What Would James Hunt Make Of the Current Drivers?

[BootsOntheSide]

The 1976 World Champion James Hunt died nearly 10 years ago. Before that, he built a second career as Commentator for the BBC. He was never slow to make his opinions known, including infamously called Jean-Pierre Jarier a 'French tanker' (you know what I mean) live on air, adn frequently slamming Ricardo Patrese.

So, what would he make of the current guys? Would he forgive Schumacher for Adelaide and Jerez? Would he respect Montoya's aggression and commitment, or consider him a moaner, as he did with Mansell? Would he see DC as a future champion, or a waste of a top drive? What else?

[Liz]

I think James Hunt would have had a similar opinion to Nigel Roebuck only less diplomatically stated -- that TGF makes too many mistakes to be considered a great driver, that he has no effective competition (well maybe if he wasn't afraid to compete, he'd have some this year), etc.

[ghinzani]

I reckon it would be soemthing along the lines of his infamous comment on the Aurora AFX F1 series "what a load of b0ll0x"

[J.McClane]

I think he would have made a nice F1 driver stew.

[Sodemo]

I think he would be truly horrified as to what F1 has become since 1993 in terms of quality of racing, he was always the first to say after the race had finished, "what a boring load of rubbish" etc.

[Miss Hardt]

Wasn't that the guy who said "You're all crazy" when he was quitting F1? I read that somewhere.

I think many of the great drivers of the past wouldn't like this. F1 used to be a sport where drivers were respected because of their skills, where tracks were fast and where teams were teams. Now it's a sport where drivers are respected because of their cars, where tracks are slow and full of mindless additional objects and where teams are like politic parties.

[Adam43]

Originally posted by Miss Hardt
...where teams are like politic parties.

unlike 1976!

I don't think you could get much more political than Hunt's championship year.

[Irv the Swerve]

I think James Hunt would have stopped bothering with F1 a long time ago. He would have liked to see Irvine do well, but I don't think Micky the Shoe would have been his cup of tea. The races put me to sleep, let alone Hunt.
Anyway, he would probably be world champion budgie breeder 2002.

[DavidStHubbins]

James Hunt was the one who told Malboro to sign Mika Hakkinen - "Sign that man!!!" were the words when he saw Mika drive a fford at donington (maybe Brands...).

Hunt applauded natural talent so he would have loved Montoya and hated Coulthard

I reckon he would have hated the way Ferrari mess with F1 but he would have been a big supporter of TGF merely cos he is so awesome. Hunt was smart and knew a great driver when he first saw one re: Gilles Villeneuve and Mika Hakkinen - two guys he helped into F1.

Ok, he liked Irvine too but James also raced stoned at Brands one year so...

[Avid Merrion]

I think James Hunt would have ripped drivers like Yoong to shreads , and also i think he would have had a lot to say about Ralf Schumacher being up for it agianst his Brother.