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Is Lewis Hamilton the only single-engine F1 World Champion?


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#1 mariner

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Posted 04 May 2021 - 09:28

Or to be more precise the only MULTIPLE single engine World Champion.

 

By single engine I mean the driver has won  all of his GP's using the same make of engine , including wins in years where he was not WC.

 

I think Hamilton is unique in that every F1 race he has won has been with a Mercedes engine. I am not taking anything from his remarkable ability and lots of World Champions only won in a single make of chassis e.g. Jim Clark.

 

However Clark used three makes of engine Coventry Climax, Ford and BRM. Similarly Jack Brabham used Climax and Repco.

 

I specified multiple champions because if you one win one World Championship it s quite likely all your  GP wins will be with one make of engine e.g. Phil Hill.

 

Does only winning  with one engine make Hamilton unique in the 70 years of the F1 World Championship?


Edited by mariner, 04 May 2021 - 10:05.


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#2 Charlieman

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Posted 04 May 2021 - 09:41

Emerson Fittipaldi only won with a Cosworth DFV. He had one WDC and two non championship races with the Pratt & Whitney turbine in his Lotus.



#3 Vitesse2

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Posted 04 May 2021 - 09:45

Ascari's WDC race wins were all in Ferraris, although he won pre-WDC events in Maseratis and two non-WDC races for Lancia.



#4 Charlieman

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Posted 04 May 2021 - 09:49

Mika Hakkinen only ever won in F1 in a McLaren-MB. His later DTM wins were also in a Mercedes-Benz.



#5 mariner

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Posted 04 May 2021 - 10:07

Thanks, Charlieman, I forgot Fittapaldi



#6 davidbuckden

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Posted 04 May 2021 - 10:12

One of the reasons I have never warmed to Hamilton is his benefiting from a Ron Dennis-initiated/politically motivated, feather-bedded career.  As a result he was in a top-line F1 car from the very beginning - and that included an engine whose maker has proven supreme for much of our current century. In times now past, but eminently more sensible, new drivers would have to endure at least a season or two flogging round at the back in things like Theodores, Osellas, Andrea Modas, Minardis and suchlike. As well as building racecraft, the experience was considerably character-enhancing. I've always felt that some of Hamilton's shallowness and petulance stems from the cosseted nature of his Formula 1 career.

 

I'm not a natural Mercedes Benz advocate, but the manner in which the team initially approached the hybrid formula and have since dominated Formula 1 is truly excellent.  It's just a shame that their superb product is not a naturally aspirated, multi-cylinder one, without the encumbrances of all the electrical energy gubbins, and high on emitted decibels, leaving us in awe of both the audible and visible attributes of the car it is powering.



#7 Vitesse2

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Posted 04 May 2021 - 10:27

Although only a one-time World Champion, James Hunt was, like Lewis Hamilton up to now, a one-engine man: he only ever drove - and won with - Cosworth-powered cars.

 

I think they are the only two WDCs who never raced in F1 using another manufacturer's engine.



#8 cpbell

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Posted 04 May 2021 - 10:33

In terms of WDCs, surely Sir Jackie's were all using DFVs?



#9 SophieB

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Posted 04 May 2021 - 10:40

Alonso won both his WDCs with Renault.



#10 Vitesse2

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Posted 04 May 2021 - 10:54

In terms of WDCs, surely Sir Jackie's were all using DFVs?

 

 

Alonso won both his WDCs with Renault.

True and true, but the premise in the OP was that a multiple WDC winner only ever won championship races using one manufacturer's engine. JYS won races in a BRM even before the DFV existed and Alonso later won with Mercedes and Ferrari engines, as well as two more for Renault in 2009.



#11 BRG

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Posted 04 May 2021 - 10:58

One of the reasons I have never warmed to Hamilton is his benefiting from a Ron Dennis-initiated/politically motivated, feather-bedded career.  As a result he was in a top-line F1 car from the very beginning - and that included an engine whose maker has proven supreme for much of our current century. In times now past, but eminently more sensible, new drivers would have to endure at least a season or two flogging round at the back in things like Theodores, Osellas, Andrea Modas, Minardis and suchlike. As well as building racecraft, the experience was considerably character-enhancing. I've always felt that some of Hamilton's shallowness and petulance stems from the cosseted nature of his Formula 1 career.

 

Shallow and petulant? Lewis really isn't as black as you paint him.

