17 replies to this topic

[SirRacer]

That question came to mind after seeing Fernando Alonso lead the championship with 0 poles so far.

If he does get the WDC without poles (I know it is a long way to go, and everyone can win it and he has time to take a pole), but how would that rate in F1 history? Have other drivers done that?

Thanks

[Risil]

Lauda in 1984, Hulme in 1967. Eddie Irvine nearly managed it in '99. Amusingly (if schadenfreude is your thing) Keke Rosberg did set one pole on the way to his single-victory 1982 world championship, but his car broke down on the warm-up lap and he had to start from the back of the grid anyway.

Edited by Risil, 01 June 2012 - 12:32.

[phil1993]

Denny Hulme in 67 and Niki Lauda in 84.

The fewest recently was 3 for Kimi in 2007, 4 for Jenson in 2009. Jenson finished runner-up last year without a pole.

[PayasYouRace]

It happened twice:

1967 Denny Hulme and 1984 Niki Lauda.

WDCs with one pole is also quite common.

[mdaclarke]

Yes

Denny Hulme 1967
Niki Lauda 1984

[Risil]

In each of the last five seasons, pole position at the opening round has predicted the World Drivers' Champion. Spooky, eh? Could easily happen again this year, with Hamilton in the box seat.

[Wander]

In each of the last five seasons, pole position at the opening round has predicted the World Drivers' Champion. Spooky, eh? Could easily happen again this year, with Hamilton in the box seat.

Not spooky at all, just a coincidence. All it means is that the last 5 seasons the driver who was fastest at the start of the season managed to stay top for the whole season. In fact, looking at recent F1 history, it seems that the driver to take the first pole position nearly always finished either champion or runner-up. As you go further back, however, there seems to be much less correlation between getting the first pole and the championship (early 80s, 70s, 60s and 50s).

Statistically speaking, getting the first pole position does increase your odds by quite a bit, of course, but I wouldn't count on it this season.

[Cavani]

Not spooky at all, just a coincidence. All it means is that the last 5 seasons the driver who was fastest at the start of the season managed to stay top for the whole season. In fact, looking at recent F1 history, it seems that the driver to take the first pole position nearly always finished either champion or runner-up. As you go further back, however, there seems to be much less correlation between getting the first pole and the championship (early 80s, 70s, 60s and 50s).

Statistically speaking, getting the first pole position does increase your odds by quite a bit, of course, but I wouldn't count on it this season.

well, jenson button isnot going anywhere at the moment

[Wander]

well, jenson button isnot going anywhere at the moment

Yes, but Lewis took the first pole, not Jenson.

[SpaMaster]

I don't know what relevance pole position has relating to winning WDC. It is just a methodology to start the race. Race pace is way more important, and winning races and championship is what that counts. If you have to give up some one-lap pace with the ultimate prize in mind, that is absolutely ok. It is absolutely okay to not have a single pole, but compete for wins and championships. I don't see anything special in this.

[Buttoneer]

It's easy to forget the efforts that F1 has gone to over the years to separate qualifying performance from race performance so it's a little surprising that there aren't more who have done the trick.

[KavB]

Would Irvine have been the only driver ever to be a WDC without setting a single pole? And to win all his races in his championship year?

[PayasYouRace]

Would Irvine have been the only driver ever to be a WDC without setting a single pole? And to win all his races in his championship year?

I guess he would have been.

Oddly enough if Denny Hulme had retired before 1973 that would have been true for him, as he only had 1 career pole in South Africa 1973, 6 years after his championship.

[D-Type]

Would Irvine have been the only driver ever to be a WDC without setting a single pole? And to win all his races in his championship year?

If Irvine had won the championship, his confidence would have increased and he would have become a more relaxed driver. That would have opened the floodgates and he'd have gone on to win more races and possibly another championship.

[Risil]

If Irvine had won the championship, his confidence would have increased and he would have become a more relaxed driver. That would have opened the floodgates and he'd have gone on to win more races and possibly another championship.

When did Irvine sign for the revamped Jaguar squad? Michael Schumacher himself would've struggled to open any floodgates driving for that team.

Edited by Risil, 01 June 2012 - 22:31.

[PorcupineTroy]

The question has arleady been answered, but I just wanted to point out that last weekend at Monaco marked 3 years since Jenson Button's last pole(!)

[Bleu]

When did Irvine sign for the revamped Jaguar squad? Michael Schumacher himself would've struggled to open any floodgates driving for that team.

September, with three races still left, Irvine was tied with Häkkinen in the standings, 10 points ahead Frentzen and 12 ahead of Coulthard. Barrichello's move to Ferrari was confirmed few weeks earlier, between Belgian and Italian GPs.

Irvine signs on for Jaguar F1 September 16, 1999
.The newly confirmed Jaguar Racing has announced that Eddie Irvine will join the team for next year.

The newly confirmed Jaguar Racing has announced that Eddie Irvine will join the team for next year.
Irvine has signed a three-year deal with the team.

Confirming his signing, 33-year-old Irvine said: "I'm overjoyed. I've been waiting for this opportunity for the past two years. I'm lucky to be involved in such a fantastic project. Through my experience in the rebuilding of Ferrari, I believe I can make a significant contribution to Jaguar Racing."

Advertisement: Story continues below Jaguar Racing also confirmed that Irvine will partner Johnny Herbert for the 2000 season. Herbert, 35, is driving for the Stewart-Ford team in 1999.

Welcoming Irvine to the team, Dr Wolfgang Reitzle, Chairman of Jaguar, and the Group Vice-President of Ford Motor Company's Premier Automotive Group, said: "In signing Eddie, we have secured the services of a dynamic driver for Jaguar's exciting new Formula One Programme. Eddie has proven with Ferrari this year that he is a winner and we are delighted to have a driver of his calibre in the team.

"There will be a number of changes next year and the experience of Eddie and Johnny will enable us to implement those changes while at the same time accelerate our rate of competitiveness. Eddie and Johnny will be a formidable combination."

Jackie Stewart, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar Racing, added: "I think Eddie Irvine has come of age. He has matured during the 1999 season and has driven some exceptional races. Eddie is very adept at setting up a car. He will be a valuable asset to the team.

"Johnny is already part of the 'family' and we are pleased to have him with us for another year. It has been pleasing to see him move closer to Rubens (Barrichello) in the latter half of 1999 and we anticipate him running consistently closer to the front of the grid next season."

Born in Newtonards, Northern Ireland, Irvine began his motor racing career in the Irish and British Formula Ford series in 1983. He graduated to the British Formula Three Championship in 1988 finishing fifth overall.

In 1989 he joined Pacific Racing's International Formula 3000 team. The following year he joined Eddie Jordan Racing and finished third in the International Formula 3000 Championship. He drove in the Japanese Formula 3000 Championship from 1991-1993 finishing second in his final year.

In his first Formula One race, the 1993 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka with the Jordan team, he finished sixth.

He spent 1994 and 1995 with Jordan before joining Ferrari for the 1996 season. In 1998 he finished fourth in the World Drivers' Championship, his highest place to date.

The 1999 season with Ferrari has been his most successful to date with victories in the Australian, Austrian and German Grands Prix and second places in Monaco and Great Britain. With three races remaining, he holds down joint first place in the Drivers' Championship with 60 points.

link to the story: http://news.drive.co...0823-13g5m.html

Edited by Bleu, 02 June 2012 - 12:53.

[Jimmy]

Not F1 but I remember Alex Zanardi dominating CART in 1998 without winning a pole all year.