What makes a great driver?

[Cougar]

There has been much discussion on who the greats of Formula one are. But what factors make them GREAT.

Obviously it will be a combination of many things.

Championshisps won, races won, poll's, fan base (love and hate), charisma to name a few I guess.

Also many times people say that driver is quick BUT he has a good car. Surely there are not BUTs at this level. You get a seat in a good car because you deserve it?

[Red]

Originally posted by Cougar21
You get a seat in a good car because you deserve it?

Precisely! We're all grown boys, we don't really believe anymore that Santa gives a Ferrari or McLaren seat for free, do we?

PS: The old "he had no competition" argument holds absolutely no substance. "He had no competition" not because someone prevented that to happen, but because he was head and shoulders above his competitors.

[Cougar]

Originally posted by Red
PS: The old "he had no competition" argument holds absolutely no substance. "He had no competition" not because someone prevented that to happen, but because he was head and shoulders above his competitors.

Precisely as well! He was head and shoulders above his competitors because he was a great! There is no way you can not have competition at this level! Yes there are diffent standards of competition but most of these guys are the best of the best.

[Mattracer]

In the past getting to F1 at all was talent alone but in more recent times commercial considerations are just as much a bargaining tool a driver and his manager has in the briefcase when doing a deal.

Great drivers can be many things but one thing they always are a fabulous car sorters and inspirational leaders to the team they drive for. Without that, the team dosen't progress and they can't get results which makes them "greater".

[Red]

I don't think you're 100% right. Getting in F1 was always about talent + financial solutions. Yes, they could buy their own cars before, but that doesn't mean anything. Only great drivers would get a top car and paid for what they were doing, and only rich kids managed to get there somehow. Nothing changed. Anyway, those bargaining tools always implies talent or capability to become an inspirational leader, etc.

Nowadays, commercial considerations can get you a Minardi or Jordan seat; for 1 year. Definitelly can't get you a top drive. However, you can get a drive that way but promote to a higher level if you're backed by all those bargaining tools you mentioned. See Weber for example.

[Armco Bender]

How long before they start cloning F1 drivers?,then you will need a good scientist on your team too.

[ljakse]

Speed.
That's the only thing that makes a great driver (for me). It's not tactics, it's not points/trophies/titles he won. It's pure speed.
That's why Senna is the greatest ever - taking the pole is pure demonstration of raw speed.

BTW, it still doesn't make me like the driver.

[Gt_R]

Many many factors make a driver a GREAT.

Speed alone only makes him the one of the fastest, but not one of the greatest. (though i agree Senna is one of the greats)

I usually refrain from Greatest EVER, cos we can't compare fairly.

F1 may be more commercial nowadays, but still, only the best would stand above the rest.

A Great driver must impress on many counts. Results/Achievements alone may not be the absolute, but it's a strong representative. A great driver may not get many WDCs/records (ie Gilles), but a driver who achieved alot must be great (Prost,Schumacher,Fangio).

Of course, speed and skills are on track attributes that we judge the driver. They are what we fans can judge for ourselves. The abilities to push the car beyond it's capabilities, the car control, the ability to not throw the car out of a race or overstep its capabilities, the skill to set up the car to achieve the best, the ability to drive around problems are all great attributes of a great driver.

"He has no competition" is just a lousy excuse used to brush off a driver's achievement. Afterall it's easier than to admit that a driver the critics dislike to be superior to the rest..

[flexible-flyer]

the ability to get something out of nothing.

like senna in the post 91 mclaren.

like villeneuve in the 1980 ferrari.

mansell in the 1988 williams.

schumacher in the 96 ferrari.

not just that ability. i think consistency also. but consistently a winner, when competition is as rough or rougher. there are quite a few examples of this.

[Mackmot]

His mother??

[Cougar]

Originally posted by Armco Bender
How long before they start cloning F1 drivers?,then you will need a good scientist on your team too.

Originally posted by Mackmot
His mother??

You guys make me crack

[Mr V]

Originally posted by Mattracer
In the past getting to F1 at all was talent alone but in more recent times commercial considerations are just as much a bargaining tool a driver and his manager has in the briefcase when doing a deal.

Agreed with that, and as much as i dislike seeing it, i'd rather that than seeing more teams go out of buisness.

But, the cream always rises to the top, the likes of Michael, JPM, Kimi, Alonso, Webber and Button will always do well, because they have natural talent.

The others, like Zolst, Kiesa will always languish at the back of the field but will happy just to be F1 drivers. (as would i if i had the talent to actually make it there myself )

[TuscanR]

What makes a great driver? hmm well it would have to be lots and lots of sponsorship money, oops sorry thats the answer to what make a next generation formula one driver. What makes a great driver? Skill, Determination and Cunning lots of Cunning

[krt917]

Initial thoughts:

-Agree with flexible-flyer. The greats tend to be people who can pull strong performaces out of mediocre cars and/or work on the development or set-up of the car to make it better.
- Consistant speed. Barrichello's drive at Silverstone was great, but - so far - I don't think he quite qualifies as a great because the likes of Senna, Schumacher, Prost etc. were/are capable of that sort of perfromance on a more regular basis.

Of course, you get different types of great driver. Those that simply have a natural talent for driving quickly, such as Clark and Villeneuve, whilst others have worked hard behind the scenes, such as Hill (G) and Jack Brabham. The there are those wo combine the two; Stewart, Prost Schumacher, to name but three.

When choosing between the greats, I personally feel that they way a driver goes about trying to win is important, being sporting/fair. That's why I have always had problems putting Senna and Schumacher at the very top, though I accept that they are among the greatest ever.

[neilap]

A great driver is able to consistently perform at his best under difficult circumstances. If you win in the best car it does not make you the best driver it makes you the luckiest, or it means you have the best management team.

MS imo, is the only real great in F1 now. He is definately still one of the most skilled in F1. What impresses me about him is that he has the whole team around him. He ensures the team gives him what he needs to deliver the goods, then he delivers the goods. It may seem unfair but there has to be a reason that MS get prefference over RB.

When he does not have the best car he seems to perform even better. Where some drivers may overdrive he is able to run consistent laps and bring the car home.

Also, he has to be the luckiest man on the plannet.

[avsfan733]

A better PR firm

[BARrouette]

His mojo.

[Mattracer]

Originally posted by avsfan733
A better PR firm

Some might say more than ever these days