Do you 'support' a driver?

[Robmarriott]

Interesting point just came up on another forum as one guy seems to like Lewis Hamilton and only Lewis Hamilton, everyone else is rubbish.

I've always watched the sport for the sport, not for the person, it seems an alien concept to me.

I don't think I favour a certain person in any formula that I can think of.

What about everyone else?

[RockDoctor]

I can definitely say there are some drivers I prefer, be it through driving skill, or them coming across really well off the track. I like to have someone, or something to support.

[nicanary]

I am a member of another website frequented by racers, prep shop owners, race officials etc..- they all seem to have favourites, and won't accept that I'm ambivalent about it. I just want to watch the racing - if you don't back one and only one driver, you won't be disappointed.

I agree that I favour drivers who I believe are the best of their type - in F1 we currently have drivers who would rate well in any era - Alonso, Vettel, Hamilton, and (whisper it) Button. He reminds me of Alain Prost - so unspectacular you don't realise how fast he's going. His problems stem from when his car isn't "on pace" and he seems to give up.

I stopped having a favourite when I was a kid and Moss had his big crash.I really can't understand these people who are fans of only one driver - life must be full of letdowns for them. They remind me of Clarkson's description of his little boy getting excited and clutching the front of his trousers. Immature.

[Munter]

On any given day I'm most likely to start by supporting "the Brits" (McLaren, Williams, Lewis, Button etc), but will switch during the race to whoever is outperforming their expected position. So last year in F1 races I would end up supporting Alonso because he had the car somewhere it shouldn't have been.

[Alfanatic]

I was a huge fan of Prost, and a huge fan of Damon Hill, to the point where I got just a little bit emotional when he won his championship. Not emotional like it was my own son winning, but emotional like I was watching a very moving, um, movie. I still am a big fan of Damon actually. When I see him talking on TV or anything I always enjoy listening to what he has to say, even if I might disagree.

Those are the only two drivers I've really supported, but I've always had favourites, and there have always been drivers that I don't like and would prefer seeing them beaten by my favourites. Unfortunately, as the latter category includes Schumacher and Vettel, I get disappointed a lot

[Eric Mc]

Not really.

When I was young I "supported" drivers like Graham Hill, Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart. I suppose the last driver I would have classified as being one I supported was Damon Hill.

I think growing up has something to do with it.

[RXED]

Funny this, I was the biggest M Schumacher fan between 1991-2006. He really impressed me and had me hooked on the sport while growing up. After he left (and came back) I never switched to another driver. I like many of them (VET, BUT, ALO, MAL), I dont like some of them, naming no names! But I dont support anyone in particular. I however, am still hooked on the sport!

[davepoth]

I guess Button, since he's from just down the road. But as above, any outperforming underdog.

[Gun]

Although I'd always cheer on the British drivers I'd probably support Button slightly above the others. Reason being I started to get more into F1 around the time he joined.

[MG CHRIS]

RXED said:

Funny this, I was the biggest M Schumacher fan between 1991-2006. He really impressed me and had me hooked on the sport while growing up. After he left (and came back) I never switched to another driver. I like many of them (VET, BUT, ALO, MAL), I dont like some of them, naming no names! But I dont support anyone in particular. I however, am still hooked on the sport!

Exactly the same as me can't remember his early days but from 200 onwards was a shumi fan when he left never went to another driver but still love the sport.

[theshrew]

I used to support Senna and ive always been a fan of Mclaren.

I always like to see certain drivers do well just whoever takes my eye really. I like quite a few drivers that are in F1 at the moment for different reasons.

The one and only thing ive never done is Support those red cars or one anyone that is driving one.

[Great Dane]

Coulthard for me

[ewenm]

Mostly I support the racing, but I like Button as he's local and into his endurance sports so I can identify with him. Mainly I like to see good, close competition though.

[RichB]

In modern days it's rather fashionable to be ambivalent towards one's nation, perhaps it's a sign of the times and people no longer have a sense of Brutishness. Contrast the Spanish support for Alonso or German support for Schumacher and Vettel. I'm old enough to have been around when we had many great drivers and Moss's crash at Goodwood was front page news, we were all shaken by it. I went on to be a fan of Graham Hill but not so much Jackie Stewart. I still believe Nigel Mansell, despite his moaning, was a very exciting racer and as a few others have said I was delighted when Damon Hill won his world championship. Indeed I knew Damon during his F3000 days (sponsored by Cellent) and he once told me that he enjoyed our beers together because I didn't constantly talk about his dad. Strangely since the Mansell era I always hope Williams do well but also support the British drivers.

[Grenoble]

RXED said:

Funny this, I was the biggest M Schumacher fan between 1991-2006. He really impressed me and had me hooked on the sport while growing up. After he left (and came back) I never switched to another driver. I like many of them (VET, BUT, ALO, MAL), I dont like some of them, naming no names! But I dont support anyone in particular. I however, am still hooked on the sport!

Funny that - I'm the same. Well put.

I remain a tifosi of Ferrari - the passion of the fans is infectious, but I admire Button, Hamilton and Vettel, etc in different ways. And then I love an underdog victory like Maldonado for Williams.

I think I'm just getting less tribal as I get older... I find I'm able to enjoy the sport more race by race, and to be honest I watch more of the positions and midfield battles.

[American iv]

Is it not just that we enjoy the sport and would prefer a season like 2012 where you had 6 different winners at the start and the championship running to the wire...

If you asked the question of 'Do you 'dislike' a driver/team?', you'd have a very different response I'd guess!

[jonnylayze]

I don't support a driver to the exclusion of others but I do like to see those who embody the spirit of the sport (often in very different ways) above those I don't much care for based on the way they behave/perform in and out of the car.

Last year I rooted for:

Hamilton
Button
Alonso
Raikkonen
Perez
Kobayashi

[Simes205]

Alfanatic said:

I was a huge fan of Prost,

Me too, I met him at Goodwood last year, a dream come true!
Following that I followed Jean Alesi and that led onto SF for a while.
Now I just enjoy the "racing".

[stephen300o]

Well in most things you connect with people you like, there are loads of drivers that seem like good people or interesting characters, a few that seem rather odd, some that get comedy abuse for being the threat to your favourit .
I'm hoping for a good car for Kimi this year, regardless, great quotes.

[chevronb37]

I love racing above all else. I don't find myself much drawn to any of them based purely on personality but I admire many based on their driving. I admire Alonso's galvanizing attitude; Lewis's aggression in battle; Jenson's cerebral approach to tyre management and Vettel's conviction in Brazil was deeply impressive.

I'm far more likely to find genuine enthusiasm for others in different formulae where one can admire more closely. I interviewed Jann Mardenborough last year and he was just such a great, charming, enthusiastic chap who does his talking on the track. I will remain a convinced fan for the foreseeable future.