Webber: F1 drivers are not "real men"

[Jungles]

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/157583/1/f1_drivers_a...

Interesting comments.

Are F1 drivers truly less talented today than they were two decades or more ago?

I would have thought that the difference is not in raw talent, but specialisation of skills; that drivers of olden days and modern youngsters are equally talented, but have simply developed a slightly different set of skills to cope with differences in hardware.

[AJI]

I do think he has a valid point.
The cars are easier to drive and therefore less of a challenge, which in turn is less of a spectacle.
Easier to drive cars means that younger and less experienced drivers can 'race'.
And in doing so means that there seems to be more of a younger flow of in one year, out the other. This inevitably means that less drivers become established and experienced and the general level of driver quality may suffer.

[superkartracer]

Odd coming from a chap always moaning about safety and in any-case if so easy why is not at the top?

His fitness is world class, that alone should give some indication how hard they are to drive.

Another interview taken out of context.

[Mazda Baiter]

superkartracer said:

Odd coming from a chap always moaning about safety and in any-case if so easy why is not at the top?

His fitness is world class, that alone should give some indication how hard they are to drive.

Another interview taken out of context.

Yes, agree, but...
He has a point. Put any of the current drivers in an FW08, Lotus 72, BRM P261, Ferrari 500 and they would struggle. They have it easy these days. What about the Brabhams, Williams, Ferraris etc with over 1000hp in qualifying... with a manual 'box. I concede that they would get used to it, but the current cars are easier to drive. No question.

[Doobs]

When you look at the context of what he is saying, he isn't talking about them not being talented at all. He is talking about the fact that things have changed a lot and drivers are very young.

[superkartracer]

Mazda Baiter said:

superkartracer said:

Odd coming from a chap always moaning about safety and in any-case if so easy why is not at the top?

His fitness is world class, that alone should give some indication how hard they are to drive.

Another interview taken out of context.

Yes, agree, but...
He has a point. Put any of the current drivers in an FW08, Lotus 72, BRM P261, Ferrari 500 and they would struggle. They have it easy these days. What about the Brabhams, Williams, Ferraris etc with over 1000hp in qualifying... with a manual 'box. I concede that they would get used to it, but the current cars are easier to drive. No question.

James Hunt did ok driving drugged up to the eyeballs, my mate raced with him in F1 and said he was often pissed up! would be interesting to see James in todays cars.

[Mazda Baiter]

superkartracer said:

Mazda Baiter said:

superkartracer said:

Odd coming from a chap always moaning about safety and in any-case if so easy why is not at the top?

His fitness is world class, that alone should give some indication how hard they are to drive.

Another interview taken out of context.

Yes, agree, but...
He has a point. Put any of the current drivers in an FW08, Lotus 72, BRM P261, Ferrari 500 and they would struggle. They have it easy these days. What about the Brabhams, Williams, Ferraris etc with over 1000hp in qualifying... with a manual 'box. I concede that they would get used to it, but the current cars are easier to drive. No question.

James Hunt did ok driving drugged up to the eyeballs, my mate raced with him in F1 and said he was often pissed up! would be interesting to see James in todays cars.

Very true. He stopped out on circuit once when testing for McLaren. Calmly stopped by the side of the circuit, switched the car off... and went to sleep.

[jellison]

superkartracer said:

Mazda Baiter said:

superkartracer said:

Odd coming from a chap always moaning about safety and in any-case if so easy why is not at the top?

His fitness is world class, that alone should give some indication how hard they are to drive.

Another interview taken out of context.

Yes, agree, but...
He has a point. Put any of the current drivers in an FW08, Lotus 72, BRM P261, Ferrari 500 and they would struggle. They have it easy these days. What about the Brabhams, Williams, Ferraris etc with over 1000hp in qualifying... with a manual 'box. I concede that they would get used to it, but the current cars are easier to drive. No question.

James Hunt did ok driving drugged up to the eyeballs, my mate raced with him in F1 and said he was often pissed up! would be interesting to see James in todays cars.

I have raced people that were in cars that were so much faster than the rest of the field (they knew they were going to win) that they often could be found having a few beers before the race in the bar!

[patmahe]

I've heard of this too, makes you wonder why driver aren't breathalised before heading to the grid.

[jellison]

He was a F* in good driver. Even in a lesser car he'd have been at the front.

Probably half the grid in clubby races are rubbish anyway. Maybe the front 5 Qualifier should have to have a beer b4 the race to give the rest a chance.

[FourWheelDrift]

So real men don't have pinky red mobile phones Mark?

[John D.]

jellison said:

superkartracer said:

Mazda Baiter said:

superkartracer said:

Odd coming from a chap always moaning about safety and in any-case if so easy why is not at the top?

His fitness is world class, that alone should give some indication how hard they are to drive.

Another interview taken out of context.

Yes, agree, but...
He has a point. Put any of the current drivers in an FW08, Lotus 72, BRM P261, Ferrari 500 and they would struggle. They have it easy these days. What about the Brabhams, Williams, Ferraris etc with over 1000hp in qualifying... with a manual 'box. I concede that they would get used to it, but the current cars are easier to drive. No question.

James Hunt did ok driving drugged up to the eyeballs, my mate raced with him in F1 and said he was often pissed up! would be interesting to see James in todays cars.

I have raced people that were in cars that were so much faster than the rest of the field (they knew they were going to win) that they often could be found having a few beers before the race in the bar!

WTF?! I'm astounded that can be got away with.


Setting aside the debate as to whether todays drivers have it too easy or have less talent, I for one would love to see proper manual gearboxes back in F1. I know its never going to happen but its great to watch a driver having to finesse the changes rather than just pull a lever.