10. Tyrrell P34
If you think that wacky wheel configurations are reserved only for road cars, think again. The famous Tyrrell P34 introduced the six-wheel concept to Formula One, and with some success. From this distance, it is safe to say that if Tyrrell invested more time and money into the P34, it could have been a championship-winning car.
They introduced the P34 in 1976 featuring four small wheels in the front and two in the back. The front wheels managed the steering and much of the braking. The basic idea was if the car had more grip in the front, it could brake more efficiently and turn at higher speeds. When the car debuted, it proved to be competitive, causing others to consider implementing that solution to their Formula One cars.
Unfortunately, the P34 was too complicated and suffered from problems with reliability, often causing it to retire before the race ended. However, when everything worked properly, the Tyrrell P34 was fast. And it out-cornered and out-braked the competition with ease.
The car was active for just two seasons, 1976 and 1977, but managed to win the Swedish Grand Prix in 1976. The six-wheel design of the Tyrrell P34 Formula One car made an impact, influencing the designers of cars like the Panther 6 and the Covini C6W.