Your favourite driver and favourite race of all time.

[Penguinracer]

Juan Manuel Fangio - in a class of his own!

Only raced in F1 for seven full seasons (from aged 39 to 46 years old) & was World Champion five times with four different teams. Stirling Moss (who called him Maestro) said he was in another league to everyone else. A skilled mechanic who used to run his own garage & build his own racing cars,a humble & gracious gent - he had it all!

He was a mature, centred & adjusted man, in a sport which is now populated by relatively immature boys. Even Enzo Ferrari found he was immune to manipulation & mind-games and hence not really "manageable" in the Ferrari sense.

Look at his stats - beyond anything since:

World Championships: 5
GP Entries: 51
GP Wins: 24
Podium Finishes: 35
Pole Positions: 29
Front Rows: 48
Fastest Race Laps: 23

Greatest Drive: 1957 German GP

[Paul Dishman]

Steffan said:

Eric I do wonder whether you mean the father or the son?

Graham Hill was everything a racing driver could be. His son came out from under that big shadow and made his own story, which must be admired. To which were you referring please?

I had a long chat with Nigel Roebuck at the Motor Sport barbecue and NGH was mentioned. The man himself was far from the public persona

[McClure]

Paul Dishman said:

I had a long chat with Nigel Roebuck at the Motor Sport barbecue and NGH was mentioned. The man himself was far from the public persona

I've heard the apple fell along way from the tree with Damon (personality I wise). But different eras bring different personalities; G Hill, Chapman et al would probably think most of recent generations are "soft nancy boys" or something equally un-PC.

[sanf]

Massive Mansell fan so -

Brands 86 / Spain 86 / Silverstone 87 (was there for that)/ Brazil 89 (fragile Ferrari) / Hungary 89 / Barcelona 91

But Mexico 90 - was immense, capped off by the superb overtake on Berger - not even for the win....

[Paul Dishman]

McClure said:

Paul Dishman said:

I had a long chat with Nigel Roebuck at the Motor Sport barbecue and NGH was mentioned. The man himself was far from the public persona

I've heard the apple fell along way from the tree with Damon (personality I wise). But different eras bring different personalities; G Hill, Chapman et al would probably think most of recent generations are "soft nancy boys" or something equally un-PC.

True enough. I imagine that Chapman/Ken Tyrrell/Enzo Ferrari's reaction to Alonso's attempted blackmailing of McLaren at the '07 Hungarian GP would have been an explosion followed by instant firing

[Chris944_S2]

Steffan said:

Eric Mc said:

I always liked Hill. A gent.

Eric I do wonder whether you mean the father or the son?

Graham Hill was everything a racing driver could be. His son came out from under that big shadow and made his own story, which must be admired. To which were you referring please?

Or he could be referring to the American

[entropy]

Paul Dishman said:

I had a long chat with Nigel Roebuck at the Motor Sport barbecue and NGH was mentioned. The man himself was far from the public persona

He was authoritarian behind closed doors. Massive rows with his mechanics and CC. And given his loveable image in front of th camera he hated being pestered by fans.

[DanielSan]

Of all time I'm stuck between Jackie Stewart and Mika Hakkinen.

Best race was Spa 2000 just for Hakkinen's move on Schumacher. He was the only driver Schumie every feared and that moved showed the world why.

http://youtu.be/-eE3gCy5zvM

[MartynVRS]

DanielSan said:

Of all time I'm stuck between Jackie Stewart and Mika Hakkinen.

Best race was Spa 2000 just for Hakkinen's move on Schumacher. He was the only driver Schumie every feared and that moved showed the world why.

http://youtu.be/-eE3gCy5zvM

Anyone mentions Hakkinen and I think of this. Legend

[oyster]

rhysenna said:

Mansell and Mexico 1990. I can still remember watching the race sat right in front of the TV. The race had started with highlights and part way through " jumping live to the race now". Fantastic memory. Lewis ain't to shabby either.

http://youtu.be/UqaXktfn90M

I remember that Mexican GP and just shows you how far TV coverage has come on even since then. It was bizarre in that during the highlights, Prost was still many places back from the lead, but thwn the action suddently jumped from highlights to live, he was challenging for the lead.

[Vocal Minority]

Another vote for Hill and Spa 98 or Hungary 97. Possibly Japan 1994, but I was only 9 so my knowledge/understanding/memory wasn't fully developed.

The man had a lot more balls than people give him credit for (the laughing at someone liking Hill earlier is pretty schoolyard IMHO - 'urgh you like the WRONG person').

Only man who could drag a shambles of a Brabham onto the grid in 1992 (Britain and Hungary).

Two mechanical failures (Britain and Germany) and team orders (France) arguably prevented him from bagging 6 wins (not just the 3 he got) in his first full season. That would have made him much more competitive in the championship. People went snooker loopy over Hamilton doing well in the best car (would have won the constructors if not disqualified) so why not Hill?

