F1
Before Liam Lawson, these New Zealanders who were once in F1
© Xavi Bonilla / DPPI
For the first time since Brendon Hartley In 2018, New Zealand will have a representative on the starting grid for the first Grand Prix of the season. After replacing Daniel Ricciardo, temporarily, in 2023, and, definitively, in 2024, the Kiwi has been confirmed as teammate of Max Verstappen after the official announcement of Sergio Perez's departure.
The native of Hastings thus maintains the link between the Formula 1 and his country, even if it does not have many representatives since the first Formula 1 world championship in 1950.
The 10 New Zealand drivers in F1 history
Bruce mclaren
Founder of the eponymous stable, Bruce McLaren competed in 98 Grands Prix for 4 victories. He finished vice-champion in 1960 behind Jack Brabham before two 3rd places in the championship in 1962 and 1969.
Anthony Shelly
Only one Grand Prix in his career: Great Britain 1962.
Chris Ammon
The Bulls native took part in 96 Grands Prix, taking 5 pole positions, 11 podiums but never a victory. His best result in the championship was a 5th place in 1967.
Denny Hülme
The only world champion to come from New Zealand. With a total of 112 starts, Denny Hulme was crowned in 1967 by beating his teammate Jack Brabham. In total, he won 8 races.
Denny Hulme © DPPI
James Howden Ganley
35 Grand Prix between 1971 and 1974 without a single podium. His best result was a 4th on two occasions: United States 1971 and Germany 1972.
Graham McRae, John Nicholson and Mike Thackwell
Not the most famous characters. They respectively competed in 1 Grand Prix (McRae, 1973, and Nicholson, 1975) and 2 (Thackwell, 1980 and 1984).
Brendon Hartley
Before Liam Lawson in 2023, he was the last Kiwi in F1. Already in the fold Red Bull, the winner of 24 Hours of Le Mans with Porsche et Toyota finished the 2017 season before playing the entire 2018 season in the colours of Toro Rosso.
Brendon Hartley © Francois Flamand / DPPI
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Yves-Henri RANDIER
20/12/2024 at 12:17 a.m.
A small, far away country, really very far away, which nevertheless provided an F1 World Champion. Kiwiland has a real motorsport culture with very beautiful circuits, even if we must regret the closure in 2022 of the Pukekohe circuit which hosted, during our winter, the Formula Tasmane then contested by the greatest of F1 like Moss, Hill, Clark and Stewart. There remain the circuits of Mainfield / Chris Amon, Teratonga, Taupo / Bruce McLaren, Hampton Downs, Ruapuna, Timaru and Cromwell Highlands Motorsport Park, all circuits which host the winter incubator series Formula Regional Oceania Championship ex-Toyota Racing Series. A country which frankly deserves an F1 Grand Prix rather than Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other "petro-dollar" countries with more or less insipid "tilkesque" creations!