 

You must really dislike all those feather bedded Red Bull and Ferrari Academy drivers.  At least Lewis has delivered on the support he was given.



#12 Charlieman

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Posted 04 May 2021 - 11:03

One of the reasons I have never warmed to Hamilton is his benefiting from a Ron Dennis-initiated/politically motivated, feather-bedded career.  ... As well as building racecraft, the experience was considerably character-enhancing. I've always felt that some of Hamilton's shallowness and petulance stems from the cosseted nature of his Formula 1 career.

 

A few years ago in MotoGP, there was a rule that young riders could not go straight to a manufacturer team from 250/125cc. I don't have any strong opinions about it. There was a chap called Gilles Villeneuve who won a plum seat at Ferrari after a single F1 start with McLaren...

 

Lewis Hamilton had a strong career in junior formulae, not just karts, before he joined the McLaren F1 team. Ron Dennis backed him because Hamilton looked quick and the sums of money were modest in F1 terms. Other team owners and people who can influence sponsors spend significantly more, and have done so long before Hamilton was born. Shallow and petulant? True on occasions, like any young man or woman. 

 

I don't make sports men and women into heroes, nor actors, film directors or artists. They are human beings. I just admire what some of them do.



#13 Tom Glowacki

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Posted 04 May 2021 - 13:30

One of the reasons I have never warmed to Hamilton is his benefiting from a Ron Dennis-initiated/politically motivated, feather-bedded career.  As a result he was in a top-line F1 car from the very beginning - and that included an engine whose maker has proven supreme for much of our current century. In times now past, but eminently more sensible, new drivers would have to endure at least a season or two flogging round at the back in things like Theodores, Osellas, Andrea Modas, Minardis and suchlike. As well as building racecraft, the experience was considerably character-enhancing. I've always felt that some of Hamilton's shallowness and petulance stems from the cosseted nature of his Formula 1 career.

 

I'm not a natural Mercedes Benz advocate, but the manner in which the team initially approached the hybrid formula and have since dominated Formula 1 is truly excellent.  It's just a shame that their superb product is not a naturally aspirated, multi-cylinder one, without the encumbrances of all the electrical energy gubbins, and high on emitted decibels, leaving us in awe of both the audible and visible attributes of the car it is powering.

Ron Dennis could have made the same effort with any number of people and would have totally wasted his time.

 

There are any number of American professional athletes; football players and basketball players, especially who were the beneficiaries of similar "cosseting" in their younger years and who were total busts when they hit the big-time.  If you do not have the character and ability you are not going to make it.  Hamilton was fortunate in avoiding some career killing drives and had a shorter, straighter road to the top, but Ron Dennis did not make something out of nothing.



#14 Vitesse2

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Posted 04 May 2021 - 15:25

Ron Dennis could have made the same effort with any number of people and would have totally wasted his time.

 

There are any number of American professional athletes; football players and basketball players, especially who were the beneficiaries of similar "cosseting" in their younger years and who were total busts when they hit the big-time.  If you do not have the character and ability you are not going to make it.  Hamilton was fortunate in avoiding some career killing drives and had a shorter, straighter road to the top, but Ron Dennis did not make something out of nothing.

Of the seventeen drivers who have so far been through McLaren's Young Driver Programme, only six - Lewis Hamilton, Giedo van der Garde, Alex Albon, Kevin Magnusson, Stoffel Vandoorne and Lando Norris - have reached F1 (Jack Harvey is currently in IndyCar). Lewis Hamilton is the only one of those six who has won a GP - although it must surely only be a matter of time before Lando Norris becomes the second. And if you had to pick two drivers who came from different backgrounds Lewis and Lando would be a good example.

 

I'm sure McLaren will have learned from their experiences with Lewis that they needed to pay more attention to developing the 'media-friendliness' of their charges. English cricket - for example - has been doing this for at least a decade; the current England Test captain Joe Root was being schooled in it soon after he won his first England Lions cap ten years ago.



#15 Bloggsworth

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Posted 04 May 2021 - 15:56

You can only drive what you are given (or if given the choice, what you choose to), all the rest is bo**cks. No amount of his father's money is going to turn Mazapin into a WDC, Hamilton was always destined for the top - Remember him overtaking two cars through the complex at Silverstone during the F3000 race, never seen it before or since. Some team owners have an ability to pick drivers when young, Kimi went from Formula Renault straight to F1 - Talent will out...



