France versus Italy – a Formula One showdown (sort of)……

Like many sports Formula One can provide an every lasting supply of statistics. As I reflected on the success of Pierre Gasly winning the Italian Grand Prix, becoming the first French race winner since Olivier Panis in 1996, I remembered that there were a large number of French drivers on the grid in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.

In this period of racing Alain Prost claimed a couple of drivers titles (1989 and 1993) and as I began to check how accurate my memory was, I very quickly realised that Italy also provided an even larger number of drivers in the same sort of period of time.

Between 1988 and 1993 (chosen only because its probably my favourite period of Formula One) there were an average of almost 6 French drivers and over 12 Italian drivers entered in the drivers championship per season, 14 Italians in the 1989, 1990 and 1992 seasons! Whilst Mr Prost claimed two of the drivers titles no Italian did the same – in fact the last Italian to win the drivers crown was Alberto Ascari, the 1952 and 1953 champion.

The more I looked into the drivers from these two countries the more I realised that whilst their numbers were greater than any other countries over this six year period, their overall success was limited – especially if you take Alain Prost and Riccardo Patrese out of the mix.

Of course the reasons behind their relative lack of points being scored is no reflection of ability (or lack there of) and much more a reflection of both the very small number of teams and drivers who were at the sharp end of the grid. Jean Alesi made an impressive debut season and a half for Tyrrell, but joining Ferrari at a time when the team was in decline had a massive impact on his chances of winning races.

The same could be said of Stefano Modena; whilst he might on occasion not have maximised his opportunities being equipped by a Yamaha engine Jordan or Eurobrun was never going to thrust him into title chasing contention.

Delving deeper into the stats from this period it was Brazil who supplied the most world championships (3, Ayrton Senna) and overall points scored courtesy of Senna, Piquet and Gugelmin. British drivers also outscored their French and Italian rivals courtesy of Mansell, Brundle, Warwick , Herbert, Blundell, Hill, Irvine and Bailey…….but of course stats are only one way of looking at the sport, and seem a long way away from the assault of the senses that racing then, and now, delivers.

Back to last weekends race and the circuit at Monza is still an out and out speed fest. Modern cars appear to be stuck to the track, but the Italian Grand Prix has seen so many significant battles on track over the years.

In the 1988 season, when the McLaren-Hondas of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost blew the opposition away, Senna tripping over the Williams of Schlesser allowed the Ferrari’s to claim an emotional one-two only a week after the team had lost their founder Enzo Ferrari.

1990 saw for a few laps at least Jean Alesi perform racing miracles in the Tyrrell somehow competing with the far more powerful McLarens, Ferraris and Williams cars, whilst 1991 saw newcomer Michael Schumacher outperform his 3 time world champion team mate Nelson Piquet on his debut for the Benetton team.

The 1993 race was won by Damon Hill, his third race win in a row, in a race in which only the first two drivers finished on the lead lap! Driver of the day should have been awarded to Luca Badoer who somehow got his Lola-Ferrari to the flag only 2 laps down on Damon and the incredible Williams-Renault FW15C, although even Luca was beaten by a pair of Minardi’s which had famously made contact on the run to the line.

Fittipaldi in the second of the cars flipped over and landed on the two or so wheels left on the car!!! I’m sure you have seen the footage on Youtube, but if not its well worth a watch.

France and Italy may well of supplied a large number of racing drivers back in this period of the sport, but as it almost always the case it only takes two cars / drivers to make a race, even if its two Minardi’s on the last lap of the race!