At this point, it is a known fact that Malaysia is an influential game-changer in Formula 1 industry via PETRONAS. It is only natural that their participation in Formula 1 as early as 1995 has brought in a lot of talents in this particular industry. That being said, PETRONAS had both directly and indirectly produce many great individuals in Formula 1 throughout this past two decades. As this Malaysia’s darling is becoming more and more prominent, other F1 legends are more than willing to don the colour despite having a better career previously. These ten individuals are literal legends of the past and the present in F1. They have carried Malaysia’s PETRONAS colour at one point in their life and as a Malaysian, I couldn’t be prouder to realize that these superstars are well aware of Malaysia and its products.
- Robert Kubica
Robert Kubica is the first and only Polish driver in Formula 1 history as of 2020. This star from Poland debuted in F1 with BMW Sauber PETRONAS F1 team in 2006. He had raced with the team until 2009 and throughout that four-year stint, he had brought BMW Sauber PETRONAS its maiden win in Canadian Grand Prix 2008. He was a promising prodigy and had already signed a contract to move to Ferrari in 2012 only to be snubbed by an accident that damaged his right arm. After one year of recovery, Kubica started rallying and eventually won the World Rally-2 Championship. An absolute legend. He was voted as the Man of The Year by Top Gear in 2012 for his bravery to return to motorsport in after his terrible injury. This strong-willed Polish had advocated PETRONAS throughout his best four rookie seasons in F1.
2. Felipe Massa
Besides Ayrton Senna, another great Brazilian in F1’s history is Felipe Massa. Like Kubica, he debuted in F1 with then Red Bull Sauber PETRONAS F1 team in 2002. Despite his rookie years being not that successful, his consistency and skillful driving had attracted Scuderia Ferrari to sign him from 2006 until 2013. Although not winning any World Championship, he has been a serious challenger of that title throughout his first three years in Ferrari. He finished third behind Fernando Alonso and teammate Michael Schumacher in 2006, finished second behind champion Kimi Raikkonen in 2007 and finished second again this time behind McLaren’s champion Lewis Hamilton in 2008. His great years in Ferrari is inarguable, yet we should all realized that his career is thanks to PETRONAS and Sauber partnership.
3. Jacques Villenueve
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Jacques Villeneuve is an old horse. An old legend. He debuted in F1 in 1996 with then powerhouse Williams F1 team. In 1997, he is already a world champion. He is a walking legend that is not tired to keep on racing and winning. In 2005, he made a surprising move by moving to underdog team Red Bull Sauber PETRONAS. He stayed there for two years and is considered a promising driver for the PETRONAS backed team. He would eventually retire early in 2006 due to injury and was replaced by Kubica.
4. Valtteri Bottas
This Finnish driver is currently still driving in F1 with the most successful team this decade, Mercedes AMG PETRONAS F1 Team. Previously, Bottas debuted with Williams F1 Team in 2013 and raced with them until 2016. To date, he has had a total of 13 pole positions and 14 fastest laps throughout his career. He has also won a total of eight races to date and has been nicknamed the Flying Finn by the F1 community. Apparently, he is only the second-best driver in the team behind only the Six-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton. However, that does not mean he is a pushover. He is already the second-best driver in 2019. That is an achievement to be living during Hamilton’s era.
5. Kimi Raikkonen
Another Finnish driver on the F1 grid, Kimi Raikkonen is also currently the oldest driver on the grid. The Finn debuted in F1 with Red Bull Sauber PETRONAS in 2001. He would later sign with Ferrari in 2007 and eventually became that year’s World Champion with Ferrari. He retired from the sport in late 2009 to compete in World Rally Championship for two seasons only to return to Ferrari in 2012. As of 2020, he is currently driving for Alfa Romeo Racing Team. Since the nickname “The Flying Finn” has been synonymous to Bottas, Raikonnen has been nicknamed “The Iceman” by the media due to his ice-cold personality and his excitement over ice-cream in 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix. While he did not become a world champion while donning the PETRONAS colour, I believe it’s fair to say that he is also a product of PETRONAS.
