Your likeable midfielders / soft spot drivers
Discussion
There was a wonderful cohort of young Brits battling it out in innumerable FF1600 races in the 80s. I saw scores of those races and it was at a time when success in British FF1600, then FF2000 and/or F3 almost guaranteed a go in F1 - at a time when we had big grids and no nasty little cartel controlling the sport.
Johnny looked about ten then but was arguably the best of them all, but Damon Hill , Mark Blundell , Dave Coyne, Andrew Gilbert Scott and Eddie Irvine all had their days in the sun. And there were few better sights than 30 or 40 fired up Formula Ford heroes piling into Old Hall or Paddock Hill.
Johnny looked about ten then but was arguably the best of them all, but Damon Hill , Mark Blundell , Dave Coyne, Andrew Gilbert Scott and Eddie Irvine all had their days in the sun. And there were few better sights than 30 or 40 fired up Formula Ford heroes piling into Old Hall or Paddock Hill.
Kart16 said:
Tsunoda I like very much.
Sorry who mentioned Zhou, I think the guy is a tool. Him and Logan should be kicked out from F1 ASAP!
Felipe Nasr, he got fifth place on his first race and in his last year he not only outperformed Ericsson, but also guaranteed the poins that gave a higher championship position to Sauber and consequently more money. His prize for all that? Sauber dismissed him!
Not what happened. He was signed to go to Manor, but the team folded in 2017 and he had nowhere to go, Sauber didn't fire him.Sorry who mentioned Zhou, I think the guy is a tool. Him and Logan should be kicked out from F1 ASAP!
Felipe Nasr, he got fifth place on his first race and in his last year he not only outperformed Ericsson, but also guaranteed the poins that gave a higher championship position to Sauber and consequently more money. His prize for all that? Sauber dismissed him!
It was ironic as Sauber overtook Manor and denied them the championship money to stay afloat. He kind of shot himself on the foot with his great result for Sauber.
Siao said:
Not what happened. He was signed to go to Manor, but the team folded in 2017 and he had nowhere to go, Sauber didn't fire him.
It was ironic as Sauber overtook Manor and denied them the championship money to stay afloat. He kind of shot himself on the foot with his great result for Sauber.
Funny you say that because I heard a recent podcast with him and don’t remember him mentioning Manor at all. It was ironic as Sauber overtook Manor and denied them the championship money to stay afloat. He kind of shot himself on the foot with his great result for Sauber.
He mentioned that he became Norris coach. He was hired to test and check the setup of a F2 car that Norris used for practice when he was still in F3.
Dr Murdoch said:
For me: Anthony Davidson (esp his debut in the Minardi with oversized overalls at Spa), Giancarlo Fisichella (thought he would get a title) and Johnny Herbert (what for the F3000 crash!).
I agree. IMO, Davidson's luck was only of the bad variety.Even Le Mans kicked him in the teeth in the most cruel manner.
Hopefully, when Brundle's had enough 'Ant' will step into his commentating shoes.
Kart16 said:
Siao said:
Not what happened. He was signed to go to Manor, but the team folded in 2017 and he had nowhere to go, Sauber didn't fire him.
It was ironic as Sauber overtook Manor and denied them the championship money to stay afloat. He kind of shot himself on the foot with his great result for Sauber.
Funny you say that because I heard a recent podcast with him and don’t remember him mentioning Manor at all. It was ironic as Sauber overtook Manor and denied them the championship money to stay afloat. He kind of shot himself on the foot with his great result for Sauber.
He mentioned that he became Norris coach. He was hired to test and check the setup of a F2 car that Norris used for practice when he was still in F3.
Blib said:
Dr Murdoch said:
For me: Anthony Davidson (esp his debut in the Minardi with oversized overalls at Spa), Giancarlo Fisichella (thought he would get a title) and Johnny Herbert (what for the F3000 crash!).
I agree. IMO, Davidson's luck was only of the bad variety.Even Le Mans kicked him in the teeth in the most cruel manner.
Hopefully, when Brundle's had enough 'Ant' will step into his commentating shoes.
Siao said:
Blib said:
Dr Murdoch said:
For me: Anthony Davidson (esp his debut in the Minardi with oversized overalls at Spa), Giancarlo Fisichella (thought he would get a title) and Johnny Herbert (what for the F3000 crash!).
I agree. IMO, Davidson's luck was only of the bad variety.Even Le Mans kicked him in the teeth in the most cruel manner.
Hopefully, when Brundle's had enough 'Ant' will step into his commentating shoes.
He also suffered a huge crash in 2012 and spun out of a class leading drive after being caught out by a rain shower.
asfault said:
No one has said mr BANZAI himself kobiashi. Lobed his banzai dives down the inside.
