Talking Point: Greatest constructor

Eurosport - Tue, 13 Jan 13:08:00 2009

Which is the greatest constructor in Formula One history? Every week in the off-season Eurosport will offer a point of discussion for F1 fans, in conjunction with our online poll. So let us know what you think.

FORMULA 1 - Lotus 72 - 0

Click the buttons on the Formula One page to register your vote, and don't forget to let us know your reasoning in the comments box below.

Alfa Romeo participated in Formula One from 1950 to 1988, and enjoyed early success when they won the drivers' championship in 1950 with Nino Farina and in 1951 with the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio. However, thin budgets meant the team were unable to build on that success and spent the latter part of their days in F1 supplying engines, most notably for the Brabham team in the late 1970s. The team returned to the sport from 1979 to 1985, achieving two pole positions, three third-place finishes, two second-places and one fastest lap during those years, with their best season coming in 1983 when they achieved sixth place in the constructors' championship.

Brabham may have been founded in 1960 by two Australians - driver Jack Brabham and designer Ron Tauranac - but the team have always been considered one of Britain's greatest. The Brabham team won four drivers' and two constructors' championships before collapsing in 1992. In all, they achieved 35 victories in 402 F1 races and will be remembered fondly for Nelson Piquet's 1982 World Championship, secured at the season-ending South African Grand Prix when he became the first driver to win the title with a turbo-powered car.

British Racing Motors were founded just after the Second World War and raced from 1950 to 1977, competing in 197 grands prix and winning 17. Although BRM won the 1962 constructors' title and world championship with Graham Hill, the team had a reputation as F1's nearly-men after finishing second in the constructors' championship in 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1971. BRM also had the distinction in 1965 of supplying the car which took Jackie Stewart to his first grand prix win, at Monza in the Scot's debut season.

Scuderia Ferrari are the team most synonymous with F1 and the team most likely to stir the emotions of teary-eyed old men - that's what 58 years, 776 races and 209 victories gets you. They are the oldest team left in the championship and statistically the most successful, with a record of 15 drivers' championships and 16 constructors' championships. In fact, Ferrari own nearly all significant records in the sport: most constructors' championships, most drivers' championships, most wins, most wins in a season, most podiums, most pole positions, most points, most fastest laps. Michael Schumacher also won five of his seven world titles sitting behind the prancing horse.

More than 10 years after their last race, Team Lotus remain one of the most successful squads of all time, winning seven constructors' titles and six drivers' championships. Colin Chapman's team dominated the sport in the 1960s and 1970s thanks to Jim Clark, Graham Hill and Emerson Fittipaldi. They also suffered the tragedy of Jochen Rindt's death at Monza on the way to the Austrian's posthumous drivers' title in 1970. The team also have the distinction of designing perhaps the most popular and iconic car in F1 history: the Lotus 72 (pictured) was an innovative, wedge-shaped car that caused a sensation amongst the media and fans for its remarkably advanced aerodynamics.

Founded in 1963 by New Zealander Bruce McLaren, the team of the same name are one of the most successful, having won over 160 races, 12 drivers' championships and eight constructors' championships. The Woking-based team were at their peak throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, following a merger with Ron Dennis's Formula Two team Project Four Racing in 1980. A revolutionary carbon-fibre chassis and a succession of strong drivers saw McLaren dominate the sport until the rise of the Renault-powered Williams in the Nineties. Recently, of course, a certain Lewis Hamilton has helped the team rise back to the top.

Another British racing institution, Tyrell, experienced their greatest success in the early Seventies when they won three drivers' championships and one constructors' championship with Jackie Stewart. However, the team never really recovered from the death of Stewart's skilful French protege François Cevert, who was killed in practice for the 1973 US Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, after which Stewart retired and Tyrrell immediately stood down. The 1990s saw a brief revival of fortunes, with Jean Alesi's full debut season in 1990 bringing Tyrell two second-places at Phoenix and Monaco, but the team slowly dropped back and was sold to British American Tobacco in 1998.

Founded in 1997 by Sir Frank Williams and Patrick Head, Williams are one of only three teams in F1, alongside Ferrari and McLaren, to win 100 races or more. The team's success in a short space of time has been phenomenal, with nine constructors' titles and seven drivers' titles secured between 1980 and 1997. Australia's Alan Jones, Finland's Keke Rosberg, Britons Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill, France's Alain Prost, Brazil's Nelson Piquet and Canada's Jacques Villeneuve all won the drivers' title with Williams.

Alex Sharratt / Eurosport

Comment 165 - 184 of 184

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  1. Maurichela this poll is about an individual team, and Ferrari will win and deserve to win outright. However in response to your bitter criticism of the achievements of the brits in your post if you actually look at the factual historical F1 records it reads simply, Britain 32 F1 constructor titles, Italy 16 F1 constructor titles, and historically Italy have fielded just as many teams as Britain so despite your rather dismissive comments and wishful thinking Im afraid the official record books contradict you badly. It is even more damning if you also look at the achievements of the british drivers especially when winning with their own british teams compared to the Italian drivers.

    So before the singular achievements of Ferrari go to your head don’t forget F1 is all flags and national anthems and since Ferrari are so fond of putting the Italian national flag on their car and even the overalls of all their foreign drivers I would humbly repeat my initial point, and also add that I do think that historically for a team to be able to constantly win with multiple engine partners shows a true technical/engineering prowess.

