Assessing the Most Exceptional F1 Wet-Weather Drives

Max Verstappen delivered an exceptional performance to secure victory at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday, advancing from 17th position on the starting grid amidst challenging conditions. Verstappen characterized this win as “definitely the best” among his 62 Formula 1 grand prix victories. This prompts a comparison with other notable wet-weather drives in the sport’s history. Below, we present a selection of seven outstanding performances by some of Formula 1’s most celebrated drivers for consideration. Jim Clark commenced the race from eighth place at the original 8.8-mile Spa-Francorchamps circuit, navigating extremely wet conditions. Driving his Lotus, Clark rapidly ascended to the lead. By the race’s conclusion, Jack Brabham was the sole competitor to remain on the same lap as Clark, trailing the Scottish driver by almost five minutes. Clark, widely regarded as the preeminent driver of his time, held an aversion to Spa, deeming it excessively hazardous. Despite this, he achieved four consecutive victories at the venue between 1962 and 1965. Jackie Stewart, another Scottish driver, secured an overwhelmingly dominant victory under appalling conditions at what is often considered the ultimate F1 test: the 14.2-mile Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit. The visibility was severely limited by dense fog, restricting drivers’ sight to approximately 100 yards, and heavy rain created water channels across multiple sections of the track. Stewart triumphed by a margin exceeding four minutes in his Matra. Upon returning to the pits, his initial inquiry to team boss Ken Tyrrell was, “who died?'” Fortunately, no fatalities were reported on that occasion. Ayrton Senna showcased numerous masterclasses in wet-weather driving throughout his career, including his inaugural F1 victory in Portugal in 1985. However, a particularly cold and exceptionally wet April day at Donington arguably overshadowed these performances. Starting from fourth on the grid, McLaren’s Senna found himself in fifth position entering the first corner. He then overtook Michael Schumacher’s Benetton upon exiting Turn One, navigated around the outside of Karl Wendlinger’s Sauber through the Craner Curves, and passed Damon Hill’s Williams on the inside into McLean’s. With only his formidable rival Alain Prost remaining ahead, Senna overtook the Frenchman at the hairpin before the conclusion of the first lap. Formula 1’s YouTube channel refers to this as Senna’s ‘Lap of the Gods’. He maintained an unassailable lead for the entire race, with only Hill remaining on the same lap by the finish, as the Brazilian secured victory by 83 seconds. While Michael Schumacher and Ferrari would later experience years of overwhelming dominance, his initial victory for the Italian team was accomplished with a car that BBC F1 correspondent Andrew Benson characterized as a “dog,” deficient in grip, downforce, and balance. Schumacher’s exceptional skill in extremely wet conditions proved decisive in Barcelona. Despite a poor start from third on the grid, which caused him to lose positions, he had overtaken Williams’ Jacques Villeneuve and claimed the lead by lap 13. Consistently completing laps five seconds quicker than any other competitor, Schumacher was among only six drivers to finish the race, demonstrating a unique level of performance. Silverstone experienced numerous downpours, which affected many drivers, including Jenson Button and Felipe Massa, the latter veering off track five times en route to finishing last. Conversely, Lewis Hamilton, starting from fourth on the grid, encountered no such difficulties, expertly controlling the conditions to achieve one of his most significant victories. Andrew Benson commented on Hamilton’s display, stating: “This was a day when one driver made the others look like amateurs, when his performance reached such heights that it scarcely seems possible.” Hamilton occasionally maintained a pace four or five seconds quicker than his rivals, including his teammate Heikki Kovalainen, who was driving a comparable car. Benson added that “These sorts of margins are not unknown in F1, but they tend to happen only when the very greatest drivers are at their best in conditions that test the field to the absolute limit.” Jenson Button frequently demonstrated exceptional skill in mixed wet-dry conditions, and the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix stands as arguably his most extraordinary F1 triumph. This race shared similarities with the recent Sao Paulo event: Montreal was a four-hour race, characterized by a two-hour red-flag interruption and five safety car deployments. With 30 laps remaining, McLaren’s Button was in 21st and last position, having incurred two collisions and a drive-through penalty. However, he advanced through the field by strategically opting for intermediate tyres at the opportune moment, followed by dry-weather slicks. On lap 65, he overtook Red Bull’s Mark Webber and Mercedes’ Michael Schumacher, moving from fourth to second place and closing in on race leader Sebastian Vettel. Entering the final lap, Vettel seemed to be just beyond reach, but the sustained pressure from Button caused the German to place a wheel a few inches off the dry line. His Red Bull then slid, allowing Button to pass and secure a truly remarkable victory. Starting from 17th on the grid, Max Verstappen’s objective initially appeared to be damage limitation, especially with championship competitor Lando Norris on pole position. However, this was not the case. Verstappen advanced six positions on the opening lap, and by lap 12, he had reached sixth place, trailing a four-car group contending for third, with the leading duo of George Russell and Norris only eight seconds ahead. As the rainfall intensified, and Russell and Norris entered the pits for new tyres, Red Bull elected to keep Verstappen on track. A red flag, triggered by a crash involving Williams’ Franco Colapinto, paused the race, finding Verstappen in second place behind Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, and providing an opportunity for a ‘free’ tyre change. Following the race’s restart, Verstappen executed an overtake on Ocon into Turn One from a considerable distance back and subsequently extended his lead. His fastest lap time of 1:20.472 was over a second quicker than any other driver’s.