John Watson
born 4 May 1946 · raced 1973–1985
152Races
5Wins
20Podiums
2Poles
75Top 10s
6.6Avg Position
11.92Avg Grid Pos
1Constructor Titles
John Watson was a remarkably consistent and often understated competitor during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Known for his methodical approach and smooth driving style, he was a key figure in the rise of the McLaren team. Watson secured several memorable victories, notably at Silverstone in 1981 and Long Beach in 1983, coming from 22nd on the grid. He competed in 152 Grands Prix, achieving 5 wins and 20 podiums, a testament to his enduring talent and professionalism.
All-time records
Where John Watson ranks in the all-time Formula 1 record books.
- 4th in Longest F1 Win Droughts (74 races)
Top Teams
Team | Wins | Podiums | Points (as awarded) | Races |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McLaren | 4 | 13 | 109 | 73 |
| Brabham | 0 | 4 | 40 | 50 |
| Penske | 1 | 3 | 20 | 17 |
| Surtees | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Team Lotus | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Page 1 of 1 · Showing 1–5 of 5
Top Circuits
Circuit | Wins | Avg Points (as awarded) | Races |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circuit Gilles Villeneuve | 0 | 2.5 | 6 |
| Dijon-Prenois | 0 | 2.4 | 5 |
| Silverstone Circuit | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Long Beach | 1 | 1.63 | 8 |
| Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet | 0 | 1.5 | 4 |
| Red Bull Ring | 1 | 1.3 | 10 |
| Zolder | 1 | 1.25 | 8 |
| Circuit Paul Ricard | 0 | 1.17 | 6 |
| Brands Hatch | 0 | 1.14 | 7 |
| Autodromo Nazionale di Monza | 0 | 1.13 | 8 |
Page 1 of 3 · Showing 1–10 of 22
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.
- Niki Lauda44 shared races · Compare with Niki Lauda (1978)
- Carlos Reutemann15 shared races · Compare with Carlos Reutemann (1974)
- Andrea de Cesaris14 shared races · Compare with Andrea de Cesaris (1981)
- Hans-Joachim Stuck14 shared races · Compare with Hans-Joachim Stuck (1977)
- Patrick Tambay13 shared races · Compare with Patrick Tambay (1979)
- Alain Prost10 shared races · Compare with Alain Prost (1980)
| Season | Team | Matchup | Race |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Niki Lauda vs John Watson | 7–7 | |
| 1982 | Niki Lauda vs John Watson | 8–6 | |
| 1981 | Andrea de Cesaris vs John Watson | 3–11 | |
| 1980 | Alain Prost vs John Watson | 7–3 | |
| 1979 | Patrick Tambay vs John Watson | 3–10 | |
| 1978 | Niki Lauda vs John Watson | 9–7 | |
| 1977 | Hans-Joachim Stuck vs John Watson | 10–4 | |
| 1977 | Carlos Pace vs John Watson | 2–1 | |
| 1974 | Carlos Reutemann vs John Watson | 8–7 | |
| 1974 | Carlos Pace vs John Watson | 5–1 | |
| 1974 | Rikky von Opel vs John Watson | 1–3 | |
| 1974 | Richard Robarts vs John Watson | 2–1 |
22 circuitsShow all▾
- Silverstone Circuit
- Long Beach
- Red Bull Ring
- Zolder
- Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
- Dijon-Prenois
- Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet
- Circuit Paul Ricard
- Brands Hatch