Wasn't there a canada race where he had a great result. I forget
Kaumi got third place at his home GP, his only podium. 2012 was a great year for the sport; 6 different winners in the first 6 races if I remember correctly, and Kimi's infamous 'leave me alone' and other meme-able moments from his time in that Lotus. Wasn't there a canada race where he had a great result. I forget
Had a soft spot for Kaumi as I do for Yuki; he's starting to mature and calm down a little and I'd like to see him in a non-RB car.
Petrov was a good shout, especially in 2012 with the Lotus and him holding up Fernando for the whole of the Abu Dhabi GP. Kyvat is another I feel sorry for getting dumped in favour of Max, although you can clearly see why.
Daniil Kvyat.
Hard working, super intelligent guy who made sure he got himself a proper education as well as starting a career in racing aged 11.
Outperformed Albon, and Ricciardo (not saying much) but got ground down by Helmut Marko's wonderful management style. He should have got a second chance elsewhere like Albon, but his nationality is now problematic.
Hard working, super intelligent guy who made sure he got himself a proper education as well as starting a career in racing aged 11.
Outperformed Albon, and Ricciardo (not saying much) but got ground down by Helmut Marko's wonderful management style. He should have got a second chance elsewhere like Albon, but his nationality is now problematic.
Muzzer79 said:
Maybe a controversial choice but hear me out........Martin Brundle.
Took it right to Senna in the F3 days and, in my opinion, would have had a much better career were it not for the big crash in Dallas in '84.
As it was, he ended up in some shoite machinery and had some bad luck when his opportunity at the big teams (Benetton/McLaren) came along.
His sportscar career showed what he was made of more than F1.
One of his sons was on the Missed Apex YouTube channel a couple of weeks ago. He mentioned his father having surgery and cited or alluded to that Dallas crash.Took it right to Senna in the F3 days and, in my opinion, would have had a much better career were it not for the big crash in Dallas in '84.
As it was, he ended up in some shoite machinery and had some bad luck when his opportunity at the big teams (Benetton/McLaren) came along.
His sportscar career showed what he was made of more than F1.
They asked him what he could feel after that shunt in Dallas. Seems he had the presence of mind to fib as he thought they amputate his foot.
Siao said:
Blib said:
His Toyota ground to a halt as the car entered the final lap of the race in the lead.
He also suffered a huge crash in 2012 and spun out of a class leading drive after being caught out by a rain shower.
Ouch, thanks for the info, I haven't followed it too closely.He also suffered a huge crash in 2012 and spun out of a class leading drive after being caught out by a rain shower.
Mick S was mine recently, been a lifelong Ferrari fan and Michael fan I wanted him to do better, I think his bad decision was joining the Ferrari driver academy and getting placed at HAAS.
Had he of gone down the Mercedes route originally he probably would of had a better drive/record.
Had he of gone down the Mercedes route originally he probably would of had a better drive/record.
Valtteri- clearly overshadowed in his Mercedes years, but still an excellent driver, as long as it wasn’t hard wheel-to-wheel racing. Without poring over the stats, my recollection is that he was a far better wingman to Lewis than (say) Checo is to Max.
He still seems to do fairly well in more mundane machinery, but he’s unlikely to be at the sharp end of the grid anytime soon (although who knows what 2026 will bring - we may get another Brawn-style leap by a team that’s currently in the second half of the grid)
Mostly, I like Valtteri because of his relatively down to earth demeanour, his seemingly uncomplicated life away from F1 and his excellent sense of humour.
F1 would be a better place if there were more like him
He still seems to do fairly well in more mundane machinery, but he’s unlikely to be at the sharp end of the grid anytime soon (although who knows what 2026 will bring - we may get another Brawn-style leap by a team that’s currently in the second half of the grid)
Mostly, I like Valtteri because of his relatively down to earth demeanour, his seemingly uncomplicated life away from F1 and his excellent sense of humour.
F1 would be a better place if there were more like him
Blib said:
Dr Murdoch said:
For me: Anthony Davidson (esp his debut in the Minardi with oversized overalls at Spa), Giancarlo Fisichella (thought he would get a title) and Johnny Herbert (what for the F3000 crash!).
I agree. IMO, Davidson's luck was only of the bad variety.Even Le Mans kicked him in the teeth in the most cruel manner.
Hopefully, when Brundle's had enough 'Ant' will step into his commentating shoes.
Mr Tidy said:
No idea why, but I always remember Robert Kubicas one and only race win.
Such a shame he went rallying.
Yes, Canada 2008, one year after an utterly horrific accident at the same circuit. I was almost certain he was going to be dead or suffer life-changing injuries, and watched live as it seemingly took forever to get him away in the ambulance. Such a shame he went rallying.
Sadly, as you say, he then went rallying.
(The official F1 channel’s video of the 2007 crash got age-restricted by Youtube).
Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff