One for Bob or...

[SimonScott]

I came across an interesting fact the other day... which I thought would keep Bob's cogs turning for at least a few minutes!

Which Formula One world champion raced in the least number of career Grand Prix before sewing up his first world title?

[Mary Lindsay]

That sounds like James Hunt (pure guesswork).

[SimonScott]

Keep guessing!!!

[SimonScott]

I should have added...in the rear engined era...

[Barry Sumner]

Damon Hill

[SimonScott]

No. My man did it in less than half the races Damon took!

[Bob Bull]

I will have to research the problem, however, does you man's record consist solely of rear engine races, as my first thought was Phil Hill who raced in front and rear engine cars.

[Bob Bull]

My first serious attempt would be Jack Brabham, and I am assuming that we are counting all of the races in his winning season, or are we working from the race the title was secured?

A nice teaser Simon.

I'll get you back ....

[SimonScott]

This is starting to get complicated!
Does this help:
If, for example, someone raced for a couple of F1 seasons of, say, 15 races each year and then wrapped up the world championship in the 10th race the following year they would have raced in 40 races before they became world champion.
Phil Hill isn't correct but is very close numerically to the record holder.
Do you want any clues?....

[peter rafter]

Simon, for clarity did you mean "World champion in F1 (motor racing) ?" It just could be that a motor racing driver simultaneously achieved World champion status in some other pastime, say blanc-mange sculpting or synchronised sewing. Mr. P. E. Dent religiously espouses the virtue, nay necessity, of correct grammar and syntax, For example :
A wife asks her husband, "Could you please go shopping for me and
buy a carton of milk and if they have avocados, get 6.
A short time later the husband comes back with 6 cartons of milk. 
The wife asks him, "Why did you buy 6 cartons of milk?" 
He replied, "They had avocados."
pip pip
ps if this is posted twice I have double vision.

[SimonScott]

This is starting to get like Pedants Corner in Private Eye!
The World Championship to which I refer is the Formula One Grand Prix World Championship for Drivers - in the rear engined avocado era...
Now will someone please come up with right answer!!! [-o<

[Bob Bull]

This is starting to get like Pedants Corner in Private Eye!
The World Championship to which I refer is the Formula One Grand Prix World Championship for Drivers - in the rear engined avocado era...
Now will someone please come up with right answer!!! [-o<

Shortly.

[Bob Bull]

It has to be Jacques Villenueve who won the championship in only his second year in F1 and was declared Champion after the last race of 1997, when Schumacher was disqualified. If I am correct he competed in 33 races before clinching the title.

Hopefully,,
Bob.

PS; These modern drivers are rubbish, Farina won his title after just seven races!!!!

[Tim Ayres]

Is Bob correct?

If not maybe it was Jochen Rindt?

Tim.

[Bob Bull]

Jochen competed in more than forty races before his championship year Tim, but he is the only posthumous Champion.