Can anyone enlighten me as to when the concept of "podium finishes" came about in Grand Prix racing. At what point did race organizers begin to give the top three finishers different recognition after the race than the remainder of the finishers. Obviously, this practice had been used in the Olympics, perhaps from the beginning, but certainly predating World War II.
Michael T. Lynch
Podium finishes
Started by
cabianca
, May 17 2001 16:35
13 replies to this topic
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#2
Joe Fan
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Posted 17 May 2001 - 17:18
I have often wondered this myself but I know that it had to be sometime after 1957. Why? Because Masten Gregory was no where to be seen after his 1957 Monaco podium finish, just Fangio. I am inclined to think it started sometime in the 1970s based upon watching old footage on Speedvision. I bet that someone here will produce the answer. This is a tough group to stump collectively.
#3
fines
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Posted 17 May 2001 - 20:04
I have seen a pic of podium celebrations at the 1951 British GP, with González, Fangio and Villoresi (Michael Lang, Grand Prix!, Vol 1, p 32)!
#4
Joe Fan
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Posted 17 May 2001 - 20:23
Fines, you are correct. It also shows the podium finishers for the 1965 Belgium Grand Prix. But for the 1957 German GP, you just see Fangio, which makes me think that it wasn't standard practice after every Grand Prix.
I have two different video productions of the 1957 Monaco Grand Prix, and only Fangio (the race winner) was congratulated by the Royalty in attendance. I have never seen a photo of the 1957 Monaco podium either. I was and am quite disappointed by this for obvious reasons.
I have two different video productions of the 1957 Monaco Grand Prix, and only Fangio (the race winner) was congratulated by the Royalty in attendance. I have never seen a photo of the 1957 Monaco podium either. I was and am quite disappointed by this for obvious reasons.
#5
fines
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Posted 17 May 2001 - 20:28
I don't think they had podium celebrations at Monaco until the late eighties or so. Always only the winner and the Prince...
#6
Joe Fan
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Posted 17 May 2001 - 20:35
Fines, after looking at these pictures, I wonder if these podiums were just convenient photo ops for photagraphers or real podium celebrations. I would almost bet that photographers probably precipitated the whole podium concept.
#7
Vitesse2
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Posted 17 May 2001 - 23:03
After looking at the picture of Silverstone 51, I find it hard to believe that anyone was celebrating: it looks more like a wake!!
And there never has been a "podium" at Monaco as such: the winning driver just sort of saunters up a flight of steps and is presented with the trophy by Prince Rainier: they're not allowed to spray the champagne either!!
And there never has been a "podium" at Monaco as such: the winning driver just sort of saunters up a flight of steps and is presented with the trophy by Prince Rainier: they're not allowed to spray the champagne either!!
#8
Dave Ware
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Posted 17 May 2001 - 23:30
Considering that the origins of "The Paddock" and "The Pits" was revealed in a thread about a year ago, I'm sure an answer to this interesting question will be forthcoming.
Dave
Dave
#9
HDonaldCapps
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Posted 20 April 2007 - 17:08
This question crossed my mind recently since "podium finishes" have become one more -- groan 
-- statistic by which drivers are "measured" or "evaluated" or whatever the hell people claim to do when they generate those godawful lists where everyone in placed in rank order on some listing having to do with some superlative.
What Michael is asking, I believe, is when did it become comonplace or a requirement or mandatory for the top three to be paraded about and placed on a podium? This ignores -- rightfully -- the occasional times when an organizer did it on its own perogative, something which a bot chaotic and added to the flavor of proceedings once upon a time. At any rate, why is this applied retroactively and bantered about as if it were a real "statistic" by the number geeks? The same numbers geeks who, incidentally, seem unable to fathom that much of the data they stole from one source was modified from the original "format" -- if you will -- to make the data fit the then current parameters when the books were developed and published.
It -- the "podium" -- would seem to something that came in with the creation of the either the current authoritarian regime (Ecclestone & Mosley) that runs formula one or the previous authoritarian regime (Balestre) after the Secret Protocols were set in place in 1981, which in time placed the emphasis on stalinist palaces for the perfumed princes and the strict adherence to timetables which would have made the fascists smile. But I digress..