- Autodromo Nazionale di Monza
- Jarama
- Kyalami
- Circuit de Monaco
- Hockenheimring
- Circuit Park Zandvoort
- Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
- Autódromo Juan y Oscar Gálvez
- Watkins Glen
- Scandinavian Raceway
- Autódromo José Carlos Pace
- Nürburgring
- Mosport International Raceway
19851 race▾
| Grand Prix | Team | Grid | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Grand Prix | McLaren | 21 | P7 | 0 |
Earlier seasons1973–1983 (11 seasons)▾
198315 races, 1 win▾
| Grand Prix | Team | Grid | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South African Grand Prix | McLaren | 15 | Disqualified | 0 |
| European Grand Prix | McLaren | 10 | Spun off | 0 |
| Italian Grand Prix | McLaren | 15 | Electrical | 0 |
| Dutch Grand Prix | McLaren | 15 | P3 | 4 |
| Austrian Grand Prix | McLaren | 17 | P9 | 0 |
| German Grand Prix | McLaren | 23 | P5 | 2 |
| British Grand Prix | McLaren | 24 | P9 | 0 |
| Canadian Grand Prix | McLaren | 20 | P6 | 1 |
| Detroit Grand Prix | McLaren | 21 | P3 | 4 |
| Belgian Grand Prix | McLaren | 20 | Collision | 0 |
| Monaco Grand Prix | McLaren | — | Did not qualify | 0 |
| San Marino Grand Prix | McLaren | 24 | P5 | 2 |
| French Grand Prix | McLaren | 14 | Engine | 0 |
| United States Grand Prix West | McLaren | 22 | P1 | 9 |
| Brazilian Grand Prix | McLaren | 16 | Engine | 0 |
198215 races, 2 wins▾
| Grand Prix | Team | Grid | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caesars Palace Grand Prix | McLaren | 9 | P2 | 6 |
| Italian Grand Prix | McLaren | 12 | P4 | 3 |
| Swiss Grand Prix | McLaren | 11 | P13 | 0 |
| Austrian Grand Prix | McLaren | 18 | P9 | 0 |
| German Grand Prix | McLaren | 10 | Suspension | 0 |
| French Grand Prix | McLaren | 12 | Electrical | 0 |
| British Grand Prix | McLaren | 12 | Spun off | 0 |
| Dutch Grand Prix | McLaren | 11 | P9 | 0 |
| Canadian Grand Prix | McLaren | 6 | P3 | 4 |
| Detroit Grand Prix | McLaren | 17 | P1 | 9 |
| Monaco Grand Prix | McLaren | 10 | Electrical | 0 |
| Belgian Grand Prix | McLaren | 10 | P1 | 9 |
| United States Grand Prix West | McLaren | 11 | P6 | 1 |
| Brazilian Grand Prix | McLaren | 12 | P2 | 6 |
| South African Grand Prix | McLaren | 9 | P6 | 1 |
198115 races, 1 win▾
| Grand Prix | Team | Grid | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caesars Palace Grand Prix | McLaren | 6 | P7 | 0 |
| Canadian Grand Prix | McLaren | 9 | P2 | 6 |
| Italian Grand Prix | McLaren | 7 | Accident | 0 |
| Dutch Grand Prix | McLaren | 8 | Ignition | 0 |
| Austrian Grand Prix | McLaren | 12 | P6 | 1 |
| German Grand Prix | McLaren | 9 | P6 | 1 |
| British Grand Prix | McLaren | 5 | P1 | 9 |
| French Grand Prix | McLaren | 2 | P2 | 6 |
| Spanish Grand Prix | McLaren | 4 | P3 | 4 |
| Monaco Grand Prix | McLaren | 10 | Engine | 0 |
| Belgian Grand Prix | McLaren | 5 | P7 | 0 |
| San Marino Grand Prix | McLaren | 7 | P10 | 0 |
| Argentine Grand Prix | McLaren | 11 | Transmission | 0 |
| Brazilian Grand Prix | McLaren | 15 | P8 | 0 |
| United States Grand Prix West | McLaren | 23 | Brakes | 0 |
198014 races▾
