[Driver] The GOAT - Round One - Clark vs Heidfeld

[crmalcolm]

The fifth match-up in Round One sees Clark vs Heidfeld.

So who do you vote for as the greater driver?

Jim Clark
Clark initially took a couple of seasons to really find his feet, but after that, he was practically unstoppable. It is worth noting that Clark was still working on the family farm at the age that Max Verstappen debuted in F1. Clark did not begin his first race until 1956, when he started in amateur hillclimb events. Four years later, he was debuting at the pinnacle of motorsports. By 1962, the model sees Clark as the strongest performing driver on the grid.

Clark’s streak from 1963 to 1965 was a demonstration of his complete superiority over the competition. Of the 29 championship races he started in this period, he either experienced mechanical issues (13 races), in some cases causing a DNF, or he won (16 races). In the 16 races that he won, his average lead over 2nd place at the checkered flag was 58 seconds. He amassed a total of 159 points to his works-team teammates’ collective 28 points.

If we look at win streaks in F1 only including counting races (i.e., excluding any intervening mechanical DNFs), Jim Clark has the longest in history at 11 consecutive counting races. Of course, this was enabled by a combination of Clark’s driving skills and often dominant machinery. In the words of John Surtees, “Jimmy was good—very good—but a lot of the time also had the best car.”

Nick Heidfeld
Nick Heidfeld finished his F1 career without a race win, though he possibly could have won Canada 2008 against his teammate, had he been more ruthless. In a way, this summarizes Heidfeld. Extremely quick and consistent, certainly talented enough to deserve race wins, and perhaps even titles in the right car in the right era, but seemingly lacking the killer instinct of a champion.

Heidfeld’s name often arises in discussions of who was the best driver in F1 history without a race win. He remains a very credible historical choice based on this list.

Although Heidfeld led his battle against Räikkönen 6-5 in counting races, 10-7 in qualifying, and 12-9 in points (noting that Heidfeld had better reliability), it was recognized that Räikkönen’s potential was higher than Heidfeld’s, as a less experienced driver, when he was scooped up by McLaren.

[FIRE]

Clark

[Aysedasi]

This has to be the biggest no-brainer of them all.....

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

In the words of John Surtees, “Jimmy was good—very good—but a lot of the time also had the best car.”

Now where have I heard that before.......

[Skam85]

Battle for the ages this one