#16 Yamamoto

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Posted 04 May 2021 - 16:03

A few years ago in MotoGP, there was a rule that young riders could not go straight to a manufacturer team from 250/125cc. I don't have any strong opinions about it. There was a chap called Gilles Villeneuve who won a plum seat at Ferrari after a single F1 start with McLaren...

 

Lewis Hamilton had a strong career in junior formulae, not just karts, before he joined the McLaren F1 team. Ron Dennis backed him because Hamilton looked quick and the sums of money were modest in F1 terms. Other team owners and people who can influence sponsors spend significantly more, and have done so long before Hamilton was born. Shallow and petulant? True on occasions, like any young man or woman. 

 

I don't make sports men and women into heroes, nor actors, film directors or artists. They are human beings. I just admire what some of them do.

 

I think that MotoGP rule was short-lived, and didn't end up actually affecting any rider's career. But I think you're correct in all you say - Hamilton had quite a full career in junior formulae, he won multiple championships and wasn't fast-tracked into F1. I think he won every single-seater category he competed in, he served a full apprenticeship.



#17 Charlieman

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Posted 04 May 2021 - 16:03

I'm sure McLaren will have learned from their experiences with Lewis that they needed to pay more attention to developing the 'media-friendliness' of their charges.

I always thought that problems arose when Hamilton was asked to talk nonsense a few years later.

 

How do you lose a world championship three times in one season? Ask Ron Dennis about 2007.

 

But who would have thought that drivers are human beings?



#18 john aston

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Posted 04 May 2021 - 17:21

One of the reasons I have never warmed to Hamilton is his benefiting from a Ron Dennis-initiated/politically motivated, feather-bedded career.  

Meaning what , exactly ? 



#19 Charlieman

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Posted 04 May 2021 - 18:39

So we have a list of drivers who meet Mariner's criteria -- multiple WDC winner AND only won a WDC race with an engine from a single supplier, but comments are welcome.

 

* Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-MB, Mercedes-Benz-MB

* Mika Hakkinnen, McLaren-MB

* Emerson Fittipaldi, Lotus-Cosworth, McLaren-Cosworth

* Alberto Ascari, Ferrari

 

Any more?



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#20 pacificquay

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Posted 04 May 2021 - 21:08

Lewis Hamilton has the additional stat of only ever having driven Merc engines in F1, whereas Mika’s early seasons were propelled by Judd, Ford and Peugeot.


Edited by pacificquay, 04 May 2021 - 21:08.


#21 Yamamoto

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Posted 04 May 2021 - 21:41

I think the initial criteria have been fulfilled. If we were to expand it to all world champions you could chuck in:

 

Nico Rosberg - Mercedes

Jacques Villeneuve - Renault

Alan Jones - Ford (I am pretty sure about this).

 

That's actually fewer than I thought.

 

I think that would cover back to 1980. Earlier than that I'd have to rack my brains/consult a source or two.


Edited by Yamamoto, 04 May 2021 - 21:42.


#22 blackmme

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Posted 04 May 2021 - 22:08

I think the initial criteria have been fulfilled. If we were to expand it to all world champions you could chuck in:

 

Nico Rosberg - Mercedes

Jacques Villeneuve - Renault

Alan Jones - Ford (I am pretty sure about this).

 

That's actually fewer than I thought.

 

I think that would cover back to 1980. Earlier than that I'd have to rack my brains/consult a source or two.

I think Mike Hawthorn & Phil Hill can be added to that list.

 

Regards Mike


Edited by blackmme, 04 May 2021 - 22:09.


#23 Tim Murray

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Posted 04 May 2021 - 22:41

Jochen Rindt also. Vitesse2 already mentioned James Hunt.

#24 D-Type

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Posted 04 May 2021 - 23:12

Now, if we were to extend the criterion from winning to competing with a single engine make, I think Hamilton would be the only one.



#25 blackmme

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Posted 05 May 2021 - 08:26

Now, if we were to extend the criterion from winning to competing with a single engine make, I think Hamilton would be the only one.

I don't think Hunt ever raced in F1 with anything but a DFV propelling him.

 

Regards Mike



#26 Vitesse2

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Posted 05 May 2021 - 08:30

Now, if we were to extend the criterion from winning to competing with a single engine make, I think Hamilton would be the only one.

Ahem ...

 

Although only a one-time World Champion, James Hunt was, like Lewis Hamilton up to now, a one-engine man: he only ever drove - and won with - Cosworth-powered cars.

 

I think they are the only two WDCs who never raced in F1 using another manufacturer's engine.

