Worst Team In F1 History

I'm coming up with a lot of 'in F1 history' things... sorry if its annoying anyone.

Who could forget... The classical years of Andrea Moda, possibly the worst team in Formula 1 history. I read their profile on f1rejects.com, and I can recall some of their glorious outings in F1... Like poor Perry McCarthey getting about 20 metres from the pit bay when his engine retired...

What's your say?

Andrea Moda is the obvious example, purchasing Coloni's assets but not their entry and then after numerous calamaties before being thown out of F1 for bringing the sport into disrepute. However, Moreno somehow managed to qualify for Monaco.

For what its worth, I think that Life can probably claim to be F1's worst team; a substantial overweight car and a W12 engine that had a reported 450bhp and never come close to qualifying for a race. They disapeered befoe the end of '90 and haven't been heard of since.

Ags.

Life are especially comical in that the team's raison d'etre was to promote their unique engine concept and get a big team to run it in future, when in practice the engine was even worse than the functional chassis they ran (originally designed for the planned FIRST team in 1989, I believe).

F1Rejects has a lot of them covered - Token, Peter Monteverdi's time in charge of Onyx, Rial, Eurobrun, but there are probably more in the past.

Has to be Life. For perennial outrageous underachievement that would have required a 300% rule to qualify. At least Andrea Moda got to the grid once.

Honourable mentions to Kauhsen, who had the sense to give up after 3 hapless DNQs (and the early prototypes of that car were downright odd; very short, TG183esque rear wing, no front nosewings avant l'heure), and to Broadley Lola who were somewhat screwed by a ludicrous sponsorship agreement that took me about 2 seconds to consider hopeless when I heard about it.

I was at Phoenix, standing in the pits right by the Life garage. I swear this is true - I saw a Life mechanic go into the garage next door (another team) to ask if he could borrow a tyre pressure gauge just before a practice session!

No doubt in my mind, Lola. Only attempted to qualify once and failed. Certainly statistically the worst team ever. However it did save the firm from dissapearing...

Coloni were pretty dire and Forti Corse too.

No doubt in my mind, Lola. Only attempted to qualify once and failed. Certainly statistically the worst team ever. However it did save the firm from dissapearing...
Viglielmo Matozza's VM only turned up for 1 Formula 1 race - one of the Grands Prix des Frontieres at Chimay - and he missed qualifying because one too many all-nighters getting the car ready meant he slept through it...

There is one worse statistical make - McGuire. Brian McGuire modified his Williams FW04 so much he named it for himself. His one F1 World Championship attempt ended in a failure to pre-qualify.

Loris Kessel also created his own car from a Williams and called it an Apollon (after a sponsor), which as a make has a record of entries 1, DNQs 1.

Ags.

They scored 2 points! (though were consistantly uncompetitve in 1990/91)

How about ATS (as in 'Automobili Turismo E Sport', not 'Auto Technisches Zubehor'!!) from 1963, considering the team was founded by disaffected Ferrari personnel fresh from winning the 1961 world title, and featured Phil Hill and Giancarlo Baghetti as drivers, its results were very poor. I remember readng somewhere that the team simply turned up unannounced at the Belgian Grand Prix, stopping the transporters outside the paddock and then simply driving the race cars into the pits! I also seem to recall that if an engine change was required the chassis tubes had to be cut apart and then rewelded in order to fit the new engine! See here (http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/con-ats.html) for more...

Carlo Chiti (an ATS founder) later designed the disasterous Subaru Flat 12 engine that 'powered' Coloni in 1990...

I cannot immediately remember the name of the car, but someone will recall the one-off car entered for the British Grand Prix in the '60's that caught fire in the paddock one night and was never heard of again.

Beat that!

Pearce-Martin.

There is one worse statistical make - McGuire. Brian McGuire modified his Williams FW04 so much he named it for himself. His one F1 World Championship attempt ended in a failure to pre-qualify.

There's a sad footnote to that story in that later that same year Australian McGuire tried to qualify the car in F5000 race at Brands Hatch killing himself in an absolutely horrific accident. I think a marshall may have died in the accident too.

