The list of the highest average grid positions in Formula 1 provides a new picture to the sport

Formula 1 is about winning. 20 drivers wait for the five red lights to go out before risking their lives for that top step on the podium. Consequently, a good start can provide an edge to a driver over their competitors. Thus, major emphasis is put on Qualifying in F1. Where drivers try to set in that one perfect lap on low-fuel and soft tires. Hence, taking a look at a driver’s qualifying performances can indeed provide a picture of their talent.

Correspondingly, the list of the highest average grid positions in Formula 1 can tell the fans a lot about the sport’s greats. Although, this list also includes drivers who only raced in a handful of F1 races. This, in essence, can hamper the pecking order. Unsurprisingly, the number 1 spot on this list goes to former F1 world champion, Juan Manuel Fangio, with an average grid slot of an incredible 1.78 in 51 races.

Fangio is the only driver with such an outstanding position. The runner-up place is taken by Formula 1’s first world champion, Italian racing driver Giuseppe Farina. Farina raced in 34 races with an average starting position of 3.12. Similarly, the Brazilian legend, Ayrton Senna takes the final spot on the podium with an average place of 3.15 in a stunning 161 races. Certainly, a driver who could have achieved a lot more in F1.

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Lewis Hamilton has the highest average grid slot for F1 drivers with over 200 Grand Prix

Jack McGrath, an American driver who once got pole position at the Indianapolis 500, is fourth on the list. Albeit, McGrath only competed 6 times in Formula 1. Jim Clark rounds up the Top 5 with an average of 3.64 in 72 races. Clark is followed closely by renowned F1 driver, Alberto Ascari. Ascari has an average grid position of 3.72 in 32 races.

Lewis Hamilton is the only driver in the new millennia to feature in the top 10 of this list. Hamilton is in seventh place, with an average starting position of 3.88 in a whopping 310 races. Thus, Hamilton is also the driver with the highest average grid slot with over 200 Grand Prix. Certainly, this indicates the true domination by Lewis Hamilton in Formula 1. The Mercedes driver is also the last driver to have an average higher than 4.

The eighth spot is held jointly by two drivers. Luigi Fagioli and Mauri Rose. Both of these drivers had a short stint in Formula 1. Having 7 and 2 race starts respectively. French F1 world champion, Alain Prost finishes off the Top 10 with an average highest position of 4.16 in 201 Grands Prix. Sir Jackie Stewart is in eleventh place with 100 races under his belt along with an average of 4.50.

Jose Froilan Gonzalez, the first Ferrari race winner in Formula 1 is number 12 on this list. Gonzalez competed in 26 races, with an average grid slot of 4.58. Sir Stirling Moss is often considered as “the greatest driver never to win the World Championship.” Consequently, Moss proves his talent through this list. Stirling Moss has an average of 4.76 in 66 F1 races.

Shockingly, Michael Schumacher has the 14th-highest average grid slot in Formula 1

Many consider Michael Schumacher the greatest driver in Formula 1 history. Although, Schumacher does fall behind in the highest average grid slots. The German is on number 14 on the list with an average of 4.87 in 308 races. This number can be a cause of Michael’s unsuccessful return to F1 with Mercedes in 2010. Eugenio Castellotti, another Italian racing driver takes the next spot. Castellotti has an average of 4.93 in just 14 Grand Prix.

The next slot is again held jointly by two drivers, Consalvo Sanesi and Colin Chapman. The pair has an average position of 5.00 after 5 and 1 Grand Prix respectively. This brings the list to drivers with a grid slot lower than 5. The first is Juan Pablo Montoya. The Indy500 winner competed in 95 races with a grid slot average of 5.37. Surprisingly, Max Verstappen is P19 in this record. This can be credited to Verstappen’s recent success in Formula 1. Max has an average of 5.53 in 163 races.

Mike Parkes is the last driver in the top 20 with an average of 5.67 in 6 races. Followed by Eddie Sachs, the “Clown Prince of Auto Racing.” Sachs races 4 times in Formula 1 with an average of 5.75. Mike Hawthorn, the first British F1 world champion is number 22. Hawthorn competed in 46 races leading to the average grid slot of 5.85. Motorcycle racer, Dorino Serafini takes up the next slot with an average of 6 after just 1 Grand Prix.

The 1996 F1 world champion Damon Hill is on P24 of this list. The former Williams driver raced 116 times in Formula 1, leading to an average grid slot of 6.09. Dick Rathmann, an American racing driver takes the 25th spot, with an average of 6.20 after just 5 Grand Prix. This concludes the top 25 Formula 1 drivers in terms of the highest average grid position. Although, it leaves out several of the all-time greats.

Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen and many others fail to make it to the top 25 of this list

Sebastian Vettel is a four-time world champion with the third-highest wins in Formula 1. Yet, Vettel could only manage P27 of the highest average grid slots. This could be credited to Sebastian’s dismal last three seasons in the sport. The German has an average of 6.36 in 300 races. Another F1 world champion, Nigel Mansell takes up the next slot. Mansell has an average of 6.40 after a grand total of 187 races.

Former Mercedes Driver Valtteri Bottas is P32 with an average of 6.66, followed by Brazilian world champion Nelson Piquet with an average of 6.68. The 2016 Formula 1 world champion and now-YouTuber Nico Rosberg has an average grid slot of 6.90 in 38th place. Rosberg is followed closely by Charles Leclerc with an average of 7.00. The charismatic driver James Hunt is on P41 with an average of 7.03.

Mika Hakkinen, Carlos Reutemann, and Jack Brabham all follow behind on this list. Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso outshined the entire Formula 1 grid during their peak years. Although, the pair had to bear through some unsuccessful years in F1. This in turn affected their average grid position. Kimi Raikkonen finishes P53 with an average of 7.76 while Alonso comes way down in P73 after getting an average of 8.70.

Thus, the list of the highest average grid position in Formula 1 certainly paints quite a picture. Many world champions tumble down the order due to suffering through some uncompetitive years in the sport. While few got up the ranks because of racing on a handful of occasions. Hence, consistency plays a major role in any driver’s career. As such, this list may not do justice to some of the all-time greats.

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