Top 10 Most Important People in F1

Damon · 11 Jan 2003, 23:14 (Ref:471533)

In the latest F1 Racing Mag they've got the 99 most important people in F1 history as decided by the votes of 31 people in the know and James Allen.

Here is the top ten:
1. Bernie Ecclestone
2. Enzo Ferrari
3. Ayrton Senna
4. Colin Chapman
5. Jackie Stewart
6. Juan Manuel Fangio
7. Michael Schumacher
8. Frank Williams
9. Jim Clark
10. Max Mosley.

What do you think?

Jordi · 11 Jan 2003, 23:27 (Ref:471551)

Pretty accurate, isn't it?

Maybe Balestre was quite important too

Damon · 11 Jan 2003, 23:40 (Ref:471567)

Balestre was at 23. Oddest thing in the list though is that Fisi is at 69 yet people like JV and Hakkinen aren't :confused:.

Jordi · 11 Jan 2003, 23:50 (Ref:471579)

Really odd. If Fisico was so important he'd be in one of the big three, wouldn't he?

Damon · 11 Jan 2003, 23:54 (Ref:471582)

I should have said "...aren't in the list at all". Seems a lot of people fall for hype I guess? Fisi's nothing particularly extraordinary or else he'd have got a top drive long ago. Team bosses aren't idiots (well some are

).

the_extreme · 12 Jan 2003, 00:06 (Ref:471595)

h0ly cr4p TGF @ #7 should B alot lower than that. Having said that so should Bernie and Frank but that's my HO

the_extreme · 12 Jan 2003, 00:08 (Ref:471598)

Glad to see the Boss is in the top 3 personally I'd of rated him as number 2 just slightlty behind Enzo - What a team that would of made!

Damon · 12 Jan 2003, 00:10 (Ref:471599)

By important I think they mean people that have had the biggest impact and to be fair F1 wouldn't be what it is today (i.e. a state) without Bernie. I think Enzo's only so high because of his surname. I think Chapman had more impact than him as a principal.

the_extreme · 12 Jan 2003, 00:38 (Ref:471621)

Quote:

Originally posted by Damon
By important I think they mean people that have had the biggest impact and to be fair F1 wouldn't be what it is today (i.e. a state) without Bernie. I think Enzo's only so high because of his surname. I think Chapman had more impact than him as a principal.

Maybe - my top 10 would be:

1) Enzo - to me Enzo is F1
2) Senna - o.k. so I think he is the best of the best - I'm pretty sure the whole world over will have other views on the number 2 spot but to me this one belongs to the One!
3) Juan Fangio - only by a hair but Senna was better!
4) Keith Duckworh/Ken costin who came first the chicken or the egg ?
5) Colin Chapman - Colin was a King - Nuff Said!!!
6) Ken Tyrell - may of been a lousy buisnessman - but - He was there way before Frank!
7) Micheal Schumacher - pretty good driver

8)Bruce McLaren - how quickly people forget!!!
9) Ron Dennis/Teddy Mayer
10)Frank Williams

Armco Bender · 12 Jan 2003, 01:39 (Ref:471669)

Here is the top ten:
1. Bernie Ecclestone
2. Bernie Ecclestone
3. Bernie Ecclestone
4. Bernie Ecclestone
5. Bernie Ecclestone
6. Bernie Ecclestone
7. Bernie Ecclestone
8. Bernie Ecclestone
9. Bernie Ecclestone
10. Bernie Ecclestone

the_extreme · 12 Jan 2003, 01:49 (Ref:471674)

Quote:

Originally posted by Armco Bender
Here is the top ten:
1. Bernie Ecclestone
2. Bernie Ecclestone
3. Bernie Ecclestone
4. Bernie Ecclestone
5. Bernie Ecclestone
6. Bernie Ecclestone
7. Bernie Ecclestone
8. Bernie Ecclestone
9. Bernie Ecclestone
10. Bernie Ecclestone

Only in his own mind

DNQ · 12 Jan 2003, 01:59 (Ref:471679)

I agree totally with Armco Bender. Max Mosely in 11th maybe.

the_extreme · 12 Jan 2003, 03:06 (Ref:471708)

LMFAO

Mania · 12 Jan 2003, 03:25 (Ref:471716)

The list seems pretty accurate though I wouldnt put Jackie Stewart so far up the list - certainly not ahead of Schumacher, Fangio and Williams.

the_extreme · 12 Jan 2003, 03:34 (Ref:471720)

Schu who ???