 



#27 Michael Ferner

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Posted 05 May 2021 - 09:10

What about the Hesketh V12?  ;)



#28 Vitesse2

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Posted 05 May 2021 - 09:21

What about the Hesketh V12?   ;)

The one that's almost as mythical as the Toutou? :wave:



#29 blackmme

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Posted 05 May 2021 - 09:55

What about the Hesketh V12?   ;)

 

I think they eventually decided to not use the Ferrari Flat 12 instead  :stoned:

 

Regards Mike



#30 kayemod

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Posted 05 May 2021 - 10:05

I think the initial criteria have been fulfilled. If we were to expand it to all world champions you could chuck in:

 

Nico Rosberg - Mercedes

Jacques Villeneuve - Renault

Alan Jones - Ford (I am pretty sure about this).

 

That's actually fewer than I thought.

 

I think that would cover back to 1980. Earlier than that I'd have to rack my brains/consult a source or two.

 

Why does every miss out my favourite, the F1 forum's forgotten man, Denny Hulme?

 

One WDC powered by Repco, though admittedly, he won more races with a DFV behind him.



#31 john winfield

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Posted 05 May 2021 - 10:11

Why does every miss out my favourite, the F1 forum's forgotten man, Denny Hulme?

 

One WDC powered by Repco, though admittedly, he won more races with a DFV behind him.

 

I'm a big Denny Hulme fan too but......

 

By single engine I mean the driver has won  all of his GP's using the same make of engine , including wins in years where he was not WC.

 

...how does the Bear fit in here?



#32 Yamamoto

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Posted 05 May 2021 - 10:25

Why does every miss out my favourite, the F1 forum's forgotten man, Denny Hulme?

 

One WDC powered by Repco, though admittedly, he won more races with a DFV behind him.

 

In my case I didn't consider him because he did most of his best work before my 1980 mental cut-off. But I admit he wouldn't have jumped out at me as I knew he won for more than one team/constructor.



#33 F1matt

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Posted 05 May 2021 - 10:34

One of the reasons I have never warmed to Hamilton is his benefiting from a Ron Dennis-initiated/politically motivated, feather-bedded career.  As a result he was in a top-line F1 car from the very beginning - and that included an engine whose maker has proven supreme for much of our current century. In times now past, but eminently more sensible, new drivers would have to endure at least a season or two flogging round at the back in things like Theodores, Osellas, Andrea Modas, Minardis and suchlike. As well as building racecraft, the experience was considerably character-enhancing. I've always felt that some of Hamilton's shallowness and petulance stems from the cosseted nature of his Formula 1 career.

 

I'm not a natural Mercedes Benz advocate, but the manner in which the team initially approached the hybrid formula and have since dominated Formula 1 is truly excellent.  It's just a shame that their superb product is not a naturally aspirated, multi-cylinder one, without the encumbrances of all the electrical energy gubbins, and high on emitted decibels, leaving us in awe of both the audible and visible attributes of the car it is powering.

 

 

As many have mentioned above Lewis Hamilton had a great junior career, I remember seeing him at Croft in a Formula Renault and he was on another level to anyone else, even with a damaged car. Give me a driver who benefits from a junior program as opposed to the sons of billionaires and ex drivers. 



#34 kayemod

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Posted 05 May 2021 - 11:12

I'm a big Denny Hulme fan too but......

 

By single engine I mean the driver has won  all of his GP's using the same make of engine , including wins in years where he was not WC.

 

...how does the Bear fit in here?

Quite correct, I knew that, but Yamamoto's earlier post mentioned Nico, Jacques and Alan, all three of them great and worthy WDCs.

 

I was only responding to that, and pointing out that forgotten Champion Denny 's name is equally worthy of inclusion, in a discussion that's evolved to be more wide-ranging than the OP perhaps intended.



#35 davidbuckden

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Posted 05 May 2021 - 12:49

Perhaps Denny has been somewhat neglected because he was too 'straightforward,'  and thus less written-about/interviewed than most other drivers. He just 'got on' with things, without a lot of fuss, pontificating or philosophizing.  His attitude was well illustrated by his stoicism after Bruce's death, racing with badly injured hands and helping carry the team's morale through a very tough time. (Greatly admire your avatar Rob!)



#36 Ross Stonefeld

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Posted 05 May 2021 - 13:10

Ron was so politically motivated he nearly let Lewis go a few times before F1...



