Most Important People in F1

**Asp** · 6 Feb 2003, 18:53 (Ref:498758)

Inspired by this months F1 Racing, time to find out who the most important F1 person has been in history. Doesn't matter if they fast or successful - it's if they made a difference to the F1 of today.

The shortlist is the Top 10 that the F1 racing jurors chose.

Logrence · 6 Feb 2003, 19:28 (Ref:498777)

Bernie Ecclestone has been the single greatest influence on today's F1 - I really can't see any argument to surpass that...and I can't imagine any other man would have been able to bring the sport to this level, to be quite honest.

Snrub · 6 Feb 2003, 20:12 (Ref:498808)

Tough question, I don't know who to answer!

ASCII Man · 6 Feb 2003, 20:27 (Ref:498824)

I voted for Enzo.
He's been in there from the start and had a major influence so i think that he fits the bill just fine.

But in a way, Colin Chapman also had a big influence through his great design innovations and gave F1 the reputation of being the most advanced motorized sport in the world with his ingenious designs IMO.

Jordi · 6 Feb 2003, 22:07 (Ref:498906)

Has to be Ecclestone. He's made a big impact, there's no doubt about it.

JonesF1 · 6 Feb 2003, 22:46 (Ref:498939)

Most important people in F1? Us, the lowly fans cheering on our heroes in their multi-million dollar race cars during competitions that cover the globe.

Mr V · 7 Feb 2003, 08:52 (Ref:499166)

Agreed Jonesy!!

However, F1 wouldn't be what it is today, professionally speaking if it wasn't for Bernie.

golem · 7 Feb 2003, 11:32 (Ref:499288)

I question that. If it wasn't bernie, it could well have been Murdoch or some other company wishing to televise the greatest racing on earth at the time. He is simply a fiugurehead of what has happened to all professional sports in the western world. But because he's a definative figure who owns the rights mostly himself, rather than a corp, it's undeniable he is.

But I just don't think in terms of F1 being F1 he's that important. He just represents the big bucks that all top level sports attracted.

No, Chapman and Enzo were huge influences on the Workings, tactics, management, design... Two very very important men in the world of cars. They raced for racing and that is the soul of the sport. However they could, whenever they could, as much as they could, they loved to see their cars go racing.

DNQ · 7 Feb 2003, 12:11 (Ref:499325)

It's gotta be Bernie.

Kenny W. · 7 Feb 2003, 12:49 (Ref:499376)

Torn between Stewart (for safety and "drive just fast enough to win"), and Chapman (innovations that dramatically changed the look of cars and made the sport more oriented towards car and research than driver).(IMHO). The drive for innovations probably drove costs up too.
Went for Chapman!

KA · 7 Feb 2003, 12:52 (Ref:499381)

Quote:

Originally posted by golem
I question that. If it wasn't bernie, it could well have been Murdoch or some other company wishing to televise the greatest racing on earth at the time. He is simply a fiugurehead of what has happened to all professional sports in the western world. But because he's a definative figure who owns the rights mostly himself, rather than a corp, it's undeniable he is.

But I just don't think in terms of F1 being F1 he's that important. He just represents the big bucks that all top level sports attracted.

No, Chapman and Enzo were huge influences on the Workings, tactics, management, design... Two very very important men in the world of cars. They raced for racing and that is the soul of the sport. However they could, whenever they could, as much as they could, they loved to see their cars go racing.

I can see exactly where you're coming from here- the sad thing is that ultimately, Bernie has probably had a bigger influence on F1, or at least what it's become....

jetsetter · 7 Feb 2003, 13:04 (Ref:499405)

My vote personally would have gone for Dr. Sid Watkins for his constant improval of the safety of F1 cars, i was dissapointed to see him as low as 18th in F1 Racing but of the people on the list it would probably have to be Bernie for the proffessionalism he bought to the sport.

