Getting to Formula One is the ultimate goal for any racing driver, with only the very best able to compete in motorsport's premier class. Every single member of the current grid has earned the right to be there, including the pay drivers, who have worked their way through junior formulas despite having the financial backing that others don't enjoy. However, that hasn't always been the case. Some drivers have managed to wrangle their way into F1 despite being nowhere near good enough to mix it with the world's best.
12. Nikita Mazepin
Earning the nickname 'Mazespin', the Russian pay driver was totally out of his depth at Haas. He was completely outclassed by rookie team-mate Mick Schumacher and never won a championship point, all while falling out with everyone in the team and winding up other drivers on a weekly basis. He only gained a seat because his billionaire father, Dmitri, was the owner of Haas title sponsors Uralkali.
11. Claudio Langes and 10. Dave Walker
Langes holds the unenviable record for the most failed attempts to qualify for an F1 race. He fell short in pre-qualifying on no less than 14 occasions during the 1990 season without ever starting a single race. Granted, he was driving for the uncompetitive EuroBrun team, but he makes the list thanks to his embarrassing record.
From one terrible record to another, Walker is the only driver in F1 history to score zero points in a season their team-mate won the championship. He was paired with Emerson Fittipaldi at Lotus in 1972 and while the Brazilian romped to the title with 60 points, Walker couldn't get in on the act at all. He was successful in lower formulas but couldn't cope with the higher-powered F1 cars of the early 1970s.
9. Luca Badoer and 8. Alex Yoong
Badoer makes the list as a result of his ill-fated Ferrari spell in 2009, when he was drafted in to replace the injured Felipe Massa. The issue was that he hadn't raced in 10 years or even tested that season's car. Badoer only lasted two races before he was hastily replaced by Giancarlo Fisichella. However, his test work for Ferrari was crucial in shaping their dominance when Michael Schumacher was in his prime.
Yoong fell foul of the 107 per cent qualifying rule on three separate occasions during his time at Minardi in the early 2000s. He was thrashed by team-mates Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber and was even benched for two races in 2002 because of his slow pace. Another pay driver, Yoong's career was largely funded by Malaysian government sponsorship and corporate backing to help the cash-strapped Minardi team.
