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When was Formula 1 closest?

When we recently asked Autosport readers to nominate Formula 1's greatest era, there were some dramatic splits in the results. One statistical measure that ought to be reliable is measuring when the field was at its closest - so how did the numbers compare to readers' instincts?

Late last year, we ran a poll to try to decide Formula 1's greatest era, splitting its history into 1950-60, 1961-73, 1974-82, 1983-93, 1994-2005 and 2009-18, and getting six of our writers to argue the case for their preferred time.

Thousands of you voted, either on social media or by post. The Twitter poll ended with a narrow win for 1994-2005 over 1983-1993, while 1974-1982 was a runaway winner in the postal contest.

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Author Kevin Turner

Kevin Turner is Autosport’s Chief Editor. While studying History at the University of York, Kevin began covering UK club events as a freelance reporter for Autosport and Motorsport News. He joined the Autosport staff as Editorial Assistant on the magazine in 2006, winning what is now known as the Motorsport UK Young Journalist of the Year Award. He became National Editor in 2008 and over the next few seasons covered a range of international events, including the Le Mans 24 Hours, as well as the British Touring Car Championship and British GT. Kevin became Features Editor before switching to edit Motorsport News in 2014.

He returned to Autosport in 2016 to become editor of the magazine, a dream job that is still part of his role.

He became Chief Editor in 2020, helping to plan content for autosport.com and Autosport’s podcast as well as seeing the magazine through the coronavirus pandemic. Kevin also led work on the special publication celebrating 70 years of Autosport and has been a judge on the Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Young Driver Award, formerly known as the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award, since 2008. He lives in Warboys with his wife and two children.