Stroll, numbers that are far from flattering
Not even the São Paulo Grand Prix brought any positive signs for Lance Stroll. He avoided repeating the embarrassing moments of 2024 – when he crashed during the formation lap and later beached the car while trying to get going again in the wet – but he still failed to score points, while Fernando Alonso at least managed to do so in the Sprint. In addition, Stroll was involved in the opening-lap collision that eliminated Gabriel Bortoleto, following what many considered an overly aggressive move.
After crossing the finish line in Interlagos with a forgettable 16th place, the Canadian reached a rather unwelcome milestone: he is now the third driver in Formula 1 history with the most grands prix contested without ever taking a victory. The São Paulo GP marked his 186th start in the sport, putting him ahead of Kevin Magnussen, who remains on 185.
The ranking
Below is the top ten of this particular statistic, which currently also includes Alex Albon in 12th place with 125 starts and Yuki Tsunoda in 17th with 108.
| Pos. | Driver | Number of GPs without a win |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nico Hülkenberg | 247 |
| 2 | Andrea De Cesaris | 208 |
| 3 | Lance Stroll | 186 |
| 4 | Kevin Magnussen | 185 |
| 5 | Nick Heidfeld | 183 |
| 6 | Romain Grosjean | 179 |
| 7 | Martin Brundle | 158 |
| 8 | Derek Warwick | 146 |
| 9 | Jean-Pierre Jarier | 134 |
| 10 | Eddie Cheever | 132 |
At the top of the list sits Nico Hülkenberg, who at least managed to secure his long-awaited first Formula 1 podium this year. Both the German and Lance Stroll are now looking ahead with cautious optimism to the 2026 season: Hülkenberg will be racing for Audi, while Stroll will drive the first Aston Martin conceived under the leadership of Adrian Newey.
If this ranking also included drivers who eventually won but needed the most grands prix before taking their first victory, only Sergio Perez would stand ahead of Stroll. Sergio Perez went 189 races without a win before finally triumphing in Bahrain in 2020 – while driving as Stroll’s teammate. However, the Canadian could match that number as soon as the season finale in Abu Dhabi, potentially climbing to third place once again.
Leave a Reply