Closest ever F1 season for constructors?

[Earnard Beccelstone]

I was wondering what season fellow F1Technical members thought was the closest in terms of the pace of the field in general?

When was the last time that any of four or more constructors could consistently score wins and possbily the constructors championship?

Usually, one or two teams dominate a season, sometimes with a third team close in tow. Then there's daylight to the midfield runners and a huge gap to the rear of the field.

The technical freezes of 2009-2013, tightened the field tightened up in terms of pace differential, but generally speaking, it was RedBull and one other team that scored the majority of points. The last time I can think of when there were four teams that consistently scored wins and podiums was 1997 (Williams, Benetton, Ferrari and McLaren all within ).

[Roland Ehnström]

The technical freezes of 2009-2013, tightened the field tightened up in terms of pace differential, but generally speaking, it was RedBull and one other team that scored the majority of points. The last time I can think of when there were four teams that consistently scored wins and podiums was 1997 (Williams, Benetton, Ferrari and McLaren all within ).

In 2012, the first five races were won by different teams, and the first seven races were won by different drivers. In total, six different teams (Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, Lotus, Mercedes and Williams), and eight different drivers (Vettel, Alonso, Räikkönen, Hamilton, Button, Webber, Rosberg and Maldonado) won at least one race. In addition to this, there were often more than 10 cars within one second in qualifying. In the end Vettel won the championship, but only by a margin of three points over Alonso.

WINS

2012:
Red Bull: 7
McLaren: 7
Ferrari: 3
Lotus: 1
Mercedes: 1
Williams: 1

1997:
Williams: 8
Ferrari: 5
McLaren: 3
Benetton: 1

PODIUMS

2012:
Ferrari: 15
Red Bull: 14
McLaren: 13
Lotus: 10
Sauber: 4
Mercedes: 3
Williams: 1

1997:
Williams: 15
Ferrari: 13
Benetton: 8
McLaren: 7
Jordan: 3
Prost: 2
Sauber: 1
Arrows: 1
Stewart: 1

[Roland Ehnström]

The absolute closest season ever might however have been 1964: In a 10-race season, Ferrari and Lotus each won three races, while BRM and Brabham won two each. John Surtees won the championship for Ferrari, one point ahead of Graham Hill (BRM), but only after Jim Clark (Lotus) had an engine failure on the penaultimate lap of the final race, when cruising towards the win and the championship title.

[Roland Ehnström]

1982 was also a bit special: 11 drivers won at least one race, and no driver won more than two races all season (Keke Rosberg won the championship with a total of one race win - in round 14 of 16). However, part of the reason for this was the unreliability of the new turbo engines.

[SamH123]

I think 2008 was the last time the WCC came down to the last race

[adrianjordan]

1982 was also a bit special: 11 drivers won at least one race, and no driver won more than two races all season (Keke Rosberg won the championship with a total of one race win - in round 14 of 16). However, part of the reason for this was the unreliability of the new turbo engines.

That last part sounds almost prophetic....

[Miguel]

1982 was also a bit special: 11 drivers won at least one race, and no driver won more than two races all season (Keke Rosberg won the championship with a total of one race win - in round 14 of 16). However, part of the reason for this was the unreliability of the new turbo engines.

That last part sounds almost prophetic....

Let's hope not. While the Ferrari was perhaps the car to be in 1982, their lead driver was killed in an accident in Belgium and their other main driver ended his career in yet another crash in the Canadian GP.

[Bazza]

Usually, one or two teams dominate a season, sometimes with a third team close in tow. Then there's daylight to the midfield runners and a huge gap to the rear of the field.

The technical freezes of 2009-2013, tightened the field tightened up in terms of pace differential, but generally speaking, it was RedBull and one other team that scored the majority of points. The last time I can think of when there were four teams that consistently scored wins and podiums was 1997 (Williams, Benetton, Ferrari and McLaren all within ).

Yep, you're basically correct.

2009 - Red Bull and Brawn fighting for the championship
2010 - Red Bull and Ferrari fighting for the championship
2011 - Red Bull fighting for the championship
2012 - Red Bull and Ferrari fighting for the championship, McLaren stealing some race wins but too unreliably to be a contender
2013 - Red Bull fighting for the championship, Lotus stealing some points but too late to do anything about the RB9

Basically, from 09-13 we got 2 extremely bad, boring championships (11 and 13), 2 OK ones that were won by having the best car for most of the season (09 and 12), and a decent one where both manufacturers and 3 drivers were in with a shot the majority of the time (10).

Possibly there may have been 3-4 teams in 05-07 (???), Renault, Ferrari and McLaren at least, maybe BMW (perhaps too early for them), Red Bull hadn't made it out of the midfield yet...


Breaking out of the midfield this year and into serious championship contention (defined by a predicted lack of surprise if/when they manage 3 wins in a row), we've definitely got Mercedes, Ferrari is a chance, Williams too (though I would be a tiny bit surprised were they to manage 3 wins in a row). Nobody knows what exactly to expect from Sauber or McLaren, and to a lesser degree Force India (they could still throw a curveball and be very fast at the older European circuits). The Renault cars, especially Red Bull, are expected to be fast, but there's a massive question mark above their heads in terms of reliability and long-term performance.