Before the RB19, these cars that dominated F1

It's no secret. This start of the season is outrageously dominated by Red Bull and his RB19. Two Grands Prix, as many pole positions, victories and doubles. It's simple, no one does it as well as Christian Horner and his men.

Lewis Hamilton did not hesitate to say that he had never seen a car so fast as the latest creation from the Milton Keynes workshops (UK).

Some even fear a premature end to the campaign as the Austrians are so far ahead of the rest of the field. This prompted us to retrace the history of the F1 and to highlight some of these single-seaters which also dominated the competition.

Red Bull RB18 – 22 Grands Prix, 17 victories, 8 pole positions (2022)

Red Bull is in fact a continuation of its previous exercise. In 2022, the Red Bull had perfectly negotiated the new technical regulations. If he had once been worried by Charles Leclerc and Team Ferrari, Max Verstappen had no trouble setting a new record with 15 victories in the same season. At the end of a relentless domination, Red Bull obtained its first Drivers/Constructors double since 2013 and the golden era with Sebastian Vettel and the engine Renault.

© Florent Gooden / DPPI

Mercedes F1 W07 – 21 Grands Prix, 19 victories, 20 pole positions, 8 one-two finishes (2016)

Would Lewis Hamilton forget that Mercedes has not been shaken for many years? Remember, the beginning of the hybrid era when the Silver Arrows left only crumbs to their opponents.

The 2016 season is the perfect illustration of this with unchallenged domination by Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton which will end with the German's first and only world champion title before a surprise retirement. That year, the two former best enemies had been quiet, very quiet on the track.

The two Mercedes alone on the track, an image to which we were too accustomed in 2016. © Frederic Le Floc'h / DPPI

Mercedes F1 W06 – 19 Grands Prix, 16 victories, 18 pole positions, 12 one-two finishes (2015)

Still at the start of the hybrid era, no one could stand up to Mercedes who had mastered the new engine to perfection. The fight for victories and for the title will ultimately only concern Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, for a change... Together, they leave Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel far behind. In a season without competition, the Englishman will take the world crown, his third, from Nico Rosberg.

Mercedes once again without rivals. © Eric Vargiolu / DPPI

Mercedes F1 W05 – 19 Grands Prix, 16 victories, 18 pole positions, 11 one-two finishes (2014)

Returning to F1 in 2010, the Mercedes team ate its black bread for 4 seasons before becoming a steamroller. This is explained in particular by the transition to the hybrid era, which is very difficult for other engine manufacturers such as Renault and Ferrari. The numbers speak for themselves. The Germans won 16 of the 19 Grands Prix contested in 2014, only beaten by Daniel Ricciardo and Red Bull. Along the way, they achieved 18 pole positions and 11 doubles! Needless to say, there was no suspense.

The hybrid era has started very well for Mercedes. © Frederic Le Floch / DPPI.

Red Bull RB9 – 19 Grands Prix, 13 victories, 9 pole positions (2013)

Adrian Newey's RB9 may have a lower efficiency percentage than the cars mentioned above, but above all it made an incredible leap forward in the 2^e part of the season. It's simple, from the resumption in Belgium after the summer break to the last meeting in Brazil, Sebastian Vettel has always won, thus signing a series of 9 consecutive victories, a record still in force. Thank you goodbye.

© FREDERIC LE FLOCH / DPPI

Ferrari F2004 – 18 Grands Prix, 15 victories, 8 pole positions, 8 one-two finishes (2004)

What can we say about this year, synonymous with 7?^e and last world title for the Red Baron? At the wheel of his F2004, Michael Schumacher simply flew on circuits all over the world. Twelve victories in the first thirteen races, this is what his start to the year looked like before signing a 13th^e later in Japan. Enough to make him the big favorite for a crown which he will win with 34 points ahead of his teammate Rubens Barrichello at the time when the winner only scored 10 points.

©GILLES LEVENT / DPPI

Ferrari F2002 – 17 Grands Prix, 15 victories, 10 pole positions, 9 one-two finishes (2002)

While his garage neighbor Rubens Barrichello started with three retirements, Michael Schumacher accumulated successes. Five out of the first seven rounds for the leader of the Scuderia who once again confirmed the supremacy of the Reds. No surprises in the championship with a Red Baron who finished 67 lengths ahead of his runner-up and teammate, and did not leave the podium all season. A ratio unequaled since.

© THIERRY BOVY / DPPI

Williams FW14B – 16 Grands Prix, 10 victories, 15 pole positions, 6 doubles (1992)

In the company of Patrick Head, Adrian Newey did not expect to be at home McLaren or Red Bull to design war machines. Equipped with a semi-automatic gearbox, the Williams surprises everyone with its active suspension, a first in the world of F1. In the paddock, everyone is perplexed when they discover the beast. On the track, too. Nigel Mansell and Riccardo Patrese fly over the grid. It's simple, Nigel Mansell won (9 victories), finished 2^e (3 times) or gave up (4 abandons) but not anything else. Results which allowed him to get his hands on his only world champion title, far ahead of his teammate Patrese.

© DPPI

McLaren MP4/4 – 16 Grands Prix, 15 victories, 15 pole positions, 10 one-two finishes (1988)

And to think that McLaren was on its way to becoming the only team in history to win every race in a season. The MP4/4 was a fighter plane compared to its competitors. Nothing seemed to be able to stop them. And yet, the team from Woking (UK) was going to lose everything three laps from the checkerboard of the Italian Grand Prix. WhileAlain Prost had retired due to an engine problem, Ayrton Senna was well on his way to following up with a 12^e English victory. It was without counting on Jean-Louis Schlesser who hit the Brazilian while trying to let him pass. Result ? Double retirement for McLaren and double victory for Ferrari (Gerhard Berger-Michele Alboreto) a few days after the death of Enzo Ferrari. History will record that the MP4/4 was one of the most dominant cars, if not the most dominant, that F1 has known.

© Eric Vargiolu / DPPI

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