Formula One has been running for over 70 years and in that time over 100 teams have entered the race, however not every team has what it takes to take home a title.
Putting together a successful F1 team requires the right knowledge and substantial financial backing. There are a few teams that stand out due to the number of wins they have achieved and their high-profile drivers.
Let’s take a look at some of the most successful Formula One teams of all time and investigate what continues to make them such solid F1 betting prospects.
Firstly, what are the essential components of any Formula One team?
While it may be the driver that is the focus of everyone’s attention during an F1 race, there are actually hundreds of roles needed in order to enter into the competition. Everything from mechanics and design to sponsorship and promotion must be considered.
One essential role that is at the centre of every F1 team is the team manager. The team manager is often also the owner, which is no surprise given the money and reputational risk they have at stake. One famous example is Enzo Ferrari, who stayed on as F1 team boss even after selling the company in the late 1960s.
Another one of the most important jobs in the team belongs to the Technical Director, they are responsible for overseeing research, development, design and aerodynamics. Without the right car, even the most skilled driver cannot get ahead of the competition.
There is of course also a Commercial Director who seeks sponsorship opportunities and ensures the team’s finances are in order.
Finally, there is the driver. There are usually two drivers per team, they not only compete against other teams but also against each other. Drivers need great endurance, reflexes and focus in order to be successful in their role, which often takes many years of training to reach the levels needed for Formula One.
Here are some of the stand out teams who have achieved a number of titles of the decades:
Ferrari
Between the years 1961 and 2008, Ferrari have secured 16 constructors titles, won 237 races and have been racing for far longer than many of the other teams. Ferrari have more points, more fastest laps and more pole positions than any other team in the history of the race.
A number of great drivers have signed contracts with Ferrari over the years, 38 of which have won a world championship title for them in the Grand Prix at least once. The most famous of these is Michael Schumacher, who alongside Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, holds the record with seven championship wins.
Kimi Raikkonen and Gilles Villeneuve have also done the Ferrari F1 team proud during their racing careers. Finnish Raikkonen is now a driver for Alfa Romeo and has won 21 Grand Prix events. Villeneuve was with Ferrari for six years and won six races, he sadly died following a crash during the qualifier for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix.
This season’s drivers for Ferrari are Carlos Sainz Jnr and Charles Leclerc, with Callum Ilott in reserve.
McLaren
The England based racing team McLaren have won 182 races, which makes them the second most successful team after Ferrari. McLaren was founded by Bruce McLaren in the early 1960s and first competed in Formula One at the 1966 Monaco Grand Prix.
The team’s most successful era is said to be during the 1980s and 1990s when drivers Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna were at the wheel. French driver Prost and Brazilan driver Senna have each won three titles, while designer Gordon Murray is also famed for his car designs during that time.
In the 2021 lineup for McLaren’s Formula One team is Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris. Ricciardo is new to the team this season following Carlos Sainz Jnr’s departure.
Mercedes
Another truly successful team in Formula One history is Mercedes, the England based team is often referred to as the “Silver Arrows”. The first entered Formula One in the 1954 French Grand Prix.
Mercedes have won 115 races and last season they came first place with a staggering 573 points. The team was rebranded in 2010 as Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team following a buy out and new sponsorship deal.
Top Mercedes drivers include the legendary Michael Schumacher, German driver Nico Rosberg and British racing champion Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton has dominated Formula 1 in his career and the F1 betting often reflect this reality. Year on year he is posted as a favourite to win the F1 championship and for good reason, with his first win being in 2008 and his last in 2020. This season’s contracted drivers include Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, making many punters believe that Mercedes are the team to back this year.
So, what are the expectations for these three successful teams in the 2021 Formula One season?
Ferrari are the clear favourites for this year’s title win. Leclerc has been hugely competitive in his previous three F1 seasons and while Carlos Sanz Jnr is not quite up to the same standard, he made a big impression at McLaren and seems to be improving each season.
Both Mercedes and McLaren are predicted to reach high positions in the points table, however they are at risk of being overshadowed by Red Bull this year. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez combination are rumoured to be the best pairing in F1.
