Why can't Italy produce an F1 champion?

[garycat]

There's been plenty of Italian drivers over the last 50 years and their passion for motorsport is unrivalled, so why do Italians never get a competitive drive.

Their last F1 world champion was in 1953.

Edited by garycat on Friday 21st March 18:25

[stephen300o]

Mario Andretti is nearly Italian

[LaSarthe+Back]

Because they are too emotive about it. Talked to plenty of Italians and everything always has the tone of importance of a life or death moment!!

Maybe that's rubbish, but it's all I can think of!!

[DrTre]

It's the concept of one reverse gear and 7 forward that they can't get their heads around.

Throughout history the Italians are used to it being the other way round.

[130R]

They have won plenty on 2 wheels

[stockhatcher]

miki biasion in 1988/9 was wrc champ.

[Eric Mc]

garycat said:

There's been plenty of Italian drivers over the last 50 years and their passion for motorsport is unrivalled, so why do Italians never get a competitive drive.

Their last F1 world champion was in 1953.

Edited by garycat on Friday 21st March 18:25

Not strictly speaking correct.

Ascari won the World Driver's Championship in 1952 and 1953, the two years when it was run to Formula 2 regs.

So, in reality, they have never had a Formula 1 World Driver's Champion - ever.

[groomi]

Beacus they're too busy preening themselves, to work at driving fast. Take Renault as an example when Fisi and the Spantard were teamates. One wore the coolest shades, advertised aftershave and looked cool on the pit scooter. The other had caterpilars for eyebrows, carpet for sideburns, a comical goatee and won the world championship...

[FourWheelDrift]

It's because Italians talk with their hands too much, if they have to communicate to the pits via the on board radio then all hell breaks loose. Hence the reasons why Trulli and Fisichella often fall off the pace, they are too busy waving their arms around.

Next time you are watching the F1 look out for something like this.

[mhedleyrob]

Fisichella in something really quick may have led to victory (a few years back) but sadly not to be.

The other drivers used to rate him very highly.

Apart from that it was Trulli who was going to be the saviour - even looked like Senna so he must have been quick!

[Derek Smith]

Eric Mc said:

garycat said:

There's been plenty of Italian drivers over the last 50 years and their passion for motorsport is unrivalled, so why do Italians never get a competitive drive.

Their last F1 world champion was in 1953.

Edited by garycat on Friday 21st March 18:25

Not strictly speaking correct.

Ascari won the World Driver's Championship in 1952 and 1953, the two years when it was run to Formula 2 regs.

So, in reality, they have never had a Formula 1 World Driver's Champion - ever.

Can I have you in my pub quiz team?

[Petros]

Believe the Italian Army won some sort of record for the fastest retreat in history during World War 2

[FourWheelDrift]

Eric Mc said:

Ascari won the World Driver's Championship in 1952 and 1953, the two years when it was run to Formula 2 regs.

So, in reality, they have never had a Formula 1 World Driver's Champion - ever.

They have in 1950 when Giuseppe Farina won the very first Formula One World Championships which were that year run to Formula One regulations as they were also in 1951 when Fangio won (4.5 litre normally aspirated or 1.5 litre supercharged). They only changed to F2 rules in 1952-1953 (Ascari's years) before returning to F1 rules in 1954.

Edited by FourWheelDrift on Friday 21st March 22:14

[Eric Mc]

Correct - I forgot about Farina - the first champion of them all. However, once Fangio got into his stride Farina was eclipsed.

[Dunit]

After Bandini was killed in a Ferrari at Monaco the old man was very reluctent to have a Italian driver in one of his cars which did not help matters.

[castrolcraig]

more to the point, most italians are more interested in 2 wheels than 4, hence the popularity and sucess of rossi, dovizioso, melandri (before this year) etc etc

[blueyes]

Petros said:

Believe the Italian Army won some sort of record for the fastest retreat in history during World War 2

Short memory.... I believe we invaded you back around 54bc... gave you straight roads, sanitation, and decent food.......since then you haven't built any roads, improved the drains (hence all of the flooding) and are now eating american food.

RE: retreating- we were only following your example in Dunkirk.

[Man in Black]

blueyes said:

Short memory.... I believe we invaded you back around 54bc... gave you straight roads, sanitation, and decent food.......since then you haven't built any roads, improved the drains (hence all of the flooding) and are now eating american food.

Yes but apart from straight Roads, sanitation and decent food what have the Romans ever done for us??

Edited by Man in Black on Saturday 22 March 17:25

[FourWheelDrift]

blueyes said:

and are now eating american food.

The Romans invented the Beef Burger, the Americans just know how to market it.

[blueyes]

FourWheelDrift said:

blueyes said:

and are now eating american food.

The Romans invented the Beef Burger, the Americans still don't know how to make it.

EFA