Tallest and Shortest drivers in F1 history?

[rjbetty]

I just had a thought about this while writing about Justin Wilson. I would be very interested to know this. Does anyone have some knowledge about this?

I think Andrea Montermini was 5ft2 and Anthony Davidson 5ft3? Justin Wilson was 6ft3, though I heard 6ft4 reported sometimes.

[Tazio]

JJ Lehto, Cristiano da Mata, and T. Sato were little shits!

[D-Type]

Mike Parkes was 6' 4" (1.93m). Dan Gurney, Troy Ruttman, Carel de Beaufort and Christian Danner are also said to be that height

Mike Hawthorn 6' 2" (1.88m) was the tallest World Champion

I can't find anything definitive on the shortest - Alain Prost, Jackie Stewart, Peter Gethin and Tazio Nuvolari are often mentioned

[D28]

Undoubtedly Dan Gurney was the quickest and best tall driver. Many photos exist of him sticking way up in the cockpit, particularly in the Porsche F1 car. That must have been worth partial seconds; also the Gurney bump in the roof on sportscars he drove. Judging by body language, Pedro Rogriguez was the opposite of Gurney; photos of him peering over the screen of those big Ferraris he drove are legion. He must have been on the short side, along with Ricardo. Certainly could motor fast.

[Ex-Jagboy]

Mike Parkes was certainly a surprise package, seeing him collect the Spring trophy at Oulton in 1962, we estimated his height at around 6`5", noticeably taller than Hawthorn and Salvadori, at the opposite end of the scale, the smallest drivers we saw would be Archie Scott Brown, Jean Behra, and Richie Ginther was another seriously short on inches.

[philipbain]

Mike Parkes was 6' 4" (1.93m). Dan Gurney, Troy Ruttman, Carel de Beaufort and Christian Danner are also said to be that height

I remember in F2 you could always spot Christian Danner from a mile off as his head was about 6" further out of the cockpit than his team mates! From memory, although Danner was the inaugural F3000 champ in 1985, in F1 he always had more success with the ladies than he did on track!

[driveace]

Was at a charity auction and a race suit of Massa,s was on sale ,he must be very small to get into such a small race suit .
Small rally drivers,well Jean Pierre Nicolas was rounded but small too

[R.Lee]

If you are covering in ALL forms/disciplines of racing in this, NASCAR drivers Buddy Baker 6ft5in tall, Richard Petty, 6ft4in tall, the late Tiny Lund, 5ft6in tall, Michael Waltrip, 6ft4in tall.

[D-Type]

I've seen soemething recently that says Nuvolari was 5ft 3in (1.59m). And he did drive in one pre-championship F1 race so he just qualifies for this thread

[journeyman racer]

Who's the fattest?

[D28]

I've seen soemething recently that says Nuvolari was 5ft 3in (1.59m). And he did drive in one pre-championship F1 race so he just qualifies for this thread

Yes he was on the diminutive side This video shows great footage of the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup. Nuvolari was persuaded to sit in the Cup! I can't find that picture on the web, but I saw it in the old Sport Car International magazine. Lots of interesting potos at this site.

http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/video_of_the_week_italian_film_nuvolari_wins_the_1 936_vanderbilt_cup_race_a

[Rollo]

Who's the fattest?

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2013/6/16/1371397474012/Jos--Froil-n-Gonz-lez-aft-003.jpg

José Froilán González scored Ferrari's first ever win in F1 in the 1951 British Grand Prix. My rather ancient copy of "Great Marques: Ferrari" says that Enzo himself gave González the nickname of "El Cabezón" which means "fat head".
It's far easier to dodge a salad if you're driving away from it at 150mph.

[Mintexmemory]

Just been looking up quoted height for someone I am certain is less than 5 ft - Timo Glock, officially quoted as 5' 6.5" which I find very hard to believe. I'm sure there's a certain amount of economy with the truth among les culs courts

[Mintexmemory]

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2013/6/16/1371397474012/Jos--Froil-n-Gonz-lez-aft-003.jpg

José Froilán González scored Ferrari's first ever win in F1 in the 1951 British Grand Prix. My rather ancient copy of "Great Marques: Ferrari" says that Enzo himself gave González the nickname of "El Cabezón" which means "fat head".
It's far easier to dodge a salad if you're driving away from it at 150mph.

Ivor Bueb was no lightweight either!