[Race] Best on track battles

[hannabyjj]

I want to know your view on the best on track battles you have seen, not ones that last one corner but ones that last a whole lap or even a whole race, I'm sorry if they are quite recent, I'm sure Senna,Prost and co had many more than I'm awarer of..... my own personal favourites in no particular order are :

Hamilton vs Webber Korea 2011
Villeneuve vs Arnoux
Hamilton vs Raikonnen Spa 2008
Senna vs Mansell Monaco
Hamilton vs Button Hungary 2011
Schumacher vs Hakkinnen Suzuka

[chunterer]

Nice list, (although we may have been here before quite recently?)arguably one or two weren't battles but spanners in the works!

I think that any lsit like this would almost certainly need to include many of Monster Montoya's scraps.

2 of the best scraps overall we've seen in recent times would be the one at Hockenheim - JPM verus Kimi in 2002 (nearly a whole lap!) and the two of them again at Interlagos in 2004 which was probably held over at least 2/3 of the race but crystallised in the out lap after a pit stop which highlighted Kimi's racers instinct in nipping ahead but more significantly Montoya's innate opportunistic skills at immedaitely seeing and delivering a killer pass as one M Schumacher quite often fell foul of!

Then you would have to say:
Schu v Mika, Spa 2000,
Mansell v Berger, Mexico 1990
Mansell v Senna, Catalunya 1991
Mansell v Berger, Imola 1990
Herbert v Schumacher, Interlagos 1993
Schu v Hill Silverstone and Monza 1995 (chuckle..)
Stewart v Perterson, Silverstone 1973?
Stewart v Rindt, Silverstone 1970

[Spritle]

While I wasn't enamored with the results, I have to add:

Fernando Alonso vs Michael Schumacher - 2006 Turkish Grand Prix

[wnut]

Scumacher jumping Alonso when the FIA turned the green lights on at the end of Monaco 2010. Classic!

[formerf1champ]

This bloke starts more threads than writes posts. Anyway, in all the time I've followed F1, I've always thought the battle between Villeneuve and Schumacher, in 97 title decider at Jerez, was the best scrap on the race track I'd seen in F1 so far. There may not have been the passing of the lead like in a fvee race, but it was a very intense battle. A title settled with a very bold move by Villeneuve. He only had one, faint, opportunity to pass Schumacher, and he took it.

Special mention to the 2000 French gp. When you consider the weaknesses of the Magny Cours circuit, a french catalunya, it was one of the few races that were not decided by fuel strategy, but by clean, on track action. Coulthard's best win, I thought.

[wolfhound]

Villenuve v's Arnoux French GP 1979

Vilenuve v's half the field Spanish GP 1981

[Steptoe]

Only one for me that was 'great' although Villeneuve / Arnoux was somthing special.

1957 German GP @ Nürburgring - Fangio vs Collins & Hawthorn

[formerf1champ]

How long was that Villeneuve/Arnoux one? It looked like something that developed over the last few laps.

[strider]

Yes it did.

I think Stewart vs. Rindt in 1970 takes some beating. JYS (there I go again!) reckons they swapped the lead over 30 times during the race.

Schumacher and Mika at Suzuka in 2000 was a classic in modern terms, even though the wrong man won IMO.

[jj2448jg]

My favourite battles in no particular order would be:

> Hakkinen vs Schumacher (Spa 2000)
> Raikkonen Vs Hamilton (Spa 2008)
> Hamilton Vs Button (Turkey 2010)
> Button Vs Vettel (Canada 2011)
> Villeneuve vs Schumacher (Jerez 1997)
> Mansell Vs Senna (Monaco 1992)
> Schumacher Vs Alonso (Imola 2005)
> Trulli Vs Button (Monaco 2004)
> Villeneuve Vs Arnoux (France 1979)
> Button Vs The Rest of the Field (Brazil 2009)

[wolfhound]

Anybody remember Hunt V's Lauda Holland 1975 and a year later Hunt V's Watson the first was a mighty race with Hesketh's only win.

[chunder]

I enjoyed MAssa and Hamilton in 2011, coz you always knew someone was going to end up getting hit!!

[cds_uk]

Obviously Villeneuve and Arnoux is the first one that springs to mind so how about Massa and Kubica in the rain, Japan 2007?

