close global

Welcome to GPFans

CHOOSE YOUR COUNTRY

  • NL
  • GB
  • GB

Are you a F1 Fan? Follow GP Fans

Edition

NL GB IT ES-MX US

Was this Formula 1's greatest drive?

Photo: © LAT Images

Was this Formula 1's greatest drive?

No-one has ever claimed an F1 victory from so far back

Google Make us your Google favorite

Long Beach 1983. McLaren started the race with John Watson 22nd on the grid and Niki Lauda 23rd. The team finished it with a one-two result, a comeback that has never been bettered.

The 1983 United States Grand Prix West saw the biggest comeback ever witnessed in a race.

McLaren had been struggling to find a tyre and chassis combination they could make work, and the results of these struggles were clear for all to see during qualifying.

In the season-opening race, Lauda had finished third, with Watson retiring. The second round of the season, though, was proving to be much more difficult for the McLaren MP4/1.

In Detroit the previous year, Watson had staged an equally memorable comeback from 17th to take the win, so McLaren opted to use the same tyre compound again, hoping lightning would strike twice.

Related image
Related image

Lauda had been closing on his team-mate but worsening cramp in his right leg prevented him from mounting a challenge against Watson.

The win was the fifth and final victory in Watson's F1 career, coming in what would also prove to be his final full season of grand prix racing.

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

F1 star predicts stunning Aston Martin turnaround after 2026 disaster: 'They will win grands prix'

F1 star predicts stunning Aston Martin turnaround after 2026 disaster: 'They will win grands prix'

  • 33 minutes ago
Carlos Sainz to Red Bull analysed as top F1 insider joins the silly season dots

Carlos Sainz to Red Bull analysed as top F1 insider joins the silly season dots

  • 1 hour ago
'What a horror!' - Pictures of new F1 track emerge and fans are not impressed

'What a horror!' - Pictures of new F1 track emerge and fans are not impressed

  • 2 hours ago
Mercedes star George Russell opens up on brutal F1 disqualification

Mercedes star George Russell opens up on brutal F1 disqualification

  • 3 hours ago
Lewis Hamilton hits gold with $9bn valuation as team boss triggers record sale: F1 News Recap

Lewis Hamilton hits gold with $9bn valuation as team boss triggers record sale: F1 News Recap

  • Today 16:00
McLaren F1 chief Zak Brown suffers agonising DNF at iconic race track

McLaren F1 chief Zak Brown suffers agonising DNF at iconic race track

  • Today 15:30

Just in

20:45
F1 star predicts stunning Aston Martin turnaround after 2026 disaster: 'They will win grands prix'
19:45
Carlos Sainz to Red Bull analysed as top F1 insider joins the silly season dots
18:45
'What a horror!' - Pictures of new F1 track emerge and fans are not impressed
17:30
Mercedes star George Russell opens up on brutal F1 disqualification
16:00
Lewis Hamilton hits gold with $9bn valuation as team boss triggers record sale: F1 News Recap
F1 news

Recommended by the editors

'What a horror!' - Pictures of new F1 track emerge and fans are not impressed Spanish Grand Prix

'What a horror!' - Pictures of new F1 track emerge and fans are not impressed

2 hours ago
Mercedes star George Russell opens up on brutal F1 disqualification F1 News & Gossip

Mercedes star George Russell opens up on brutal F1 disqualification

3 hours ago
McLaren F1 chief Zak Brown suffers agonising DNF at iconic race track McLaren

McLaren F1 chief Zak Brown suffers agonising DNF at iconic race track

Today 15:30
F1 Dutch Grand Prix schedule, start times and how to watch live F1 Dutch Grand Prix

F1 Dutch Grand Prix schedule, start times and how to watch live

Today 14:00
Ontdek het op Google Play
x