Alonso is the 'Best Active F1 Driver'
Discussion
According to the majority of 20 current F1 drivers who voted in the poll.
I have to say I agree with them.
Some more interesting poll results here...
http://msn.planetf1.com/news/3213/6269395/-Senna-s...
I have to say I agree with them.
Some more interesting poll results here...
http://msn.planetf1.com/news/3213/6269395/-Senna-s...
Lambochick said:
Over the last few seasons we have seen that Alonso can be easily rattled by events outside of his control, which leads to him throwing his dummy out of the pram, which count against him being considered the best active driver in F1 IMHO.
+1I also find it strange as he has not done anything in 4 years. I guess apart from Hamilton, they dont really have anyone else to choose from.
Edited by Wanta996Gotta on Tuesday 20th July 11:42
LOL @ Nico Rosberg as the best woman. 
I bet that was either Webber (who nicknamed him "Britney") or Hamilton who said that.
As for Alonso, it seems right. His only problem is temperament, but he is not the only top F1 driver to occasionally throws toys of his pram.
As for greatest ever, it seems that most drivers have voted for their personal heroes back when they were watching F1 on TV as children, rather than look at history. Jim Clark should have been at the top, IMHO.
I bet that was either Webber (who nicknamed him "Britney") or Hamilton who said that.As for Alonso, it seems right. His only problem is temperament, but he is not the only top F1 driver to occasionally throws toys of his pram.
As for greatest ever, it seems that most drivers have voted for their personal heroes back when they were watching F1 on TV as children, rather than look at history. Jim Clark should have been at the top, IMHO.
Edited by Jungles on Tuesday 20th July 11:43
terminal character flaw?Wanta996Gotta said:
Lambochick said:
Over the last few seasons we have seen that Alonso can be easily rattled by events outside of his control, which leads to him throwing his dummy out of the pram, which count against him being considered the best active driver in F1 IMHO.
+1I also find it strange as he has not done anything in 4 years. I guess apart from Hamilton, they dont really have anyone else to choose from.
Edited by Wanta996Gotta on Tuesday 20th July 11:42
k all about it.deadslow said:
Wanta996Gotta said:
Lambochick said:
Over the last few seasons we have seen that Alonso can be easily rattled by events outside of his control, which leads to him throwing his dummy out of the pram, which count against him being considered the best active driver in F1 IMHO.
+1I also find it strange as he has not done anything in 4 years. I guess apart from Hamilton, they dont really have anyone else to choose from.
Edited by Wanta996Gotta on Tuesday 20th July 11:42
k all about it.Wanta996Gotta said:
deadslow said:
Wanta996Gotta said:
Lambochick said:
Over the last few seasons we have seen that Alonso can be easily rattled by events outside of his control, which leads to him throwing his dummy out of the pram, which count against him being considered the best active driver in F1 IMHO.
+1I also find it strange as he has not done anything in 4 years. I guess apart from Hamilton, they dont really have anyone else to choose from.
Edited by Wanta996Gotta on Tuesday 20th July 11:42
k all about it.The problem with a word like 'Best' is that it means very little. Best at what? is the first thing that springs to mind. Fastest driver? Most consistent? Most likely to win? Most likely to show a rookie who's boss - well, ok, that one wasn't serious.
But there were many arguments about who was 'best' between Senna and Prost, each camp with evidence to support their conclusions. Then the two became team mates - ok, that phrase wasn't serious either - and we found out. And it was both or neither. Depending.
There is no doubt about Alonso's class. But I would say exactly the same about Piquet. In fact I'd suggest that the two drivers were very similar in ability and make-up.
But Mansell showed Piquet up at times. And much as I think Mansell brought a lot to F1 I have to admit that even I would say on ability to drive, Piquet had a lot more natural skill. Lots more. Fair enough, I was a bit biased for him as he drove for Brabham but even so, when he was at Benetton he put in some scintillating drives in a car that was by no means in the vanguard.
I would also suggest - no need to argue, this 'better than' bit is not relevant - that Hamilton was nowhere near a good a driver as Alonso when they were team mates. In any argument about who was best I think those unbiased would go for Alonso. However, one thing which I can't argue against is that Hamilton was second and Alonso third in the WDC. And in equal machinery, which even Alonso admitted was true.
I know I have no argument against this as I often watched 2007 with a rabid Alonso hater who would bring it up race after race and all through 2008. I’m no Alonso fan, not after the way he treated my beloved McLaren team, but even so that doesn’t stop me admiring his skills.
