Least accomplished / worst World Champion?
Discussion
John D. said:
Jaque Villeneuve springs to mind at least for his F1 career.
Patrick Head was particularly scathing about him. He felt JV ignored advice and knew little on how to set his car up. I can't remember the actual quote but it was quite funny, which for Patrick Head is really quite frightening.LanCat said:
Damon Hill. Super chap but not much apart from the title.
JV achieved enough outside F1.
I'd agree with you there. Ironically, it was probably the work Hill did as test driver and race driver on the FW17/18 that provided Villeneuve with the sound base for his title in 1997. But he is a very fasy driver who relies on superb car control. I wish we could see the likes of him and Montoya in the current crop of cars.JV achieved enough outside F1.
Despite his ballsy character, I might suggest Keke Rosberg as the "worst" champion. What would be interesting would be to anaylse it in terms of F1 race history up to the point the driver won his championship - using that as a basis, would we see James Hunt near the top of the tree?...Or Jody Scheckter?
LanCat said:
Damon Hill. Super chap but not much apart from the title.
JV achieved enough outside F1.
He lapped Prost in an identical car at Donnington. And don't forget, he would have won another championship had not Schumacher's steering let him down. Further, when Senna was killed I thought he took on the mantle of team leader very well. Made a couple of early mistakes and then seemed to get the hang of it.JV achieved enough outside F1.
If we take the title of 'Least accomplished' to mean lack of natural ability in a car, then I'd say that Hill father and son are competitors for that prize but both stuck their heads down and went for it. So that excludes them from worst world champion by some margin.
Piquet was overflowing with natural talent but, when he was world champion he took that year 'off' and never really tried. I remember reading the moans of the Brabham mechanics as, no matter what they did, he would swan about as an also-ran during the years he had number one on the bonnet. So the exact opposite to Hill(s) - most accomplished but vying for worst world champion.
Anyone who wins the world championship in anything is going to be more than competent.
Graham won many important races outside of F1 including Indy. Damon didn't so I'm not sure of the comparison when discussing "accomplished least". I don't disagree that he could and should have won a second championship, that possibly disbars him from winning this particular competition.
Graham won many important races outside of F1 including Indy. Damon didn't so I'm not sure of the comparison when discussing "accomplished least". I don't disagree that he could and should have won a second championship, that possibly disbars him from winning this particular competition.
To be honest I think this topic is a bit of a nonsense as the nature of a World Championship is you need to display a range of talents to win one. You could saw Hawthorn didn't deserve his but then when you look into his performances (Reims with Fangio a few years earlier, for example), it's deserved.
Denny Hulme? Well, Jack Brabham was no slouch (one is difficult, 3 very much so, especially when 2 were back-to-back) and he was in the same team.
Hunt then? But wasn't he a front-runner for a few seasons and won a race for Hesketh, a team of badly-behaved Hooray Henries if you want to be harsh.
Rosberg was a regular winner after his title and performances such as Dallas or Monaco confirm his status, Mansell had far and away the best car but annihalated Patrese in it and had come close on several occasions, Hill won 22 times, you don't do this from luck alone and Villeneuve is only seen in a bad light after his wasted years at BAR, much like Fittipaldi's career before his comeback in the US.
You could equally argue that Raikkonen didn't deserve to win last year because of the problems at McLaren.
Denny Hulme? Well, Jack Brabham was no slouch (one is difficult, 3 very much so, especially when 2 were back-to-back) and he was in the same team.
Hunt then? But wasn't he a front-runner for a few seasons and won a race for Hesketh, a team of badly-behaved Hooray Henries if you want to be harsh.
Rosberg was a regular winner after his title and performances such as Dallas or Monaco confirm his status, Mansell had far and away the best car but annihalated Patrese in it and had come close on several occasions, Hill won 22 times, you don't do this from luck alone and Villeneuve is only seen in a bad light after his wasted years at BAR, much like Fittipaldi's career before his comeback in the US.
You could equally argue that Raikkonen didn't deserve to win last year because of the problems at McLaren.
Edited by kevin ritson on Monday 5th May 10:25
Piquet, by a mile.
Rude, arrogant & when he wasn't driving a competitive car bone idle. Telling Frank Williams that you were going to Lotus and taking Franks Honda engine contract with him by sliding a note under his hotel room door sums him up really. Never really gave anything back to the sport as far as I can make out either.
Rude, arrogant & when he wasn't driving a competitive car bone idle. Telling Frank Williams that you were going to Lotus and taking Franks Honda engine contract with him by sliding a note under his hotel room door sums him up really. Never really gave anything back to the sport as far as I can make out either.
americancrx said:
Which driver has accomplished least, aside from a World Championship? Are there any drivers for which that was the only sign that they were ever a top driver?
Niki Lauda, never won a race until he got into formula 1, although three titles tells you that he did have talent, but wasn't able to show it elsewhere. bit pointless this thread really, all world champions are good drivers, the complete package is not just about how fast you can drive a car, but also how well you can work the paddock.imho.
absolutely said:
Chris Amon was one of the better drivers in Formula 1 of the 60s and 70s but didn't win a single race. He did win Le Mans with a GT40 and he did drive for Ferrari in F1 with no luck!
Not strictly speaking correct as he did win the (non-championship)International Trophy at Silverstone and Argentine GP in 1971. But he never won a championship GP, as you sayHe had more luck in the Tasman series for 2.5 litre cars, winning the series in 1969, despite virtually no help from the Ferrari factory. He also won a number of sports car races with Ferrari, including the Daytona 24 Hours and Monza 1000km events in the 4-litre 330P4. Ironically, if he hadn't won a F1 seat with Ferrari in 1967, he would almost certainly have had more success with McLaren in both CanAm and F1.
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