Niki Lauda vs John Watson

1983·

Niki Lauda and John Watson finished level 7–7 on race day at McLaren in 1983. Niki Lauda took qualifying 11–3. John Watson scored 22 points to 12.

Niki LaudaJohn Watson

11Qualifying3

14 shared races

7Race day7

14 shared races

12Points22

in shared races, as awarded at the time

52Points (today’s rules)87

in shared races, rescored 25-18-15…

Wins: 0/1
Podiums: 2/3
Poles: 0/0
Retirements: 8/6
Best finish: P2/P1
Avg. grid: 15.6/18.3

Race by race

Round-by-round comparison of Niki Lauda and John Watson
R	Grand Prix	Grid	Niki Lauda	John Watson	Points
1	1Brazilian Grand Prix	9/16	P2▲	Engine	4 / 0
2	2United States Grand Prix West	23/22	P2▲	P1▲	6 / 9
3	3French Grand Prix	12/14	Wheel bearing	Engine	0 / 0
4	4San Marino Grand Prix	18/24	Spun off	P5	0 / 2
6	6Belgian Grand Prix	15/20	Gearbox	Collision	0 / 0
7	7Detroit Grand Prix	18/21	P13▼	P3	0 / 4
8	8Canadian Grand Prix	19/20	Spun off	P6	0 / 1
9	9British Grand Prix	15/24	P6	P9	1 / 0
10	10German Grand Prix	18/23	Disqualified	P5	0 / 2
11	11Austrian Grand Prix	14/17	P6	P9	1 / 0
12	12Dutch Grand Prix	19/15	Brakes	P3	0 / 4
13	13Italian Grand Prix	13/15	Electrical	Electrical	0 / 0
14	14European Grand Prix	13/10	Engine	Spun off	0 / 0
15	15South African Grand Prix	12/15	P11▼	Disqualified	0 / 0
	Average finish		P6.7	P5.1

How to read this table

The driver ahead in a round is shown in bold, the other in grey. Grid shows Niki Lauda / John Watson.
P1 a win,P3 a podium,DNF a retirement.
▲ a finish at least 4 places better than that driver’s own average finish this season (see the average row), ▼ at least 4places worse. Retirements are not counted in the average.

Niki Lauda and John Watson in other seasons

Other seasons in which Niki Lauda and John Watson were teammates
Season	Team	Matchup	Quali	Race	Points
1982	McLaren	Niki Lauda vs John Watson	10–4	8–6	30–39
1978	Brabham	Niki Lauda vs John Watson	11–5	9–7	44–25

Niki Lauda’s career John Watson’s career McLaren 1983 season All teammate battles

How these numbers are calculated

Only races both drivers started are counted. Entries that did not qualify, did not pre-qualify or were withdrawn are excluded, as are cars that never left the grid or the garage, and the Indianapolis 500 of 1950–1960.
Until the mid-1960s drivers could share a car during a race. Each driver is compared from the car they started (which sets their grid position), with the best result of any car they drove and the points from all of them, as officially credited.
Qualifying is compared on grid position rather than session times. Session-by-session qualifying data only exists from 1994, while grid position is recorded for over 99% of entries right back to 1950 — including every race of the 1950s, 60s and 70s.
On race day the driver classified ahead takes the round. If neither was classified, the one who completed more laps is credited; if both retired on the same lap it is scored as a tie and excluded from the tally.
Points are those awarded at the time and include sprint races from 2021. Where the season used an older system, a second points row rescores every round under the current system so seasons from different eras can be compared.
These are points scored in the races both drivers started, not their season totals: races either missed, or contested alongside a different teammate, are left out. Up to 1990 even full-season totals differ from the championship standings, because only a driver’s best results counted towards the title. In 1988 Alain Prost outscored Ayrton Senna 105 to 94 and still lost the championship. Theseason page has the final standings.