A Statistical Look At The History Of F1 – The Constructors

There are many components that go into making the sport of Formula 1 such a special one. The tracks, the drivers, the cars and the teams who design, manufacture and maintain them are all every bit as crucial as each other, and together they combine to create the overall finished article. Fans will tend towards following a particular driver, or will put their weight behind a constructor, no matter who happens to be behind the wheel that particular season.

Famous names have come and gone, many having their time in the spotlight when they were on top of the pile, only to be caught, overtaken and even all but forgotten. That should be a lesson for every manufacturer, never to take anything for granted, and to adapt and evolve to the changing world. Red Bull may be relatively new kids on the block when it comes to constructors, but they have redefined how teams interact with their fans, which in turn has brought in a whole new raft of F1 fanatics. 

In this article we will look at the history of the sport, purely through the lens of the constructors, to see who has achieved what and how often.*

Races Driven

The fact Ferrari have been in the spotlight continuously since 1950, means the Italian thoroughbred tops the table of most races competed in. Newer F1 fans may be surprised by some of the other manufacturers occupying the top ten, however, and that is just one more indication both the rich history of Formula One and also the changing landscape of it; and not merely when it comes to the circuits. 

Races Won

The more races you start the more you are likely to win, so unsurprisingly, the most successful teams in terms of victories reflects the table for races driven, with some interesting differences. We see that Mercedes, who didn’t ever make the top 10 in terms of races entered, pull into third place when it comes to races won. Red Bull, in their relatively short career as F1 constructors, have tallied up an incredible record of wins that brings them into fifth place on this chart.

To take away the advantage given to those teams who have competed in more races, we can make a table of most successful constructors in terms of the winning percentage of races started. This gives a different story entirely.

Brawn’s incredible 8 wins from just 17 GPs is enough to top the table. It is an achievement that is unlikely to be bettered, and one that has earned them their very own documentary. Mercedes’ 125 wins from 270 races is perhaps even more remarkable.

Number of Constructors’ Championships

The history of F1 has seen a glittering array of constructors

Number of Drivers’ Championships

Most Races without a Podium Finish

There is another side of the coin of course. Bearing in mind just how expensive it is to build an F1 car, never mind get it race-ready, and to transport the entire team around the world for what amounts to almost a year with all the other myriad of costs, every team should be congratulated for contributing to the rich tapestry of the sport. There are those who have gone through all the pain, all the expense with very little to show for it.

*All statistics accurate as of 14/11/2022