Although my mate's moved away and doesn't shout at me any longer, he regularly emails me and his current argument, and one again that is difficult to argue against, is that Alonso doesn't seem to have worked on his weak spots since 2007 while Hamilton is a better driver than he was then, and by some margin.
And there's a fair bit of truth in that.
So it makes you wonder what they mean by 'Best'.
If we had the four WDCs all driving, for instance, Mercedes F1 cars, who would you suggest would be the driver with the most points at the end of the season? I know it is impossible to answer with proof but for the uncommitted I bet it would be a difficult decision.
All drivers have weaknesses. I think the incident with the pace car showed LH's. Alonso, Schuey and Button would have, in identical circumstances, accelerated past it whilst it was still in the pitlane. For Alonso's weak spot we only have to look at 2007 and, it has to be said, the last couple of races.
I feel like slapping the bloke and telling him to drive and not worry about anyone else.
Passion in racing can be a major asset. I think it did Mansell's lap times no end of good but I think to an extent it did for him as well. But it seems to be eating Alonso. Conceit is another asset. Senna had it in spades and Alonso needs it. I think his has taken a hit or two. Or three.
In any other season it would be sad to have a double WDC not on the pace. But with four drivers all vying for the podium, it's not so much of a problem this year.
Which active driver would I like to manage is a more enlightening question. Or the answers would be. On the assumption that the adjective eliminates Schumacher (sorry, couldn't resist) I have to say it would not be Alonso. I used to be a manager and I found being a people person a bit of an effort. Vettel? Probably not. Hamilton? Maybe. Button again as a possibility. But I'd go for Rubens. The image I get of him is a retriever, panting with its tongue out, waiting for you to throw a stick. I think he’d be fun, tantrums not excluded.
But there were many arguments about who was 'best' between Senna and Prost, each camp with evidence to support their conclusions. Then the two became team mates - ok, that phrase wasn't serious either - and we found out. And it was both or neither. Depending.
There is no doubt about Alonso's class. But I would say exactly the same about Piquet. In fact I'd suggest that the two drivers were very similar in ability and make-up.
But Mansell showed Piquet up at times. And much as I think Mansell brought a lot to F1 I have to admit that even I would say on ability to drive, Piquet had a lot more natural skill. Lots more. Fair enough, I was a bit biased for him as he drove for Brabham but even so, when he was at Benetton he put in some scintillating drives in a car that was by no means in the vanguard.
I would also suggest - no need to argue, this 'better than' bit is not relevant - that Hamilton was nowhere near a good a driver as Alonso when they were team mates. In any argument about who was best I think those unbiased would go for Alonso. However, one thing which I can't argue against is that Hamilton was second and Alonso third in the WDC. And in equal machinery, which even Alonso admitted was true.
I know I have no argument against this as I often watched 2007 with a rabid Alonso hater who would bring it up race after race and all through 2008. I’m no Alonso fan, not after the way he treated my beloved McLaren team, but even so that doesn’t stop me admiring his skills.
Although my mate's moved away and doesn't shout at me any longer, he regularly emails me and his current argument, and one again that is difficult to argue against, is that Alonso doesn't seem to have worked on his weak spots since 2007 while Hamilton is a better driver than he was then, and by some margin.
And there's a fair bit of truth in that.
So it makes you wonder what they mean by 'Best'.
If we had the four WDCs all driving, for instance, Mercedes F1 cars, who would you suggest would be the driver with the most points at the end of the season? I know it is impossible to answer with proof but for the uncommitted I bet it would be a difficult decision.
All drivers have weaknesses. I think the incident with the pace car showed LH's. Alonso, Schuey and Button would have, in identical circumstances, accelerated past it whilst it was still in the pitlane. For Alonso's weak spot we only have to look at 2007 and, it has to be said, the last couple of races.
I feel like slapping the bloke and telling him to drive and not worry about anyone else.
Passion in racing can be a major asset. I think it did Mansell's lap times no end of good but I think to an extent it did for him as well. But it seems to be eating Alonso. Conceit is another asset. Senna had it in spades and Alonso needs it. I think his has taken a hit or two. Or three.
In any other season it would be sad to have a double WDC not on the pace. But with four drivers all vying for the podium, it's not so much of a problem this year.
Which active driver would I like to manage is a more enlightening question. Or the answers would be. On the assumption that the adjective eliminates Schumacher (sorry, couldn't resist) I have to say it would not be Alonso. I used to be a manager and I found being a people person a bit of an effort. Vettel? Probably not. Hamilton? Maybe. Button again as a possibility. But I'd go for Rubens. The image I get of him is a retriever, panting with its tongue out, waiting for you to throw a stick. I think he’d be fun, tantrums not excluded.
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