The scale of an elite motorsport operation requires the most capable and imaginative engineering minds in the world, ones capable of doing the most with gearboxes, aerodynamics and lightening parts within the rules of the competition.
This makes even an operation that circles the back of the grid exceptionally expensive, with funding coming from sponsors, wealthy backers and sometimes from drivers themselves.
Any driver professionally competing in motorsport is particularly talented, but whilst some are limited by their machinery, others have a car that can place highly but cannot make the absolute most of it.
Luca Badoer – Ferrari
The man with the rather unenviable record of the most starts without a points finish, Luca Badoer was far from a terrible driver and his testing acumen helped Ferrari and Michael Schumacher win five world championships in a row.
His career was believed to be all but over when a tragic accident involving Felipe Massa gave Mr Badoer a chance to drive for the Scuderia in a car he had never raced before on a track he had never driven before.
He only participated in two race weekends, finishing last in his final-ever race, often being described as the worst driver to ever race for Ferrari.
Michael Andretti – McLaren
The son of former Formula One world champion Mario Andretti has not had the best luck with the biggest open-wheel championship in the world, either as a team owner or as a driver.
In 1993, Michael Andretti signed with McLaren, partnering with Ayrton Senna, a three-time champion and one of the greatest F1 drivers in history. Behind him in the test driver role was future two-time World Champion Mika Hakkinen.
The pressure was overwhelming, and this proved to be the case with two crashes in his first two races, one of which was a particularly scary crash in Brazil.
He would win a podium and score points on two other occasions, but with Mr Senna placing second in the Driver’s Championship, Mr Andretti was seen as unfit for the seat, although some have claimed he was sabotaged.