Winning four of the first five events

[Brian Lawrence]

A question posed elsewhere - when did a driver last win four out of five at
the start of the season?

1952 A Ascari Ferrari (P Taruffi - 1st)
1954 JM Fangio Maserati/
Mercedes-Benz (JF Gonzalez - 4th)
1963 J Clark Lotus (G Hill - 1st)
1965 J Clark Lotus (G Hill - 2nd)
1969 J Stewart Matra (G Hill - 3rd)
1991 A Senna McLaren (N Piquet - 5th)
1992 N Mansell Williams ---
1994 M Schumacher Benetton (D Hill - 5th)
1996 D Hill Williams (J Villeneuve - 4th)
2002 M Schumacher Ferrari (R Schumacher - 2nd)
2004 M Schumacher Ferrari ---

2009 J Button Brawn (S Vettel - 3rd)

In 1952 & 1954 the Indianapolis 500 was one of the first five events, but
is ignored in this context. In 1992 (Mansell) & 2004 (Schumacher) the
drivers won all of the first 5 events.

Who was the champion driver in every one of those?

Here is a list of drivers who led the WDC after five events by at least
14 points - Button's current lead over team-mate Barrichello.

Year Leader Second Gap
=====================================
1953 A Ascari M Hawthorn 14
1955 JM Fangio S Moss 14
1963 J Clark R Ginther 22
1966 J Brabham G Hill 16
1969 J Stewart G Hill 20
1971 J Stewart J Ickx 14
1976 N Lauda J Hunt 24 [1]
1988 A Prost A Senna 15 [1]
1991 A Senna N Piquet 24
1992 N Mansell R Patrese 26
1994 M Schumacher D Hill 29
1996 D Hill J Villeneuve 21
2000 M Schumacher M H�kkinen 14
2002 M Schumacher JP Montoya 21
2004 M Schumacher R Barrichello 18
2005 F Alonso J Trulli 18

2009 J Button R Barrichello 14

1. Only in 1976 and 1988 has that lead failed to ensure a championship.

In seven seasons the leader was leading his own team-mate:

Year Leader Team-Mate Gap Third (Gap)
=====================================================
1953 Ascari Hawthorn 14 L Villoresi (15)
1955 Fangio Moss 14 M Trintignant (15.67)
1988 Prost Senna 15 G Berger (21)
1992 Mansell Patrese 26 M Schumacher (33)
1996 Hill Villeneuve 21 M Schumacher (27)
2004 Schumacher Barrichello 18 J Button (26)

2009 Button Barrichello 14 S Vettel (18)

In 1953 Villoresi was also a Ferrari driver, Froilan Gonzalez (Maserati)
was fourth, 17 points behind Ascari.

--

Brian W Lawrence
Wantage,
Oxfordshire, UK
Brian_W_...@msn.com