Amazing stats alert!
We've raided the Autosport.com database to bring you the cream of the crop of opening race statistics. Did you know, for instance, that if all 22 cars qualified in Melbourne, it would be the youngest average age for an opening grid of the year ever? Zip up those anoraks and read on
The last reigning world champion to win an opening race was Michael Schumacher back in 1995, in the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The reigning world champion has competed in 42 opening races. The six exceptions are:
Nigel Mansell 1993 (defected to Champ Cars)
Jackie Stewart 1974 (retired)
Jochen Rindt 1971 (deceased)
Mike Hawthorn 1959 (deceased)
Alberto Ascari 1954 (waiting for Lancia to be ready)
Juan Manuel Fangio 1952 (injured in non-championship event)
The world champion has won 12 races (29 per cent), retired from 14 (33.33 per cent) and scored points in 26 (62 per cent).
The winner of the most opening races is Alain Prost with six (46 per cent of the opening races he competed in).
The highest percentage of wins in the opening races competed in is Juan Manuel Fangio with a whopping 63 per cent (that's five out of eight).
The most pole positions for the opening race are five, shared between Jim Clark (63 per cent) and Ayrton Senna (45 per cent).
Clark's 63 per cent is the highest percentage of opening races started from pole.
The winner of the most opening races is McLaren with 10 (29 per cent).
The highest percentage of opening races competed in and won is Mercedes-Benz's 100 per cent record (One out of one...)
The most poles for the opening race are the 10 of Lotus (28 per cent).
The highest percentage of opening races started from pole is the 33.33 per cent of Williams (9 out of 27).
The youngest average age of the grid in an opening race is 28 years and 60 days (1998 Australian GP).
The oldest average age of the grid in an opening race is 39 years and 222 days (1951 Swiss GP).
The youngest driver line-up in the 2001 Australian GP will be Minardi, which averages 22 years and 132 days.
The oldest driver line-up in the 2001 Australian GP will be BAR, which averages 32 years and 74 days.
Fernando Alonso becomes the third youngest driver to start a Grand Prix ever after Mike Thackwell and Ricardo Rodriguez if he qualifies. He will be 19 years and 219 days. In contrast, the oldest driver in Melbourne will be Jean Alesi, at 36 years and 267 days on Sunday.
And finally, the average age of the Australian GP grid if everyone starts will be 27 years and 327 days, the youngest for an opening race ever.
Phew...!
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