Fogelhund · 12 Jan 2003, 03:41 (Ref:471726)

I think we have to differentiate the difference in best drivers and most important in the history of the sport. I'd actually rate Stewart as THE most important of the drivers. While he doesn't quite rate as a driver as high IMHO, as a few, he did far more for safety issues, and starting the move towards safer cars then any other driver in history. In his era 1 of 3 or something would die, today, well its been pretty safe, and much of this is due to Stewarts work.

the_extreme · 12 Jan 2003, 04:13 (Ref:471743)

Quote:

Originally posted by Fogelhund
I think we have to differentiate the difference in best drivers and most important in the history of the sport. I'd actually rate Stewart as THE most important of the drivers. While he doesn't quite rate as a driver as high IMHO, as a few, he did far more for safety issues, and starting the move towards safer cars then any other driver in history. In his era 1 of 3 or something would die, today, well its been pretty safe, and much of this is due to Stewarts work.

Yep I think that it would be better to differentiate between the drivers and the constructors and the officiators. My bad !! I do think that Jackie Stewart should be included in the list although I'm not sure exactly where - would Ken Tyrell be as high up the list if it wasn't for Jackie Stewart ??????? There are as many drivers out there that owe their success to the engineers as there are engineers that owe their success to te drivers!! again JMHO - but you try winning in a car/kart that handles like cr@p and is d0g slow !!

Jeff

Wrex · 12 Jan 2003, 07:13 (Ref:471790)

The most important name missing from the list IMO is Professor Sid Watkins. His influence on safety in F1 is as important to it's success as television.

Lee Janotta · 12 Jan 2003, 07:30 (Ref:471797)

Yeah, Stewart's influence comes from giving "legitimacy" to every b******t "safety" regulation that's been suggested!

Thanks a hell of a lot.

Sid Watkins has a bit more common sense, but like everyone else in power in F1, starts with the conclusion that "speed kills", then builds his evidence to justify that conclusion.

Russfeld · 12 Jan 2003, 08:12 (Ref:471817)

That might be the dumbest list ive ever seen. How can you put drivers ahead of storied team owners? People really overrate the driver in the scheme of racing. He is there for the team, the team is not there for him.

Damon · 12 Jan 2003, 12:03 (Ref:471946)

Senna was certainly bigger than the team while he was racing. It was him that brought the sponspors and the interest in the sport from all around the world. He was a demi-god in Brazil. The team was simply his platform. Good point as well Wrex, Sid Watkins is certianly notable in his absence.

Nicholas · 12 Jan 2003, 14:43 (Ref:472092)

Quote:

Originally posted by Damon
decided by the votes of 31 people in the know and James Allen.

Spot the odd one out!

Damon · 12 Jan 2003, 14:47 (Ref:472095)

I didn't think anyone had noticed that quip!

Matthopps · 12 Jan 2003, 15:49 (Ref:472135)

Here is my top 10 in no particular order.

1 Ayrton Senna
2 Prof Sid Watkins
3 Jackie Stewart
4 Murray Walker
5 Bernie Eccelstone
6 Max Mosley
7 Enzo Ferrari
8 Charlie Whiting - somebody's got to control the race
9 Juan M Fangio
10 Ricardo Patrese - shows that longevity is a good thing
besides, I'm fed up with everyone who goes on about how great M.Shoemaker etc is when its as much the teams involvement as it is him..............

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