Giancarlo Fisichella

Giancarlo Fisichella raced fourteen seasons and 231 Grands Prix, and his career is better explained by two specific days than by any average. The first was Brazil 2003, where he won a race stopped in the rain with Jordan: the result was awarded to him days later, so he received the trophy at the following Grand Prix and never had a real podium for the one victory he took as outright favourite.

The second was Spa 2009. With Force India, a team from the back half of the grid, he took pole and finished second less than a second behind the winner, the best result in the team's history. Ferrari signed him three days later to replace the injured Felipe Massa, and in five races with the red car he did not score once.

In between came two seasons at Renault as Fernando Alonso's team-mate, with two wins and the number-two label at a team winning titles with the other car. His best championship was fourth in 2006. Quick over one lap and consistent, what he always lacked was the right year in the right place.