In 1994 he took ont he mantle of team leader in the worst possible circumstances. That took balls. Real balls. He did a great job in keeping a debatably illegal Benetton just about in touching distance, and (to my knowledge) has alway been gracious in defeat despite MS doing a complete number on him.

1995 - ok I admit he stuffed it under the pressure.

1996 - People will no doubt say it was the best car and he should of delivered. He did deliver. What more do you want?

1997 - Hungary and Britain aside, dreary as. But people do forget that he popped it on the second row in Jerez at the season finale 0.057 seconds behind that mad three way tie at the front.

1998 - Great second half of the season. 6th in the drivers championship eventually I think - didn't quite pip Villeneuve for the best of the rest?

1999- - admittedly a slightly sad swan song.

Edited by Vocal Minority on Tuesday 29th October 11:42

[Steffan]

Chris944_S2 said:

Steffan said:

Eric Mc said:

I always liked Hill. A gent.

Eric I do wonder whether you mean the father or the son?

Graham Hill was everything a racing driver could be. His son came out from under that big shadow and made his own story, which must be admired. To which were you referring please?

Or he could be referring to the American

Indeed he could. Phill Hill was an outstanding driver and another real gent.

[Euro1300]

oyster said:

I remember that Mexican GP and just shows you how far TV coverage has come on even since then. It was bizarre in that during the highlights, Prost was still many places back from the lead, but thwn the action suddently jumped from highlights to live, he was challenging for the lead.

A couple of other things stand out there.

Modern cars are a lot more 'pointy', they change direction much quicker - and carry a huge amount of extra corner speed.

The other thing is that the older, traditional circuits were much better for racing than the sanitised new circuits - and many of the older circuits have also had corners reprofiled in the name of safety - which has ruined a lot of the racing.

[Esseesse]

rhysenna said:

Mansell and Mexico 1990. I can still remember watching the race sat right in front of the TV. The race had started with highlights and part way through " jumping live to the race now". Fantastic memory. Lewis ain't to shabby either.

http://youtu.be/UqaXktfn90M

Mansell more than anyone else I've noticed seems to weave about a lot before coming past someone. Great to watch.

[entropy]

Vocal Minority said:

Another vote for Hill and Spa 98 or Hungary 97.

Ralf Schumacher was quicker and was ordered to stay behind Hill.

For about half of '97 Hill struggled to beat Pedro Diniz - a pay driver no less!

Saying that Hill was a quality driver. Not on the same level as Schumi but he could beat anyone on his day.

Euro1300 said:

A couple of other things stand out there.

Modern cars are a lot more 'pointy', they change direction much quicker - and carry a huge amount of extra corner speed.

The other thing is that the older, traditional circuits were much better for racing than the sanitised new circuits - and many of the older circuits have also had corners reprofiled in the name of safety - which has ruined a lot of the racing.

Ferrari had the better race car that day and it didn't help Senna trying to race without pitting for tyres but can't remember what happened to Berger.

Mansell was my hero when I was growing up but Prost was overlooked and another case of Prost being ignored when he won. Prost qualified 14th, Mansell 10 places ahead. A bit similar to Vettel pitting on the first lap and having to make his way to the front in India.

Personally I don't think the traditional tracks were necessarily better for overtaking. It's bit more complex than rose tinted glasses: cruder aero, tyre strategy.

[AJS-]

Question that's likely to be more fun than conclusive, but:

Gilles Villeneuve - first driver I was aware of, hammering round on 3 wheels, and his last lap battle with Arnoux at Dijon is the stuff of legend.

Nelson Piquet - beat Senna, Prost and Mansell all in competitive cars in 1987. No really memorable race but his overtake on Senna at Hungary was just brilliant. Full opposite lock, smoking tyres round the outside and held it all together.

Michael Schumacher - the most complete driver of all time, as far as I'm concerned. A lot of highlights but one that stands out is Barcelona in 1996 where he was 5-6 seconds a lap faster than anyone else.

Jensen Button - probably the driver I'd most like to have a beer with, and easily the most exciting race of the decade in Canada 2010.

[hilly10]

Buttons is my favorite driver, but best race has to be Hamilton in Brazil

[Darren390]

Massive Riccardo Patrese fan here, a real gent and could beat anyone on his day.

Favourite race would have to be Mexico 1991. Pole position, race win and overtook Senna and Mansell to top it off. I remember staying up to watch it on BBC, couldnt watch the last few laps I was that nervous!

I also remember Partick Head congratulating a team member after the race by saying 'Well done you bd, good stuff!' Ahh, those were the days!

[TVR1]

British GP 1987. Nigel Mansell making 29 seconds in 28 laps to take the win. (It's on YouTube somewhere) Murray Walkers commentary is quite astounding!

Same, taking the lead on the outside if the Parabolica, Hungary?

Same again, not for the win or race but for the sheer bloody minded, must finish attitude. Dallas GP '84. Pushed his car over the line to take 6th and collapsed from heat stroke just after.

Legendary!