{"id":477781,"date":"2026-02-13T17:34:24","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T17:34:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/477781\/"},"modified":"2026-02-13T17:34:24","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T17:34:24","slug":"the-f1-drivers-with-the-most-grand-prix-starts-without-a-podium-finish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/477781\/","title":{"rendered":"The F1 drivers with the most grand prix starts without a podium finish"},"content":{"rendered":"

Long the symbol of an unenviable record, Nico Hulkenberg<\/a> ended his streak of Formula 1 grand prix starts without a podium finish at the 2025 British Grand Prix<\/a>. His run to third place at Silverstone ended a podium-less run that lasted 238 races, but this leaves a question: which driver has now entered the most F1 races without taking to the podium?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here, we run down the 20 Formula 1 drivers\u00a0who have competed in the most races without ever making it onto the podium.<\/p>\n

\"Italy\"\u00a020. Arturo Merzario
\n \"Arturo <\/p>\n

Arturo Merzario (Williams) in 1975<\/p>\n

Photo by: Motorsport Images<\/p>\n

Born: 1943
Race starts: 57
Best result: 4th\u00a0<\/p>\n

Italian racer Arturo Merzario<\/a> drove in F1 between 1972 and 1979 for teams including Ferrari and Williams. His best result was fourth at the Brazil and South Africa races in 1973, and the 1974 Italian GP.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"France\"\u00a019. Jean-Eric Vergne
\n \"Jean-\u00c9ric <\/p>\n

Jean-\u00c9ric Vergne (Toro Rosso) in 2012<\/p>\n

Photo by: Motorsport Images<\/p>\n

Born: 1990
Race starts: 58
Best result: 6th\u00a0<\/p>\n

Red Bull junior Jean-Eric Vergne<\/a> competed in F1 for three seasons, racing for Toro Rosso between 2012 and 2014. In that time, he picked up 51 championship points, but no podiums.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"United\u00a018. Paul Di Resta
\n \"Paul <\/p>\n

Paul di Resta (Force India) in 2012<\/p>\n

Photo by: Motorsport Images<\/p>\n

Born: 1986
Race Starts: 59
Best result: 4th<\/p>\n

British racer Paul di Resta<\/a> competed in F1 between 2011 and 2017, and managed two fourth-place finishes for the Force India team.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Mexico\"\u00a017. Esteban Gutierrez
\n \"Esteban <\/p>\n

Esteban Guti\u00e9rrez (Sauber) in 2014<\/p>\n

Photo by: Alastair Staley \/ Motorsport Images<\/p>\n

Born: 1991
Race starts: 59
Best result: 7th<\/p>\n

Sauber driver\u00a0Esteban Gutierrez<\/a> could only manage a best result of seventh over his time in F1, which ran from 2013 to 2016.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"France\"\u00a016. Erik Comas
\n \"Erik <\/p>\n

Erik Comas (Larrousse) in 1993<\/p>\n

Photo by: Motorsport Images<\/p>\n

Born: 1963
Race starts: 59\u00a0
Best result: 5th<\/p>\n

Competing in the early 90s, Erik Comas<\/a>‘ best grand prix result was fifth in the 1992 French Grand Prix, which he entered with Ligier.<\/p>\n

\"Canada\"\u00a015. Nicholas Latifi
\n \"Nicholas <\/p>\n

Nicholas Latifi (Williams) in 2022<\/p>\n

Photo by: Carl Bingham \/ Motorsport Images<\/p>\n

Born: 1995
Race starts: 61\u00a0
Best result: 7th<\/p>\n

Over his three seasons in F1, Canadian Nicholas Latifi<\/a> entered 61 races for the Williams team and finished in the points on just\u00a0three occasions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Italy\"\u00a014. Antonio Giovinazzi
\n \"Antonio <\/p>\n

Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo) in 2021<\/p>\n

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar \/ Motorsport Images<\/p>\n

Born: 1993
Race starts: 62\u00a0
Best result: 5th<\/p>\n

Ferrari junior Antonio Giovinazzi<\/a> raced with Alfa Romeo from 2017 to 2021, entering 62 grands prix in the process. In that time, his best result was fifth at the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"China\"\u00a013. Zhou Guanyu
\n \"Zhou <\/p>\n

Zhou Guanyu (Sauber) in 2024<\/p>\n

Photo by: Lubomir Asenov \/ Motorsport Images<\/p>\n

Born: 1999
Race starts: 68\u00a0
Best result: 8th<\/p>\n

Fellow Ferrari academy graduate\u00a0Zhou Guanyu<\/a> had a similarly tough fight for points in F1 once he joined the series in\u00a02022. He raced for Alfa Romeo and Sauber over three seasons in F1, and managed a best result of eighth.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Japan\"\u00a012. Satoru Nakajima
\n \"Satoru <\/p>\n

Satoru Nakajima (Tyrrell) in 1990<\/p>\n

Photo by: Ercole Colombo<\/p>\n

Born: 1953
Race starts: 74\u00a0
Best result: 4th<\/p>\n

Satoru Nakajima<\/a>\u00a0raced from 1987 to 1991, and came agonizingly close to the podium with fourth place at the\u00a01987 British Grand Prix and\u00a01989 Australian Grand Prix.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Italy\"\u00a011. Piercarlo Ghinzani
\n \"Piercarlo <\/p>\n

