The "difference" between a great and good driver...

[markcoznottz]

Dryce said:

vonuber said:

Difference between a good and a great? In general, the timing of what car you end up in. There are outliers of course, like Schumacher or Senna, but in general that's the case.

I think this aspect of timing or right place/right time has a lot to do with with how things appear.

Fernando Alonso is an example of a driver where early career timing worked well and thereafter things went astray. How would we think of him today had he not had the early Benetton years.

Well those extra wide Michelin front tyres certainly made him a few million quid. The mass damper didn't do any harm either.

[Logie]

I would also say that the top elite drivers have magical moments like amazing drive in the wet from near the back or some overtake on the outside of a corner which defies the odds.

We have seen thsi from the likes of LH MS AS but not so much from NR maybe even SV?

They have also had good results in some pig cars too

[KevinCamaroSS]

There is one thing that sticks in my mind, that only one driver is the last 30 years or so has managed to win at least one race in every season he has raced regardless of the car. Step forward Lewis Hamilton. Some of his McLaren seasons were in a pretty awful car, yet he still managed at least one win each year. In 2008 the Ferrari was a better all-round car but he managed the WDC.

[London424]

Rocking up to a brand new track and being fast is a pretty good indicator.

[swisstoni]

London424 said:

Rocking up to a brand new track and being fast is a pretty good indicator.

This weekend should be interesting then.

[Dr Z]

swisstoni said:

London424 said:

Rocking up to a brand new track and being fast is a pretty good indicator.

This weekend should be interesting then.

Bottas is a great driver then.

[London424]

swisstoni said:

London424 said:

Rocking up to a brand new track and being fast is a pretty good indicator.

This weekend should be interesting then.

That's why I said it...looking at the times from when they first started lapping this morning to what they are doing now.

I also think it removes some of the machinery component too.

It's drivers getting to grips with things.

Next year at the track I'm guessing things will become much more normalised.

[AdvocatusD]

London424 said:

swisstoni said:

London424 said:

Rocking up to a brand new track and being fast is a pretty good indicator.

This weekend should be interesting then.

That's why I said it...looking at the times from when they first started lapping this morning to what they are doing now.

I also think it removes some of the machinery component too.

It's drivers getting to grips with things.

Next year at the track I'm guessing things will become much more normalised.

Lewis not looking good at all today. Lots of running past braking points, etc. Rosberg is on pole.

I'm not suggesting that this means Rosberg is "better". But I do think the gap between him and Rosberg is really not as vast as the original article made out... Hamilton is slightly better and over the course of a career, that will result in a wider gap in terms of victories and success. Per race, per corner, not much in it!

[Crafty_]

AdvocatusD said:

London424 said:

swisstoni said:

London424 said:

Rocking up to a brand new track and being fast is a pretty good indicator.

This weekend should be interesting then.

That's why I said it...looking at the times from when they first started lapping this morning to what they are doing now.

I also think it removes some of the machinery component too.

It's drivers getting to grips with things.

Next year at the track I'm guessing things will become much more normalised.

Lewis not looking good at all today. Lots of running past braking points, etc. Rosberg is on pole.

I'm not suggesting that this means Rosberg is "better". But I do think the gap between him and Rosberg is really not as vast as the original article made out... Hamilton is slightly better and over the course of a career, that will result in a wider gap in terms of victories and success. Per race, per corner, not much in it!

A single session, peppered with yellow flags is hardly representative is it ? Its very unusual to see Lewis struggle like that. He was on top of FP3 and has barely made a mistake all weekend.

[FeelingLucky]

I suspect you're missing the point somewhat, he put himself in that situation.
He put himself under that pressure.
And then drove like a startled rookie.

[cgt2]

If he makes an epic comeback tomorrow (which could happen with the possibility of a safety car and crash disrupted race) then the question may answer itself.

I always consider a great driver to be one who comes back from adversity. Kimi used to be great, Japan 2005, from last to first.

Leading from the front is easy in comparison.

[Flooble]

I was pondering whether the answer to the original question might not just be "great drivers don't crash into inanimate objects or repeatedly fail to brake for the same corner each lap"

[SPS]

100th of a second per lap