John Watson
born 4 May 1946 · raced 1973–1985
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.
- 1st in F1 Wins From Furthest Back on the Grid (22)
- 4th in Longest F1 Win Droughts (74 races)
- =24th in Most F1 Wins Without a Championship (5 wins)
Top Teams
Team | Wins | Pod.Podiums | PtsPoints (as awarded) |
|---|---|---|---|
| McLaren | 4 | 13 | 109 |
| Brabham | 0 | 4 | 40 |
| Penske | 1 | 3 | 20 |
| Surtees | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Team Lotus | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Top Circuits
Circuit | Wins | Avg ptsAvg Points (as awarded) |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Gilles Villeneuve | 0 | 2.5 |
| Dijon-Prenois | 0 | 2.4 |
| Silverstone Circuit | 1 | 2 |
| Long Beach | 1 | 1.63 |
| Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet | 0 | 1.5 |
| Red Bull Ring | 1 | 1.3 |
| Zolder | 1 | 1.25 |
| Circuit Paul Ricard | 0 | 1.17 |
| Brands Hatch | 0 | 1.14 |
| Autodromo Nazionale di Monza | 0 | 1.13 |
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 | Championship position | Wins | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 1983 | 63 places lower than 1982 | 1 | 22 |
| 1982 | 33 places higher than 1981 | 2 | 39 |
| 1981 | 65 places higher than 1980 | 1 | 27 |
| 1980 | 112 places lower than 1979 | 0 | 6 |
| 1979 | 93 places lower than 1978 | 0 | 15 |
| 1978 | 67 places higher than 1977 | 0 | 25 |
| 1977 | 136 places lower than 1976 | 0 | 9 |
| 1976 | 7 | 1 | 20 |
| 1975 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 1974 | 1521 places higher than 1973 | 0 | 6 |
| 1973 | 36 | 0 | 0 |
| Season | Team | Matchup | Race |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | McLaren | Lauda vs WatsonNiki Lauda vs John Watson | 7–7 |
| 1982 | McLaren | Lauda vs WatsonNiki Lauda vs John Watson | 8–6 |
| 1981 | McLaren | de Cesaris vs WatsonAndrea de Cesaris vs John Watson | 3–11 |
| 1980 | McLaren | Prost vs WatsonAlain Prost vs John Watson | 7–3 |
| 1979 | McLaren | Tambay vs WatsonPatrick Tambay vs John Watson | 3–10 |
| 1978 | Brabham | Lauda vs WatsonNiki Lauda vs John Watson | 9–7 |
| 1977 | Brabham | Stuck vs WatsonHans-Joachim Stuck vs John Watson | 10–4 |
| 1977 | Brabham | Pace vs WatsonCarlos Pace vs John Watson | 2–1 |
| 1974 | Brabham | Reutemann vs WatsonCarlos Reutemann vs John Watson | 8–7 |
| 1974 | Brabham | Pace vs WatsonCarlos Pace vs John Watson | 5–1 |
| 1974 | Brabham | von Opel vs WatsonRikky von Opel vs John Watson | 1–3 |
| 1974 | Brabham | Robarts vs WatsonRichard 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 raceMcLaren▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | P7 | 0 |
Earlier seasons1973–1983 (11 seasons)▾
198314 races, 1 winMcLaren▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Disqualified | 0 | |
| 10 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 15 | Electrical | 0 | |
| 15 | P3 | 4 | |
| 17 | P9 | 0 | |
| 23 | P5 | 2 | |
| 24 | P9 | 0 | |
| 20 | P6 | 1 | |
| 21 | P3 | 4 | |
| 20 | Collision | 0 | |
| 24 | P5 | 2 | |
| 14 | Engine | 0 | |
| 22 | P14 places better than season average (P5.1) | 9 | |
| 16 | Engine | 0 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than John Watson’s average finish in 1983 (P5.1, retirements excluded).
198215 races, 2 winsMcLaren▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | P2 | 6 | |
| 12 | P4 | 3 | |
| 11 | P138 places worse than season average (P5.1) | 0 | |
| 18 | P9 | 0 | |
| 10 | Suspension | 0 | |
| 12 | Electrical | 0 | |
| 12 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 11 | P9 | 0 | |
| 6 | P3 | 4 | |
| 17 | P14 places better than season average (P5.1) | 9 | |
| 10 | Electrical | 0 | |
| 10 | P14 places better than season average (P5.1) | 9 | |
| 11 | P6 | 1 | |
| 12 | P2 | 6 | |
| 9 | P6 | 1 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than John Watson’s average finish in 1982 (P5.1, retirements excluded).
198115 races, 1 winMcLaren▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | P7 | 0 | |
| 9 | P2 | 6 | |
| 7 | Accident | 0 | |
| 8 | Ignition | 0 | |
| 12 | P6 | 1 | |
| 9 | P6 | 1 | |
| 5 | P14 places better than season average (P5.2) | 9 | |
| 2 | P2 | 6 | |
| 4 | P3 | 4 | |
| 10 | Engine | 0 | |
| 5 | P7 | 0 | |
| 7 | P105 places worse than season average (P5.2) | 0 | |
| 11 | Transmission | 0 | |
| 15 | P8 | 0 | |
| 23 | Brakes | 0 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than John Watson’s average finish in 1981 (P5.2, retirements excluded).
