Biggest lap come back in race history?

Question

I have always wonder you know how you always see in movies these amazing comebacks. Coming from last to win the race. Well would anyone happen to know the most laps down to come back and win a race of any kind? Also If anyone knows The biggest lap comeback in F1 history that would be good also. I'm am interested to even see how close it will come to these movie story's. We always say it's just in the movie well I wonder how insane some have been.

Answer 1

Jim Clark was over a lap behind at Monza in 1967 and came back to take the lead, only to run out of fuel on the last lap. That's the nearest to a Hollywood ending I can think of, and it was probably his greatest race.

Nelson Piquet was shoved off at the first corner in Mexico in 1987 and rejoined dead last after a push-start almost a lap behind, but came back to finish second.

The famous John Watson at Long Beach example has already been given...his teammate Niki Lauda qualified one place behind him, and managed to finish second, thus making up the same number of places.

Rubens Barrichello's first win was accomplished from 18th on the grid at Hockenheim in 2000.

Roberto Mieres made up 26 places to finish 6th at Silverstone in 1954...Onofre Marimon made up 25 places to finish third in the same race.

Answer 2

John Watson was the King of coming through the back to be right at the front at the end of the race in the 80's... He started 22nd at the Long Beach GP in 1983 and won, and also won from 17th in Detroit in 1982

I also remember recently Rubens Barrichello winning his first GP in Germany 2000 from 18th on the grid... and Kimi Raikkonen won the Japanese GP in 2005 from 17th on the grid

Answer 3

I think the answers are very informative so not much to add, just a couple of things:

1)If you make a poll on the street I bet 50% will tell you Hamilton starting fourth last Sunday and finishing second is the greatest comeback in F1 history

2)On a more serious note, Senna's win in Donnington may not be categorized as a "comeback" but his performance would probably have been written off by Hollywood's top heads as "science fiction material".

Answer 4

The record holder is John Watson of McLaren-Ford.

US-West GP 1983.  He started on Grid 22 and finished 1st place.

Kimi Raikkonen on McLaren-Mercedes.

Japanese GP 2005.  He started on Grid 17 and took the checquered flag 1st place.

Astonishing modern day record, it was amazing, he overtook Fisichella (Renault at P1) on the very last lap!!!

Edit:  in addition to rosbif answer, Rubens Barrichello -German GP 2000, Ferrari gambled him on a 1 stop strategy and thus they win.