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Old 11 Mar 2010, 14:34 (Ref:2649621)   #1
herowassenna
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Greatest Test Driver ever? And why?

The thread about under performing F1 drivers has started mentioning test drivers as under performing drivers.
I figured I should start a thread about who people reckon is the greatest test driver and why.

I could start by saying that Senna was the greatest or MS or Prost or even Alonso, as they all developed their team's cars to a level where they could win races. I don't see that these are strictly test drivers in the truest sense of the word.
Senna developing Michelin tyres whilst at Toleman, or helping to refine the performance of the Renault engine whilst at Lotus was simply him improving the car that he had. Same with Prost during his career and MS during his, pushing the Ferrari team in the correct direction to achieve dominance never seen before.
Alonso also spent a year testing Benettons before his signing into the Renault squad for 2003.

To my mind, the greatest test driver, who was promoted to a F1 car because of his ability was Damon Hill.
Mark Blundell, his predecessor, never achieved anything in F1. Whilst Hill won 3 races in 1993, nearly won the championship in 1994 after being gifted 4 races due to Schumi being disqualified after the British GP black flag. An awesome drive in Suzuka 1994. His car failed him badly during 1995 and finally won the championship in 1996.
1997 took Arrows from an embarrassment at the start to practically winners by Hungary. The car had improved so much, that journeyman Diniz qualified in the top 10 at Spa.
1998 he turned Jordan around and won their first race at Spa, and 1999 his work carried Frentzen almost to the WDC. It was sad watching Hill's decline in 1999, he hated the grooved tyres and couldn't wait for the season to end.
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Old 11 Mar 2010, 14:42 (Ref:2649627)   #2
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Ooh the latest from "The Greatest Ever" trilogy.

Whats next? Greatest Ever Tea Drinker?

Pedro De La Rosa was always rated quite highly during his time with Mc. Nice to see him get a drive for 2010.
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Old 11 Mar 2010, 15:36 (Ref:2649649)   #3
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Senna?

Whilst his teammates pounded round the test track, he sat on the beach in Brazil.

Hill is a good one. Barrichello could be in there I think too. Schumacher is an obvious one.
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Old 11 Mar 2010, 15:56 (Ref:2649659)   #4
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Badoer is up there too
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Old 11 Mar 2010, 16:17 (Ref:2649671)   #5
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Greatest Ever Tea Drinker?
In F1, maybe Frank Dernie?
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Old 11 Mar 2010, 16:23 (Ref:2649679)   #6
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de la Rosa.
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Old 11 Mar 2010, 16:33 (Ref:2649685)   #7
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Senna?

Whilst his teammates pounded round the test track, he sat on the beach in Brazil.
In his later career I'd agree, but in his formative years, he put in all the hours. It was his obsessiveness for de-briefs after tests, qualifying and races that marked him out as different.
When Senna joined Mclaren, Prost suddenly found himself staying behind hours so as not to miss anything that Senna and the engineers went through.
Ducarouge at Lotus, Michelins main man ( can't remember his name) Bryan Hart when he was at Toleman all experienced debriefs with Senna and 20 years later were still in awe of the man.

After his death, a programme on TV had interviews with different drivers. Jonathan Palmer was being interviewed about his time at Mclaren as a test driver.
He said the team would spend all winter testing the car and making changes constantly.
Senna would show up after his winter break and get in the car. Palmer gave an example of a sequence of corners at Silverstone which he compared the telemetry.
Senna would brake 10metres later than Palmer, carry more speed through the corner and be on the power 10 metres earlier.
In effect, on that one sequence of corners he had gained 0.2secs over Palmer.

So yes, Senna in his later years, and certainly after winning his championship, took time out to recharge, but he had the ability to step into a car and be on the limit and making changes already. No doubt Berger wasn't happy about this arrangement, but any test driver was no doubt more than happy to be driving every day.
If Senna had been present, just how many miles would a test driver be doing?
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Old 11 Mar 2010, 16:38 (Ref:2649687)   #8
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In his later career I'd agree, but in his formative years, he put in all the hours. It was his obsessiveness for de-briefs after tests, qualifying and races that marked him out as different.
When Senna joined Mclaren, Prost suddenly found himself staying behind hours so as not to miss anything that Senna and the engineers went through.
Ducarouge at Lotus, Michelins main man ( can't remember his name) Bryan Hart when he was at Toleman all experienced debriefs with Senna and 20 years later were still in awe of the man.

After his death, a programme on TV had interviews with different drivers. Jonathan Palmer was being interviewed about his time at Mclaren as a test driver.
He said the team would spend all winter testing the car and making changes constantly.
Senna would show up after his winter break and get in the car. Palmer gave an example of a sequence of corners at Silverstone which he compared the telemetry.
Senna would brake 10metres later than Palmer, carry more speed through the corner and be on the power 10 metres earlier.
In effect, on that one sequence of corners he had gained 0.2secs over Palmer.

So yes, Senna in his later years, and certainly after winning his championship, took time out to recharge, but he had the ability to step into a car and be on the limit and making changes already. No doubt Berger wasn't happy about this arrangement, but any test driver was no doubt more than happy to be driving every day.
If Senna had been present, just how many miles would a test driver be doing?
I believe I still have that documentary on tape somewhere. Was aired at the start of Jan 1995 iirc. I mihgt have to see if I can dig it out and have a watch of it, not seen it in years!
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Old 11 Mar 2010, 17:03 (Ref:2649698)   #9
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I believe I still have that documentary on tape somewhere. Was aired at the start of Jan 1995 iirc. I mihgt have to see if I can dig it out and have a watch of it, not seen it in years!
Would you have the 1993 Mclaren documentary where Senna post qualifying for Monza is speaking about the track and how bumpy it is under braking. Saw it once but never been able to find it on Ebay or anywhere?
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Old 11 Mar 2010, 17:16 (Ref:2649708)   #10
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Would you have the 1993 Mclaren documentary where Senna post qualifying for Monza is speaking about the track and how bumpy it is under braking. Saw it once but never been able to find it on Ebay or anywhere?
Erm, maybe but I doubt it. I shall look.
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Old 11 Mar 2010, 17:18 (Ref:2649713)   #11
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Remember the speed Davidson used to show testing with Honda?
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Old 11 Mar 2010, 18:14 (Ref:2649738)   #12
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I think we should give the historics guys a shot...
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Old 11 Mar 2010, 18:21 (Ref:2649744)   #13
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I think we should give the historics guys a shot...
If you must
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Old 12 Mar 2010, 02:22 (Ref:2650023)   #14
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I think we should give the historics guys a shot...
Brabham, MaClaren, Stewart, E. Fittipaldi, Lauda.

The worst ?, reckoned to be Jim Clark.
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Old 12 Mar 2010, 11:00 (Ref:2650218)   #15
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Emanuale Pirro. He was the specialist first F1 test driver - Mclaren had one in the 80's when nobody else did and he was very good at it. He and Mclaren set a trend.
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Old 12 Mar 2010, 11:41 (Ref:2650222)   #16
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SuperHen?
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Old 12 Mar 2010, 14:40 (Ref:2650347)   #17
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Panis was believed to be very good for McLaren?
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