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Wet Weather Drives that were too venturesome
Formula One is truly a spectacle to watch, the fastest single seater cars on the planet racing against race other, the millimeter perfect overtakes, the math going into producing a perfect pit-stop, the cutting edge technology, the glamour and the mega celebrations on a race weekend.
The rain gods have played a role in producing some of the most exciting races in the history of F1, the best drivers in the world throwing these high-speed monsters around the corners in wet and tricky conditions. It gets really tricky to drive in the wet as the visibility is always a concern, maintaining the optimum tyre temperature, judging the best racing line etc...It pushes every driver's skills and talent to the limit, with some faltering and others putting on incredible driving displays that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.
The wet weather conditions have given some unthinkable results and surprise winners and in the past. Let's have a look at the top 5 wet weather drives of all time in Formula One.
#5 Sebastian Vettel- Monza 2008
Sebastian Vettel is a four-time F1 World Champion who is currently driving for Scuderia Ferrari. He kicked off his Formula One career in 2006 with BMW Sauber and still going strong as he chasing his 5th title. It happened in 2008 at Monza when Vettel was having his first full season with Toro Rosso where he had the previous best finish of fourth. Vettel drove his STR3 in wet conditions to take a stunning pole at the temple of speed, Monza.
The race started under the safety car due to the rain on Sunday. Vettel's drive was stunning, with the German never putting a foot wrong from start to finish.
It was an incredibly mature drive from such a young driver from a mid-field team and certainly made the paddock sit up and take notice, as he became F1’s youngest race winner at the time.
#4 Max Verstappen- Brazil 2016
Max Verstappen is a Dutch racing driver who competes in Formula One with Red Bull Racing. In the 2015 Australian Grand Prix, he became the youngest driver to drive in Formula One when he drove for Scuderia Toro Rosso while he was only 17 years old. In Brazil GP 2016, Verstappen showed his master class. He qualified 4th in the dry and in the wet race, he overtook Rosberg's Mercedes to take 2nd position.
With merely 11 laps remaining, he dropped to 14th position because he pitted for a set of full wet weather tyres, he took full advantage of the tyres in the closing stages, the Dutchman moved to 3rd position by the chequered flag where he left behind Ricciardo who finished 8th. Verstappen truly showed his splendid driving skills on wet tracks where none expected him to make such an amazing comeback.
#3 John Surtees- Belgium Grand Prix 1966
John Surtees was Formula One driver and also an English Grand Prix motorcycle road racer where he was a 4 time World Champion. He won the Formula World Championship title in the year 1964 and therefore became the only driver to clinch World Titles in both two and four wheelers. It happened back in 1966 at the Belgian Grand Prix when lap count was reduced to 28 from 32 to shorten the race length due to unfavorable weather conditions, several drivers including Hulme, Hill, and Steward were involved in a crash.
A total of 7 drivers crashed their cars across different parts of 8.770-mile circuit due to the rains. While this race was being extensively recorded because the footage was supposed to be featured in the film "Grand Prix", Surtees maintained his balance from pole to have 42 seconds lead at the flag from Rindt's Lotus leaving behind teammate Bandini. This was purely classic a drive by Surtees in wet conditions.
#2 Lewis Hamilton- Silverstone 2008
Lewis Hamilton is British Formula One racing driver who has 4 World Championship Titles to his credit and is also the defending champ. It happened in Silverstone 2008 where another amazing race took place amidst the rain. The first lap was dramatic as Kovalainen started from pole and Hamilton lined up 4th. He gave his best to reach the 2nd position. He moved ahead of Kovalainen in the 5th lap but as the tracks dried out, he came under pressure from Kimi Raikkonen.
But as the rain returned, the Britisher again had an advantage. There was a bit of off-tracks excursion but by his second stop, he pulled off a 30 seconds lead and he went ahead in action and pulling off his lead, he finished 68 seconds ahead of Nick Heidfeld which was biggest win margin in 13 years. This was truly a masterclass by Lewis Hamilton.
#1 Jenson Button- Canadian Grand Prix 2011
Jenson Button is a British racing driver and former Formula One driver who grabbed the World Title in the year 2009 driving for Brawn GP. In total, he has clinched 15 GP victories and was last seen in F1 at 2017 Monaco Grand Prix. It was probably the best-known race of Jenson Button where the action continued for more than 4 hours amidst heavy rains, the longest race in F1 in history.
Button was able to march his way through victory even after 6 pit stops and several penalties. He started 7th on the grid but was demoted to 15th position due to a 'stop-go' penalty. He was further involved in an accident with Alonso in the 37th lap which punctured his tyre and he had to stop again. He joined the race at last position and managed a second place, Vettel's slight error on the second corner of the last lap was enough for the Briton to take a stunning victory at circuit Gilles-Villeneuve and was probably one of the greatest wins in the history of F1.
