F1 figures in 1000 Grands Prix

The Chinese GP contested this weekend in Shanghai will have a special flavor since it will be the 1000th Grand Prix in the history of the F1 since the beginning of the discipline in 1950.

The first 999 races were contested by 772 drivers, 107 of whom won and 33 were titled. With seven coronations and 91 victories, Michael Schumacher remains the winningest driver to date, but his records are threatened by Lewis Hamilton which has 74 successes. It is also the Briton who holds the record for poles with 84 qualifications won. Rubens Barrichello was the most diligent with 323 starts. Fernando Alonso, Michael Schumacher and Jenson Button are the only other drivers to have reached the milestone of 300 Grands Prix, but Kimi Räikkönen is only six starts away from this milestone.

No fewer than 159 manufacturers took part in F1, but only 15 had the honor of winning the title. There Team Ferrari leads with 16 titles ahead Williams (9) McLaren (8) and Lotus (7). Renault ranks 9th with two coronations. Matra joined the closed group of crowned manufacturers in 1969. The Prancing Horse also has the record for victories with 235 victories, ahead of McLaren (182) and Williams (114), the only ones with more than 100 victories. Mercedes is no longer very far from it since it has 89 victories. Renault is tied for 8th with Brabham with 35 victories. Ferrari was the most present with 972 starts ahead of McLaren (844) and Williams (725). Renault is 8th with 364 departures.

F1 has performed in 32 countries on a total of 72 circuits. With 96th editions, Italy was the most welcoming, ahead of Germany (77 GPs), Great Britain (72), the USA (69) and Monaco (65). France comes in 7th place with 60 Grands Prix just behind Belgium which hosted F1) 63 times. Spain follows with 55 races. Morocco is the only country to have hosted the 1 only once, in 1958, on the 7,6km Ain-Diab circuit. Stirling Moss won the race in a Vanwall.

The Monza circuit was the most present on the calendar with 68 starts. Monaco follows with 65 races ahead of Silverstone (62), Spa-Francorchamps (51) and the Gilles Villeneuve circuit in Montreal (39).

China will experience the 16th edition of its Grand Prix this weekend, having so far only hosted F1 on the Shanghai circuit. It ranks 20th in the list of countries hosting the discipline.

The first tests of the Chinese GP will be followed on Canal+ this Friday from 4 a.m. French time.