F1: 5 Drivers who won from the back of the grid

Lewis Hamilton's win at the 2018 German Grand Prix was etched into the minds of every racing fan. The Briton had started the race from the fourteenth place after suffering a hydraulics failure in qualifying. However, he defied all the odds and managed to win the race to take a formidable lead in the championship. Of course, Hamilton had a bit of luck with Vettel's crash, but his resilient drive is something that all the racing fans would cherish for a long time.

That was not the only time when there was an unexpected winner in Formula 1. In its long history, there have been quite a few races when the most unlikely driver emerged as the winner. Let us take a closer look at the five drivers who defied all expectations and managed to win a race from the back of the grid.

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#5 Michael Schumacher - 16th Place

Schumacher was crowned the world champion for the second time in 1995

The German legend's 1995 Belgian Grand Prix win from the 16th place is surely one of the highlights of his illustrious career.

Schumacher had a good Q1 but failed to reciprocate the same in Q2 due to changing weather conditions, forcing him to settle for a place in the eighth row of the starting grid.

Changing weather conditions followed the drivers into the race as well. An early round of pits helped the German and Damon Hill to climb to the top of the grid. Both the rivals had a fierce battle for the remainder of the race with Schumacher holding the man in the Williams behind by a slender margin. However, with 10 laps to go, the Briton pitted to serve his stop-go penalty, leaving the German in the clear during the final stages of the race.

Michael Schumacher took the checkered flag to claim his sixth win of the season. However, he was given a one-race suspended ban for his aggressive manoeuvres against Damon Hill.

#4 Jackie Stewart - 16th Place

Jackie Stewart won his third world championship in 1973

The Flying Scot's win from the 16th place in the 1973 South African Grand Prix was one of the defining moments of the three-time world champion's career.

Following a crash during the practice session and a brake failure, Jackie Stewart only managed to start the race from the seventh row.

However, a superb drive from the Briton ensured that he would take the lead within the first eight laps. Other drivers posed little threat to Stewart, who marched comfortably towards his first win of the season. He would go to win the 1973 world championship before announcing his retirement at the end of the season.

#3 Kimi Raikkonen - 17th Place

McLaren defied the odds yet again and finished the race on the top

A wet qualifying session ensured a surprise pole position for Toyota. The favourites, including Schumacher and Alonso, finished the session in the bottom half of the grid.

During the race, Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso made quick progress up the field and were aided by a safety car at the end of lap 1. The Finn continued his march ahead throughout the duration of the race and put constant pressure on the Renaults and the Ferraris. Raikkonen's moment came in the final lap when he performed a great overtaking manoeuvre to wrestle the lead away from Fisichella. He held on to that position and won the race by a margin of 1.6 seconds.

Elsewhere, Fernando Alonso took the third spot after starting the race from the sixteenth place.

#2 Rubens Barrichello - 18th Place

Barrichello's win from the 18th place was his first F1 win

The Brazilian's win at Hockenheimring in 2000 is one of the most memorable moments of German Grand Prix history.

A disastrous qualifying session ensured that Rubens Barrichello would start the race from the 18th position, 4 seconds behind polesitter David Coulthard.

Barrichello showed great character during the initial stages of the race and progressed quickly to the middle of the pack. A safety car deployment due to the track invasion of a fan and changing weather conditions helped the Brazilian's cause.

Showers lashed the track during the closing stages of the Grand Prix, which forced most of the drivers at the top to pit for a change of tyres. However, Barrichello decided to stay on track, and with an inspired drive in the wet with slick tyres, he finished the race on the top.

#1 John Watson - 17th Place, 22nd Place

John Watson won two races from the back of the grid

John Watson managed to do the impossible twice in as many years. Both of the Briton's wins came in the United States.

His first win from the back of the grid came in the 1982 Detroit Grand Prix. The Briton had a lacklustre qualifying and only managed to start the race from the 17th place. However, with a brilliant drive right from the first lap, Watson succeeded in overtaking on a very difficult track and won the race to mark his second victory of the season. The Briton finished that season in the third place, five points behind the champion Keke Rosberg.

The following year, John Watson outdid himself and won the 1983 United States West Grand Prix from the 22nd place. Driving for McLaren, the Briton and his teammate Niki Lauda struggled in qualifying and started the race from P22 and P23 respectively. Both the drivers had a splendid session at Long Beach and climbed the grid with ease, to finish the race first and second. Moreover, Niki Lauda managed to set the fastest lap of the race.