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by cds_uk

Obviously Villeneuve and Arnoux is the first one that springs to mind so how about Massa and Kubica in the rain, Japan 2007?

Yes, that's a good one!

Kimi and Kovy had a good one at the same race?

[Born Racer]

Too much off-track racing in that one for my liking, but each move and counter-move seemed to push the boundaries of what constituted the track, so I guess that was the battle that highlighted this problem, each driver understandably pushing it a bit more.

I'm referring to the Kubica/ Massa battle. The other one happened too I think, Mr V.

[chavez]

Prost v Senna, Suzuka, 1989

Edge of the seat stuff.

[Knowlesy]

One that people always forget, quite understandably, is Monza 2003; Montoya versus M. Schumacher.

Started on the front row together, had a great battle for the first lap and then proceeded to have a high speed chase all race, the race producing the fastest average race speed of the time at around 250kmh. They didn't get side by side again all day, but the pace was absolutely frantic. Schumacher had the straightline speed in his Ferrari, Montoya had a fraction more wing on his Williams and a small corner advantage. Each driver eked out a tenth here and there against the other all day long.

One of the most tense races I have ever watched, just brilliant. Even if Sauber did intervene and spoil things slightly and Michelin were forced to run on different tyres to what they had all season.

It was slightly similar to Button versus Alonso at the same track in 2010, but this meant so much more and was a lot more intense and frenetic. And proof positive that overtaking isn't the be all and end all of motorsport entertainment. You just need two fantastic drivers in two fantastic cars.

[Marbot]

Possibly the best on track battle was between Nelson Piquet and Eliseo Salazar.

Salazar pulled off a truly stupendous move, but it was Piquet who would ultimately gain the upper hand.

[wolfhound]

Originally Posted by Marbot

Possibly the best on track battle was between Nelson Piquet and Eliseo Salazar.

Salazar pulled off a truly stupendous move, but it was Piquet who would ultimately gain the upper hand.

Was that a jab followed by a right hook?

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by wolfhound

Was that a jab followed by a right hook?

I think that Piquet may have finally finished him off with a 'roundhouse' kick. I will have to look up that seasons stats.

[Trev Campbell]

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned Webber V Vettel V Hamilton V Button at the 2010 Turkish Grand Prix. It was basically a nailbiter right from the get go, and the fact it finished in controversey made it even more memorable

[stripedcat]

I think that Alan Jones versus Gilles Villeneuve in Canada 1979 was a good on track battle, it lasted for pretty much the whole of the race.

Special mention to the 1986 Spanish Grand Prix as well. Mansell, Senna and Prost all battle for the lead in that one.

[formerf1champ]

I would just like to say, in the appropriate thread, that while it may've been considered a great on track battle, I don't rate the Senna/Mansell Monaco one. Nor should it be considered a good one, let alone great. Very few laps to develop a battle, an already narrow track that is lined with walls, all the way round. There's just no way that Mansell was ever going to get him. The only way, having had a look at it again on YT, would be if Senna overdid it into the chicane. That may've happenend had the "battle" been MORE than 3 laps. I actually now remember watching it for the first time, hoping Mansell would get past, but knowing he wouldn't. I also remember not thinking anything of it as a scrap. Senna did what he had to do, in the fortunate position, and he did it. Years later, to read in magazines and forums, how highly people rated it, was a surprise. Seen more difficult defensive efforts watching motorbike/fvee/fford races at Phillip Island.

Speaking of YT, I have seen video of the 1981 German GP. Alain Prost trying to hold off Alan Jones. Prost was...un-Prost like.

[Born Racer]

Originally Posted by formerf1champ

. Senna did what he had to do, in the fortunate position, and he did it. Years later, to read in magazines and forums, how highly people rated it, was a surprise. Seen more difficult defensive efforts watching motorbike/fvee/fford races at Phillip Island.

I know what you mean, but it's Senna, so he will get deified for such things even if it's not the best example of his skills. That battle was the first single memory I have of F1 from when I was younger and I enjoyed it. Prepared me for many years of frustrated battles.

[Pingguest]

The 1981 Spanish Grand Prix worth a mentioning, I think.