Piercarlo Ghinzani (Zakspeed) in 1988<\/p>\n

Photo by: Motorsport Images<\/p>\n

Born: 1952
Race starts: 76\u00a0
Best result: 5th<\/p>\n

Piercarlo Ghinzani<\/a> raced in F1 between 1981 and 1989, starting 76 grands prix in that time and finishing just\u00a021. Fifth place in the 1984 Dallas Grand Prix was a career high for the Italian.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Italy\"\u00a010. Vitantonio Liuzzi
\n \"Vitantonio <\/p>\n

Vitantonio Liuzzi (HRT) in 2011<\/p>\n

Photo by: Sutton Images<\/p>\n

Born: 1980
Race starts: 80\u00a0
Best result: 6th<\/p>\n

Across six seasons, Vitantonio Liuzzi<\/a> made 80 grand prix starts for teams including Red Bull, Toro Rosso and HRT.<\/p>\n

\"Switzerland\"\u00a09. Marc Surer
\n \"Marc <\/p>\n

Marc Surer (Arrows) in 1983<\/p>\n

Photo by: Sutton Images<\/p>\n

Born: 1951
Race starts: 81\u00a0
Best result: 4th<\/p>\n

Across eight seasons in F1, Marc Surer<\/a> managed six sixth-place finishes, two fifth-place finishes and two fourth-place finishes – but no podiums, unfortunately.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"United\u00a08. Jonathan Palmer
\n \"Jonathan <\/p>\n

Jonathan Palmer (Tyrrell) in 1987<\/p>\n

Photo by: Motorsport Images<\/p>\n

Born: 1956
Race starts: 83
Best result: 4th<\/p>\n

Between 1983 and 1989,\u00a0Jonathan Palmer<\/a> started 83 grands prix for teams including Zakspeed Racing and Tyrrell, with his best result being fourth at the 1987 Australian GP.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Japan\"\u00a07. Ukyo Katayama
\n \"Ukyo <\/p>\n

Ukyo Katayama (Venturi) in 1992<\/p>\n

Photo by: Motorsport Images<\/p>\n

Born: 1963
Race starts: 95
Best result: 5th<\/p>\n

Over a six-year stint in F1, Ukyo Katayama<\/a> started 95 grand prix races between 1992 and 1997. His career highs came in the Yamaha-powered Tyrrell 022, which he took to fifth on two occasions.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Sweden\"\u00a06. Marcus Ericsson
\n \"Marcus <\/p>\n

Marcus Ericsson (Sauber) in 2018<\/p>\n

Photo by: Zak Mauger \/ Motorsport Images<\/p>\n

Born: 1990
Race starts: 97\u00a0
Best result: 8th<\/p>\n

Indy500 winner Marcus Ericsson<\/a> had a less illustrious career in Formula 1, and started 97 grands prix without managing a better result that eighth.<\/p>\n

\"Brazil\"\u00a05. Pedro Diniz
\n \"Pedro <\/p>\n

Pedro Diniz (Sauber) in 1999<\/p>\n

Photo by: Motorsport Images<\/p>\n

Born: 1970
Race starts: 98\u00a0
Best result: 5th<\/p>\n

Brazilian racer Pedro Diniz<\/a> raced in F1 between 1995 and 2000, starting 98 races in this time. Despite two fifth-place finishes to his name, he never tasted Champagne on the podium.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"France\"\u00a04. Philippe Alliot
\n \"Philippe <\/p>\n

Philippe Alliot (Ligier) in 1990<\/p>\n

Photo by: Ercole Colombo<\/p>\n

Born: 1953
Race starts: 109\u00a0
Best result: 5th<\/p>\n

The first racer on this list with more than 100 grand prix starts without a podium is Frenchman\u00a0Philippe Alliot<\/a>, who entered 109 races between 1984 and 1994.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Japan\"\u00a03. Yuki Tsunoda
\n \"Yuki <\/p>\n

Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) in 2025<\/p>\n

Photo by: Sam Bloxham \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Born: 2000
Race starts: 111\u00a0
Best result: 4th<\/p>\n

Former Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda<\/a> had his prospect of breaking Nico Hulkenberg’s record snatched away from him when he was dropped by the Austrian outfit in 2025 after five years.<\/p>\n

\"Italy\"\u00a02. Pierluigi Martini\u00a0
\n \"Pierluigi <\/p>\n

Pierluigi Martini (BMS Scuderia Italia) in 1992<\/p>\n

Photo by: Motorsport Images<\/p>\n

Born: 1961
Race starts: 118\u00a0
Best result: 4th<\/p>\n

Over a 10-year career in F1 that started in 1985, Pierluigi Martini<\/a> could only manage a best finish of fourth in the 1991 San Marino Grand Prix.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Germany\"\u00a01. Adrian Sutil
\n \"Adrian <\/p>\n

Adrian Sutil (Force India) in 2008<\/p>\n

Photo by: Charles Coates \/ Motorsport Images<\/p>\n

Born: 1983
Race starts: 128\u00a0
Best result: 4th<\/p>\n

After Hulkenberg finished third at Silverstone, the new record holder for the most grand prix starts without a podium finish is\u00a0Adrian Sutil<\/a>. The German entered 128 races over seven seasons in F1, and managed a best result of fourth in the 2009 Italian Grand Prix.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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– The Motorsport.com Team<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Long the symbol of an unenviable record, Nico Hulkenberg ended his streak of Formula 1 grand prix starts…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":477782,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[573],"tags":[64,63,817,813,816,85,243070],"class_list":["post-477781","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-formula-1","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-f1","tag-formula-1","tag-formula1","tag-sports","tag-the-f1-drivers-with-the-most-grand-prix-starts-without-a-podium-finish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/477781","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=477781"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/477781\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/477782"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=477781"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=477781"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=477781"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}