The All-American Dream Team: The Top US Drivers in F1 History
The United States has a rich motorsports history, and Formula One is no exception. Despite the limited success of American drivers in F1, a few have left a lasting impact on the sport. Let's take a look at the American All-Stars of F1 racing.
#1 Mario Andretti
Mario Andretti is arguably the most well-known American driver in the history of Formula One. He started his F1 career with Lotus in 1968 and won his first race the following year in South Africa. Andretti went on to win the World Championship in 1978 and finished on the podium 19 times during his career. He also won 12 pole positions and set 18 fastest laps. Andretti still has a global impact on racing nearly 50 years later. Andretti is one of the biggest names in motorsports, known and respected on the worldwide level.
#2 Phil Hill
Phil Hill was the first American to win the F1 World Championship in 1961 with Ferrari. He started his F1 career with the team in 1958 and won three races throughout his career. Hill was known for his technical understanding of his cars and was highly respected by his fellow drivers.
#3 Dan Gurney
Dan Gurney was one of the most versatile drivers in motorsports history. He competed in F1, IndyCar, NASCAR, and endurance racing, among other categories. In F1, Gurney won four races and finished on the podium 19 times. Gurney is known for the Eagle and AAR race teams, which competed in motorsports for over 30 years.
He also won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1967, driving a Ford GT40 with co-driver A.J. Foyt. Gurney is also credited with inventing the "Gurney flap," a small wing on the trailing edge of a car's rear wing that improves downforce and stability.
#4 Eddie Cheever
Eddie Cheever had a long and successful career in motorsports, with stints in F1, IndyCar, and endurance racing. He competed in Formula One from 1978 to 1989; He drove for various teams during his F1 career, including Osella, Tyrrell, Renault, and Arrows. Cheever was known for his tenacity and his ability to score points consistently. He also had nine podium finishes and was the last American driver to stand on a podium in the United States (Phoenix, 1990). After retiring from F1, he continued to race in various motorsport disciplines, including sports car racing and the IndyCar series. Cheever's most significant achievement was winning the 1998 Indianapolis 500 as a driver and team owner. He is also known for his work as a television commentator and analyst for Formula One broadcasts.
#5 Peter Revson
He competed in Formula One from 1964 to 1973. He drove for various teams during his F1 career, including Lotus, McLaren, and Shadow. Revson achieved two race victories in his F1 career: at the 1971 British Grand Prix and the 1973 South African Grand Prix. He also had eight podium finishes and two pole positions. He was a fan favorite, known for celebrity status and ties to the cosmetic giant Revlon. However, his career was tragically cut short when he was killed during testing at the Kyalami circuit in South Africa in 1974. Nevertheless, Revson's legacy as a talented driver is remembered today in motorsport.
#6 Mark Donohue
Competed in Formula One from 1971 to 1974. He drove for the Penske team during his F1 career and achieved one podium at the 1971 Canadian Grand Prix. However, his F1 career was relatively short as he focused primarily on sports car racing and the IndyCar series. Donohue was known for his engineering background and technical knowledge, which made him an asset to the Penske team. He was also a successful driver in other motorsport disciplines, winning the Indianapolis 500 in 1972 and the Trans-Am Championship in 1968 and 1969. Unfortunately, Donohue's life was tragically cut short when he was killed during practice for the 1975 Austrian Grand Prix, just a few days after setting the speed record of 221.16 mph at Talladega Superspeedway in the Porsche 917/30.
#7 Michael Andretti
Michael Andretti, son of Mario Andretti, had a highly successful career in IndyCar, winning the championship in 1991. His stint in F1 was brief but memorable; he competed for McLaren in 1993. Unfortunately, Andretti struggled with the nuances of F1 and left before the end of the season, being replaced by Mika Hakkinen. Michael's last race at Monza in 93' would be his best results of the entire season, and he finished third on the podium, being the last American to stand on an F1 podium.
#8 Jim Hall
Competed in Formula One from 1960 to 1963. He drove for various teams during his F1 career, including Lotus and BRM. However, Hall's F1 career was relatively short as he focused primarily on sports car racing and the Can-Am series. He is credited for his work with aerofoil wings and aerodynamics. His innovative approach to designing and building some of his era's most successful racing cars. Hall's most significant achievement was winning the 1970 Can-Am Championship with his team, Chaparral Cars. His legacy as a racing pioneer is still remembered in the motorsport world.
#9 Richie Ginther
Competed in Formula One from 1960 to 1967. He started his F1 career as a test driver for Ferrari and later drove for Cooper, BRM, Honda, and Eagle teams. Ginther achieved one race victory in his F1 career at the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix. He also had eight podium finishes and two pole positions.
#10 Logan Sargeant
Logan comes from a background comparable to the successful racing juniors in Europe, including Eddie Cheever and Peter Revson. While some may argue that Logan doesn't deserve the last spot based on merit alone, his potential for a long and successful F1 career is worth considering. In addition, the significance of having an American driver on the F1 grid is not to be underestimated. It has been rare over the last 40+ years, and having an American driver would be culturally, historically, and economically significant for American motorsport. In addition, it would increase F1's popularity in the United States, leading to more revenue from broadcasting rights, sponsorship deals, and merchandise sales and generating new job opportunities in the motorsport industry.
