Ranked - Formula 1 top-10 driver debuts

Magnussen on the Australian GP podium in 2014 — Photo: © LAT Images

Formula 1

1 reactie

Ranked - Formula 1 top-10 driver debuts

A few on this list are sure to come as a surprise!

Sam Hall

Monday 5 April 2021 12:44

5. Reine Wisell - 1970 United States Grand Prix 1970

{inlineimage[https://sportsbase.io/images/gpfans/copy_620x348/d0b7f8b4b07d904cee06377f904e7586b0bbd344.jpg][][2]}

5. Reine Wisell - 1970 United States Grand Prix 1970

Swedish driver Wisell would only stand on the podium once in his 22-race career, which just happened to be his debut.

Article continues under video

Driving for Lotus alongside Emerson Fittipaldi and Graham Hill, Wisell climbed from ninth on the grid to third and was one of only three drivers to finish on the lead lap.

Given the race was contested over 108 laps at Watkins Glen, this achievement is worthy of note.

Wisell became a regular face on the grid over the following two years competing with Lotus and BRM but failed to scale the heights again of his opening race.

4. Lewis Hamilton - 2007 Australian Grand Prix

{inlineimage[https://sportsbase.io/images/gpfans/copy_620x348/a43be763c2d5aef4793633f7710a7ef97a59e873.jpg][][2]}

4. Lewis Hamilton - 2007 Australian Grand Prix

Hamilton arrived in F1 with a mountain of pressure upon him. He had been raised through the McLaren junior ranks from a young age and was successful at every level, including winning the 2006 GP2 title.

Pitted against Fernando Alonso, Hamilton demonstrated at the first corner of the season at Melbourne's Albert Park he had no intention of being a number two driver by driving around the outside of his two-time champion team-mate.

Alonso later benefitted from an advantageous pit strategy to move back ahead of Hamilton and finish second, relegating the Briton to third at his first attempt.

The intense rivalry that developed over the course of that year, however, cost both men dear as Kimi Raikkonen went on to steal the title by a single point.

3. Kevin Magnussen - 2014 Australian Grand Prix

{inlineimage[https://sportsbase.io/images/gpfans/copy_620x348/9c41719011f1c0cc5dc2c9bd7f92b5d89b2eb5d0.jpg][][2]}

3. Kevin Magnussen - 2014 Australian Grand Prix

Magnussen's career got off to a stunning start but second in Australia this year was as good as it would get for the Dane.

The then-McLaren driver had crossed the line third but was promoted to second after Daniel Ricciardo and Red Bull were disqualified for exceeding the maximum fuel limit.

Magnussen never again returned to the F1 podium and lost his drive with McLaren at the end of the season.

But the result remains McLaren's best since the introduction of the V6 turbo hybrid power units, with Carlos Sainz equalling it in last year's Italian Grand Prix.

2. Jacques Villeneuve - 1996 Australian Grand Prix

{inlineimage[https://sportsbase.io/images/gpfans/copy_620x348/52d30ebe24a7416a4fa711578d8922fe86ca89f8.jpg][][2]}

2. Jacques Villeneuve - 1996 Australian Grand Prix

Villeneuve came into F1 with a bang and, like Hamilton, was considered a title challenger from the start.

The Canadian could - and possibly should - have taken top spot on this list but an oil leak in the closing stages of the race in Melbourne saw Villeneuve concede the lead to team-mate and eventual world champion Damon Hill.

Despite finishing 38 seconds behind Hill, Villeneuve remained 20 seconds clear of the chasing pack.

In taking pole at the first attempt, the Canadian had laid down a marker as he went on to claim the world title one year later.

1. Giancarlo Baghetti - 1961 French Grand Prix

{inlineimage[https://sportsbase.io/images/gpfans/copy_620x348/0462fdac62b43e447fc48529a3599db257adbc8d.jpg][][2]}

1. Giancarlo Baghetti - 1961 French Grand Prix

Debuts do not come any better than this after Baghetti claimed victory for Ferrari at Reims. This would be the only triumph of the Italian's career.

Baghetti crossed the line just 0.1secs ahead of Dan Gurney in a Porsche, with the result made all the more astounding by the fact he started 12th on the grid.

Baghetti was the fourth Ferrari driver in the field, with Phil Hill, Wolfgang von Trips and Richie Ginther locking out the top three slots. Of the trio, only Hill reached the flag, finishing two laps down after spinning off the track and stalling.

Baghetti continued to compete sporadically in F1 until 1967, ending his career with a one-off appearance in a Lotus 49.