1000th F1 Grand Prix

Kind of a celebration, eh? Goes well with my 10 year anniversary of actually following the sport as a true fan. 

Kind of odd knowing that everything i've watched makes less than a fifth or sixth of everything the sport had to offer. 

Envy those that saw the greats in action, having even missed the days of The Red Baron.

Fisrt i saw was number 522, Monaco '92. Must have missed about 10-15 since then.

I would give 1000 points for a win.

Fisrt i saw was number 522, Monaco '92. Must have missed about 10-15 since then.

We're a group pf 5-6 watching the races together. With different favourites, so even if the races are a bit dull, we have fun between us.

I think I get up to about 350 since 1996. Probably watched everything between then and 2009. Those goofy cars helped change viewing habits. Over the years I started missing more and more races, and the ridiculous Halo bumped F1 down into highlights only. Still want to see Ferrari do well, though.

Anyway - it would have been nice to see this 1000th race at a more historical location, but alas!

Edited by Nonesuch, 03 April 2019 - 08:52.

Watched the sport live since I was a very small child, so from the mid to late nineties on. But must have missed one or two pretty much every season, and there were a couple of seasons I missed quite a few more (2006, 2015). So I would estimate I have seen maybe one third of the WDC races live. 

In addition, thanks to Internet within the last 5 years I have watched full replays or extensive highlights of almost all races from the early eighties on til 1997, but that doesn't really count. 

Edited by noriaki, 03 April 2019 - 08:44.

My first race (highlights) was Monaco 2007. 227 races ago. Coupled with a few "classic race" re-watches, I'm sure I can bump myself to 250.

I can't remember missing a race per se, I vividly remember oversleeping and missing qualifying for GB 2013 (even though I'm British!) but caught the highlights later.

I’ve watched every single race live since 1992, that’s 497 by my calculations, I did watched plenty of races before 1992 but in was more intermittent due to women and beer

I’ve watched every single race live since 1992,

I am about there as well.

I haven't missed watching one 'live'

He's watching F1 is what people would hear when they asked where I was when there was something 'on' at friends or family.

My family knew that 'they' had to answer the phone when it rang during a race. They also knew to tell the caller that I'd call back later.

Heck,... I even remember delaying calling emergency services, when I knew full well I had to get to hospital quick.

The first race I saw was 215 but I was very young. 

My imagination was captured at 280.

By 358 it had become a lifelong obsession.

Regards Mike

What a great thread, and what an honour it is to share a forum with such endearingly bonkers people.

The first Grand Prix I watched on TV (live broadcast) was the 1956 British GP. Obviously they only showed bits in between horse racing. The first GP I attended in person was the 1966 British GP, although I'd been watching other racing for ten years by then.

I can't rival the counts of the posts above, as I often miss a GP to watch  motor racing trackside. If there's a 750 Motor Club meeting on (you might have to Google it) then I'll pass up the Monaco GP or whatever. I have been known to accuse people of being mere TV addicts, not racing enthusiasts, as they never watch in person at a circuit. OK, that's unfair and  bonkers too, but good fun.

I might have missed TV footage of Lewis Hamilton circulating a Tilke Ludo board, but I saw him in Formula Renault overtaking car after car at Silverstone's Abbey hairpin, after starting from about 16th, so I know he's quite good.

In this era of recorded TV I watch at least parts of most F1 races. And enjoy them. But highlights are fine, and I can also enjoy a race from written reports. 1902 Paris Vienna, anybody?

The first Grand Prix I saw footage from, was the 1990 Japanse Grand Prix. Have seen almost all GPs since 1992, perhaps missed 5-10 through the 90s, 00s and 10s... but have not watched a race since Japan last season. 

Edited by lustigson, 03 April 2019 - 10:33.

haven't missed a gp since melbourne 96

so since the 597th gp

I’ve watched every single race live since 1992, that’s 497 by my calculations, I did watched plenty of races before 1992 but in was more intermittent due to women and beer

not sure what my # of GP's watched is but my first race was the 1994 Japanese GP and I havent missed a race since.  

I have vague memories of watching some bits of races in 92-93 with my dad.

But the first race I saw in full was Imola 94, was shocked being 8 y.o at the time. Still remember the sunny day and sitting in a living room with my uncle and dad in front of TV.

Edited by JonnyJ, 03 April 2019 - 11:09.

I recall starting watching around mid-1992. I have missed about ten races live but since 1993 I've recorded them in that case and watch them later, which most recently happened in Monza 2017. I'm set to miss Baku this year live too.

Just the lowly 172 GPs for me. Started watching from Monaco '10 but missed the next race in Turkey as well as Italy 2013.

Still remember the Epic 500th GP in Adelaide 1990. Senna crashed out due to a faulty gearbox and Piquet defeated Mansell on totally shot tires.

My first full season was 1990. That's how much over 500?

I might have missed 30 GPs.

I started in 1983 for real (caught the occasional race, or parts of it before then), but skipped quite some while super bored with McLaren domination and Williams domination and/or not having proper TV access in college at times.  I'd probably add them all up to just over 500.

1,000th World Championship race.  There were many races run to F2 rules, the Indy 500 run to Champcar rules from 1950 to 1960, and loads of non-title F1 races of greater or lesser prestige.  The 1958 International Trophy for instance had 33 starters, full works teams from Ferrari, Cooper, BRM, and Lotus, a handful of Maseratis, and was much more competitive as a race than the Argentine GP that started the season. 

