993)
Al Unser Jr (1991)
Alain Menu (1993, 1995)
Alexander Wurz (2006)
Allard Kalff (1993)
Aluizio Coelho (1998)
Andy Priaulx (2005)
Antônio Pizzonia (1999, 2002, 2004-2005)
Ayrton Senna (1983)
Bernard Dudot (1993)
Bruno Junqueira (1999, 2000)
Damon Hill (1991-1992)
Dani Clos (2008)
Danny Ongais (1978)
Darren Manning (1999)
David Cook (1996)
David Coulthard (1993-1994)
Denis Chevrier (1993)
Derek Daly (1993)
Dirk Muller (2002)
Eddie Cheever (1978)
Emmanuel Collard (1994)
Geoff Lees (1987)
Giacomo Agostini (1978)
Giorgio Pantano (2002)
Gunnar Nilsson (1975)
Guy Smith (1995)
Ho-Pin Tung (2003)
Jackie Stewart (1989, 2006)
Jacques Laffite (1982)
Jacques Villeneuve (1995)
Jean-Christophe Boullion (1994-1997)
Jean-Louis Schlesser (1983, 1985, 1987-1988)
Jean-Pierre Jarier (1981)
Jean Ragnotti (1993)
Jeff Gordon (2002)
João Paulo Oliveira (2006)
Jochen Mass (1993)
Johnny Robinson (1991-1992)
John Watson (1993)
Jonathan Kennard (2008)
Jonathan Palmer (1981-1983)
Jörg Müller (1999)
Juan Pablo Montoya (1997-1998)
Kazuki Nakajima (2007)
Kazuyoshi Hoshino (1987)
Kelvin Burt (1993)
Keke Rosberg (1981)
Kenny Bräck (1993)
Lella Lombardi (1978)
Luciano Burti (2005-2006)
Marc Gene (2001-2004)
Marc Hynes (1997)
Mark Blundell (1989-1991, 2007)
Marko Asmer (2003)
Martin Brundle (1983, 1988)
Max Wilson (1997-1998)
Mick Doohan (1998)
Mike Thackwell (1984-1985) Estoril Dez 1985
Narain Karthikeyan (2005-2007)
Nelson Piquet (1985, 2004)
Nico Rosberg (2002-2005)
Nicolas Minassian (1997)
Norbert Haug (1988)
Olivier Beretta (2003-2004)
Patrick Head (1993)
Perry McCarthy (1993)
Ricardo Sperafíco (2003)
Riccardo Patrese (1996)
Sam Bird (2007)
Scott Dixon (2004, 2003?)
Sebastian Vettel (2005)
Soheil Ayari (1997)
Tiff Needell (1991, 2005)
Tommi Makinen (1998)
Vitantonio Liuzzi (2002)

Williams will award the winner of the FIA Formula 2 Championship with a test

Wolf
Jackie Stewart (1978)

Vanwall
Stirling Moss (1954)

Zakspeed
Aguri Suzuki (1988)
Christian Danner (1988)
Csaba Kesjar (1987)
Hans Kauffman (1987) Dec 1987 Estoril
Joachim Winkelhock (1988)
Kris Nissen (1986-1987?)
Luis Perez Sala (1986)
Manfred Winkelhock (1984 and 1987) Dec. 87 Estoril
Norbert Haug (1987)

1989-1994 Bridgestone/Mugen Tyre Tests
Aguri Suzuki - Tyrrell (1992-1993)
Christian Danner - Reynard (1990)
Heinz-Harald Frentzen - Tyrrell (1993)
Johnny Herbert - Tyrrell (1992)
Mauro Martini - Tyrrell (1992-1994)
Paolo Barilla - Reynard (1989)
Volker Weidler - Tyrrell (1990-1992)

1996 Bridgestone Tyre Tests
Aguri Suzuka - Footwork/Ligier
Damon Hill - Ligier
Jos Verstappen - Footwork/Ligier
Tarso Marquès - Footwork/Ligier

2000 Michelin Tyre Tests
Jörg Müller - Williams
Max Wilson - Jaguar
Tom Kristensen - Jaguar/Williams

Tests That Never Happened
Andrea Montermini (Lola, 1997 - announced as test driver, but never drove the car)
Jacky van de Ende (Stewart, 1997 - awarded test, but never drove the car)

Oddities - Tests But Official Entries

- Bernie Ecclestone entered the 1958 Monaco and British Grand Prix in a private Connaught

- Stirling Moss entered the 1960 Monaco Grand Prix for Scarab for testing in practice after being invited by team owner Lance Reventlow

- Mike Hawthorn entered the 1956 Belgian Grand Prix for Maserati for testing in practice


Source:
http://cfm.globalf1.net//?page_id=100