Who do you currently regard as the 3 greatest Formula 1 drivers and why?

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Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1

So how do you explain away Lauda's view?

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Said after his death? Those opinions sure are never clouded with emotional bias.

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That's not what I've said, but equally the opinions of those who raced alongside GV should not be dismissed so easily IMHO.

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So facts outweight opinions or vice-versa? Reutemann beat GV as one would expect a world champ to do to an average driver, but CR wasnt even a champion.

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And they had many more races in which to achieve those wins, and better and far more reliable cars with which to do so.

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Senna and Schumacher both showed far more in their first 4-5 years than Gilles, for example they didnt get beaten by their teammates.

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He finished four points behind his team leader who also became the WDC that year.

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And how did JS become the team leader at Ferrari, where he was newcomer, whereas GV started his 3rd year with the team? Someone in this thread apologized for GV saying I should discount his first 3-4 races for a new team. JS sure didnt seem to have a problem with that.

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He won three races (the same as Scheckter). He gained one pole position (the same as Scheckter). He had six fastest laps (to Scheckter's 0). He led 308 laps (to Scheckter's 170). He had 7 podium finishes (to Scheckter's 6).

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And what matters in the end are points, not fastest laps or poles. Fastest laps especially are irrelevant, just look how few fastest laps Senna had. Why? because when others were setting fastest laps, he was already far ahead and leading and not pushing.
JS beat GV in equal cars and one could hardly say JS was the best driver in F1 at that time.

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Originally Posted by Garry Walker

And what matters in the end are points...

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Would I be right in guessing that you don't rate the likes of Stirling Moss, Ronnie Peterson or Chris Amon very highly then?

As I recall Ferrari basically gifted the title to Jody when left a even table GV would have won the title that year.

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Originally Posted by fousto

As I recall Ferrari basically gifted the title to Jody when left a even table GV would have won the title that year.

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Yes, but why did Ferrari 'gift' it to Jody?

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Originally Posted by Garry Walker

And how did JS become the team leader at Ferrari, where he was newcomer, whereas GV started his 3rd year with the team?

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Well, when Scheckter was signed he was a proven winner with 6 years of F1 experience in three different teams behind him. Gilles, on the other hand, was in his first full season of F1 and yet to win a GP. He did so in the final race of the 1978 season and that win effectively secured his place at Ferrari for 1979. Without it there is a good chance he would have been looking for employment elsewhere.

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Originally Posted by Garry Walker

It is a damn shame that facts outweigh opinions.

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Originally Posted by Garry Walker

So facts outweight opinions or vice-versa?

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Let me guess, you used to be indecisive, but you just aren't sure anymore? ;)

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Originally Posted by SGWilko

:laugh: You seem to be describing a great many male adults who live a playboy life..........

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Does that make them great human beings?!

Drivers that died on track seem to have a fanatic support from emotional people around here. To the extent that a driver that was beaten by several other drivers while driving the same car is considered to be one of the best ever!

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Originally Posted by ioan

Does that make them great human beings?!

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What do you think? I think it shows them as weak and flawed.

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Originally Posted by ioan

Drivers that died on track seem to have a fanatic support from emotional people around here. To the extent that a driver that was beaten by several other drivers while driving the same car is considered to be one of the best ever!

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Or it is a bunch of people expressing their opinions.......