Chris Amon
born 20 Jul 1943 · raced 1963–1976
Chris Amon, often dubbed the unluckiest driver in Formula 1 history, possessed immense natural talent and was highly regarded by his peers and team principals. Despite competing in 96 Grands Prix and securing 5 pole positions, a combination of mechanical failures and unfortunate circumstances frequently denied him a coveted victory. He achieved 11 podium finishes, showcasing his consistent speed and skill, particularly during his time with Ferrari in the late 1960s. Amon's career, spanning from 1963 to 1976, is a testament to his enduring passion for racing, even as he became synonymous with near misses rather than triumphs.
All-time records
Where Chris Amon ranks in the all-time Formula 1 record books.
- =2nd in Most F1 Teams Driven For (12 teams)
- 3rd in Most F1 Podiums Without a Win (11 podiums)
- =20th in Most F1 Seasons Contested (14 seasons)
- 20th in Youngest F1 Pole Sitters (24y 297d)
- 22nd in Most F1 Starts Without a Win (96 starts)
- =23rd in Most Consecutive F1 Pole Positions (3 consecutive poles)
Top Teams
Team | Wins | Pod.Podiums | PtsPoints (as awarded) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferrari | 0 | 6 | 34 |
| March | 0 | 3 | 23 |
| Matra | 0 | 2 | 21 |
| Lotus-BRM | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Ensign | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Tecno | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Lotus-Climax | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cooper-Maserati | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Amon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| BRM | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Top Circuits
Circuit | Wins | Avg ptsAvg Points (as awarded) |
|---|---|---|
| Charade Circuit | 0 | 2.5 |
| Brands Hatch | 0 | 2.2 |
| Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | 0 | 2 |
| Circuit Park Zandvoort | 0 | 1.25 |
| Kyalami | 0 | 0.83 |
| Silverstone Circuit | 0 | 0.8 |
| Circuit de Monaco | 0 | 0.71 |
| Red Bull Ring | 0 | 0.67 |
| Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez | 0 | 0.6 |
| Nürburgring | 0 | 0.5 |
Points are Grand Prix points as awarded at the time (sprints excluded); average points are per race started.
Most-shared teammates. Each link opens their head-to-head.
- Jo Siffert12 shared races · Compare with Jo Siffert (1970)
- Jacky Ickx9 shared races · Compare with Jacky Ickx (1968)
- Jean-Pierre Beltoise7 shared races · Compare with Jean-Pierre Beltoise (1971)
- Mike Hailwood6 shared races · Compare with Mike Hailwood (1964)
| Season | Championship position | Wins | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 1815 places higher than 1975 | 0 | 2 |
| 1975 | 33 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 1973 | 2111 places lower than 1972 | 0 | 1 |
| 1972 | 101 place higher than 1971 | 0 | 12 |
| 1971 | 113 places lower than 1970 | 0 | 9 |
| 1970 | 84 places higher than 1969 | 0 | 23 |
| 1969 | 122 places lower than 1968 | 0 | 4 |
| 1968 | 105 places lower than 1967 | 0 | 10 |
| 1967 | 5 | 0 | 20 |
| 1966 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 1965 | 3317 places lower than 1964 | 0 | 0 |
| 1964 | 16 | 0 | 2 |
| 1963 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Season | Team | Matchup | Race |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Matra | Amon vs BeltoiseChris Amon vs Jean-Pierre Beltoise | 3–4 |
| 1970 | March | Amon vs SiffertChris Amon vs Jo Siffert | 8–4 |
| 1968 | Ferrari | Amon vs IckxChris Amon vs Jacky Ickx | 4–5 |
| 1964 | Lotus-BRM | Amon vs HailwoodChris Amon vs Mike Hailwood | 3–3 |
19769 races▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | Accident | 0 | |
| 17 | Retired | 0 | |
| 6 | Water leak | 0 | |
| 3 | Accident | 0 | |
| 12 | P13 | 0 | |
| 8 | Accident | 0 | |
| 10 | P5 | 2 | |
| 17 | P8 | 0 | |
| 18 | P14 | 0 |
Earlier seasons1963–1975 (13 seasons)▾
19752 racesEnsign▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | P12 | 0 | |
| 23 | P12 | 0 |
19744 races▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | P9 | 0 | |
| 25 | Not classified | 0 | |
| 20 | Withdrew | 0 | |
| 23 | Brakes | 0 |
19736 races▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Withdrew | 0 | |
| 11 | P10 | 0 | |
| 19 | Fuel system | 0 | |
| 29 | Fuel system | 0 | |
| 12 | Overheating | 0 | |
| 15 | P6 | 1 |
197212 racesMatra▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | P157 places worse than season average (P8.3) | 0 | |
| 10 | P6 | 1 | |
| 2 | Brakes | 0 | |
| 6 | P5 | 2 | |
| 8 | P157 places worse than season average (P8.3) | 0 | |
| 17 | P44 places better than season average (P8.3) | 3 | |
| 1 | P35 places better than season average (P8.3) | 4 | |
| 13 | P6 | 1 | |
| 6 | P6 | 1 | |
| 6 | Gearbox | 0 | |
| 13 | P157 places worse than season average (P8.3) | 0 | |
| 12 | Withdrew | 0 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than Chris Amon’s average finish in 1972 (P8.3, retirements excluded).
