Which Formula 1 season is still the most boring? Choose from 11 candidates

Which Formula 1 season is still the most boring? Choose from 11 candidates

November 23, 2023, 14:30 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.

Of course, 2023 is among the contenders.

The Formula 1 season is reaching its logical conclusion and almost no one will miss it; It turned out, to put it mildly, not very interesting. The nature of last season prompted us to compile a list of the most boring seasons of Royal Races, but it’s up to you to put them in their place.

For the sake of objectivity of voting, we will consider only the seasons that took place during the era of Formula 1 broadcasts on national television, that is, since 1992. Therefore, there is a higher probability that you yourself have followed and do not know it from the materials and videos. Go!

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The worst Formula 1 season since 1992?

Photo: Pascal Rondeau/Getty Images

1992 season

The 1992 championship was of particular importance for two countries: Russia and Great Britain. We officially launched the Formula 1 broadcasts and at Foggy Albion we celebrated the triumph of local favorite Nigel Mansell: after 16 years, the British driver once again stood out in the Royal Races.

For the rest of the world, the 1992 season was a very disappointing spectacle. Adrian Newey built one of the most dominant cars in the history of the FW14 championship for Williams: there is no chance for his rivals. In his first 10 Grands Prix (of 16), Mansell took eight victories. At the end of the championship, Nigel was ahead of runner-up and teammate Riccardo Patrese by 52 points; In terms of percentage points scored, this is the largest gap in F1 history between the champion and the driver who came in second place. .

Moments that brightened the season: Benetton’s future development as champion, in particular Schumacher’s first victory. A relatively lively championship finish: five different winners in the last five races.

Photo: Getty Images

2002 season

There are many parallels between the current season and the 2002 championship. Michael Schumacher had one of the most dominant seasons in F1 history. Yes, the Red Baron did not always emerge victorious in the standings, but as soon as he started the race, Michael did not leave his opponents a single chance. Hard numbers: Schumacher took the title six races before the end of the season (in July!) and also finished on the podium in each of the 17 races; Not even Verstappen could achieve 100% of his top three results this year. .

The impression of the 2002 season was also ruined by the scandalous Austrian Grand Prix, in which Barrichello was literally forced to give the victory to Schumacher, although there was no special need from a tournament point of view.

Moments that brightened the season: Räikkönen’s first season with a top-level team. A colorful finish for two Ferraris in Indianapolis: Barrichello won the race, 11 thousandths ahead of his teammate.

Photo: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

2004 season

In 2003, formula fans took a break from Ferrari’s dominance and witnessed a championship battle involving representatives from three different teams. In the end, Schumacher won again, but this time at least in a fierce fight.

Unfortunately for neutral viewers, Ferrari returned to its monstrous form the following season. Schumacher won 13 races out of a possible 18 (the third result in history in terms of winning percentage in a season) and Barrichello easily became runner-up. The Scuderia only lost three races that season.

Moments that brightened the season: the rise of BAR and the rapid progress of Renault. The debut of relatively successful songs in Bahrain and China.

Photo: Clive Mason/Getty Images

2011 season

Perhaps this has been Vettel’s most boring title: in only two races out of 19, Sebastian did not get on the podium. Seb’s easy path to his second championship was a consequence of Red Bull’s technical superiority over its rivals: the Bulls drivers only lost one qualifying match during the season. In general, there are no chances for competitors.

Moments that brightened the season: the classic Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix, as well as event races at the Hungaroring and Silverstone. For us, a significant moment was the first Russian podium in F1: Vitaly Petrov finished third in Australia.

Photo: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

2015 season

The 2015 championship seemed to be the worst version of last season: Mercedes’ dominance had not disappeared, but the championship race had to be forgotten; This time Rosberg did not prolong the battle with Hamilton. The 2015 season was one-sided, both in the team and individual competition.

Moments that brightened the season: Vettel’s relatively encouraging debut at Ferrari (victory in the second Grand Prix). A mega-event race at the Hungaroring, as a result of which Kvyat stood on the podium for the first time in F1. Well, the debut of a Russian in a top-level team is an important event.

Photo: Peter Fox/Getty Images

2020 season

For three years (from 2017 to 2019) in the championship there were some signs that Mercedes was fighting with other teams (mainly Ferrari), and in 2020 the “silver arrows” dominated more than ever: 13 victories out of a possible 17.

The already boring season was made even more boring by the lack of intra-team battles at Mercedes. Bottas did not even indicate his intentions to compete for the championship: an easy path for Hamilton to a seventh title.

Moments that brightened the season: Sensational victories for Gasly and Pérez. The return of the Nürburgring, Istanbul Park and the Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit to the F1 calendar.

Photo: Pascal Rondeau/Getty Images

1993 season

Once again the championship was dominated by Williams: this time Alain Prost took the title. Neither McLaren nor Benetton managed to impose competition on the blue and white: Ron Dennis’ team was in its first season after separating from Honda, and Flavio Briatore’s team was just preparing to become a top team. At the end of the championship, Williams scored twice as many points as his closest Woking competitors.

Moments that brightened the season: Great victory for Senna in the rainy Donington. The last round (although not very colorful) of the confrontation between Senna and Prost.

Photo: Ben Radford/Getty Images

1996 season

For two years, Williams struggled unsuccessfully with Benetton and in 1996 again found himself out of reach of his rivals. Throughout the entire season, Grove’s team only lost four times. The only intrigue of the championship was the intra-team fight between Hill and Villeneuve.

Moments that brightened the season: the absolutely crazy Monaco Grand Prix, which ended with a sensational victory for Panis. Schumacher’s debut triumph at the wheel of a Ferrari in a rainy Catalonia. Impressive debut for Villeneuve: he almost took the title on his first attempt.

Photo: Clive Mason/Getty Images

2001 season

In 2000, Schumacher finally beat Hakkinen to win Ferrari’s first drivers’ title in 21 years. Unfortunately, the continuation of the iconic duel did not work out: McLaren could not respond adequately to the Scuderia and Hakkinen suffered various types of problems throughout the season, even losing to his teammate Coulthard. In general, the 2001 season became a kind of preparation for the public for the era of Ferrari dominance.

Moments that brightened the season: Montoya’s colorful debut, especially his battles with Michael Schumacher. And Michael’s victory in Malaysia after making his way from the back of the pack.

Photo: Clive Mason/Getty Images

2014 season

The beginning of the hybrid era became a total disappointment for viewers. Mercedes was the best prepared for the new era, all the better because the next three years will be marked by the ruthless dominance of the German team.

In 2014 (as in the following two years), on the eve of almost every race, all the intrigue boiled down to who the Mercedes driver would win: Hamilton or Rosberg. That season, the “silver arrows” suffered only one defeat in qualifying and three in the race.

Moments that brightened the season: Battle within the team between Hamilton and Rosberg. The appearance of a new star (as it seemed then) of Formula 1, Daniel Ricciardo. For the national public: the debut of the Russian Grand Prix.

Photo: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

2023 season

20 of 21 Grand Prix were won by a single team: this is the death knell for the season. This year, it’s not that the intrigue has died at some point: it just wasn’t born. At the beginning of the season we realized that only one person is capable of winning this year: Max Verstappen. The Singapore Grand Prix and the generally interesting fight for the title of the second force in the peloton do not help save a terribly boring season.

Moments that brightened the season: We will talk about this in more detail in a separate article…

Here is a list of the best seasons of the 21st century:

Survey

The 7 coolest Formula 1 seasons of the 21st century. Are you still sure that 2021 is the best?