Life and Andrea Moda take some beating though. Wasn't the owner of Andrea Moda an Italian footwear magnate who was arrested and had the teams assets confiscated by the police when they showed up at Imola ?

The Pearce-Martin to be driven by Tony Lanfranchi was burnt out in the transporter at the 1967 Silverstone International Trophy, not the GP.

Wasn't the owner of Andrea Moda an Italian footwear magnate who was arrested and had the teams assets confiscated by the police when they showed up at Imola ?
Andrea Sassetti was apparently quite big in footware. It was in the paddock at Spa where Sassetti was arrested for some financial irregularities and the team were prevented from entering the paddock when they turned up at Monza.

Worst must be an italian device called a Dwya which I think failed to quaify for a Aurora F1 race.-never entered a WC race.

Andrea Sassetti was apparently quite big in footware. You mean he wore stacks?

I'm sorry - I should have resisted that temptation.

You should have Allen! They were all the rage back then, I had a pair myself, I could not understand how at 6ft tall all my mates started towering over me till I caught on, I looked like lurch from the Munsters in them! One night returning from a nightclub I ran out of petrol about 5 miles from home and nearly crippled myself walking home in the sodding things, I binned them after that. I digress, sorry Allen started it! :-)

Doe's anyone remember the Eiffeland. Basically it was a March 721 (I think) but the team were sponsored by the Eiffeland, the Caravan Manufacturer. They thought as they built it would be a good idea to gain advantage by building new bodywork around the driver (using Caravan Technology?) and it had a big mirror on a post in front of the driver, which basically blocked his view.

Was it any good - no it was total rubbish!!!!:rotate:

http://www.racingsportscars.com/f1/1972/Nivelles-1972-06-04-006.jpg

(using Caravan Technology?) Why not? It's a very light material. ;)

Why not? It's a very light material. ;)

Yes but dreadful aerodynamics!

PS Love the Avatar. My favourite racing car

I suppose the CTA-Arsenal would have been a contender had it been a year later. The car appeared in practice for the French GP in 1947 and reappeared in 1948. On both occasions its performance was abysmal. As Formula 1 started in 1948 it was just too early.

But the V12 OSCA and the Arzani-Volpini weren't.

Moving on a bit we have the DB which proved that 750cc supercharged was not the way to go.

But putting the obscure makes to one side there is the Aston Martin . A manufacturer of successful sports cars produced a car that just yhadn't got it. OK it was front engined when Cooper had shown theat rear engines were the answer, but it was still far slower than the other front-engined cars.

And finally how about Arrows - 382 starts yielded 1 pole and 1 fastest lap. Ok, Minardi never even scored a pole, but they never had Arrows level of budget or quality of drivers.

Andrea Sassetti was apparently quite big in footware. It was in the paddock at Spa where Sassetti was arrested for some financial irregularities and the team were prevented from entering the paddock when they turned up at Monza.
Sassetti went on to sponsor one of the CART teams for a while.

Worst must be an italian device called a Dwya which I think failed to quaify for a Aurora F1 race.-never entered a WC race.
Yep, poor Peter Charles himself (Ghinzani for those unaware) who struggled around with it. The Dywa later re-emerged as the Monte Carlo F3000 car and was nearly as successful.

Arzani-Volpini...that had some record. 1 start, 1 fatal accident.

On a ratio of budget v performance, BAR must be the worst ever...

On a ratio of budget v performance, BAR must be the worst ever...

Toyota aren't far behind either!!

Yep, them too but they have done it fairly quietly in comparison, no egg on faces. Remember all the glitz at the BAR launch and Adrian Reynard saying they will win in their first year? :laugh:

I think Colini (was it Colini? The team with the yellow cars in the late 80s/early 90s) would rate up there too, for sheer lack of performance and bad ideas.

Andrew. the thread is about GP cars not WC particularly, so I still claim the Pearce Martin (for, which thanks, ensign 14) Unless the Inter Trophy was not for F1 cars!

