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| Gerhard Berger |
Gerhard Berger
Born: 27 August 1959, Worgl, Austria
Grand Prix Starts: 210
Grand Prix Victories: 10
Points Total: 386
Gerhard Berger is one of only a handful of drivers to compete in over 200 F7 races, a consistent performer in his 14-year career at the top level. He made his debut at the 1984 Austrian GP for ATS, finishing sixth in only his second race. A move to Arrows yielded 3 points in 1985, but his career then took off. He joined Benetton, which had just evolved from Toleman, scoring both his and the team's maiden victory in Mexico...
Ferrari came calling, and Berger embarked on the first of two stints at Maranello. He won the final two races to secure fifth place in 1987; only the 'big four' — Prost, Senna, Piquet and Mansell — finished ahead of him. A year later only the runaway McLarens of Senna and Prost got the better of him, and his one victory came in the best place of all for a Ferrari man, Monza. New team-mate Mansell outscored him in 1989, though in an indifferent season he enjoyed a huge slice of luck: escaping a big accident at Imola with minor injuries.
Three years at McLaren followed, a period where he was naturally in Senna's shadow. He was a regular on the podium, but scored just three wins. At Suzuka in 1991 Senna moved over on the last lap to let him taste victory. And in Montreal a year later he inherited the lead after Senna retired with electrical trouble.
Berger returned to Ferrari in 1993, a period when Maranello was playing second fiddle to Williams and Benetton. He did win at Hockenheim in 1994 to break Ferrari's longest winless streak, a season in which he finished third yet again, a position he would never improve upon.
His final two campaigns were back at Benetton. With team bosses hinting that his days were numbered, Berger announced his retirement before Hockenheim, then won the race in brilliant style again.