Formula 1: Longest intervals between two races for teams

With decades of glorious history, Formula 1 has featured some of the top teams and athletes in motor racing. Additionally, despite the fact that the teams in the sport have been competing for a while, some of them have had lengthy stretches between their outings on the racing circuit. Let’s now take a look at the teams that have the most time between two Grand Prix events.

6. BMW: 19 years

BMW has participated in Formula 1 for many years, even if it is not currently racing in the sport. The German manufacturer left the sport in 1987, took a 19-year hiatus, and then made a comeback in 2006 after acquiring the Sauber team. High expectations were placed on them upon their return, and they lived up to them by placing fifth in the constructors’ championship.

BMW, however, left Grand Prix racing at the end of 2009 during the global financial crisis, and it hasn’t come back since. Instead, they have been concentrating on competitions like the World Endurance Championship and Formula E.

5. Lotus: 20 years

It goes without saying that Lotus had a successful F1 career, winning seven constructor titles in the 1960s and 1970s. However, because of financial difficulties, the team left the sport in 1994, and the Lotus nameplate did not reappear in the sport until 2010 under the moniker Lotus Racing.

Their comeback to the Australian Grand Prix in 2015 rekindled the spirit of Lotus in Formula 1 despite multiple incarnations and ownership changes.

4. Alfa Romeo: 33 years

Alfa Romeo has a long history in motorsport, in part because of its early victories at the Targa Florio, Mille Miglia, and Le Mans. However, the team took a pause after the 1985 Australian Grand Prix after competing and dominating in the first two Formula 1 season in 1950 and 1951, winning the driver’s championships with Nino Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio, respectively.

Alfa Romeo didn’t rejoin the grid until 2019 when they teamed together with Sauber Motorsport. This partnership gave the Alfa Romeo Racing team a fresh life and revived the presence of the legendary brand in Formula 1.

3. Honda: 39 years

With its own chassis and engine, Honda made its Formula 1 debut as a constructor in 1964, beginning a journey that has spanned several decades. The team left Formula One after 1968 due to the passing of its driver Jo Schlesser and the difficulty of selling cars in the US, despite having some success in the sport, winning its first race in 1965 with Richie Ginther at the Mexican Grand Prix and its second in 1967 with John Surtees at the Italian Grand Prix.

But in 2006, the team returned by forming the Honda Racing F1 Team in collaboration with British American Racing (BAR). Even though they initially had reliability concerns, they were able to win one race with Button at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

2. Mercedes: 55 years

Mercedes’ dominance in the turbo-hybrid era has been nothing short of astounding, winning numerous championships. However, their dominance in the years 1954 and 1955, when Juan Manuel Fangio was driving, was equally remarkable, winning nine out of 12 races and both drivers’ championships. The Le Mans accident, which claimed the lives of over 80 individuals, forced the team to leave the sport after the 1955 season.

Then, in 2010, Mercedes made a complete comeback as a constructor, purchasing the Brawn GP squad that had won both titles in 2009. The Silver Arrows entered a new era as a result, and they experienced tremendous success.

1. Aston Martin: 61 years

Aston Martin made their F1 debut in 1959 but only participated in five races before leaving the sport in 1960 due to a lack of competition and financial limitations. By changing its identity to the Racing Point team in 2021, the team managed to make a comeback and revive the legendary British racing tradition connected to the Aston Martin name.