- 30 Sep 11, 15:43#277980
* Ask Steven
One record Schumacher doesn't hold ...
Steven Lynch September 30, 2011
Q- I spotted that Juan Manuel Fangio finished in the points in an awfully large percentage of his races - something like 40 out of 52. Is this a record? asked Gerry Field
A- The great Juan Manuel Fangio actually collected points in 43 of his 52 GPs, or 82.7%. That is indeed a record for anyone taking part in more than seven races (Fangio's contemporary Luigi Fagioli scored points in six of his seven GPs, or 85.7%). Fangio was helped a little by the rules as they stood in his day, which allowed a senior driver to take over another car if his was forced to retire, but nonetheless his record is remarkable. In second place overall is Lewis Hamilton, who has finished in the points in exactly three-quarters (75%) of his races - 63 out of 84. He's just ahead of Michael Schumacher, with 74.5% (210 points finishes out of 282). These two, of course, benefit from the modern system which awards points down to tenth place - in Fangio's day it was sixth....
This article fails to note the great Fangio also won 24 of those 52 GPs, or 46%, a record that is unlikely ever to be approached, much less bested. Schumacher's victory rate, in comparison, had dwindled to 34% at the end of the 2010 season.
One record Schumacher doesn't hold ...
Steven Lynch September 30, 2011
Q- I spotted that Juan Manuel Fangio finished in the points in an awfully large percentage of his races - something like 40 out of 52. Is this a record? asked Gerry Field
A- The great Juan Manuel Fangio actually collected points in 43 of his 52 GPs, or 82.7%. That is indeed a record for anyone taking part in more than seven races (Fangio's contemporary Luigi Fagioli scored points in six of his seven GPs, or 85.7%). Fangio was helped a little by the rules as they stood in his day, which allowed a senior driver to take over another car if his was forced to retire, but nonetheless his record is remarkable. In second place overall is Lewis Hamilton, who has finished in the points in exactly three-quarters (75%) of his races - 63 out of 84. He's just ahead of Michael Schumacher, with 74.5% (210 points finishes out of 282). These two, of course, benefit from the modern system which awards points down to tenth place - in Fangio's day it was sixth....
This article fails to note the great Fangio also won 24 of those 52 GPs, or 46%, a record that is unlikely ever to be approached, much less bested. Schumacher's victory rate, in comparison, had dwindled to 34% at the end of the 2010 season.
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