5 wins in 152 starts. Years active: 1973–1985.
- titles
- 0
- wins
- 5
- poles
- 2
- podiums
- 20
- starts
- 152
- Born
- 4 May 1946
- Birthplace
- Belfast
History
Brabham, Surtees, Penske… · United Kingdom
John Watson
5 wins in 152 starts. Years active: 1973–1985.
- Born
- 4 May 1946
- Birthplace
- Belfast
Biography
Penske’s first win
Belfast’s John Watson took his first win at the 1976 Austrian Grand Prix — the only win in the history of the Penske team. In 1981, with McLaren, he won the British Grand Prix — the first win for a car with a carbon-fibre monocoque.
Wins from deep on the grid
Watson knew how to carve through the field: in 1982 he won in Detroit from seventeenth on the grid, and in 1983 at Long Beach from twenty-second — no one in the history of the championship has won from further back. In 1982 he finished third in the championship.
- Born
- 4 May 1946, Belfast, United Kingdom
- Debut
- British Grand Prix, 14 July 1973, Brabham
- First win
- Austrian Grand Prix, 15 August 1976, Penske
- Best championship finish
- 3rd — 1982
- Last race
- European Grand Prix, 6 October 1985, McLaren
- Career
- 152 starts, 5 wins, 2 poles
Career · f1db data
1973–1985 · crown = titleChampionship position
- titles
- 0
- wins
- 5
- poles
- 2
- podiums
- 20
- starts
- 152
Brabham 1973–1974Surtees 1975Penske 1976Brabham 1977–1978McLaren 1979–1983McLaren 1985
First start – 1973 British Grand PrixLast start – 1985 European Grand PrixFacts from f1db release v2026.15.0 · tallies by Gridlap
Team-mates · qualifyingCompare with another driver
Carlos Reutemann1973–19741:16
Carlos Pace1974–19774:6
Rikky von Opel19746:0
Richard Robarts19743:0
Hans-Joachim Stuck197711:3
Niki Lauda1978–198313:33
Patrick Tambay197913:2
Alain Prost1980–19855:9
Andrea de Cesaris198114:1