[Official] Top Drivers of the 2000s Super-Poll

[Dutton]

Mika fifth?

He was good in 2000, no doubt, but that is it. He had a poor 2001, then retired.

Does that really earn fifth position of the entire decade?

[richie_h]

My top 10:

1) Hamilton
2) Alonso
3) Raikkonen
4) Schumacher
5) Vettel
6) Montoya
7) Massa
8) Button
9) Barrichello
10) Kubica

[Dutton]

In the 7 years Michael Schumacher competed in the decade, he won 5 titles and came runner-up in another of them. Add to that that he won 5 titles in a row.

I find it hard to see how, for example, Lewis Hamilton's achievements eclipsed that.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Dutton

Mika fifth?

He was good in 2000, no doubt, but that is it. He had a poor 2001, then retired.

Does that really earn fifth position of the entire decade?

In much the same way, I really can't see how JPM could only be classified 7th....

Arguably the only drivers more more competitive than him for long spells in the 2000's were Schuey, Alonso, Raikkonen.

Hamilton only came in in 2007 but was instantly a front runner, Button won a title at the end but wasn't competitive in most of the others years and Massa only came into the equation from 06 onwards, although to be fair that's when he got equipment capable of doing the job as could also be said of Button I guess!

Montoya like Hamilton, was pretty much considered a threat from his first season but Juan wasn't competitive only in his last, so that's 5 seasons at the sharp end effectively, including race winning potential in all of them and one title challenge.

So mine would be:

Schumacher
Alonso
Hamilton
Raikkonen
Montoya
Massa
Button
Barrichello
Vettel
Coulthard

[luke]

1. Schumacher
2. Alonso
3. Hamilton
4. Raikkonen
5. Montoya
6. Vettel
7. Button
8. Massa
9. Kubica
10. Hakkinen

[NaBUru38]

The problem with this ranking is that Schumi missed the last three years. So I will largely ignore them and rank the best drivers after him from 2000 to 2006:

2. Fernando Alonso (only driver to beat him, and twice)
3. Kimi Raikkonen
(big gap)
4. Jenson Button
5. Juan Pablo Montoya
6. David Coulthard
7. Rubens Barrichello
(big gap)
8. Ralf Schumacher
9. Nick Heidfeld

[kezza7]

Of the decade.

1. Schumacher. (Obviously)
2. Alonso. (The only driver to consistently beat Schumacher)
3. Raikkonen
4. Hamilton (Too inexperienced to be higher)
5. Montoya (Feel he could be higher if he stayed in F1)
6. Button (1 WDC, but didn't live up to early promise)
7. Vettel (would be higher, but still a lack of experience)
8. Barrichello (could have been higher had he been given a better chance at Ferrari)
9. Massa (Only seen talent in last two seasons)
10. Webber (Beats Coulthard and Hakkinen on note of last season)

Notable exceptions:
Kubica (Consistency is the key and 2009 was anything but.)
Coulthard (Feel he should have acheived more in decent enough cars)
Hakkinen (Would love to include him but 2001 was dreadful, not enough of the noughties contested.)
Heidfeld (Should have acheived more)
Yuji Ide (A great talent that couldnt quite deliver his promise )
Jos Verstappen (Ok, i just wanted to admire Jos the Boss )