Hard to believe how Graham Hill once held the
record for most Grands Prix starts with a "paltry" 176, which stood
for ten years before Jacques Laffite equaled it in his final Grand Prix at
Brands Hatch in 1986 - where he shattered his ankles whilst taking evasive maneuvers,
effectively ending his F1 career!
While both Lewis Hamilton and Seb' Vettel have surpassed
that tally this season, effectively due to the ever increasing number of Grands
Prix each year...
Watching this year's Singapore GP Qualie' Show,
I learned that Nico Rosberg was making his 200th Grand Prix start that weekend,
becoming the once Holy Grail's 200 Starts club's newest member.
Which Nico celebrated in grand style by Blitzing
the competition all weekend long en route to capturing his sixth maiden Grand
Prix victory at a circuit he's never previously won at!
As Rosberg should Zoom-Zoom his way past
"Mean Jean" Alesi, (202-starts) and triple world champion Nelson
Piquet (204-starts) by season's end with six races remaining after Singapore.
Then effectively leapfrog Andrea Duh
Crasheris', (208-starts) Gerhard Berger (210-starts) and Mark Handlebarz'
Webber (215-starts) easily next year before setting his sights upon the Top-10,
with Fishy-fellah', Giancarlo Fisichella currently occupying the No. 10 spot.
As the Italian finished his F1 career with 229-starts.
Really hard to
believe it's ten years already since Thy late Awntie Harriet rubbed elbows with
some fresh faced 21yr old rookie F1 Jockey whilst returning home from Mother
Speedway...
While the young
Louise JAGUAR' Hamilton and 'lil Sid Viddle', aka Sebastian Vettel will both
join the 200 Starts Club next season provided they don't suffer any long-term
absences from the cockpit...
And if I've done my sums correctly? Carry the
six, multiply by four; Oh Never Mind; Hya! Good 'Ol Bloody 'JENSE should be
making his momentous 300th Grand Prix start at the forthcoming Malaysian GP,
where Messer Button will become only the third F1 driver to ever accomplish the
feat!
Although I really
cannot see Jenson returning to Formula 1 at age 38 and wonder why driver's
cannot simply announce their retirement?
All of this number crunching made me hungry,
as why did Captain Crunch come to mind; Hya! Uhm, decide to update my internal
F1 Records here in Nofendersville, for which I've deduced the following Stats
whilst ponderin' where the current F1 Grid's participants rank?
As certainly it's unheard of in Formula 1 parlance
to have four drivers on the grid with a 'Mega 250 starts apiece! Which will
occur once the lights G-O Green at the season finale on Yas Island circuit in
Abu Dhabi.
Since Felipe Massa will retire after making
his 250th start, with Kimi Raikkonen and his Oomphlats sitting on 252-starts.
And once again, I totally missed thee memo
over Fredrico Suave, a.k.a. Fred Alonso surpassing the once untouchable record
of 257-starts then held by Riccardo Patrese. As the Spaniard now sits fourth
All-time, and should Cap his Mondo 274th start under the night stars of Abu
Dhabi on Yas Isle this November.
Lastly, dear 'Ol JENSE' as noted, will have
joined the once unthinkable 300 Grands Prix start club and should effectively
end his sixteen year Formula 1 career one lone digit behind 'DER TERMINATOR,
nee Michael Schumacher for overall starts, with 305 vs. Schuey's 306. Whilst
Rubino's (Rubens Barrichello) staggering total of 322-starts appears safe for
the time being...
On the flip-side, Romain Grosjean will become
the latest One Ton Cub', when making his
100th Grand Prix start at Suzuka Circuito. At the forthcoming Japanese GP,
following Force India's One Ton Club tandem of Nico Hulkenberg who should
wrap-up the season with 115-starts and Sergio Perez on 114-starts respectively.
Bloody Hell! Keep
your Chin's Up Boyz', Stiff Upper lip and all, as you're one-third of the way
to Rubino's number; CRIKEYS!
Meanwhile, the sport's youngest ever winner,
the 18yr old Dutch lightning rod Max Verstappen was having some fun of his own
at Singapore, where his engineer told him he'd just crossed paths with
Godzilla! Although NO word on whether or not the lizard made Max's job of
overtaking him easy or not?
Whilst Max's Bosom
Buddy thou Iceman', nee Kimi Raikkonen, who should start his 252nd Grand Prix
at Yabba Dabba Do, nee Abu Dhabi, will tie current sixth place F1 career starts
holder "Trulli Scrumptious" *Jarno Trulli) and then vault past fifth
place's Riccardo Patrese's 257-starts early next season...
NOTE
The numbers used
in this story are from my own No Fenders internal records, and are in NO way official! And should be only used for
reference sake...
