Top 5 Worst Performing Brabham F1 drivers


Top 5 Worst Performing Brabham F1 drivers
By: Brian Cotnoir

Officially known as Motor Racing Developments, LTD. , this British Formula 1 team would be better known as the Brabham team and was founded in 1962 by Australian Formula 1 racing legend Jack Brabham and designer Ron Taurenac, and later would fall under the direction of a certain Bernie Eccelstone.  Throughout its 30 year history the Brabham F1 team would field some of the most dominant cars of the late 1960’s and throughout the 1980’s, winning 4 drivers titles and 2 constructors championships, but still there were a few drivers who drove for Brabham, especially towards the end that did not fall into the category of great Brabham drivers.

5.)  Jochen Rindt, 1 Season, 2 Podiums, 8 Total Points Scored, 10 Race Retirements

I believe this is the first time I’ve had a former World Champion on my Top 5 Worst Lists.  Before he was World Champion Jochen Rindt spent one season at the Brabham.  While at Brabham he finished on the podium twice with two 3rd place finishes, but those were the only 2 races he finished that season.   Rindt failed to finish 10-of-the-12 Grand Prix’s that season.


4.)  Stefano Modena, 2 Seasons, 6 Total Points Scored, 1 podium (3rd Monaco GP, 1989), 20 Race Retirements

Italian driver Stefano Modena suffered similar reliability issues in his 2 seasons with the Brabham F1 team.    Although he managed to score a 3rd place at the 1989 Monaco Grand Prix, Modena also failed to finish 20-of-the-32 Grand Prix’s he entered for the team.


3.)  Tim Schenken, 1 Season 5 Total Points Scored, 14th in Final Points 
Standings 1 Podium (3rd Austrian GP, 1971)
I never heard of Tim Schenken until I started researching this article.   He ran his only season with Brabham during the 1971 season.  After missing that year’s opening round at the South African Grand Prix, Schenken’s luck wouldn’t improve much.  His best finish that year was a 3rd place at the 1971 Austrian Grand Prix.  That would be the only Podium Finish of Schenken’s career.


2.)  Martin Brundle, 2 Seasons, 6 Total Points Scored, 3 DNQ’s

Martin Brundle makes another appearance on our Worst Performing Drivers Lists.  He ran two non-consecutive seasons with the team in 1989 and 1991.  During his two seasons at Brabham, Brundle scored 6 championship points, but failed to qualify for the three Grand Prix’s.  Fortunately, for Brundle and all of us he has gone on to become a successful F1 Commentator.  


1.)  Mark Blundell, 1 Season, 1 Point Scored, 2 DNQ’s

In what I’m certain was one of the most confusing teammate pairings in F1 History, Brabham’s penultimate season featured the teaming of Martin Brundle and Mark Blundell, which I’m sure the employees at Brabham must’ve got their names mixed up all the time.  Blundell’s only season at Brabham saw him only score one championship point and he failed two qualify for to Grand Prix’s.  



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Top 10 Most Iconic Paint Schemes in NASCAR Cup History

Top 10 Ugliest Paint Schemes in NASCAR History

Top 10 NASCAR drivers who never won a Cup Series Championship