[Driver] The GOAT - Round Two - Raikkonen vs Mansell

[crmalcolm]

The fourth match-up in Round Two sees Raikkonen vs Mansell.

Raikkonen was victorious 8-4 in the first round, whilst Mansell took a 10-1 victory.

So who do you vote for as the greater driver?

Kimi Räikkönen
It is often argued that Kimi Räikkönen was performing at a distinctly higher level in the years from about 2003-2007 than at any other stage in his career, with motivation and various other factors cited as reasons for an abnormally early decline. The 2005 season is a year in which he dominated his popular teammate Juan Pablo Montoya in an unbeatably quick, but often fragile, McLaren. Overall, he beat Montoya 10-7 in counting races, 19-8 in qualifying, and 145-86 in points.

After 2005, the 2004, 2007, and 2009 seasons are considered Räikkönen’s next best, all being among the top 3 driver performances of the year. But in no season is Räikkönen consistently viewed the outright best performing driver, losing out in each case to one of the generation’s greats: Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, and Lewis Hamilton.

By the time Räikkönen did share a team alongside elite drivers Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel, he was no longer performing at his absolute best. Against Vettel, he was occasionally closely matched, but overall beaten 19-48 in counting races, 22-56 in qualifying, and 792-1127 in points. Against Alonso, Räikkönen was absolutely demolished, scoring 1-16 in counting races, 3-16 in qualifying, and 55-161 in points.

Nigel Mansell
When Nigel Mansell intended to leave the sport in 1990, following his retirement announcement, he had scored just 16 wins, having narrowly failed to win titles with dominant cars in both 1986 and 1987. By signing with Williams for another two years, as contractual number one to teammate Riccardo Patrese, Mansell rapidly doubled his career win tally, reaping the benefits of the dominant FW14B to finally score his first title.

Mansell was a polarizing figure within the paddock, but widely admired by fans as a dogged and fearless performer who was always willing to take chances. A parallel to Juan Pablo Montoya can be easily drawn. Although Mansell is always very highly rated by fans, he is consistently lower rated by models.

In 1985, Mansell moved to Williams. In his first season there, he was closely matched with teammate Keke Rosberg, scoring 5-2 in counting races, 7-9 in qualifying, and 31-40 in points. From 1986-1987, Mansell raced with Nelson Piquet, scoring 11-8 in counting races, 17-13 in qualifying, and 124-145 in points. He faced an easier task beating Riccardo Patrese in 1988 and from 1991-1992, scoring 20-5 in counting races, 34-12 in qualifying, and 192-117 in points.

Mansell spent 1989-1990 at Ferrari. Against Gerhard Berger in 1989, he scored 2-1 in counting races, 7-7 in qualifying, and 38-15 in points. Against Alain Prost in 1990, fortunes were reversed, scoring 3-4 in counting races, 8-8 in qualifying, and 37-73 in points.

[Racing Harz]

Mansell.

[Aysedasi]

Raikkonen. Mansell could certainly turn it on on occasions but I think the Finn has it on skill. Not that there's all that much to choose between them.

[morninggents]

It must be Mansell. Stunningly fast.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Raikkonen. Mansell could certainly turn it on on occasions but I think the Finn has it on skill. Not that there's all that much to choose between them.

I found this one hard too. I’m a Raikkonen fan, but had to give it to Mansell. The peaks were higher and he duelled and often won with the best. Hid era might be helping here for me.

[FIRE]

Mansell

[chunterer]

Il Leone!