Top 20 Greatest F1 drivers

[wolfhound]

The BBC are currently going through their list of the top 20 F1 drivers of all time. They reveal one before each race and currently have got to number 10 with the top 9 to go.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17299158

As the list stands at the moment
10. Alonso
11. Ascari
12. Gilles Villenuve
13. Mansell
14. Hakkinen
15. Hamilton
16. Nelson Piquet
17. Emerson Fittipaldi
18. Jack Brabham
19. Graham Hill
20. Rindt

Four of the current six world champions are on the list with Alonso 10 and Hamilton 15. That leaves Schumacher (almost certain) Vettel, Button & Raikkonen of those currently racing so who will be the fourth one. I think it will be either Vettel or Button but...

Of the rest of the top ten I suspect the following should be on the list in no particular order

Fangio,
Prost,
Senna,
Clark,
Stewart,
Schumacher,
Lauda &
Moss.

I would put Fangio at the top with Prost 2 and Clark 3.

Has anybody got other opinions?

[frostie]

Can I make a recommendation that we all submit our top ten drivers of all time and create our own list? Basically enter everything into a spreadsheet and give 10 points for the number 1 to 1 point for the 10 and create a list for everyone from the forum. Have it as a top 30 or 40(or however many drivers we end up with on the list?

I dont mind looking after it and giving a career overview for the drivers etc. Might be something worthwhile to keep us all occupied when the season finishes or something

[Mr Pink]

Originally Posted by frostie

Can I make a recommendation that we all submit our top ten drivers of all time and create our own list? Basically enter everything into a spreadsheet and give 10 points for the number 1 to 1 point for the 10 and create a list for everyone from the forum. Have it as a top 30 or 40(or however many drivers we end up with on the list?

I dont mind looking after it and giving a career overview for the drivers etc. Might be something worthwhile to keep us all occupied when the season finishes or something

It seems people missed this post which would make the thread different from the others I've seen here on this topic. To get it started here's my Top 10 :

1. Senna
2. Clark
3. Stewart
4. Schumacher
5. Moss
6. Prost
7. Ascari
8. Lauda
9. Peterson
10. G. Villenueve

So to clarify: if you object to my list, make your own and then frostie (if I understood correctly) will make a Ten-Tenths top 20-30 list.

[wolfhound]

That sounds like a great idea Frostie. I also like your intros for each GP as well.

[FAS33]

Originally Posted by wolfhound

Has anybody got other opinions?

Ayrton Senna x 100

[BSchneiderFan]

Clark at the top. We can debate the rest.

[Clive Brown]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

Clark at the top. We can debate the rest.

[formerf1champ]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

Clark at the top. We can debate the rest.

Bernd Schneider no9?

[Mekola]

Fangio still has chances?

[nicanary]

Originally Posted by Mekola

Fangio still has chances?

He was regarded in awe by his peers.If he was on the entry list in a competitive car, the others used to discuss who would come second.

You've only got to read the biographies of them, like Moss or Brooks, to get the picture. It was all so easy for him - the only time he acknowledged he was on his limit was the famous 1957 GermanGP.

And to cap it all, he was modest, and a complete gentleman. Some people have it all.

[deeks6]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

Clark at the top. We can debate the rest.

Absolutely!

- Hamilton ahead of Brabham ... major joke
- Villeneuve ahead of any world champion ... major joke (couldnt even beat his teammates)
- If Moss or Mansell are in the Top 10, you can simply put it down to "but they're British"
- We all know they are going to have Senna at No 1

[bjohnsonsmith]

This is my list; if you don't like it, c'est la vie.

1. A.Senna
2. Fangio
2. Clark
4. Schumacher
5. Ascari
6. Lauda
7. Stewart
8. Prost
9. Moss
10. Brabham

11. G.Hill
12. E.Fittipaldi
13. N.Piquet
14. G.Villeneuve
15. Vettel
16. Alonso
17. Peterson
18. Hakkinen
19. Rindt
20. M.Andretti

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by deeks6

Absolutely!

- If Moss or Mansell are in the Top 10, you can simply put it down to "but they're British"

Hardly.

[osrg]

Hamilton in front of Sir Jack Brabham? Laughable.

[formerf1champ]

Ahh, I see they haven't included me yet! Lemme guess, Ayrton Senna is No1?

Originally Posted by osrg

Hamilton in front of Sir Jack Brabham? Laughable.