198013 racesMcLaren▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | +9 Laps | 0 | |
| 7 | P4 | 3 | |
| 14 | Wheel bearing | 0 | |
| 9 | Engine | 0 | |
| 21 | Engine | 0 | |
| 20 | Engine | 0 | |
| 12 | P8 | 0 | |
| 13 | P7 | 0 | |
| 20 | Not classified | 0 | |
| 21 | P4 | 3 | |
| 21 | P11 | 0 | |
| 23 | P11 | 0 | |
| 17 | Gearbox | 0 |
197915 racesMcLaren▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | P6 | 1 | |
| 17 | P6 | 1 | |
| 19 | Accident | 0 | |
| 12 | Engine | 0 | |
| 16 | P9 | 0 | |
| 12 | P5 | 2 | |
| 7 | P4 | 3 | |
| 15 | P115 places worse than season average (P6.2) | 0 | |
| 14 | P4 | 3 | |
| 19 | P6 | 1 | |
| 18 | Engine | 0 | |
| 18 | Injection | 0 | |
| 14 | Ignition | 0 | |
| 14 | P8 | 0 | |
| 6 | P3 | 4 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than John Watson’s average finish in 1979 (P6.2, retirements excluded).
197816 racesBrabham▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Accident | 0 | |
| 7 | Engine | 0 | |
| 7 | P2 | 6 | |
| 8 | P4 | 3 | |
| 10 | P7 | 0 | |
| 5 | P7 | 0 | |
| 9 | P3 | 4 | |
| 1 | P4 | 3 | |
| 2 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 7 | P5 | 2 | |
| 9 | Accident | 0 | |
| 2 | P4 | 3 | |
| 5 | Gearbox | 0 | |
| 10 | P3 | 4 | |
| 21 | P8 | 0 | |
| 4 | Engine | 0 |
197717 racesBrabham▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Gearbox | 0 | |
| 10 | Suspension | 0 | |
| 3 | P125 places worse than season average (P6.6) | 0 | |
| 14 | Accident | 0 | |
| 8 | Oil leak | 0 | |
| 12 | P8 | 0 | |
| 2 | Engine | 0 | |
| 2 | Fuel system | 0 | |
| 4 | P25 places better than season average (P6.6) | 6 | |
| 2 | P5 | 2 | |
| 2 | Accident | 0 | |
| 1 | Gearbox | 0 | |
| 6 | Fuel system | 0 | |
| 6 | Disqualified | 0 | |
| 11 | P6 | 1 | |
| 7 | Accident | 0 | |
| 2 | Suspension | 0 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than John Watson’s average finish in 1977 (P6.6, retirements excluded).
197616 races, 1 winPenske▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Engine | 0 | |
| 8 | P6 | 1 | |
| 14 | P10 | 0 | |
| 26 | P115 places worse than season average (P6.3) | 0 | |
| 4 | Gearbox | 0 | |
| 2 | P15 places better than season average (P6.3) | 9 | |
| 19 | P7 | 0 | |
| 11 | P3 | 4 | |
| 8 | P3 | 4 | |
| 17 | Accident | 0 | |
| 17 | P10 | 0 | |
| 17 | P7 | 0 | |
| 13 | Engine | 0 | |
| 9 | Not classified | 0 | |
| 3 | P5 | 2 | |
| 8 | Fuel system | 0 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than John Watson’s average finish in 1976 (P6.3, retirements excluded).
197513 races▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | P9 | 0 | |
| 18 | P10 | 0 | |
Team LotusGerman GPGerman Grand Prix | 14 | Suspension | 0 |
SurteesBritish GPBritish Grand Prix | 18 | P11 | 0 |
SurteesFrench GPFrench Grand Prix | 14 | P13 | 0 |
SurteesDutch GPDutch Grand Prix | 14 | Vibrations | 0 |
SurteesSwedish GPSwedish Grand Prix | 10 | P165 places worse than season average (P10.9) | 0 |
SurteesBelgian GPBelgian Grand Prix | 18 | P10 | 0 |
SurteesMonaco GPMonaco Grand Prix | 6 | Spun off | 0 |
SurteesSpanish GPSpanish Grand Prix | 6 | P8 | 0 |
| 10 | Clutch | 0 | |
| 13 | P10 | 0 | |
| 15 | Disqualified | 0 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than John Watson’s average finish in 1975 (P10.9, retirements excluded).
197415 racesBrabham▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | P54 places better than season average (P9.2) | 2 | |
| 15 | Suspension | 0 | |
| 4 | P7 | 0 | |
| 11 | P45 places better than season average (P9.2) | 3 | |
| 14 | Suspension | 0 | |
| 13 | P11 | 0 | |
| 14 | P167 places worse than season average (P9.2) | 0 | |
| 13 | P7 | 0 | |
| 14 | P11 | 0 | |
| 23 | P6 | 1 | |
| 19 | P11 | 0 | |
| 15 | P11 | 0 | |
| 13 | Fuel system | 0 | |
| 15 | Clutch | 0 | |
| 20 | P12 | 0 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than John Watson’s average finish in 1974 (P9.2, retirements excluded).
19732 racesBrabham▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | Engine | 0 | |
| 23 | Fuel system | 0 |