Say Kipper, if Sassetti was 'big in footware', what size would that have been?

Others I have thought of are:

Maki, a Japanese effort that was a bit of a disaster.

Token, which was a nice looking machine, but didn't get very far.

Chris Amons own effort had potential but did very little.

Techno who were very good in F2, were pretty poor in F1.

Lyncar also built an F1, but was very short lived.

I think the biggest problem with all these teams is that the were trying to race on a shoestring, which isn't the way to go F1.

Lolas effort has been mentioned, but I think they were stuffed by the sponsor Mastercard and never really stood a chance.

My vote has to go Life - weren't they going to develop a W9 engine!!!????

As aside one of the Forte Corses is being used at a Racing Drivers School in UK

Say Kipper, if Sassetti was 'big in footware', what size would that have been?
:laugh: Never mind, I knew what I meant.

Maki, a Japanese effort that was a bit of a disaster
I have read that Jan Lammers tested a restored Maki a few years back and thought that the car was fundamentally OK, but needed substantially more development than the what the team could afford.

Worst must be an italian device called a Dwya which I think failed to quaify for a Aurora F1 race.-never entered a WC race.

Spooky - just this morning I picked up an entry list and found myself wondering "what on earth is a Dwya?"

Never heard of the thing before, and now it comes up again in this thread. Has anyone got anything else on it?

Lola built cars in 1995 and 1997 (see chassis history section).

The 1997 effort was not stuffed by Mastercard really though that is the commonly held belief, but that is another story that will be told in the not too distant future

DAMS-Reynard of 1995 looked pretty ropey but never attempted to race the GD-01 though its gearbox ended up in the '95 minardi and the '96 Dome.


Scalabroni's Asiatech never made it beyond a windtunnel.

I have read that Jan Lammers tested a restored Maki a few years back and thought that the car was fundamentally OK, but needed substantially more development than the what the team could afford.

Isn't that why half these teams failed?

The 1997 effort was not stuffed by Mastercard really though that is the commonly held belief, but that is another story that will be told in the not too distant future

Is this a subject you will be writing about?

Doe's anyone remember the Eiffeland. Basically it was a March 721 (I think) but the team were sponsored by the Eiffeland, the Caravan Manufacturer. They thought as they built it would be a good idea to gain advantage by building new bodywork around the driver (using Caravan Technology?) and it had a big mirror on a post in front of the driver, which basically blocked his view.

Was it any good - no it was total rubbish!!!!:rotate:

http://www.racingsportscars.com/f1/1972/Nivelles-1972-06-04-006.jpg

A good article on the Eifelland on F1 Rejects.com here (http://www.f1rejects.com/teams/eifelland/profile.html)

(and also articles on pretty much every other team on the poll!)

I think Colini (was it Colini? The team with the yellow cars in the late 80s/early 90s) would rate up there too, for sheer lack of performance and bad ideas.

Thats Coloni, their cars weren't always yellow, they switched to a messy white/blue scheme for 1989/91 (and failed to qualify for all 16 races in '91 - perhaps the worst full season by any team ever...)

Its amazing how many of these teams Roberto Moreno drove for - AGS in '87, Coloni in '89, Eurobrun in '90, Andrea Moda in '92 and Forti in '95 (one of the few drivers who can say that Minardi was among the best teams he drove for in F1!)

I only ever saw it at Brands and it looked awful but those earlier pics of it are weird!

Alan - yes its is covered in detail in my next book which is being put together at the moment, theres a untold story about the T97/30's. And some other cars.

I have read that Jan Lammers tested a restored Maki a few years back and thought that the car was fundamentally OK, but needed substantially more development than the what the team could afford.
Doug Nye quotes Howden Ganley (in History of GP Car 1966-85) that at the 'Ring it was feeling quite good. Then it fell apart...

There were two Makis; the white one that Ganley had, which was at least plausible-looking (the F101A?) and was developed into the blue one for Fushida to have a go with, and a darker bue one for Tony Trimmer to try at Japan in 1976 (F102A?). This latter looked spectacularly awful, as if it were a bitza based on an F3 tub or something.

