Frequent flyers: The highest 10 workforce hoppers of the F1 fashionable period

In fashionable Method 1, continuity is taken into account the last word advantage. Drivers like Lewis Hamilton or Max Verstappen outline an period with a single workforce over years, generally over a decade. However behind the glamour of those long-term marriages hides a very totally different species of racing driver: the nomads.

Drivers whose careers learn like an prologued journey by way of the paddock and whose mailing addresses modified virtually as shortly as their units of tyres.

However who stayed the shortest in a single place? We now have undertaken a statistical evaluation to determine the drivers who modified groups most often in relation to their complete grand prix begins.

In fact, a line needs to be drawn someplace; in any other case, Jack Aitken would win by default, having averaged just one race per workforce – having solely pushed one single race in his total profession at Sakhir 2020 as a Williams stand-in.

For our rating, we have now due to this fact set the requirement {that a} driver should have switched groups not less than 3 times to really rely as a nomad. Moreover, the requirement was that they should have made not less than one begin on this millennium – as a result of Method 1 statistics develop into more and more diluted the additional again you go.

That is additionally what positioned our #1 on this checklist, as the motive force solely competed in two grands prix within the 2000s – all others have been previous to that.

Had we set the edge barely decrease, specifically at two switches, Sakon Yamamoto would have gained, having competed in 21 begins for 3 groups: Tremendous Aguri, Spyker, and HRT. This provides the Japanese driver a mean of solely seven races per workforce – precisely what number of he drove as a alternative for every of the three squads.

On this regard, the sheer variety of groups was really not the deciding issue and would solely have led to confusion, as the instance of Tenth-placed Heikki Kovalainen exhibits: Renault, McLaren, and Lotus are clear. After which?

Podium: second place Heikki Kovalainen, Renault

Photograph by: Motorsport Photographs

Caterham was formally a distinct workforce than Lotus, however the Finn did not need to go on the lookout for a brand new residence. And does his look for Lotus – the opposite Lotus, specifically Lotus Renault – in 2013 rely as a brand new workforce or nonetheless as Renault?

Due to this, we saved it easy: If a driver modified addresses, it counts as a brand new workforce, even when that they had been there as soon as earlier than.

To search out out who switched much more usually than Kovalainen, learn on right here.

The highest 10 nomads of recent F1

10. Heikki Kovalainen: 4 groups in 111 races

His profession started in 2007 at Renault because the successor to Fernando Alonso; a 12 months later, he changed the Spaniard as soon as once more, this time at McLaren. Driving alongside Lewis Hamilton, who grew to become world champion in 2008, he managed solely a single grand prix victory in Hungary. In 2010, the Finn discovered a brand new house on the newcomer Lotus however had no actual probability of scoring factors for 3 years. In 2013, he returned as soon as extra to Enstone, the place he crammed in for Kimi Raikkonen for 2 races at Lotus Renault (which was certainly a distinct workforce).

9. Heinz-Harald Frentzen: 6 groups in 156 races

The Mercedes junior entered F1 in 1994 with Sauber, the place he stayed for 3 years. In 1997, he moved to Williams, the place he grew to become world championship runner-up as Damon Hill’s successor. Nonetheless, the German was largely overshadowed there by Jacques Villeneuve and moved on to Jordan. He skilled his greatest years there and was a long-term contender within the 1999 title race. In 2001, nevertheless, he was fired in the course of the season and moved to Prost in an alternate with Jean Alesi, the place he drove for 5 races. His subsequent cease, Arrows, shut down in the course of the 2002 season earlier than the circle closed with a farewell season at Sauber.

8. Robert Kubica: 4 groups in 99 races

One wouldn’t have thought the Pole would seem right here after the primary years of his profession, as he remained loyal to BMW-Sauber for 3 and a half years after his 2006 debut. In 2010, he moved to Renault, the place he stayed for just one 12 months – although involuntarily. His horrific rally accident earlier than the 2011 season initially ended his F1 profession. Nonetheless, Kubica fought his manner again and accomplished a comeback season with Williams in 2018, which proved to be sobering in an underperforming automobile. In 2021, he additionally stepped in for Kimi Raikkonen at Alfa Romeo for 2 races.

Pedro Diniz, Forti Corse

Photograph by: Motorsport Photographs

7. Pedro Diniz: 4 groups in 98 races

The basic pay-driver of the 90s, who nonetheless carried out fairly respectably. Regardless of modest prior success, he was signed by Forti in 1995 as a result of he introduced some huge cash from Brazil. He was really supposed to remain there for 3 years, however Forti was a hapless case. Consequently, Diniz moved to Ligier after only one 12 months after which to Arrows a 12 months later, the place he managed to final two years. The Brazilian additionally stayed for 2 years at his ultimate cease, Sauber, earlier than his profession ended following a scoreless 2000 season.

6. Johnny Herbert: 7 groups in 160 races

Herbert additionally simply barely qualifies for this checklist resulting from his ultimate season in 2000. The Briton was dismissed by Flavio Briatore after just a few races at Benetton in 1989, had a quick stint at Tyrrell, and was then energetic for Lotus till 1994, earlier than finishing one begin for Ligier. After returning to Benetton alongside Michael Schumacher, he moved through Sauber to Stewart, the place he took a shock victory on the Nurburgring in 1999. Jaguar purchased the workforce, however after the 2000 season, Herbert’s time in Method 1 was over.

5. Pedro de la Rosa: 5 groups in 104 races

After stints at Arrows and Jaguar, driving two seasons for every, he signed as a check driver for McLaren, the place he changed Juan Pablo Montoya, first quickly after which completely on the finish of 2006. This was the Spaniard’s most profitable interval in F1. De la Rosa moved again into the second tier to make manner for Lewis Hamilton, however acquired an surprising comeback probability at Sauber in 2010. He drove his ultimate season in 2012 for the hopelessly outclassed backmarker workforce HRT.

4. Vitantonio Liuzzi: 4 groups in 80 races

Initially, he was imagined to share a cockpit with Christian Klien throughout Pink Bull’s 2005 entry, however Liuzzi solely received 4 races and have become one of many drivers for Pink Bull’s new second workforce, Toro Rosso, the next 12 months. After being outperformed there by Sebastian Vettel, he joined Drive India as a check driver. In mid-2009, he changed Giancarlo Fisichella, who had moved to Ferrari as Felipe Massa’s alternative, and remained on board by way of 2010. In 2011, there was one ultimate, unsuccessful swan music season with backmarker HRT.

3. Mika Salo: 7 groups in 109 races

After two races for Lotus on the finish of 1994, the Finn really appeared secure. Three years at Tyrrell was an enormously very long time for a driver within the 90s, however after that, Salo grew to become the king of team-switching. He first went to Arrows for one season earlier than 1999 grew to become his main 12 months. That season, he grew to become the last word “super-sub” for 2 groups: first changing Ricardo Zonta at BAR for 3 races, after which Michael Schumacher at Ferrari – he famously handed a victory in Hockenheim over to team-mate Eddie Irvine. Salo then discovered a seat at Sauber and helped Toyota enter F1 in 2002.

2. Jos Verstappen: 7 groups in 106 races

The Dutchman was handed across the midfield within the 90s. With Benetton, Simtek, Footwork, Tyrrell and Stewart, he drove for 5 groups in 5 years between 1994 and 1998. In 1999, he additionally practically grew to become the alternative at Jordan for Damon Hill, who needed to give up spontaneously. Arrows is the one workforce the place Verstappen stayed for greater than a 12 months, however with solely three points-scoring finishes in two years, success remained elusive. After a scoreless 2003 season with Minardi, he bid farewell to F1.

1. Luca Badoer: 5 groups in 50 races

The Italian nonetheless holds the document for probably the most world championship begins with out ever scoring a degree. With Scuderia Italia (1993), Minardi (1995), Forti (1996), and Minardi once more (1999), the equipment was just too poor – although it virtually labored out on the Nurburgring in 1999. Within the present millennium, Badoer drove solely two races: in 2009 as a alternative for the injured Felipe Massa. Ferrari rewarded him on the time for his lengthy years of service as a check driver, however the comeback become a catastrophe, and Badoer was taken out of the automobile after solely two races.

Luca Badoer, Minardi M01 Ford