Top 25 Underachievers in F1 History
25. Jolyon Palmer
Jolyon Palmer came to F1 after winning GP2 in 2014. Unfortunately he never lived up to expectations and was replaced in 2017 midseason by Renault.
24. Kevin Magnussen
Kevin Magnussen clinched a podium on debut in 2014. However, his career was always in a decline, notably for his on-track incidents at Haas.
23. Sergey Sirotkin
Sergey Sirotkin was considered a potential star in F1. But sadly, he turned out to be nothing more than a pay driver with Russian backing at Williams in 2018.
22. Esteban Gutierrez
Esteban Gutierrez was a Ferrari-backed driver. The Mexican failed to really make a mark at Sauber and Haas. He was axed after 2016.
21. Giancarlo Fisichella
Giancarlo Fischella had some standout outings with Jordan and Force India. Unfortunately, he messed up the chance he got at Ferrari in 2009. This essentially ended his career.
20. Nico Hulkenberg
Nico Hulkenberg never lived up to what he is capable of. He holds the record for most races without a win, and the longest wait before a podium. Perhaps, he can change things with Audi next season.
19. Sebastian Bourdais
Sebastian Bourdais was a four-time Champ Car champion in the US. He never even came close to that level of success in F1 after barely a noticeable stint at Toro Rosso.
18. Marcus Ericsson
Marcus Ericsson had established himself as an exciting driver in GP2 before moving to F1. Though, the Swede failed to deliver at the pinnacle of motorsport. He spent his entire career in the back of the field.
17. Nelson Piquet Jr
Nelson Piquet Jr, failed to do justice to the Piquet name in F1 with no real results to show for. The infamous Crashgate scandal further tarnished his image.
16. Jarno Trulli
Jarno Trulli was known for his one-lap pace in Qualifying. But when it came to races, he struggled. Trulli could never get himself established as a top driver.
15. Mika Salo
Mika Salo was respected in F1 and even got a chance with Ferrari. But he never took off, with nothing much to show for.
14. Juan Pablo Montoya
Juan Pablo Montoya could've achieved great success in F1. Unfortunately, the Columbian always had problems with his teams. He quit the sport after a fallout with McLaren.
13. Felipe Massa
Felipe Massa should've been a world champion. Not only did he come close in 2007, but had the means to win it later on. Sadly, he lost his groove after the defeat to Lewis Hamilton.
12. Jacky Ickx
Jacky Ickx is regarded as one of the greats of his time. But numbers don't do justice to his career. He could've achieved a lot more than just six face wins.
11. Heinz-Harald Frentzen
Heinz Harald Frentzen used to battle it out with Michael Schumacher early on in his career. Unfortunately, his F1 career was nowhere close to the German, with only a failed title bid with Jordan in 1999.
10. Carlos Reutemann
Carlos Reutemann should've won a world championship. He only lost the 1981 title to Nelson Piquet by a single point. Yet, he could've done so much better in F1.
9. Mark Webber
Mark Webber's F1 career stagnated by his time at Red Bull. The Australian driver became a shadow of his former self, almost giving up entirely against Sebastian Vettel.
8. Nick Heidfeld
Nick Heidfeld was a strong driver in F1 and had 13 podiums. However, he never managed to get a car capable of winning the title.
7. Robert Kubica
Robert Kubica is undoubtedly a great driver who deserved a title. Unfortunately, his rallying crash forced him out of the sport in 2011, ending these prospects.
6. Andrea de Cesaris The Independent
Andrea de Cesaris is remembered for his tendency to trigger crashes. He never clinched a podium in over 200 races. Cesaris should've done better.
5. Stirling Moss
This might come as a surprise but Stirling Moss should've had a better time in F1. His career was somewhat overshadowed by Juan Manuel Fangio's dominance.
4. Romain Grosjean
Romain Grosjean wrecked havoc in F1, and even received a race ban in 2012. Even after joining Haas, the Frenchman never really became a top driver, still being prone to incidents.
3. Ronnie Peterson
Ronnie Peterson earned the nickname, 'Super Swede' of Formula 1. He never managed to win a title despite winning ten races. His tragic death at Monza in 1978 ended his career prematurely.
2. Chris Amon
Chris Amon's F1 career was marred with issues, be it unreliability or misfortune. He could never get a single victory despite even racing for Ferrari.
1. Jean Alesi
Jean Alesi was considered a star driver in the 90s. He raced for both Ferrari and Williams, but failed to win a championship. Though, Alesi fell unlucky with Ferrari's dismal run in the mid-90s.
