With the news that Pastor Maldonaldo will not be returning with Renault, there was sadness amongst the social media lampooners and first retirement punters alike. But for all his faults and on track clashes, it is easy to forget that he has actually won a Grand Prix, and deservedly so on that day in Barcelona in 2012. There’s a long list of great drivers who never got that honour.
But is he amongst the Top 10 of one hit wonders in Formula 1? With 23 to choose from (after removing the Indy 500 winners from the 1950’s) we select our Top 10, probably not.
JEAN ALESI
Some careers are built on the right or wrong choice, Jean Alesi’s is one where the heart ruled the head and one F1 win was the result. After impressing all and sundry in his first season and a half of F1 racing, with a fourth on his debut for Tyrrell and dicing with Senna in the opening Grand Prix of 1990, he was set to sign with Williams for 1991. Ferrari knocked and his Sicilian heritage took over and he signed. Frank Williams still has a Ferrari in his collection as part of the deal.
That Williams era turned into dominant Championships and multiple wins for Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill, and Jacques Villeneuve whilst Jean Alesi picked up his solitary win in Canada in 1995. That tally never matched the talent, or the popularity of Alesi.
His F1 career will probably be best remembered for cheeky re-passing of Ayrton Senna at Phoenix in 1990.
ROBERT KUBICA
Before his rally accident on the eve of the 2011 season Robert Kubica’s stock was at a real high. He had performed heroics in the Renault to score three podiums in 2010 after his partnership with BMW Sauber came to an end with whom he scored his only win in Canada in 2008.
That Renault/Lotus went on to be impressive at the hands of Kimi Raikkonen, who also took the Ferrari seat that looked a formality for the Pole.
His F1 career will probably be best remembered for the giant crash at the track where he took his first win the year before he did.
ALESSANDRO NANNINI
Similar to Robert Kubica, the Italian’s career was halted after his arm was severed, but this time it was a helicopter accident not a rallying crash.
Nannini was one of the most likeable drivers of all time, and his only win came in one of the most infamous GPs of all time at Suzuka 1989. His win therefore is the only one of these one hit wonders who didn’t actually cross the line first, as he was given the win after Ayrton Senna was disqualified. The accident was poor timing as Nannini looked set for the big time in 1991 with a Ferrari contract.
His career will be known for the win in Suzuka and that desperate move by Senna with a few laps to go.
OLIVIER PANIS
A little bias in this one, as Olivier was always a favourite driver of The Gurgler, especially when driving for our childhood hero Alain Prost’s team. His only win came unexpectedly at Monaco in 1996 and owed to wet weather and failures ahead of him, but he did manage 4 overtaking manoeuvres at Monaco on route to that win, so for that alone his place in the Top 10 is warranted.
What is forgotten is that before his crash at Canada in 1997 Panis and Prost GP were one of the quickest combinations outside Williams and Ferrari and even beat them to the podium at times.
His career will always be remembered as the winner of that crazy Monaco race where just the three cars were circulating at the end.
JARNO TRULLI
A team mate of Olivier Panis at Prost and like the Frenchman his only win came at Monaco, but the Italian’s was in a much more dominant fashion as he snatched pole on the Saturday and lead all the way on the Sunday to earn his only win for Renault.
That win was part of an impressive first half of the season in 2004, as Trulli generally outpaced up and coming superstar Fernando Alonso. A huge crash at the British GP that year slowed progress and he eventually went to Toyota and got them many a podium before finishing his career at Caterham.
His career should be known for his win, and a bunch of great drives for Prost, Jordan, Renault and Toyota, but may be remembered for the unfortunate term Trulli Train.
PETER GETHIN
Selected on the basis of his only win was done in such spectacular style is demanded a spot as one of the better one hit wonders.
In the 1971 edition of the Italian GP before chicanes were introduced to slow the cars down, this was a slipstreaming classic of which Gethin just crossed the line ahead of second place by 0.01 seconds. The top 5 were covered by less than 1 second too. It also was the fastest GP of all time for a good three decades before modern technology caught up. He is also the driver who had won his only race without actually leading a full lap having moved up to the win on the last lap.
His career will be remembered for that photo of his arm in the air triumphing his narrow win at Monza.
GIANCARLO BAGHETTI
Whilst he has only won a single GP, he does however remain the only driver since the first race in 1950 to win on his debut. There wasn’t much in the slipstream thriller in Reims in 1961, but the new Ferrari driver had just enough for the win.
So if you are going to have a list of one hit wonders, why not the only man who peaked as early as possible.
F1 career will be known for his debut win.
FRANCOIS CEVERT
The junior driver to Jackie Stewart during some of his successful days with the Tyrrell team, he was set to take over from the retiring Scotsman in 1974 as team leader. He got his first of what seemed destined to be many race wins in the 1971 US GP, at the same track that would ultimately claim his life.
Unfortunately his career will be remembered like so many of that era, by an awful death after a crash at the last race of the 1973 season at the US GP at Watkins Glen.
LORENZO BANDINI
A Ferrari driver in both Sportscar racing and Formula the Italian won the Le mans 24 Hour race in 1963 addition to his solitary win in Formula 1. That win came in the Austrian GP in 1964 in the first race in that country.
He was promoted to team leader at Ferrari when John Surtees left mid season, and the promise was there to win many more races for Ferrari. Once again, like so many of that era his career was left unfulfilled after a horror crash and fire at Monaco in 1967 took his life.
His career once again like so many other will be remembered for the shocking death on the track.
CARLOS PACE
The Brazilian has the honour of scoring his only win at his home GP in 1975 for Brabham, and on a track which would later be named after him. His Brabham was competitive throughout his stay with the team, but unfortunately died in a light plane crash at the beginning of the 1977 season before he could realise his potential. He was also a very handy sportscar racer like so many of his contemporaries.
His career will be remembered like many of that era of what could have been before his untimely death. Or being the name for the current F1 track at Interlagos. He could also be remembered for his stylish look and cool helmet design.