**Aysedasi** · 7 Feb 2003, 13:09 (Ref:499419)

I went for Chapman - only because I couldn't really decide. Important? A different concept I think from who has (had) the greatest influence. I could just as easily have said Enzo Ferrari, but I couldn't honestly name any driver. Ecclestone - well, full of his own importance, that's for sure. Mosely? You're kidding?

I like jetsetters idea of Sid Watkins. If the name had been on the list I'd probably have gone for that.

ASCII Man · 7 Feb 2003, 15:32 (Ref:499568)

I voted for Enzo, but think Colin had a bigger influence.
Can someone change my vote, please?

**Asp** · 7 Feb 2003, 21:01 (Ref:499888)

I've had to go for JYS - I was sorely tempted by the little big man, but, without Stewart, F1 would probably be illegal in most countries - for being unsafe.

Sid Watkins does deserve tons of credit for his work - but ever since he disastorous accident at Spa Stewart started his campaign for safety, against the opinion at the time. And it continued as a team owner, developing the removable seat in the late 90s.

IT was JYS who laid down the fondations and ideas for people like Sid Watkins and even Mad Max to develop. And the safety of F1 is more important that Bernie's commercial aspect that amde F1 global.

R · 7 Feb 2003, 22:22 (Ref:500003)

Quote:

Originally posted by ®îjñtjûh
I voted for Enzo, but think Colin had a bigger influence.
Can someone change my vote, please?

Done.

Asp, you've convinced me. My vote goes to Jackie Stewart as well.

Valve Bounce · 8 Feb 2003, 00:47 (Ref:500177)

I voted for Bernie - like him or hate him, nobody else had a greater influence in the direction F1 took to where it is today. {Hey!! di someone else say that already?} sorry

R · 8 Feb 2003, 10:06 (Ref:500410)

One could also argue that the founder of F1, or the guy who first got the idea that cars could race each other, is the most important person in F1 history.

But the way the question is asked, one is to assume that F1 already is in place, and choose the most important person since the inauguration.

429CJ · 10 Feb 2003, 18:11 (Ref:502530)

Frank Williams - the last true Patron.

Thorstone · 10 Feb 2003, 18:53 (Ref:502581)

Quote:

Originally posted by Logrence
Bernie Ecclestone has been the single greatest influence on today's F1 - I really can't see any argument to surpass that...and I can't imagine any other man would have been able to bring the sport to this level, to be quite honest.

Iam agree

Kenny W. · 12 Feb 2003, 08:34 (Ref:504110)

By the way, wasn't it Jackie Stewart who brought Sid into F1 on his own initiative?

Jay · 13 Feb 2003, 07:01 (Ref:505183)

I would say it's the engineers that gave those guys the machinery they needed to win races. Especially the ones in the last 10 years.

Mr V · 13 Feb 2003, 10:43 (Ref:505303)

Quote:

Originally posted by Kenny W.
By the way, wasn't it Jackie Stewart who brought Sid into F1 on his own initiative?

Thought that that was Bernie. But Sid said that if he wasn't listened to then he was off.

However, Jackie was a major influence in the safety of todays F1.

bcobbus · 14 Feb 2003, 07:43 (Ref:506166)

How about this for an idea, THE FANS!

**Asp** · 14 Feb 2003, 16:55 (Ref:506654)

Quote:

Originally posted by bcobbus
How about this for an idea, THE FANS!

How have we made a difference to F1 as opposed to the obvious neing important in F1 (in that without fans there'd be no F1)?:confused:

View Poll Results: Who is the most important person in F1 history?
Max Mosley	0	0%
Jim Clark	0	0%
Frank Williams	1	2.08%
Michael Schumacher	0	0%
Juan Manuel Fangio	2	4.17%
Jackie Stewart	4	8.33%
Colin Chapman	8	16.67%
Ayrton Senna	3	6.25%
Enzo Ferrari	4	8.33%
Bernie Ecclestone	26	54.17%
Voters: 48. You may not vote on this poll

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