Learn some lesser-known Formula One Facts

The 2026 Formula One season is on its mid-season (Euro summer) break. This means fans across the world are suffering withdrawal symptoms as their favourite athletes take a breather before the second part of the campaign kicks in. We are sure that, like us, you are sick and tired of reading every speculative article based on coincidental meetings, holiday pics and little or no evidence.

With that in mind, we bring you some lesser-known Formula One Facts. Some of the more unbelievable, craziest facts in the sport, which are all true:

Ferrari driver Giancarlo Baghetti took his only F1 race win on debut in the sport (more at this link) a feat that has not been repeated to date.
At 87 years old, Jackie Stewart is the oldest living Formula One world champion.
Keke Rosberg finished the 1983 Brazilian Grand Prix in second place. However, he was later was disqualified for an illegal push-start in the pits. FISA, the then governing body, chose not to promote any of the drivers who finished behind Rosberg. As a result the finishing order, uniquely, record jumps from 1st to 3rd.
Michael Schumacher dominated the 2002 season with Ferrari. The German drive finished all 17 races on the podium, with only one of those being a 3rd place finish. He is still the only drive in F1 history to ever achieve a 100 per cent podium finish rate for an entire season.
Jochen Rindt is the only driver to be crowned world champion posthumously. Rindt died in a crash during qualifying for the 1970 Italian GP. His points lead was so large that he went on to ‘win’ the crown.
Famed F1 track, Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium doesn’t really have a name. It is named after the two towns it lies between: Spa and Francorchamps. Each corner is named after local geography ie a nearby town or historical landmark or physical description ‘Eau Rouge’ means red water and ‘Raidillon’ means ‘steep path’ in French.
In 75 years, just 35 different drivers have been crowned world champ. In contrast, over 630 people have been into orbit around the Earth. You are 18 times more likely to orbit Earth than win an F1 world title.
Williams F1 has not won a Constructor’s title in 29 years, but still sits third on the all-time list with nine crowns. Ferrari holds the all-time record with 16 championships, followed by McLaren with 10.
German racing driver Hans Heyer has the most ignominious title of being the only driver in F1 history to record a DNQ (did not qualify), DNF (did not finish), and DSQ (disqualified) in a single race. The German driver was too slow to qualify for the 1977 German GP. But he snuck onto the grid to start the race. He retired with mechanical failure, and was later disqualified when race officials realised he should not have started.
Seven drivers have started 300 or more F1 races, only Lewis Hamilton has won after reaching that milestone.
Michael Schumacher, Jacques Villeneuve and Heinz-Harald Frentzen set identical times at the 1997 European Grand Prix. All three drivers set a time of 1 min 21,072 sec during the Saturday’s qualifying session. As Villeneuve set the time first, he started on pole.
Seb Vettel has never scored an F1 win from lower than third on the grid. In contrast, Teo Fabi claimed three pole positions and never led a lap in his F1 career.
Only three drivers with the surname Hill have ever competed in F1. All three went on to become F1 champion. Graham Hill (1962, 1968), Phil Hill (1961), Damon Hill (1996). Damon was Graham’s son, Phil was unrelated.