Longest win droughts by an F1 driver before clinching the title

Reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen is on a four-race winless streak, which is his longest drought for four years.

It began with the Austrian Grand Prix in June, where the Red Bull driver was leading with seven laps to go until his collision with Lando Norris dropped Verstappen to fifth.

The triple world champion then finished second at the following weekend’s British GP before fifth in Budapest, as Red Bull struggled to match the pace of Mercedes and McLaren.

Verstappen was quickest in qualifying for the Belgian GP though, but a 10-place grid penalty due to an engine change put him out of contention and he crossed the line in fifth – yet eventually finished fourth due to George Russell’s post-race disqualification.

He does still lead the championship by 78 points though, as he won seven of the opening 10 grands prix meaning Verstappen is on course for a fourth consecutive title despite Red Bull no longer holding such a pace advantage.

So, what are some of the longest winning droughts during a driver’s title-clinching year?

13 – Keke Rosberg (1982)

Keke Rosberg clinched the 1982 F1 world championship in peculiar fashion, as the then-Williams driver only won one grand prix that year. That made him just the second driver after Mike Hawthorn (1958) to clinch the title with only one race win, something nobody has since achieved.

Rosberg’s victory came at the season’s third-to-last round in Dijon, meaning he went the first 13 grands prix without a win. But he did claim five podiums and three other top five finishes during that time, so Rosberg was consistently at the front yet his championship fight largely came through circumstance.

That is because Ferrari’s Didier Pironi was leading the standings when he suffered a career-ending leg injury after crashing in qualifying at the Hockenheimring, which was that season’s 12th round. Rosberg was fifth in the championship, 16 points behind Pironi at the time of the crash, but four top-five finishes including three podiums and a victory in the final five grands prix meant he won his one and only title by five points.

Nelson Piquet, Brabham BT52B BMW

Photo by: Motorsport Images

11 – Nelson Piquet (1983)

Nelson Piquet has the second-longest win drought during a championship year, which coincidentally came the season after Rosberg’s crown. The then-Brabham driver started 1983…