"what on earth is a Dwya?"

It's actually Dywa and developed by Dydo Monguzzi. Appears to have been an OK looking F5000 transformed into an horrendous F1 attempt in 1979 (Autosport apparently reported that it could not hold on to a straight line) and with the sidepods stripped brought out again in 1983 for F1 and 1985 as the Monte Carlo F3000 (with some Fulvio Ballabio involvement - he called it Monte Carlo to get some funding).

I've seen pics here & there culled from Italian magazines of it in various guises, but not the 1979 version.

Alan - yes its is covered in detail in my next book which is being put together at the moment, theres a untold story about the T97/30's. And some other cars.

That should be interesting as there were lots of rumours around at the time about how it was being funded and that the Mastercard deal was very complicated - I await publication!

Alan - yes its is covered in detail in my next book which is being put together at the moment, theres a untold story about the T97/30's. And some other cars.
Let us know when it is out.

This latter looked spectacularly awful, as if it were a bitza based on an F3 tub or something.



It's actually Dywa and developed by Dydo Monguzzi. Appears to have been an OK looking F5000 transformed into an horrendous F1 attempt in 1979 (Autosport apparently reported that it could not hold on to a straight line) and with the sidepods stripped brought out again in 1983 for F1 and 1985 as the Monte Carlo F3000 (with some Fulvio Ballabio involvement - he called it Monte Carlo to get some funding).

I've seen pics here & there culled from Italian magazines of it in various guises, but not the 1979 version.

Theres a thread on Atlas nostalgia about the Dywa with plenty of pics, if you are interested. I was unaware it was revised for F1 in 83 though, where did they intend to run it? Ballabio revised it as the horrific Monet Carlo 001. He later "developed" the Mig Le Mans car.

The Maki that Trimmer tried to drive in Japan in 76 was not allwed to practice, I think the Monocoque (looking somewhat like a mid 80s F3 car, was held on to the rear end by two tiny ears of metal that would have given way in the slightest crash. Trimmer was a brave man and I think efforts were made to transfer him into a Shadow at that meeting - what a shame his years of hard work were'nt rewarded then.

My choice would be the Monteverdi era Onyxs - an absolute criminal waste of a very tidy F1 car, and a real shame for the hard working people from Littlehampton. Anyone seen the red one in Peter Monteverdis museum that he modified? Its bizzare!

merzario,rebaque,connew,brp,scirroco,de tomaso,jbw, a lot of cars never made it.

The stillborn Sascha-Gordine from 1950's France, the 2.5 litre Bugatti driven by Maurice Trintignant in the 1956 French GP it's only race (ret.)
Arrows/Footwork contested 382 GP's and never won a single race they also may have set a record by using no less than 11 different makes of engine in their history.

382?!

Too many dungheaps, not enough selection opportunities ;)

Footwork Arrows FA12 Porsche anyone? Embarassment to all...

Worst team, Minardi.

Minardi actually led a lap once...

A Minardi finished 5th!

Grand Prix I know and technically not F1 but the most ignominious failure was the V16 BRM. Announced with much fanfare in 1946, not race ready until May 1950 and with the budget, access to technology and build resources that should have made it a world beater.

The car and team failed completely, its only major win being a heat win in a non championship race at Albi in 1953 at the very end of the 4.5/ 1.5 litre formula when everone else was concentrating on their new 2.5 litre cars for the following season.

I would say Forti, but I thought their yellow cars looked great, far better than Jordan's yellow cars. But I have gone for Andrea Moda. The name says it all really.

Worst team, Minardi.

I could list way over 10 teams that were worse than Minardi.

Forti lasted a good year and a half. They were at least fighting Pacific in their first season, even if they were struggling in '96 to keep up with anyone after Pacific quit.

They also hired Moreno & Montermini across 2 seasons, never have more teams folded than those that hired those drivers!

The Moda story is incredible, but I guess the Lola '97 effort does take the prize - I assume Phoenix Racing can't count?

