Martin Brundle vs Stefano Modena

1989·

Stefano Modena out-qualified Martin Brundle 7–6 at Brabham in 1989, but Martin Brundle won the races 10–3. Grid slots, finishes, points and retirements compared.

Martin BrundleStefano Modena

6Qualifying7

13 shared races

10Race day3

13 shared races

3Points4

in shared races, as awarded at the time

28Points (today’s rules)20

in shared races, rescored 25-18-15…

Wins: 0/0
Podiums: 0/1
Poles: 0/0
Retirements: 7/8
Best finish: P5/P3
Avg. grid: 13.4/10.8

Race by race

Round-by-round comparison of Martin Brundle and Stefano Modena
R	Grand Prix	Grid	Martin Brundle	Stefano Modena	Points
1	1Brazilian Grand Prix	13/14	Halfshaft	Halfshaft	0 / 0
2	2San Marino Grand Prix	22/17	Fuel system	Spun off	0 / 0
3	3Monaco Grand Prix	4/8	P6	P3▲	1 / 4
4	4Mexican Grand Prix	20/9	P9	P10	0 / 0
5	5United States Grand Prix	5/7	Brakes	Brakes	0 / 0
8	8British Grand Prix	20/14	Engine	Engine	0 / 0
9	9German Grand Prix	12/16	P8	Engine	0 / 0
10	10Hungarian Grand Prix	15/8	P12▼	P11	0 / 0
11	11Belgian Grand Prix	20/8	Brakes	Handling	0 / 0
13	13Portuguese Grand Prix	10/11	P8	P14▼	0 / 0
14	14Spanish Grand Prix	8/12	Spun off	Electrical	0 / 0
15	15Japanese Grand Prix	13/9	P5	Engine	2 / 0
16	16Australian Grand Prix	12/8	Collision	P8	0 / 0
	Average finish		P8.0	P9.2

How to read this table

The driver ahead in a round is shown in bold, the other in grey. Grid shows Martin Brundle / Stefano Modena.
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.

Martin Brundle’s career Stefano Modena’s career Brabham 1989 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 Entries that did not qualify, did not pre-qualify or were withdrawn are excluded, as are cars that never left the grid or the garage, and the Indianapolis 500 of 1950–1960.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.