12 replies to this topic

[Bruce]

I'm trying to think of a driver who has come this close, this often... in 2007, Alonso missed out on the WDC by 1 point. In 2010, he missed out on the WDC by 4 points. In 2012, he missed out by 3 points. What's even more amazing is that his 2010 and 2012 results came under the new points system where points are increased from the old by 2.5 (or thereabout), so - if you were to base it on the old system, he'd have second to Vettel by 1 point (115 to 114 by my calculations) in 2012 and in 2010 he'd have been beaten by a single point too - 104 to 103.

Please feel free to dispute my calculations - I'm rubbish at this. The point is that, wow - Alonso must be really feeling the "nearly" man. Granted, he has 2 WDC under his belt, and the respect of most.

But has any driver been this close, this many times?

[Zava]

I'm trying to think of a driver who has come this close, this often... in 2007, Alonso missed out on the WDC by 1 point. In 2010, he missed out on the WDC by 4 points. In 2012, he missed out by 3 points. What's even more amazing is that his 2010 and 2012 results came under the new points system where points are increased from the old by 2.5 (or thereabout), so - if you were to base it on the old system, he'd have second to Vettel by 1 point (115 to 114 by my calculations) in 2012 and in 2010 he'd have been beaten by a single point too - 104 to 103.

Please feel free to dispute my calculations - I'm rubbish at this. The point is that, wow - Alonso must be really feeling the "nearly" man. Granted, he has 2 WDC under his belt, and the respect of most.

But has any driver been this close, this many times?

IIRC it was 104-101 for 2010.
Prost: 2 points off in '83, 0,5 point off in '84, -11 points off in '88.

[SpaceHorseParty]

Stirling Moss — 4 times runner-up, no titles. Two of those times he was within 3 points of the champion.

Alain Prost — 4 times runner-up, 4 titles. Two of those were lost in a battle versus Senna (1988 and 1990), however, he was incredibly close in 1983 (2 points to Piquet) and 1984 (just half a point to Lauda).

And we also have Nigel Mansell and Graham Hill both as a three-time runners-up.

[eronrules]

Stirling Moss — 4 times runner-up, no titles. Two of those times he was within 3 points of the champion.

Alain Prost — 4 times runner-up, 4 titles. Two of those were lost in a battle versus Senna (1988 and 1990), however, he was incredibly close in 1983 (2 points to Piquet) and 1984 (just half a point to Lauda).

And we also have Nigel Mansell and Graham Hill both as a three-time runners-up.

kimi raikkonen -- 2 times runner-up,

in 2003 he lost to michael schumacher by only 2 points (93-91) despite winning only one race to Schumacher's 6
in 2005 he lost to Fernando Alonso (133-112) despite equaling same no. of race wins (7)

[fisssssi]

As I said in the other thread, he's just 11 points off being a 5-time world champion.

[Bruce]

Stirling Moss — 4 times runner-up, no titles. Two of those times he was within 3 points of the champion.

Alain Prost — 4 times runner-up, 4 titles. Two of those were lost in a battle versus Senna (1988 and 1990), however, he was incredibly close in 1983 (2 points to Piquet) and 1984 (just half a point to Lauda).

And we also have Nigel Mansell and Graham Hill both as a three-time runners-up.

good point - and let's not forget that in one of those championships, Moss cost himself the WDC by defending Hawthorne. Still. Epic, no?

[Collombin]

Alain Prost — 4 times runner-up, 4 titles. Two of those were lost in a battle versus Senna (1988 and 1990), however, he was incredibly close in 1983 (2 points to Piquet) and 1984 (just half a point to Lauda).

And under the medals system, he'd even have won in 1981.

good point - and let's not forget that in one of those championships, Moss cost himself the WDC by defending Hawthorne. Still. Epic, no?

Playing devil's advocate, you could also say he cost himself the championship by turning his gearbox into salad at Spa.

[Zippel]

And under the medals system, he'd even have won in 1981.

And lost 86 & 89 under the same system. What's your point?

Its worth mentioning Schumi was the nearly man 3 times, 97/98 & 06.

[Bruce]

And lost 86 & 89 under the same system. What's your point?

Its worth mentioning Schumi was the nearly man 3 times, 97/98 & 06.

True enough. But he has the consolation of 7 other WDcs...

[Zippel]

True enough. But he has the consolation of 7 other WDcs...

In hindsight yes, but 96-00 was a bit of a frustrating time for Schumi fans. I include 2000 in that mix because it looked like that title was slipping away after Spa.

Edited by Zippel, 26 November 2012 - 23:21.

[AlexS]

And if we add the Shumi broken leg...

[Bruce]

In hindsight yes, but 96-00 was a bit of a frustrating time for Schumi fans. I include 2000 in that mix because it looked like that title was slipping away after mid year.

Yeah - you're right - hindsight is 20/20 - if you were a Schumi fan in 99, you could be forgiven for thinking that he was somehow "cursed". The cream rises to the top though. Thats why I have faith that Alonso will repeat.

[TheUltimateWorrier]

I'm trying to think of a driver who has come this close, this often... in 2007, Alonso missed out on the WDC by 1 point. In 2010, he missed out on the WDC by 4 points. In 2012, he missed out by 3 points. What's even more amazing is that his 2010 and 2012 results came under the new points system where points are increased from the old by 2.5 (or thereabout), so - if you were to base it on the old system, he'd have second to Vettel by 1 point (115 to 114 by my calculations) in 2012 and in 2010 he'd have been beaten by a single point too - 104 to 103.

Spot on this site has done the maths too.

As I said in the other thread, he's just 11 points off being a 5-time world champion.

Prost was 12.5 away from being an 8-time champion (in the four seasons he finished as runner-up)

Edited by TheUltimateWorrier, 26 November 2012 - 23:57.