5 Best F1 cars of all time

#2 Lotus 72 (1970-5)

The 72's longevity and success establish it as one of the finest racing machines ever designed.

With the rate of development in modern Formula 1, cars competing in more than one season is extremely rare, so the Lotus 72's longevity is something that's hard to imagine. The 72 competed in Grands Prix throughout six years between 1970 and 1975, 75 races in total. In that time, Lotus won three constructor's championships, while its drivers won two driver's championship, one each for Jochen Rindt and Emerson Fittipaldi. Only the legendary combination of Jackie Stewart and Tyrrell could stop Chapman's team from increasing that tally during that period.

Rindt posthumously won his title in 1970, after winning all four races which he finished in the 72 along the way. Fittipaldi continued the car's success in '71 and '72, winning a further five Grands Prix on the way to his first driver's title. 1973 was arguably the 72's best season, as Super Swede Ronnie Peterson partnered the Brazilian, the combination winning 7 Grands Prix and standing on the podium 15 times from the 15 races that season and also the constructor's championship.

By the time the 72 was retired after the 1975 season, it had amassed 20 wins and 39 podiums from 75 races during those six seasons.