Forti were still fairly poor. Montermini...I know he drove for Simtek, Pacific and Forti. Any more?

Montermini...I know he drove for Simtek, Pacific and Forti. Any more?
He didn't race for anyone else, but he was confirmed as the test driver for Lola at the team's launch, although they closed down before they had a chance to do any testing.

Not the best driver to hire then.

Message for chatters; re Arrows/Footwork (ussually regarded as same team)

Yes 382 Grand Prix and not a solitary first place.

Source; Jacques Deschenaux Grand Prix Guide. The Bible.

Grand Prix I know and technically not F1 but the most ignominious failure was the V16 BRM. Announced with much fanfare in 1946, not race ready until May 1950 and with the budget, access to technology and build resources that should have made it a world beater.

The car and team failed completely, its only major win being a heat win in a non championship race at Albi in 1953 at the very end of the 4.5/ 1.5 litre formula when everone else was concentrating on their new 2.5 litre cars for the following season.

All true, of course, but since BRM did go on to win races and a championship, probably not a candidate for this poll. As an aside, that V16 is still one of the most mesmeric sounds I have ever heard!

I was about to write something about the Connew here and I decided to stop myself.

The trouble with this thread is that all of us are sitting here in the comfort of our armchairs criticizing people who actually went and made a go of it. Getting a car onto the grid of a Grand Prix has always been a monumental achievement and taxing every skill [commercial and technical] of even the most capable individual. Today its all but impossible. That's why Aguri Suzuki's feat is probably the single biggest individual achievement outside driving in F1 in recent years.

So rather than look down on these people... let's take a different perspective. Have a read of Barry Boor's account of the Connew story and reflect back on an era when a bit of 'can do' attitude could achieve miracles. Prepare to be amazed !

http://members.atlasf1.com/barry_boor/connew.htm

Getting a car onto the grid of a Grand Prix has always been a monumental achievement and taxing every skill [commercial and technical] of even the most capable individual. Or, alternatively, buy an old Formula 3 car and still be faster and more reliable than the Life.

The stillborn Sascha-Gordine from 1950's France, the 2.5 litre Bugatti driven by Maurice Trintignant in the 1956 French GP it's only race (ret.)

A bit unfair mentioning the Sacha-Gordine without recalling other no-shows from that period like the Cisitalia 360 and the Bugatti T73C. :p

And the Sacha-Gordine wasn't really stillborn: it just never raced! At least one was built, but Gawd knows where it (they?) might be now.

Indeed Brian Mcguire in his "Mcguire" had a horrific accident in the warm up for a Shellsport grp 8 race at Brands Hatch in 1977, it left the track at Stirlings killing himself a marshal and seriously injuring two other marshals. The late John Wickenden who worked at Brands told me in all his years there he had never seen anything like it........

I tell you Moda was a shocker... Especially considering what they did to poor old Perry McCarthey...

No ones mentioned the Copersucars.
Surtees never set the world on fire.
I jump to the defense of Arrows,because if Patrese's car hadn't broken down first up it would have been a runaway win.

No ones mentioned the Copersucars.
Yeah, cos they scored podia.

Surtees never set the world on fire.So did they.

So out of these teams which one do you think had the biggest potential but failed? I say Onyx.

Or Simtek, had they had better funding they could have gone places as their car was pretty tidy.

Well, there have been plenty of failures in GP racing it would seem and trying to pick a 'loser' will be an impossible task I suggest. It just goes to show that it ain't easy and puts the efforts of some of the teams that made it through to the circiuits and on to finishes and even into the points deserve a well done!

"It is better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all."

Although they achieved a lot more than some of the teams mentioned in the poll, the ambition and money to achievement ratio of ATS (either version!) wins - but the eccentricity of H-GS makes the "second" ATS the worst team for me.

Alan - yes its is covered in detail in my next book which is being put together at the moment, theres a untold story about the T97/30's. And some other cars.

An untold story beyond Zoran Stefanovic? ;)

BAR