Motorsport is often dominated by the same names. If someone excels in motorsport – whether it is Verstappen, Rossi, or Herlings – they usually continuously excel.
However, every so often someone unexpected writes their name into history. These are the races where the underdog bit back.
Olivier Panis, Monaco GP 1996
Out of 22 starters, only 4 finished this race. The weather was extremely rainy, and this therefore made the track slippery. This made navigating the already difficult Monaco track harder than usual. Even top drivers
such as Michael Schumacher did not finish the race – proving its extreme difficulty.
Despite the conditions worsening, Panis pushed through and managed to grab his first and only win in Formula 1. He also got Liger their very last win.
He showed that by powering through in the most difficult of circumstances, a win can be possible for those who don’t even expect it.
Brad Binder, Czech MotoGP 2020
In his 3rd ever race in MotoGP, he took a previously winless KTM to the top as a rookie. By the end of the race, he held a 5 second lead over 2nd place holder, Franco Morbidelli.
He successfully went up against champions and won. From overtaking Quartararo on lap 13 to holding his P1 position over Zarco and Morbidelli, he impressed many people in the paddock.
Pastor Maldonado, Spanish GP 2012
Maldonado shocked the world with his performance in 2012. Many online doubted him massively and he was even made a meme.
Maldonado’s name was synonymous with crashing and, quite frankly, still is.
However, during the Spanish Grand Prix in 2012, he did the complete opposite. He managed to hold off Alonso at home and push through until the very end. This win also put Williams on pole, once again shocking the world.
Troy Bayliss, Valencia MotoGP 2006
Bayliss shocked the world of MotoGP during the 2006 Valencia Grand Prix. He was filling in for just the one race, and it is safe to say he blew everyone away; securing a first place win and holding a solid lead until the last lap.
He jumped onto a Ducati with a dream and ran with it. Some people say that is a “what if?” within MotoGP because of his stellar performance.
Sebastian Vettel, Italian GP 2008
Although Vettel is now regarded as one of the best F1 drivers ever, he too had a rookie period. In 2008, the 21-year-old Vettel was driving for Toro Rosso both in the rain and against many, many champions. Victory seemed unlikely and he wasn’t given a thought.
Despite the odds being stacked against him, Vettel dominated the competition in Monza, giving Toro Rosso their only F1 victory. He really impressed many during this race and allowed Toro Rosso to become even more established.
Overall, there have been some amazing underdog moments from both MotoGP and Formula 1 that go down in history as simply iconic.
But what do you think? Did we miss any key moments?
Let us know your ideas!