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Who would be the drivers' champion if every F1 season had 10 races?

Published on 26 Jun 2020 09:04
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By: Fergal Walsh

Earlier this week, Daniel Ricciardo stated that the world championship in 2020 would be “legit” if there were 10 or more races.

With eight races pinned down, the coronavirus pandemic has created many unknowns, however more races are expected to be added to the schedule.

But what if every F1 season had just 10 races? How different would F1 history be discussed, and how would drivers stack up over the test of time?

Below, we've gone through the process of outlining each champion if the season had just 10 races, decade-by-decade.

1950s/1960s

In the early years of F1, the calendar was nowhere near as large as it is now. 1958 was the first season to feature more than 10 races, however it was not done again until 1967. In those years, no championship would have ended differently.

Year	Actual champion	Champion after 10 races
1958	Mike Hawthorn	Mike Hawthorn
1959	Jack Brabham	(Only 9 races)
1960	Jack Brabham	(Exactly 10 races)
1961	Phil Hill	(Only 8 races)
1962	Graham Hill	(Only 9 races)
1963	Jim Clark	(Exactly 10 races)
1964	John Surtees	(Exactly 10 races)
1965	Jim Clark	(Exactly 10 races)
1966	Jack Brabham	(Only 9 races)
1967	Denny Hulme	Denny Hulme
1968	Graham Hill	Graham Hill
1969	Jackie Stewart	Jackie Stewart

1970s

Although Niki Lauda was recognised as one of the best drivers of this decade, his reputation could have been boosted further if there were only 10 races a year. From 1974 to 1977, he would have emerged as a four-time champion, while Emerson Fittipaldi would miss out on one title.

Year	Actual champion	Champion after 10 races
1970	Jochen Rindt	Jochen Rindt
1971	Jackie Stewart	Jackie Stewart (2)
1972	Emerson Fittipaldi	Emerson Fittipaldi
1973	Jackie Stewart	Jackie Stewart (3)
1974	Emerson Fittipaldi	Niki Lauda
1975	Niki Lauda	Niki Lauda (2)
1976	James Hunt	Niki Lauda (3)
1977	Niki Lauda	Niki Lauda (4)
1978	Mario Andretti	Mario Andretti
1979	Jody Scheckter	Jody Scheckter

1980s

The 1980s would have seen multiple new champions if the season was ended early. Carlos Reutemann, Didier Peroni and Michele Alboreto would all join the champions list, while Nelson Piquet would be reduced to just a single title.

Year	Actual champion	Champion after 10 races
1980	Alan Jones	Alan Jones
1981	Nelson Piquet	Carlos Reutemann
1982	Keke Rosberg	Didier Peroni
1983	Nelson Piquet	Alain Prost
1984	Niki Lauda	Alain Prost (2)
1985	Alain Prost	Michele Alboreto
1986	Alain Prost	Nigel Mansell
1987	Nelson Piquet	Nelson Piquet
1988	Ayrton Senna	Ayrton Senna
1989	Alain Prost	Alain Prost (3)

1990s

This decade would have seen Nigel Mansell win a second world title, while Michael Schumacher secured three championships. In 1999, Eddie Irvine would have taken the crown rather than Mika Hakkinen.

Year	Actual champion	Champion after 10 races
1990	Ayrton Senna	Ayrton Senna (2)
1991	Ayrton Senna	Ayrton Senna (3)
1992	Nigel Mansell	Nigel Mansell (2)
1993	Alain Prost	Alain Prost (4)
1994	Michael Schumacher	Michael Schumacher
1995	Michael Schumacher	Michael Schumacher (2)
1996	Damon Hill	Damon Hill
1997	Jacques Villeneuve	Michael Schumacher (3)
1998	Mika Hakkinen	Mika Hakkinen
1999	Mika Hakkinen	Eddie Irvine

2000s

Due to his extra championship in the 1990s, Schumacher would have ended the 2000s as an eight-time world champion. Lewis Hamilton would have picked up two titles with McLaren, meaning none for Kimi Raikkonen.

Year	Actual champion	Champion after 10 races
2000	Michael Schumacher	Michael Schumacher (4)
2001	Michael Schumacher	Michael Schumacher (5)
2002	Michael Schumacher	Michael Schumacher (6)
2003	Michael Schumacher	Michael Schumacher (7)
2004	Michael Schumacher	Michael Schumacher (8)
2005	Fernando Alonso	Fernando Alonso
2006	Fernando Alonso	Fernando Alonso (2)
2007	Kimi Raikkonen	Lewis Hamilton
2008	Lewis Hamilton	Lewis Hamilton (2)
2009	Jenson Button	Jenson Button

2010s

Lewis Hamilton would only have to world titles with Mercedes if the season was shortened. Nico Rosberg would be a two-time champion, Sebastian Vettel would have picked up two titles with Ferrari and Fernando Alonso would have ended the 2012 campaign on top.

Year	Actual champion	Champion after 10 races
2010	Sebastian Vettel	Lewis Hamilton (3)
2011	Sebastian Vettel	Sebastian Vettel
2012	Sebastian Vettel	Fernando Alonso (3)
2013	Sebastian Vettel	Sebastian Vettel (2)
2014	Lewis Hamilton	Nico Rosberg
2015	Lewis Hamilton	Lewis Hamilton (4)
2016	Nico Rosberg	Nico Rosberg (2)
2017	Lewis Hamilton	Sebastian Vettel (3)
2018	Lewis Hamilton	Sebastian Vettel (4)
2019	Lewis Hamilton	Lewis Hamilton (5)