    Gbr 32, Italia 16. Who is the greatest F1 constructor? sometimes to get the correct answer you have to ask the correct question.

    From eddiehowitt, on Wed 14 Jan 10:21PM

  2. mauricechlela post 167 I can see you are a true ferrari fan rather than a fan of F1 the brits and their sh1tlist of constructors as you say actually own the italians with 32 F1 constructor titles to Italys 16 F1 constructor titles. hardly a shltlist.

    From eddiehowitt, on Wed 14 Jan 10:19PM

  3. Make this quick boys , we've been relegated to page three . Replaced by three stories on Mark Webbers crutches

    From slimj, on Wed 14 Jan 6:35PM

  4. I have to admit, of all the teams that are no longer in F1, Lotus is the one that I would like to see come back the most. I always liked their cars growing up.

    From Forza Ferrari, on Wed 14 Jan 6:25PM

  5. It's OK... the Ferrari drivers, engineers, mechanics, and most principals deserve respect. I am sure that there are some shady characters who have made some shady deals, but there's no reason to throw everyone else in the mix. I am also sure that all of the other teams have been guilty of irregularities at one time or another. Formula One is a business, a BIG business, and being nice does not usually get you anywhere. Let's not fool ourselves. Ferrari are probably not the only team to have bent the rules in one fashion or another.

    From Forza Ferrari, on Wed 14 Jan 6:24PM

  6. I was always a Lotus fan. You have to admit that Colin Chapman's innovation and Jim Clark's driving were something to behold. But although I hate to admit it for all the reasons everyone else has already mentioned, particularly what we perceive as the "unfair advantage" that they enjoy, but I'm afraid it has to be Ferrari. They are the only team to be in there from day 1. Darn. I hoped I'd never have to admit that.

    From Alan P, on Wed 14 Jan 6:13PM

  7. I'm with ya Forza, half Italian half Greek but All American Baby.............

    From mejask, on Wed 14 Jan 6:07PM

  8. Forza: ref.#177 i couldn't have said it any better.

    From slimj, on Wed 14 Jan 5:28PM

  9. Forza, unfortunately for a lot of people here it's all black or white ( or rather silver or red), your either with us or against us.
    Any attempt at objectivity is often seen as critisism.

    From Mike, on Wed 14 Jan 5:23PM

  10. eddiehowitt, I don't understand your point. I was being honest. I am a Formula One fan above all, and I would not be much of a Formula One fan if I did not recognize the British influence in the sport. Do you think that Ferrari would have won any titles with Schumacher if Ross Brawn had not been in charge?
    Regarding Ferrari's status, how can anyone possibly deny it? I don't necessarily condone everything that Ferrari has done or does, but their stature in this sport is undeniable.

    From Forza Ferrari, on Wed 14 Jan 5:04PM

  11. Well when williams was at its best it was powered by Renault and Mclaren was powered at first by Honda then by Mercedes. So even when there was little glory in ur so called british manufacturers the credits don't go to u.
    Ferrari are the best by a country mile. I mean take a look at the vote and u'll see that they have nearly 60% of the poll. but then all people voting don't know anything about F1 right? We should leave the knowledge to all the 1idiots on this blog

    From mauricechlela, on Wed 14 Jan 4:59PM

  12. Ah but look Forza the times are 11 minutes apart. Plenty of time to change your Identity :-)

    From Mike, on Wed 14 Jan 4:51PM

  13. Forza ferrari regarding post 168, can you not honestly not see that that is one of the most patronising and condescending and sheer arrogant statements that anybody could ever make. talk about believing the ferrari hype.

    If the brits, had also vainly put all their resources into a single constructor and not embraced individuality can you imagine ferraris place in the record books? your kidding yourself.

    From eddiehowitt, on Wed 14 Jan 4:46PM

  14. SlimJ: It is one of the great mysteries of life. Perhaps we should ask Jennstarf.

    From Forza Ferrari, on Wed 14 Jan 4:40PM

  15. Forza : how can you be half Spanish and half Italian if i'm not :)

    From slimj, on Wed 14 Jan 4:29PM

  16. Well, thats a well balanced and rational point of view Maurice, the real Tifosi must be so proud to be associated with you.

    From Mike, on Wed 14 Jan 4:28PM

  17. Forza, excellent point and I agree with you 100%...........

    From mejask, on Wed 14 Jan 4:16PM

  18. By the way, I forgot to add, I am not British. I am half Spanish and half Italian. However, I have great respect for the British when it comes to racing and Formula One in particular.

    From Forza Ferrari, on Wed 14 Jan 4:04PM

  19. Let's be fair here. Ferrari is by far the most popular and well-known team in Formula One. However, the British participation in Formula One is to be commended. Without British engineering, teams and drivers, there would be no Formula One.

    From Forza Ferrari, on Wed 14 Jan 4:02PM

  20. In order for this poll to be fair they should either combine all the other constructors against ferrari to have a match or give british passports to everyone that votes cause i don't see how anyone can vote other then ferrari in exception for the brits who will always support their sh1tlist of constructors

    From mauricechlela, on Wed 14 Jan 3:43PM
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