24/12/2013
NEWS STORY
According to the German media the most reliable car in 2013 was Ferrari's F138. We're not so sure.
Germany's Auto Motor und Sport suggests that while Ferrari could only manage two wins, both in the opening five races of the season, its car was the most reliable.
In terms of classified finishes, it is McLaren which leads the way with Jenson Button and Sergio Perez classified in every single race - though in Monaco and Britain the Mexican failed to make it to the flag, finishing 6 laps down on the winner in both cases (but still classified), while Jenson Button finished 3 laps down on race winner Sebastian Vettel in Malaysia.
Nonetheless, in terms of classified finishes McLaren has a 100% record compared to Mercedes, Ferrari and Marussia who each scored 92.1% having been classified 35 times in 38 starts. Sauber scored 34 finishes from 37 starts (91.9%) while world champions Red Bull only managed 34 finishes from 38 starts (89.5%).
In terms of laps completed, McLaren again leads the way, its two drivers completing 99.1% of the total laps that comprised the season, compared to Red Bull (95.9%), Mercedes (94.8%), Williams (93.4%), Marussia (92.9%) and Ferrari (92.8%).
Red Bull and Mercedes lead the way in terms of points finishes also, both scoring points 33 times from 38 starts (86.8%), compared to Ferrari's 84.2% and Lotus 71.1%.
Finally, in terms of laps completed by drivers, Fernando Alonso completed 1,076 laps of the 1,131 laps that comprised the 2013 season (95.1%) while teammate Felipe Massa completed 1,023 (90.5%).
This compares to Button (99.6%), Vettel (99%), Perez (98.7%), Chilton (97.5%) and Lewis Hamilton (95.8%).
Of course, we all know that statistics can be managed in order to give the answer you desire and therefore one shouldn't read too much into them. However, the claim that the F138 was the most reliable car in 2013 is something that even Fernando and Felipe might take issue with.