• F1's glory, forged on the excellence of its gladiators, is what keeps fans captivated.
• Key to these achievements are the statistics that immortalise pole positions and race victories.
• F1's recent decision to award points for the fastest race lap is riddled with flaws, enabling manipulation.
• Is F1 still a meritocracy?
• For motoring news, go to Wheels24.
From the wacky – such as the top three drivers qualifying with identical times in the same race at Jerez in 1997 – the same year that the two title protagonists never shared a podium throughout an entire season, to the wistful - such as Teo Fabi having started from pole position three times in 1985 and 1986 but never leading a race, F1's treasure trove of trivia is plentiful as it is perpetual.
