Driver of the season - 2008
Poll: Driver of the season - 2008
Total Members Polled: 220
Discussion
What an epic ending to the season! 
Much kudos to Lewis Hamilton for his WDC, and becoming the youngest WDC in history.
So the inevitable question: who was the driver of the year for 2009? I know some people will be tempted to automatically point out Hamilton, but I'd prefer a weighted judgement based on the machinery that the drivers had as well.
Vote away!
Much kudos to Lewis Hamilton for his WDC, and becoming the youngest WDC in history.So the inevitable question: who was the driver of the year for 2009? I know some people will be tempted to automatically point out Hamilton, but I'd prefer a weighted judgement based on the machinery that the drivers had as well.
Vote away!
Kimi? My personal favourite driver on the grid; just gets on with driving a racing car without the bulls
t.Has been rather disappointing during qualifying though, for various reasons, which has often compromised him come race day.
Massa has done a fine job this season to outscore Kimi and has often been peerless when leading the race from the front. Has tended to lose his head somewhat when the cards are stacked against him, though.
I have little time for Hamilton's personality, but all credit to the guy for winning the WDC. A hard, feerless racer.
The best driver in 2008 though, has to be Alonso. No other current driver could have extracted what he has from the Renault this season. I look forward to him having a more competative car next season and fighting for the championship.
Justin
t.Has been rather disappointing during qualifying though, for various reasons, which has often compromised him come race day.Massa has done a fine job this season to outscore Kimi and has often been peerless when leading the race from the front. Has tended to lose his head somewhat when the cards are stacked against him, though.
I have little time for Hamilton's personality, but all credit to the guy for winning the WDC. A hard, feerless racer.
The best driver in 2008 though, has to be Alonso. No other current driver could have extracted what he has from the Renault this season. I look forward to him having a more competative car next season and fighting for the championship.
Justin
skylinecrazy said:
Has to be Lewis... But some people will come along and vote for Massa...
Vettel wasn't bad either though.
To be fair, Massa wasn't bad. He was set back by his two engine failures, which basically cancelled out the two "gifted" wins. But still he was very strong.Vettel wasn't bad either though.
I was torn between Hamilton, Massa, Kubica, Vettel, and Alonso. Kubica is my pick: solid, consistent, gets on with his job, and often out-drove his machinery and team-mate. Too bad BMW switched their focus to 2009 after their Canadian win.
Alonso: What a driver. He is the new Schumacher as far as team-building is concerned. Incredibly fast too.
Vettel: Martin Whitmarsh was right when he called Vettel a "young charger". Knocked Bourdais for a six. Monza win was magnificent.
Massa: He has grown over the years. If he can improve his wet-weather game and keep his head during set-backs, he'll be a WDC.
Hamilton: WDC, enough said. He needs to eliminate his newb mistakes, but that comes with experience.
Edited by Jungles on Monday 3rd November 04:50
Only one vote for me 
ETA:
Although there are other drivers who have completed great drives......Vettel at Monza, Massa at Hungary (although his car let him down) & Brazil (although Glock let him down)
Apart from that, nobody else has particularly shone.
ETA:
Although there are other drivers who have completed great drives......Vettel at Monza, Massa at Hungary (although his car let him down) & Brazil (although Glock let him down)
Apart from that, nobody else has particularly shone.
Edited by Cara Van Man on Monday 3rd November 07:43
Huge congratulations to Hamilton, and I'm a big fan (although he can get a bit hot-headed sometimes - I'm not a fan of balls-out racers, moreso calculated and calm racers) but I voted for Massa. The reason for that was that the poll was about the driver, and if we remove the car's reliability from the equation and look at just driving results, Massa's performed better (he won more races for a start).
I nearly clicked on Vettel though, for obvious reasons
I nearly clicked on Vettel though, for obvious reasons
Edited by RobM77 on Monday 3rd November 07:41
I think it was the most equal year we've had for years
Massa - was at the top of his game - but he's lacks the raw skill of Hamilton
Alonso - amazing driver - brilliant technician.
Hamilton - without doubt the guy with the best raw skill on the grid - but he still has alot to learn.
Vettel - This guy is good - no doubt. Too early to tell what the future holds
Kubica - Seems to prefer to moan, then drive around problems. Heidfield is a more complete driver.
Kimi - where's yr head at ? Lots of talk about him quitting !!
Massa - was at the top of his game - but he's lacks the raw skill of Hamilton
Alonso - amazing driver - brilliant technician.
Hamilton - without doubt the guy with the best raw skill on the grid - but he still has alot to learn.
Vettel - This guy is good - no doubt. Too early to tell what the future holds
Kubica - Seems to prefer to moan, then drive around problems. Heidfield is a more complete driver.
Kimi - where's yr head at ? Lots of talk about him quitting !!
If we're talking from the 2008 season then Hamilton gets it, purely cause he still drives an F1 car like a Kart and because of him it's been the first F1 season in a good few years that i've been gripped to at the end.
Massa has done fantastically but i have to admit some of the issues with Steward decisions etc has probably clouded my opinion.
Alonso is a huge talent but, and a big but, i find him verging on unsporting. Personally i feel a true Racer should be interested in their own race and then on their team mate. Wanting to assist another team seems out of keeping in true racing.. He's too openly bitter.
Vettel... maybe he's not controversial enough.
On reflection on pure 'Driver' opinion he is a gnats hair away from Hamilton. He won a race for a 'minor' team and when conditions get tricky he can still drive the socks off the car. Definitely my vote for 'Most Improved Driver'
2009.. Can't really predict. Maybe Bruno Senna will appear and be a shining star but i'm hoping Hamilton will go from strength to strength and Vettel will build on an awesome year.
Would be nice if Raikkonen would have a better year as he seems a decent chap and actually smiled a couple of times.. which is an improvement.
Massa has done fantastically but i have to admit some of the issues with Steward decisions etc has probably clouded my opinion.
Alonso is a huge talent but, and a big but, i find him verging on unsporting. Personally i feel a true Racer should be interested in their own race and then on their team mate. Wanting to assist another team seems out of keeping in true racing.. He's too openly bitter.
Vettel... maybe he's not controversial enough.
On reflection on pure 'Driver' opinion he is a gnats hair away from Hamilton. He won a race for a 'minor' team and when conditions get tricky he can still drive the socks off the car. Definitely my vote for 'Most Improved Driver'2009.. Can't really predict. Maybe Bruno Senna will appear and be a shining star but i'm hoping Hamilton will go from strength to strength and Vettel will build on an awesome year.
Would be nice if Raikkonen would have a better year as he seems a decent chap and actually smiled a couple of times.. which is an improvement.
Cara Van Man said:
It's interesting to see there are more votes for Vettel than Massa.
Not really, Vettel has been putting in some fantastic performances, was better than both Hamilton and MAssa yesterday, and is in lesser machinery, same goes for Alfonso, the reason Alfonso and Massa don't have as much as they may deserve may be down to a bit of Hamilton bias, I don't think that's a ridiculous thing to say.ETA -
for whoever voted GlockEdited by mchammer89 on Monday 3rd November 10:55
RobM77 said:
Massa's performed better (he won more races for a start).
Remind me, the race where Hamilton was penalised for conceding position to Raikkonen and the overtaking him again too soon whilst Massa was running back in third - I know Hamilotn got docked points and Raikkonen crashed but was Massa "promoted" to first by the stewards? I can't remember...Forums | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff