Brabham’s final Formula 1 start came in the 1992 Hungarian Grand Prix, when Damon Hill scraped onto the 13th and final row before finishing 11th and last, four laps down. It was an ignominious way for such a great team to bow out, but its part in F1 history remains.
Between 1962 and 1992, Brabham scored two constructors’ crowns and four drivers’ titles. Its 35 victories put it eighth on the all-time wins list, having only recently been surpassed by Renault/Alpine.
For this top 10, we considered the amount of success the drivers scored with Brabham, the impact they had on the team and the circumstances of their time there. We didn’t include their achievements at other teams.
10. Carlos Pace
Pace flew to fourth in the 1976 German GP. Brabham boss Ecclestone was convinced his charge was the team’s future until his untimely death
Photo by: Rainer W. Schlegelmilch / Motorsport Images
Brabham years: 1974-77
Brabham starts: 39
Brabham wins: 1
Brabham poles: 1
After showing promise at Surtees, Pace joined Carlos Reutemann at Brabham during 1974.
The Brazilian demonstrated his talents early in 1975 with Gordon Murray’s iconic BT44B, winning his home race in round two and taking pole next time out in South Africa. A lack of development hurt Brabham as the season progressed, but Pace still finished a solid sixth – with Reutemann third – in the final standings.
As Reutemann started to lose interest in the Alfa Romeo-powered BT45, Pace picked up the cudgels in 1976. Reliability was poor, but Pace’s attitude pleased the team and boss Bernie Ecclestone was convinced he was a future great.
The revised BT45B would prove to be more competitive in 1977 and Pace finished second in the Argentinian GP season opener, but he would not live to fulfil his potential. Pace was killed in a light aircraft crash in Brazil that March.
“If Pace had lived, I would not have needed Niki Lauda,” said Ecclestone in Alan Henry’s book Brabham: The Grand Prix Cars.
9. John Watson
Bad luck cost Watson, pictured with designer Gordon Murray, several grand prix victories with Brabham
Photo by: Rainer W. Schlegelmilch / Motorsport Images
Brabham years: 1973-74, 1977-78
Brabham starts: 50
Brabham wins: 0
Brabham poles: 1
Quite how Watson didn’t take a victory for Brabham is bewildering and his stats do not do justice to his time there. Watson contested his first world championship GP and first full F1 campaign in privateer Brabham machinery, but it’s his period…
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