Formula 1 Racing

F1 drivers with the most grand prix starts before victory

Sergio Perez, Racing Point, 1st position, on the podium with a Mexican flag

Lando Norris finally became an F1 race winner after taking a long-awaited victory at the 2024 Miami Grand Prix. 

The win came during Norris’ sixth year in the series after being one of F1’s highest-rated drivers for several seasons and coming close to victory numerous times. 

So when Norris finally made that trip to the top step of the podium, it meant he entered the top 10 for the most grand prix starts before a driver’s maiden victory in F1. 

Where does Norris rank as a result and who else is on that list? 

Sergio Perez, Racing Point, 1st position, on the podium with a Mexican flag

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

  • Grand prix starts before first win: 190 

  • First win: 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix 

  • Years in F1: 2011 – present  

  • Career wins: 6 

  • Career starts: 263 

  • Championships: 0 

Sergio Perez claimed a shock victory at the 2020 Sakhir GP for his maiden win. That was despite the then-Racing Point driver running last on lap one after being hit by Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari at Turn 4 while battling for third.  
Perez was back inside the points on lap 20 before a very brief lap 55 virtual safety car left him fighting for a podium, as he didn’t pit whereas others did. He then claimed the lead on lap 64 after a botched double pitstop by Mercedes, who illegally fitted George Russell’s car with Valtteri Bottas’ front-tyres forcing the Briton to pit again, while his team-mate had a 27.4 seconds stop as the team struggled to fit his front-left compound.   

It meant Perez finally won a grand prix at his 190th attempt, which set a record for the longest wait as his whole career up to then had been spent in midfield machinery. Since, however, the floodgates have pretty much opened as Perez moved to Red Bull in 2021 where he has won five grands prix. 

Carlos Sainz, Ferrari, 1st position

Carlos Sainz, Ferrari, 1st position

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

  • Grand prix starts before first win: 150 

  • First win: 2022 British Grand Prix 

  • Years in F1: 2015 – present 

  • Career wins: 3 

  • Career starts: 188 

  • Championships: 0 

Just like Perez, Sainz spent many seasons in the midfield before driving at the front as it took five years for his first podium at the 2019 Brazilian GP for McLaren. Sainz then had a golden opportunity to win the 2020 Italian GP when he staged a late charge on Pierre Gasly, but ultimately finished half a second behind the Frenchman.  
His move to Ferrari in 2021 brought…

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