Formula 1’s least reliable cars of all time

Crossing the line first

In Formula 1, the debate rages on—do cars win championships, or is it the drivers who make the difference? While both sides have their points, one truth stands firm: without a competitive car, even the best driver in the world won’t see the chequered flag first.

Ferrari 643 (1991)

Ferrari's reliability was just as present in 1991 as it is now. The powerhouse Formula 1 team saw their 1990 slip out of their hands to Ayrton Senna and McLaren, pushing the Italian team to produce a major overhaul of the car ahead of the new season. French driver Alain Prost felt Ferrari had pushed work back on the 1991 car, meaning Ferrari would start the season behind their competition.

Benetton B196 (1996)

The B196 wasn't by any means a terrible car, as the small underdog managed to score 10 podiums under Alesi and Berger. But for many F1 fans, the car was a major disappointment, as Benetton had won the previous two drivers' championships with Schumacher.

Confrontation at the paddock

The English racing team went on to win nothing during the 1996 season, making their B196 a major disappointment. According to Ross Brawn's book, Flavio Briatore's decision to bring Berger from Ferrari alongside Alesi sparked a lot of tensions within the paddock, and they often gave contradicting feedback about the car.

Lotus 100T (1998)

Lotus made a remarkable comeback on the grid during the late 80s, after almost a decade without a win. Ayrton Senna was able to cash in six important GP wins during the 1987 racing season, but then left a year later. While Senna was moving on to greener pastures at McLaren, Lotus secured Nelson Piquet for 1988.

A total disaster

It was all looking good for the British team, who were slowly regaining momentum on the grid. With the reigning world champion driving their car, everything seemed possible. The 100T was a major letdown for Lotus, however, and especially it's clunky chassis. Despite having a strong Honda engine, the car design was horrible and unable to handle the engine's power. Piquet only claimed three podiums — the last the team would score before shutting down in 1994.

Mercedes MGP 001 (2010)

During the 2010 racing season, the Mercedes garage felt they were strong contenders to win the world championship after merging with Brawn GP. However, the car was underdeveloped and needed multiple upgrades to just match the middle grid section.

Blank season

The year ended as a catastrophic result for Mercedes, who finished fourth in the constructors' championship. Furthermore, the team only secured three podiums throughout the season. What looked like a winning season turned into a dreadful finish.

Williams FW26 (2004)

The FW26 failed to live up to expectations over at the Williams paddock, following a successful 2003 year which saw the British team go head-to-head against Ferrari and McLaren. Their rapid downfall can be linked to the 2004 car design, which resulted in being extremely faulty.