| Grand Prix | Team | Grid | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States Grand Prix | McLaren | 9 | +9 Laps | 0 |
| Canadian Grand Prix | McLaren | 7 | P4 | 3 |
| Italian Grand Prix | McLaren | 14 | Wheel bearing | 0 |
| Dutch Grand Prix | McLaren | 9 | Engine | 0 |
| Austrian Grand Prix | McLaren | 21 | Engine | 0 |
| German Grand Prix | McLaren | 20 | Engine | 0 |
| British Grand Prix | McLaren | 12 | P8 | 0 |
| French Grand Prix | McLaren | 13 | P7 | 0 |
| Monaco Grand Prix | McLaren | — | Did not qualify | 0 |
| Belgian Grand Prix | McLaren | 20 | Not classified | 0 |
| United States Grand Prix West | McLaren | 21 | P4 | 3 |
| South African Grand Prix | McLaren | 21 | P11 | 0 |
| Brazilian Grand Prix | McLaren | 23 | P11 | 0 |
| Argentine Grand Prix | McLaren | 17 | Gearbox | 0 |
197915 races▾
| Grand Prix | Team | Grid | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States Grand Prix | McLaren | 13 | P6 | 1 |
| Canadian Grand Prix | McLaren | 17 | P6 | 1 |
| Italian Grand Prix | McLaren | 19 | Accident | 0 |
| Dutch Grand Prix | McLaren | 12 | Engine | 0 |
| Austrian Grand Prix | McLaren | 16 | P9 | 0 |
| German Grand Prix | McLaren | 12 | P5 | 2 |
| British Grand Prix | McLaren | 7 | P4 | 3 |
| French Grand Prix | McLaren | 15 | P11 | 0 |
| Monaco Grand Prix | McLaren | 14 | P4 | 3 |
| Belgian Grand Prix | McLaren | 19 | P6 | 1 |
| Spanish Grand Prix | McLaren | 18 | Engine | 0 |
| United States Grand Prix West | McLaren | 18 | Injection | 0 |
| South African Grand Prix | McLaren | 14 | Ignition | 0 |
| Brazilian Grand Prix | McLaren | 14 | P8 | 0 |
| Argentine Grand Prix | McLaren | 6 | P3 | 4 |
197816 races▾
| Grand Prix | Team | Grid | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Grand Prix | Brabham | 4 | Accident | 0 |
| United States Grand Prix | Brabham | 7 | Engine | 0 |
| Italian Grand Prix | Brabham | 7 | P2 | 6 |
| Dutch Grand Prix | Brabham | 8 | P4 | 3 |
| Austrian Grand Prix | Brabham | 10 | P7 | 0 |
| German Grand Prix | Brabham | 5 | P7 | 0 |
| British Grand Prix | Brabham | 9 | P3 | 4 |
| French Grand Prix | Brabham | 1 | P4 | 3 |
| Swedish Grand Prix | Brabham | 2 | Spun off | 0 |
| Spanish Grand Prix | Brabham | 7 | P5 | 2 |
| Belgian Grand Prix | Brabham | 9 | Accident | 0 |
| Monaco Grand Prix | Brabham | 2 | P4 | 3 |
| United States Grand Prix West | Brabham | 5 | Gearbox | 0 |
| South African Grand Prix | Brabham | 10 | P3 | 4 |
| Brazilian Grand Prix | Brabham | 21 | P8 | 0 |
| Argentine Grand Prix | Brabham | 4 | Engine | 0 |
197717 races▾
| Grand Prix | Team | Grid | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese Grand Prix | Brabham | 3 | Gearbox | 0 |
| Canadian Grand Prix | Brabham | 10 | Suspension | 0 |
| United States Grand Prix | Brabham | 3 | P12 | 0 |
| Italian Grand Prix | Brabham | 14 | Accident | 0 |
| Dutch Grand Prix | Brabham | 8 | Oil leak | 0 |
| Austrian Grand Prix | Brabham | 12 | P8 | 0 |
| German Grand Prix | Brabham | 2 | Engine | 0 |
| British Grand Prix | Brabham | 2 | Fuel system | 0 |
| French Grand Prix | Brabham | 4 | P2 | 6 |