In all the years I've had an interest in motorsport, I rarely hear/read about what kind of a driver Sir Jack was. They talk about his engineering prowess, how he was an Aussie battler, the race at Sebring, but nothing about how good he was. Any insight from anyone? Maybe who, in the last 20 years, that he may've been closest to, as a driver and competitor?

[nicanary]

Originally Posted by formerf1champ

Ahh, I see they haven't included me yet! Lemme guess, Ayrton Senna is No1?

In all the years I've had an interest in motorsport, I rarely hear/read about what kind of a driver Sir Jack was. They talk about his engineering prowess, how he was an Aussie battler, the race at Sebring, but nothing about how good he was. Any insight from anyone? Maybe who, in the last 20 years, that he may've been closest to, as a driver and competitor?

He was good, but like many champions he just happened to have the right car at the right time. Rear engine was the way to go, and the Lotus 18 was too late to the party. Some people think Roy Salvadori may have been champ in '59 if he hadn't been honourable towards Aston Martin.

A real fighter, though. Good old Aussie grit. I don't think anyone begrudged him his wins, although IMHO he didn't have the real flair of the greats.

[Paradise City]

the Greatest F1 drivers

1. Fangio
2. Clark
2. Ascari
4. Moss
5. Senna
6. Stewart
7. Peterson
8. Schumacher
9. Prost
10. Alonso
11. Rindt
12. Lauda
13. G.Villeneuve
14. Hunt
15. Fittipaldi
16. Raikkonen
17. Hakkinen
18. Gurney
19. Brabham
20. Scheckter

[nicanary]

Hmm... I don't normally get involved with these "Top 20s", but I have to say - some of those were better than Mario?

And where do you place Tony Brooks? How on earth do you rate him, when by his own admission he "raced" only when the circumstances were right?

These votes never work. Even Fangio used to wait till the last moment to sign a contract, just to make sure he was getting the best car in the field. Back to the old "right car at the right time" syndrome - viz Jenson Button, Phil Hill, Nigel Mansell... etc etc.

[Clive Brown]

Originally Posted by Paradise City

the Greatest F1 drivers

1. Fangio
2. Clark
2. Ascari
4. Moss
5. Senna
6. Stewart
7. Peterson
8. Schumacher
9. Prost
10. Alonso
11. Rindt
12. Lauda
13. G.Villeneuve
14. Hunt
15. Fittipaldi
16. Raikkonen
17. Hakkinen
18. Gurney
19. Brabham
20. Scheckter

No Nuvolari?
No Rudolf Caracciola?
No Achille Varzi?
No Bernd Rosmeyer?
No Nigel Mansell?

And as a left-field choice, Chris Amon.

[formerf1champ]

Originally Posted by nicanary

He was good, but like many champions he just happened to have the right car at the right time. Rear engine was the way to go, and the Lotus 18 was too late to the party. Some people think Roy Salvadori may have been champ in '59 if he hadn't been honourable towards Aston Martin.

A real fighter, though. Good old Aussie grit. I don't think anyone begrudged him his wins, although IMHO he didn't have the real flair of the greats.

Yes, I've had this impression. Denny Hulme similar?

[nicanary]

Originally Posted by formerf1champ

Yes, I've had this impression. Denny Hulme similar?

Agreed, with reservations. Denny could be really up for it some days, and on others he seemed to hold back somehow.

My reference to Roy Salvadori regards the fact that in 1957 and 58 he had actually out-performed Black Jack in WC events, even though Jack was part of the furniture at Coopers. So anoraks will say it was likely that HE would have been champ for Cooper in 59. All supposition.

Jack was a fighter, but although some reminiscences will say he indulged in "speedway" behaviour on corners, he was in no way a "dirty" driver. He was completely fair, but just used his extensive knowledge of dirttrack racing to extend his repertoire. Nobody ever put in a complaint, to my knowledge.

[IceMan_PJN]

Originally Posted by osrg

Hamilton in front of Sir Jack Brabham? Laughable.

More laughable would be having Jenson or Kimi above Alonso and Hamilton. If either make the top ten, the list is a joke.

[Aysedasi]

I have a suspicion we've done all this before.........

[Bononi]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

I have a suspicion we've done all this before.........

A zillion times...

[davyboy]

Michael Schumacher is number 1 in every measure except for people's personal opinion... so maybe it should be phrased as 'your favourite Formula One driver' or something along those lines.