Finishing at the bottom of the standings usually signals a difficult season, but Pierre Gasly might just be thrilled to be there—at least in one surprising category. While the unofficial ‘World Destructors’ Championship tracks the car damage repair costs of F1 drivers, Gasly has managed to fly under the radar in a way that’s caught the attention of data-savvy fans.
The 2024 season, known for its fierce competition and dramatic crashes, has seen numerous drivers hit the barriers, rack up repair bills, and often contribute to their team’s financial woes. However, Gasly has been nothing short of a revelation, with a completely clean record. After 21 rounds, he has avoided any crashes or even a simple tire puncture—an extraordinary feat in the most competitive era of F1’s ground-effect cars.
If Gasly can maintain his flawless record through the final triple-header of the season, he will become the first full-time driver in F1 history to finish an entire campaign without costing his team a single penny in damage. Considering the number of crashes and mistakes from his peers, this is an astonishing statistic that has largely gone unnoticed—apart from a few eagle-eyed fans on social media.
In contrast, his teammate Esteban Ocon has been a costly presence for Alpine, with damage bills exceeding $1 million. While most of Ocon’s races have been relatively clean, a near-collision with Gasly in Monaco ended with Ocon crashing into the barriers, pushing his damage tally into the seven-figure range.
Out of the 23 drivers who have competed in the 2024 season, Gasly sits comfortably at the bottom of the ‘Destructors’ standings, a position that’s actually a cause for celebration. Valtteri Bottas, the next driver on the list, has racked up $125k in damages for Sauber, far ahead of Gasly’s clean slate.
At the top of the ‘Destructors’ list, as expected, are the drivers who’ve had the most incidents. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, who has struggled to help the team’s Constructors’ Championship challenge this season, leads the chart with a staggering $4.8 million in crash costs. He is closely followed by Alex Albon, who has caused around $200k less damage than Perez.
Gasly’s remarkable feat not only highlights his ability to avoid costly mistakes but also speaks to the growing importance of consistency in the increasingly tight F1 season. If he continues to finish damage-free, he’ll have carved out a piece of F1 history that no one saw coming.
