David Hobbs is a racing driver from United Kingdom who last raced in Formula 1 for McLaren. Hobbs has recorded 0 wins and 0 podiums from 7 starts.[1]
A Racer Rating of 4,966 ranks Hobbs 341th of 15,348 indexed drivers, on an Elo scale where the strongest reach the low five figures. It is built from every indexed race in the driver's file, decayed for time since their last race.
| 1974-09-08 | Autodromo Nazionale di Monza | P9 | +52 |
| 1974-08-18 | Red Bull Ring | P7 | +81 |
| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Podiums | DNFs | Poles | Points | Pos | Gain/Loss | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | ▸Formula 1 | McLaren | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | P21 | +133 | 5,132 |
| 1971 | ▸Formula 1 | McLaren | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | P23 | +59 | 4,999 |
| 1968 | ▸Formula 1 | Honda | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | P25 | +19 | 4,940 |
| 1967 | ▸Formula 1 | BRM | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | P22 | +121 | 4,921 |
| Rival | Rating | Raced | Ahead | Behind | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇳🇿 Denny Hulme | 5,522 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0% |
| 🇬🇧 Graham Hill | 5,097 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 25% |
| 🇳🇿 Chris Amon | 4,788 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 25% |
| 🇦🇺 Jack Brabham | 5,211 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0% |
| 🇬🇧 John Surtees | 4,899 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 33% |
| 🇸🇪 Jo Bonnier | 4,402 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 33% |
David Hobbs contested seven Formula 1 races between 1967 and 1974, all for McLaren, without securing a podium finish. His single-seater career placed him among accomplished drivers of that era; he shared grids with three-time champions Jack Brabham and Graham Hill, one-time champion Denny Hulme, and other strong competitors such as Chris Amon and John Surtees. Against these rivals Hobbs compiled a losing record overall, though he occasionally finished ahead of them individually, including a result over Hill. His average finishing position across classified starts stood at eighth place, reflecting a career at the professional level of the sport but without the consistency or pace to break through to the podium placings that would have marked a successful Formula 1 tenure.[1]
Beyond his Formula 1 appearances Hobbs maintained a racing career across multiple series and remained engaged with motorsport for decades afterward. His involvement in the sport extended well into the 2010s through commentary and broadcasting roles with major American media outlets including Speed and NBC, roles he held from the mid-1970s onward. Hobbs was recognized as a graded driver by the FIA in 1969, placing him among the 27 drivers then rated as the world's best, and received induction into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2009. More recently he has remained visible in motorsport circles through honorary roles and memoir publication.[2]