#37 a_tifoosi

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Posted 05 May 2021 - 14:40

So we have a list of drivers who meet Mariner's criteria -- multiple WDC winner AND only won a WDC race with an engine from a single supplier, but comments are welcome.

 

* Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-MB, Mercedes-Benz-MB

* Mika Hakkinnen, McLaren-MB

* Emerson Fittipaldi, Lotus-Cosworth, McLaren-Cosworth

* Alberto Ascari, Ferrari

 

Any more?

 

That's it. The complete list of grand prix winners (WDC only) with the most makes of engine can be found here: https://www.statsf1....-different.aspx

 

NarcĂ­s.


Edited by a_tifoosi, 05 May 2021 - 14:41.


#38 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 05 May 2021 - 22:46

Single engine? Actually at least two in the hybrid garbage of today. One liquid fuel one and one that is charged from the electricity grid and then recharged by the 'rear brakes'

And from what I have read MB does not make the electric motors but a 'partner' does. 



#39 Updraught

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Posted 06 May 2021 - 02:56

One of the reasons I have never warmed to Hamilton is his benefiting from a Ron Dennis-initiated/politically motivated, feather-bedded career.  As a result he was in a top-line F1 car from the very beginning - and that included an engine whose maker has proven supreme for much of our current century. In times now past, but eminently more sensible, new drivers would have to endure at least a season or two flogging round at the back in things like Theodores, Osellas, Andrea Modas, Minardis and suchlike. As well as building racecraft, the experience was considerably character-enhancing. I've always felt that some of Hamilton's shallowness and petulance stems from the cosseted nature of his Formula 1 career.

 

I'm not a natural Mercedes Benz advocate, but the manner in which the team initially approached the hybrid formula and have since dominated Formula 1 is truly excellent.  It's just a shame that their superb product is not a naturally aspirated, multi-cylinder one, without the encumbrances of all the electrical energy gubbins, and high on emitted decibels, leaving us in awe of both the audible and visible attributes of the car it is powering.

 

I have a friend who worked at McLaren for 30 years or so after Ron Dennis arrived.  He said once that fame may have gone to Lewis's head a bit, but that Lewis deep down is a thoroughly good person. And that is not something that can be said for too many of the other McLaren F1 drivers.



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#40 Arjan de Roos

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Posted 06 May 2021 - 11:55

Rudolf Caracciola, nearly as he won one with Alfa Romeo...

#41 9203RW

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Posted 06 May 2021 - 14:57

Turning it to chassis manufacturers, is Jim Clark the only multiple champion who only ever competed in a WDC event in a single make of car?  Several won both / all their championships in one make of chassis, but competed in WDC events in others.  At the other end of the spectrum must be Fangio, with four different manufacturers for his five championships.



#42 airbox

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Posted 06 May 2021 - 18:28

How about Alan Jones?

 

Won all his races and WDC with a DFV - he did drive with Hart 4 cylinder and Ford V6 turbo during his time with Haas-Lola but results were pretty poor for a number of reasons.

 

As for Lewis Hamilton - yes he did get support from early on from McLaren and got equal equipment from the start in F1 but he also made the best use of it. Plenty of drivers have had similar support through the lower formulae and then blown it in F1 - Dave Walker springs to mind, Stefano Modena as well.



#43 Henri Greuter

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Posted 06 May 2021 - 20:01

Rudolf Caracciola, nearly as he won one with Alfa Romeo...

That's very far back in time.

 

But then, if he is mentioned, then what about Bernd Rosemeyer.....

(And possibly some other M-B drivers like Herman Lang ???)



#44 PayasYouRace

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Posted 06 May 2021 - 20:06

Turning it to chassis manufacturers, is Jim Clark the only multiple champion who only ever competed in a WDC event in a single make of car?  Several won both / all their championships in one make of chassis, but competed in WDC events in others.  At the other end of the spectrum must be Fangio, with four different manufacturers for his five championships.

 

Not just multiple champion. He's the only world champion to do it. Every other one raced for at least two constructors in their F1 world championship career.



#45 Arjan de Roos

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Posted 06 May 2021 - 20:41

That's very far back in time.

 

But then, if he is mentioned, then what about Bernd Rosemeyer.....

(And possibly some other M-B drivers like Herman Lang ???)

Well Karatsch won the AIACR championship, basically the prewar WDC.  ;)  Nearly won as much GP's for MB as Lewis. Surely must have led more minutes a GP than him, seriously?