Anyhoo, I've missed a handful since France 1983, and saw a handful before then, in an era when coverage was Sunday Grandstand every now and then, and cutting mid-race to show the 1.40 Kattomeat Handicap at Twatford Park or whatever.  As a very tiny ensign I distinctly remember seeing the 1978 Monaco GP but my real memories start with Wattie winning the 1981 British. 

I get 1014 Grand Prix already now, But I guess they didn't include the Indy 500, that was part of the F1 WC back in the day?

I’ve watched every single race live since 1992, that’s 497 by my calculations, I did watched plenty of races before 1992 but in was more intermittent due to women and beer

But, only Beer and F1 has always been there for you, right? 

I dont/cant remember 900th or 800th or 700th Grand Prix even at all and I'm wondering why...either they didnt celebrate these much or at all or somehow I missed it or just completely forgot it..

I get 1014 Grand Prix already now, But I guess they didn't include the Indy 500, that was part of the F1 WC back in the day?

The discussion has inspired me to estimate how many I had watched. Turned out it's around 200. Around 20% of all F1 races in history, which is quite astonishing considering how lately I started and that I don't care to miss a race here and there anymore.

You’ve miscounted somewhere, I suspect. The figure of 1,000 WDC races which will be achieved at the Chinese GP includes the 11 Indianapolis 500s which counted for the championship between 1950 and 1960.

Been watching since 1982, Giles being killed at the Belgian GP had me terrified and fascinated in equal measure and I was hooked. Not sure what race number that was. Missed about 20 so since then, most regrettably the 1999 Malaysian GP when Schuey returned from his broken leg and the 2008 Belgian GP when there was that fuss with Hamilton getting penalised. And most comically when on a trip to Italy in 2012 and lets say a far too boozy night in Como got in the way...!

On seeing JG's post, I had a look and came up with 1013. As you rightly say, there were 11 Indianapolis 500's. The other 2, unless I've also miscounted, could be Spain 1980 and South Africa 1981 which were both withdrawn from the championship.

I dont/cant remember 900th or 800th or 700th Grand Prix even at all and I'm wondering why...either they didnt celebrate these much or at all or somehow I missed it or just completely forgot it..

I remember the 700th GP being mentioned in the news a few times before Brazil 2003. It was also Jordan's 200th GP, and they won that, of course. Also, before the race, people were saying it was Barrichello's time to win, as Fittipaldi had won the 1973 Brazilian GP, Piquet had won it in 1983, and Senna had done it in 1993. He did come close.

The 800th GP was Singapore 2008. I don't remember it being a big news story either. Probably one of the reasons for that is that it was the first Formula One night race, and that overshadowed the 800th GP celebration.

I do remember that the 900th GP was Bahrain 2014, but I don't remember it being celebrated before or during the race.

I do remember that the 900th GP was Bahrain 2014, but I don't remember it being celebrated before or during the race.

Counted again, I think that I did miscount on the first attempt. I'm now getting 1002, the two extras must be the Spain and South Africa races referred to above.

I remember the 700th GP being mentioned in the news a few times before Brazil 2003. It was also Jordan's 200th GP, and they won that, of course. Also, before the race, people were saying it was Barrichello's time to win, as Fittipaldi had won the 1973 Brazilian GP, Piquet had won it in 1983, and Senna had done it in 1993. He did come close.

The 800th GP was Singapore 2008. I don't remember it being a big news story either. Probably one of the reasons for that is that it was the first Formula One night race, and that overshadowed the 800th GP celebration.

I do remember that the 900th GP was Bahrain 2014, but I don't remember it being celebrated before or during the race.

watching since #549, brazil 1994. missed maybe five races since then. 

Counted again, I think that I did miscount on the first attempt. I'm now getting 1002, the two extras must be the Spain and South Africa races referred to above.

Technically the SA GP was a sort of Formule Libre, it wasn't quite the F1 regs, not least that FISA would have declared most of the cars illegal for their sliding skirts. 
 

Since '74 for me.

The discussion has inspired me to estimate how many I had watched. Turned out it's around 200. Around 20% of all F1 races in history, which is quite astonishing considering how lately I started and that I don't care to miss a race here and there anymore.

I was really surprised as well, I only started in 2007 and we've had 231 races since then - with some missed ones I probably saw around 220 already. Time flies...

It also puts the "most race starts" records into perspective, somehow I never thought about it but Barrichello drove in nearly 1/3 of all F1 races ever!

I was really surprised as well, I only started in 2007 and we've had 231 races since then - with some missed ones I probably saw around 220 already. Time flies...
 
It also puts the "most race starts" records into perspective, somehow I never thought about it but Barrichello drove in nearly 1/3 of all F1 races ever!

Back to the old ABC Wide World of Sports in the late 1970s/early 80s, first race one of the Long Beach GPs. Heavily edited races mixed in with other sports such as bull riding, badminton, arm wrestling, etc.   (hope Liberty doesn't take note). 1981 was the first season I legitimately followed - never a dull moment with turbos, cosworths, FISA/FOCA antics - think that was when cable TV/ESPN coverage reached our area.

But, only Beer and F1 has always been there for you, right? 

How perceptive you are  I’ve had many a disagreement with girlfriends over the years because I wouldn’t miss a race for various events   

How perceptive you are I’ve had many a disagreement with girlfriends over the years because I wouldn’t miss a race for various events

Edited by Beri, 03 April 2019 - 18:35.