-- statistic by which drivers are "measured" or "evaluated" or whatever the hell people claim to do when they generate those godawful lists where everyone in placed in rank order on some listing having to do with some superlative. What Michael is asking, I believe, is when did it become comonplace or a requirement or mandatory for the top three to be paraded about and placed on a podium? This ignores -- rightfully -- the occasional times when an organizer did it on its own perogative, something which a bot chaotic and added to the flavor of proceedings once upon a time. At any rate, why is this applied retroactively and bantered about as if it were a real "statistic" by the number geeks? The same numbers geeks who, incidentally, seem unable to fathom that much of the data they stole from one source was modified from the original "format" -- if you will -- to make the data fit the then current parameters when the books were developed and published.
It -- the "podium" -- would seem to something that came in with the creation of the either the current authoritarian regime (Ecclestone & Mosley) that runs formula one or the previous authoritarian regime (Balestre) after the Secret Protocols were set in place in 1981, which in time placed the emphasis on stalinist palaces for the perfumed princes and the strict adherence to timetables which would have made the fascists smile. But I digress..
#10
humphries
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Posted 20 April 2007 - 18:47
How many drivers have had a "podium" finish this year? Four. Two Ferrari drivers and two McLaren drivers. It will be "something" when someone else gets on the podium. It could be pointed out, fairly, that Hamilton is the only driver with the "unfair advantage" not yet to win.
As one of the wrinklies I find today's Grand Prix racing somewhat boring and loathe the people running it. They have turned a sport into a nauseating, money grubbing charade.
As for Hamilton, and I want to see him World Champion, he does appear to be out of the "racers" mould and it is a shame he cannot use that ability to the full as dicing is virtually impossible now. Lewis was born too late. I'm not sure why but he reminds me of Peter Collins, demeanour, perhaps.
As one of the wrinklies I find today's Grand Prix racing somewhat boring and loathe the people running it. They have turned a sport into a nauseating, money grubbing charade.
As for Hamilton, and I want to see him World Champion, he does appear to be out of the "racers" mould and it is a shame he cannot use that ability to the full as dicing is virtually impossible now. Lewis was born too late. I'm not sure why but he reminds me of Peter Collins, demeanour, perhaps.
#11
Hans Etzrodt
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Posted 22 April 2007 - 07:23
Originally posted by humphries
...As for Hamilton... ...he reminds me of Peter Collins...
#12
Gary Davies
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Posted 22 April 2007 - 10:58
Place me firmly in the category of those who groan at the very concept of "podium finishes". Not to mention the quite puerile, medieval protocol of the podium ceremony as laid down in the FIA "F1 Sporting Regulations".
Oh how I long for someone Frank Spencer or Spike Milligan to come come bursting into the pomp of one of Bernie's podium vaudeville performances.
Oh how I long for someone Frank Spencer or Spike Milligan to come come bursting into the pomp of one of Bernie's podium vaudeville performances.
#13
RA Historian
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Posted 22 April 2007 - 16:47
At least Max is not up there every race hogging the spotlight, thinking it was all about him, as Jean-Marie Balestre always did................
Tom
Tom
#14
Paul Parker
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Posted 23 April 2007 - 12:01
They paraded Hill, Hulme and Redman on a victory parade after the 1968 Spanish GP for instance (prompting Hill to remark, "Christ almighty, don't tell me you were bloody third", to Redman who drove the Cooper-BRM T86B) but I'm inclined to go with the notion that the first three finishers picture was simply an early example of the 'photo opportunity'.
Similar parades and acceptance of garlands, wreaths, cups were commonplace and returning to 1968 I recall that Siffert, Amon and possibly Ickx were presented with their laurels on a dias at the British GP, Brands Hatch by Earl Mountbatten and officials of the RAC.
The latter day practice of structured standardised format press interviews and podiums are merely a refined version of this for obviously commercial/marketing reasons. Meanwhile I agree wholeheartedly with RA Historian, Vanwall, humphries, HDonald Capps et al.
Similar parades and acceptance of garlands, wreaths, cups were commonplace and returning to 1968 I recall that Siffert, Amon and possibly Ickx were presented with their laurels on a dias at the British GP, Brands Hatch by Earl Mountbatten and officials of the RAC.
The latter day practice of structured standardised format press interviews and podiums are merely a refined version of this for obviously commercial/marketing reasons. Meanwhile I agree wholeheartedly with RA Historian, Vanwall, humphries, HDonald Capps et al.