197110 racesMatra▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | P125 places worse than season average (P6.8) | 0 | |
| 5 | P10 | 0 | |
| 1 | P6 | 1 | |
| 16 | Accident | 0 | |
| 9 | Engine | 0 | |
| 9 | P5 | 2 | |
| 5 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 4 | Differential | 0 | |
| 3 | P3 | 4 | |
| 2 | P5 | 2 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than Chris Amon’s average finish in 1971 (P6.8, retirements excluded).
197013 racesMarch▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | P4 | 3 | |
| 5 | P5 | 2 | |
| 6 | P3 | 4 | |
| 18 | P7 | 0 | |
| 5 | P8 | 0 | |
| 6 | Engine | 0 | |
| 17 | P5 | 2 | |
| 3 | P2 | 6 | |
| 4 | Clutch | 0 | |
| 3 | P2 | 6 | |
| 2 | Suspension | 0 | |
| 6 | Engine | 0 | |
| 2 | Overheating | 0 |
19696 racesFerrari▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Gearbox | 0 | |
| 6 | Engine | 0 | |
| 4 | P3 | 4 | |
| 2 | Differential | 0 | |
| 2 | Engine | 0 | |
| 5 | Engine | 0 |
196811 racesFerrari▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Transmission | 0 | |
| 4 | Water pump | 0 | |
| 2 | Transmission | 0 | |
| 3 | Accident | 0 | |
| 2 | Accident | 0 | |
| 3 | P2 | 6 | |
| 5 | P10 | 0 | |
| 1 | P6 | 1 | |
| 1 | Radiator | 0 | |
| 1 | Fuel pump | 0 | |
| 8 | P4 | 3 |
196710 racesFerrari▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | P94 places worse than season average (P4.8) | 0 | |
| 4 | Engine | 0 | |
| 4 | P7 | 0 | |
| 4 | P6 | 1 | |
| 8 | P3 | 4 | |
| 6 | P3 | 4 | |
| 7 | Throttle | 0 | |
| 5 | P3 | 4 | |
| 9 | P4 | 3 | |
| 14 | P3 | 4 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than Chris Amon’s average finish in 1967 (P4.8, retirements excluded).
19661 raceCooper-Maserati▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | P8 | 0 |
19652 racesLotus-BRM▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Electrical | 0 | |
| 8 | Fuel system | 0 |
19648 races▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
Lotus-BRMMexican GPMexican Grand Prix | 12 | Gearbox | 0 |
| 11 | Engine | 0 | |
Lotus-ClimaxAustrian GPAustrian Grand Prix | 17 | Engine | 0 |
Lotus-BRMGerman GPGerman Grand Prix | 9 | P11 | 0 |
Lotus-BRMBritish GPBritish Grand Prix | 11 | Clutch | 0 |
Lotus-BRMFrench GPFrench Grand Prix | 14 | P10 | 0 |
Lotus-BRMBelgian GPBelgian Grand Prix | 11 | Engine | 0 |
Lotus-BRMDutch GPDutch Grand Prix | 13 | P5 | 2 |
19638 races▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
Lotus-BRMMexican GPMexican Grand Prix | 19 | Gearbox | 0 |
| — | Withdrew | 0 | |
| 14 | Accident | 0 | |
| 14 | P7 | 0 | |
| 17 | P7 | 0 | |
| 12 | Water pump | 0 | |
| 15 | Oil leak | 0 | |
| — | Withdrew | 0 |