| Swedish Grand Prix | Brabham | 2 | P5 | 2 |
| Belgian Grand Prix | Brabham | 2 | Accident | 0 |
| Monaco Grand Prix | Brabham | 1 | Gearbox | 0 |
| Spanish Grand Prix | Brabham | 6 | Fuel system | 0 |
| United States Grand Prix West | Brabham | 6 | Disqualified | 0 |
| South African Grand Prix | Brabham | 11 | P6 | 1 |
| Brazilian Grand Prix | Brabham | 7 | Accident | 0 |
| Argentine Grand Prix | Brabham | 2 | Suspension | 0 |
197616 races, 1 win▾
| Grand Prix | Team | Grid | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese Grand Prix | Penske | 4 | Engine | 0 |
| United States Grand Prix | Penske | 8 | P6 | 1 |
| Canadian Grand Prix | Penske | 14 | P10 | 0 |
| Italian Grand Prix | Penske | 26 | P11 | 0 |
| Dutch Grand Prix | Penske | 4 | Gearbox | 0 |
| Austrian Grand Prix | Penske | 2 | P1 | 9 |
| German Grand Prix | Penske | 19 | P7 | 0 |
| British Grand Prix | Penske | 11 | P3 | 4 |
| French Grand Prix | Penske | 8 | P3 | 4 |
| Swedish Grand Prix | Penske | 17 | Accident | 0 |
| Monaco Grand Prix | Penske | 17 | P10 | 0 |
| Belgian Grand Prix | Penske | 17 | P7 | 0 |
| Spanish Grand Prix | Penske | 13 | Engine | 0 |
| United States Grand Prix West | Penske | 9 | Not classified | 0 |
| South African Grand Prix | Penske | 3 | P5 | 2 |
| Brazilian Grand Prix | Penske | 8 | Fuel system | 0 |
197513 races▾
| Grand Prix | Team | Grid | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States Grand Prix | Penske | 12 | P9 | 0 |
| Austrian Grand Prix | Surtees | 18 | P10 | 0 |
| German Grand Prix | Team Lotus | 14 | Suspension | 0 |
| British Grand Prix | Surtees | 18 | P11 | 0 |
| French Grand Prix | Surtees | 14 | P13 | 0 |
| Dutch Grand Prix | Surtees | 14 | Vibrations | 0 |
| Swedish Grand Prix | Surtees | 10 | P16 | 0 |
| Belgian Grand Prix | Surtees | 18 | P10 | 0 |
| Monaco Grand Prix | Surtees | 6 | Spun off | 0 |
| Spanish Grand Prix | Surtees | 6 | P8 | 0 |
| South African Grand Prix | Surtees | 10 | Clutch | 0 |
| Brazilian Grand Prix | Surtees | 13 | P10 | 0 |
| Argentine Grand Prix | Surtees | 15 | Disqualified | 0 |
197415 races▾
| Grand Prix | Team | Grid | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States Grand Prix | Brabham | 7 | P5 | 2 |
| Canadian Grand Prix | Brabham | 15 | Suspension | 0 |
| Italian Grand Prix | Brabham | 4 | P7 | 0 |
| Austrian Grand Prix | Brabham | 11 | P4 | 3 |
| German Grand Prix | Brabham | 14 | Suspension | 0 |
| British Grand Prix | Brabham | 13 | P11 | 0 |
| French Grand Prix | Brabham | 14 | P16 | 0 |
| Dutch Grand Prix | Brabham | 13 | P7 | 0 |
| Swedish Grand Prix | Brabham | 14 | P11 | 0 |
| Monaco Grand Prix | Brabham | 23 | P6 | 1 |
| Belgian Grand Prix | Brabham | 19 | P11 | 0 |
| Spanish Grand Prix | Brabham | 15 | P11 | 0 |
| South African Grand Prix | Brabham | 13 | Fuel system | 0 |
| Brazilian Grand Prix | Brabham | 15 | Clutch | 0 |
| Argentine Grand Prix | Brabham | 20 | P12 | 0 |
19732 races▾
| Grand Prix | Team | Grid | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States Grand Prix | Brabham | 24 | Engine | 0 |
| British Grand Prix | Brabham | 23 | Fuel system | 0 |