6. Sebastian Vettel
I believe Sebastian Vettel or better known as Seb is not unknown of. He is a Red Bull’s four-time World Champion from 2010 to 2013. He held a lot of “youngest” record such as the youngest World Champion and the youngest F1 driver to score points. He has a total of 53 race wins, 120 podium finishes and 57 pole positions. As a German, all these great records that he has held has made him to be dubbed as “Baby Schumi” as reference to Michael Schumacher. Despite making most of his records with Red Bull and Ferrari, like Raikkonen, you can say he is also a product of PETRONAS. He was a reserve driver for BMW Sauber PETRONAS F1 team in 2006 and officially made his debut in 2007. He has since moved to Red Bull to become four-time World Champion and has since become a close rival of Lewis Hamilton while driving in Ferrari.
7. Nico Rosberg
Fun fact: there are only THREE F1 World Champions in the 2010s. They are Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. Rosberg won the championship in 2016. His maiden achievement. He debuted in F1 with Williams in 2006 and raced with them until 2009. In a hope to shift wind, he signed to the newly founded Mercedes PETRONAS GP F1 team in 2010 alongside fellow German and six-time World Champion, Michael Schumacher. He has been with Mercedes and PETRONAS since day one until his eventual World Championship title. His rivalry with teammates Schumacher in 2010-2012 and Hamilton in 2013-2016 has decorated the F1 with a lot of drama. With Hamilton, Rosberg has helped Mercedes AMG PETRONAS to win four World Constructor Championship from three consecutive years and that three seasons is also regarded as the most dominant years for Mercedes AMG PETRONAS.
8. Michael Schumacher
A man that needs no introduction. The most successful F1 driver in history and a seven-time World Champion. This is Michael Schumacher. He won two titles with Benetton in 1994 and 1995 and would dominate the F1 scene with another five consecutive titles from 2000-2004 with Ferrari. He is a definition of Greatest of All Time aka the GOAT. This absolute legend announced his retirement in the end of 2006 only to make a surprise return four years later. In 2010, Mercedes PETRONAS GP shockingly signed 41 years old Schumacher and paired him with Rosberg forming an all-German lineup for the German brand. If there is one thing a Malaysian can be proud, it’s that this GOAT has donned the PETRONAS colour.
9. Ross Brawn
The only individual in this list that happens to not be a racing driver. Ross Brawn was a motorsport engineer and technical director. A strategist, he was the technical director of Benetton F1 team from 1991 to 1996 and during his time, is also responsible for Schumacher’s two World Championship titles in 1994 and 1995. When Schumacher moved to Ferrari, Brawn followed suit. The magical chemistry between the two produced another five World titles with Ferrari. Hence, after that, it becomes a known fact that Ross Brawn is basically the mastermind behind Michael Schumacher’s seven Championship Titles. He is the GOAT’s master. While Schumacher retires, Brawn didn’t. He created another history. He founded the Brawn GP F1 team in 2009. It was an independent team and surprisingly, in that very debut year, they managed to become World Constructor Champion. Brawn GP eventually was bought out by Mercedes and PETRONAS would then become its main sponsor. Ross Brawn would remain as the director at Mercedes AMG PETRONAS F1 team. He is again, responsible for Schumacher’s signing to Mercedes. Today, he is the Managing Director of Formula 1 Group. Remember, this mastermind spent his final years in competitive F1 with PETRONAS-backed Mercedes.
10. Lewis Hamilton
If there’s one man that can beat Michael Schumacher’s record. It would be Lewis Hamilton. This British driver is already a six-time World Champion. This year, he is on his way to equal Schumacher’s seven. It should be noted that Hamilton has also been one of the most successful rookies in F1 history. He debuted with McLaren in 2007 and finished second overall that year. That is exceptional for a rookie. The next year, he won his first World Championship title. While he is already a great driver with McLaren, he took the media by storm. He announced his transfer to Mercedes AMG PETRONAS F1 team in 2013. That move is surprising considering McLaren is more established than Mercedes back then. He proved the world wrong and that his gamble is working. Alongside Rosberg and Bottas respectively, he has helped Mercedes AMG PETRONAS to win six consecutive world titles and is heading for their seventh this year. Remember folks, he exited the already renowned McLaren to the new Mercedes AMG PETRONAS based on gut. He believes in Mercedes. He believes in PETRONAS. He believes in Malaysia’s winning formula.
Teacherhalia Writes 