[Driver] The GOAT - Round One - Scheckter vs Hawthorn

[crmalcolm]

The seventeenth match-up in Round One sees Scheckter vs Hawthorn.

So who do you vote for as the greater driver?

Jody Scheckter
On a good day, Scheckter was one of the best drivers of the 1970s. On a bad day, he was nowhere.
Scheckter’s career began in ignominious fashion, as he DNFed from every start in 1973. On debut, he was running 3rd until he spun. He looked set for victory in his third race, but crashed into Emerson Fittipaldi, prompting the Brazilian to call Scheckter a “menace to himself and everybody else”. At the next race, Scheckter caused a massive pile-up, leading to the McLaren team resting him for four rounds. On return, he crashed again.

Witnessing the harrowing fatal crash of François Cevert at the end of 1973 led to a fundamental refinement of Scheckter’s driving, as he became a far more careful and precise competitor.

“From then on, all I was trying to do in Formula One was save my life.” – Jody Scheckter

1974 seems to be Scheckter’s finest season. This was a year in which he dominated teammate Patrick Depailler 45-12 in points to finish 3rd in the championship. Racing alongside Depailler from 1974-1976, Scheckter led 19-10 in counting races, 27-18 in qualifying, and 114-65 in points.

Scheckter was a sole entrant for Wolf across most of 1977-1978, during which time he finished 2nd in the championship.

In 1979, Scheckter made a canny move to Ferrari to partner Gilles Villeneuve, replacing Carlos Reutemann, who left the team at the worst possible time. After winning the title in 1979, the 1980 season was an unmitigated disaster, as Ferrari dropped in the blink of an eye from world-beaters to bottom of midfield. Scheckter’s driving that year seemed completely uninspired and he retired at the end of the year.

Mike Hawthorn
Mike Hawthorn was Britain’s first champion, taking the 1958 championship from Stirling Moss, after the latter sportingly pleaded Hawthorn’s case in a key race to avoid Hawthorn’s disqualification.

Three of Hawthorn’s teammates appeared clearly quicker in equal equipment. Against Giuseppe Farina, he was beaten 2-6 in counting races and 1-10 in qualifying. Against Alberto Ascari, he was beaten 3-5 in counting races and 0-9 in qualifying. Against José Froilán González, he was beaten 1-2 in counting races and 1-6 in qualifying.

Two of Hawthorn’s teammates had mixed records against him. Against Luigi Villoresi, Hawthorn scored 3-3 in counting races and 2-8 in qualifying. Against Peter Collins, Hawthorn scored 3-2 in counting races and 8-3 in qualifying.

Against his other teammates, Hawthorn was generally significantly quicker. He beat Maurice Trintignant 4-3 in counting races and 12-1 in qualifying, Luigi Musso 5-3 in counting races and 7-2 in qualifying, and Wolfgang von Trips 3-1 in counting races and 5-0 in qualifying.

Mike Hawthorn retired at the end of 1958, reigning champion and aged 29, but suffering a terminal kidney disease. He died in a motor vehicle accident months later.

[Adam43]

Jody makes better burgers.

[Aysedasi]

I'm not sure if he still has it, but Jody had his 'farm' very near to me. We had a friend who worked for him and said he was the employer from hell.....

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

I'm not sure if he still has it, but Jody had his 'farm' very near to me. We had a friend who worked for him and said he was the employer from hell.....

Yes, I too have heard that he can be extremely unpleasant...

[FIRE]

Hawthorn wins for me because I see his results outside F1 as a plus.