2015 marks the 65th anniversary of Formula 1’s inception, and in that time the world’s most glamorous sport has produced 32 World Champions. However, of course, if there are winners, there’s always a loser lurking around the corner—or perhaps the pit-lane—and there have been a number of remarkable drivers whose talents were never fully recognised with a World Championship to their name. It might not replicate the joy of a trophy being presented at a tuxedo dinner party, but this is my own personal celebration of F1’s greatest championship runners-up.
F1’s Greatest Runners-up
Stirling Moss
Regarded as the greatest driver never to win the World Championship, Moss finished runner-up for four consecutive seasons in an era dominated by Juan Manuel Fangio. In 1962, Moss was thought to have a great chance to finally claim a world title in a works Ferrari entered by Rob Walker Racing, but an accident at Goodwood in the Glover Trophy race put him in a coma for a month, and, despite returning to the circuit after his recovery, he felt he was unable to drive on instinct anymore, and retired from the sport.
Gilles Villeneuve
Despite winning only six races in his five-year career, Villeneuve is regarded by many today as one of the greatest drivers in F1 history. Possessing a combative driving style and never-say-die attitude, so beautifully encapsulated in his battle with Rene Arnoux at the 1979 French Grand Prix, Villeneuve quickly gained a reputation for being a fearless and, to many, reckless driver. 1979 was also the year he came closest to winning the title, finishing four points off Ferrari team-mate Jody Scheckter. In 1982, Villeneuve’s determination to beat team-mate Didier Pironi, after the Frenchman overtook him against team orders at Imola, culminated in the accident that ultimately claimed his life, during qualifying for the following race at Zolder.
Jean Alesi
Plucky French-Sicilian Alesi caught the attention of teams, fellow drivers and fans alike in 1990 with a series of impressive drives in an uncompetitive Tyrrell; notably the season-opener in Phoenix, where he led for a number of laps and finished second after a memorable duel for the lead with Ayrton Senna. It’s reputed that Alesi had a deal all-but-signed with Williams for 1991, before an offer from Ferrari at the last minute led Alesi to change his mind and join the Scuderia. Sadly for Alesi, his decision coincided with the beginning of one of the lowest ebb’s in Ferrari’s F1 history, as Williams dominated the 1992 and ’93 seasons. Alesi garnered a solitary win for Ferrari in Canada in 1995, and this was the only victory in his career. His decision to reject Williams, paving the way for Nigel Mansell to rejoin the team, is, personally, one of the most intriguing Formula 1 “what-if” stories.
Felipe Massa
It was at Sauber where Massa earned a reputation as an exciting and promising young driver. After joining Ferrari in 2006, partnering Michael Schumacher, Massa had a pivotal role in helping new team-mate Kimi Raikkonen win the 2007 title, sacrificing a win in front of his home fans in Brazil to let the Finn win his so-far only title, but in 2008, Massa out-performed Raikkonen and won five races to take the title down to the last race, fittingly at Sao Paulo. After a late rain shower, title rival Lewis Hamilton fell to sixth, seemingly handing the title to Massa. He won the race, but Hamilton infamously overtook a slowing Timo Glock on the final corner of the last lap to win the title in one of the most dramatic finishes in F1 history, cutting short the premature celebrations of Massa’s family, much to the hilarity of Hamilton’s legions of fans back in Britain. After a struggle to regain his 2008 form after a near-fatal accident during qualifying for the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, Massa left Ferrari in 2013 and joined a rejuvenated Williams for 2014. He took pole position at Austria and finished on the podium three times, possibly signalling a return of the old Massa. If Williams can produce a competitive car for 2015, Massa could well be in the frame to win the title again.
Robert Kubica
A possible left-field suggestion, but at the time of the rally accident that ended his Formula 1 career, Robert Kubica was regarded as one of the best, if not the best Formula 1 driver on the grid. After replacing Jacques Villeneuve at BMW-Sauber midway through the 2006 season, Kubica soon impressed, finishing on the podium at Monza. In 2007, Kubica finished sixth in the championship standings, in a season that is most remembered for his violent accident in Canada, which caused him to miss the next race. 2008 was his most successful in F1, winning for the first, and last time, incidentally at Canada, and finishing fourth in the standings, only 23 points off title-winner Hamilton. In 2010, Kubica joined Renault and, after a number of impressive drives, and was rumoured to be on the verge of agreeing a deal with Ferrari. After a close-season accident during a rally meeting in Italy, Kubica’s hand and arm injuries put paid to his F1 career. He is now a development driver for the Mercedes team, but due to the nerve damage in his arm, he would be unable to complete a full race distance.
These are, of course, just a small selection of drivers who could have so easily been a World Champion. I’m sure anyone reading may have their own opinions on this subject, whether they be drivers mathematically close, or the “we’ll never know” what-if stories. One thing is for sure, as long as Formula 1 exists, the winners will always make a runner-up of someone, but as long as people like me are around, they won’t be forgotten.
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