Four winners in F1's first eight races

As we celebrate Charles Leclerc (finally) winning Monaco on the podcast, a look at recent seasons with chaotic starts

From Jesse: I was starting to get into a little groove writing again, trying some things in this space, and I’m sorry that I’ve been set back with some health woes — nothing that anyone needs to worry about, but enough to knock me off my game and also exact something of a mental toll. Absolutely nothing, however, can dampen my enthusiasm for this podcast, nor for Charles Leclerc’s victory in Monaco, which we celebrated on the podcast.

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As discussed on the show, this is the seventh time in the last 20 seasons that Formula 1 has had at least four different grand prix winners in the first eight races. Each of the past four, the year’s remaining winners have been from that group, plus only one other man each time. Let’s take a look back…

2020: Valtteri Bottas, Pierre Gasly, Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen… then Sergio Pérez

2017: Bottas, Hamilton, Daniel Ricciardo, Sebastian Vettel… then Max Verstappen

2013: Fernando Alonso, Raikkonen, Nico Rosberg, Vettel… then Hamilton

2012 (7 winners in first 8 races): Alonso, Jenson Button, Hamilton, Pastor Maldonado, Rosberg, Vettel, Mark Webber… then Raikkonen

2010 (5 winners in first 8 races): Alonso, Button, Hamilton, Vettel, Webber… then nobody else

2008: Hamilton, Robert Kubica, Felipe Massa, Raikkonen… then Alonso, Heikki Kovalainen, Vettel

2007: Alonso, Hamilton, Massa, Raikkonen… then no one else

We all agreed on the show that Oscar Piastri-Leclerc is on his way to getting his first career grand prix victory this season. Will this be the first time since 2008 that a wild start to the season leads to even more chaos at the top? If not Piastri, is there another winner waiting in the wings? Could it be that Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz, and Max Verstappen are the only drivers who will take checkers this season?

Celebrate Charles Leclerc’s Monaco victory with the Casual Diehard Vroom Vroom shirt and cap!