Who is the fastest F1 driver of all time

hannabyjj · 30 Dec 2012, 23:25 (Ref:3183127)

I wanted to know who people thought the fastest ever f1 driver was, here are the candidates:

1)Schumacher
2)Hamilton
3)Senna
4)Vettel
5)Stewart
6)Clark
7)Moss
8)Fangio
9)Villeneuve

**Born Racer** · 30 Dec 2012, 23:31 (Ref:3183132)

No Alonso or Prost?

JeremySmith · 30 Dec 2012, 23:34 (Ref:3183133)

This for me, is an impossible question to answer..

The cars are very different, the tracks are not the same..

Safety is way more of an issue than it used to be..

And it looks like you have your list..

**Born Racer** · 30 Dec 2012, 23:41 (Ref:3183136)

That's not your own order though, is it, hannabyjj? I'm not sure Schumacher was as quick as Hamilton, but he was very complete. And Prost, although also a well-balanced driver, was clearly very quick too to go toe-to-toe with Senna and come out on top as much as he did.

Like Jeremy, I just cannot make a list for this, fun though it would be to try.

wnut · 31 Dec 2012, 00:03 (Ref:3183139)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

This for me, is an impossible question to answer..

The cars are very different, the tracks are not the same..

Safety is way more of an issue than it used to be..

And it looks like you have your list..

Therefore: rubbish question!

Armco Bender · 31 Dec 2012, 00:08 (Ref:3183140)

Alan van der Mewe...Fastest F1 driver of all time on land.

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/21/h...at-bonneville/

And you all thought I was just a pretty face..

wnut · 31 Dec 2012, 00:31 (Ref:3183142)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armco Bender

Alan van der Mewe...Fastest F1 driver of all time on land.

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/21/h...at-bonneville/

And you all thought I was just a pretty face..

Great work Armco Bender! Job done!

hannabyjj · 31 Dec 2012, 01:18 (Ref:3183150)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Born Racer

That's not your own order though, is it, hannabyjj? I'm not sure Schumacher was as quick as Hamilton, but he was very complete. And Prost, although also a well-balanced driver, was clearly very quick too to go toe-to-toe with Senna and come out on top as much as he did.

Like Jeremy, I just cannot make a list for this, fun though it would be to try.

No it's definitely not in order and yes prost was quick but I feel his strengths like button almost lay more in the race

hannabyjj · 31 Dec 2012, 01:19 (Ref:3183152)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Born Racer

No Alonso or Prost?

Alonso openly admits he isn't the fastest currently and it is widely acknowledged he isn't as quick as vettel or Hamilton

hannabyjj · 31 Dec 2012, 01:20 (Ref:3183153)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

This for me, is an impossible question to answer..

The cars are very different, the tracks are not the same..

Safety is way more of an issue than it used to be..

And it looks like you have your list..

My list isn't in order

Armco Bender · 31 Dec 2012, 02:00 (Ref:3183171)

Late entry...Rudolf Caracciola's record of 432.7 km/h (268 mph) over the flying kilometre on 28 January 1938.

Car speeds haven't improved much in the last 74years then.

Modern day....Jochen Rindt.

**chunterer** · 31 Dec 2012, 07:42 (Ref:3183202)

Quote:

Originally Posted by hannabyjj

Alonso openly admits he isn't the fastest currently and it is widely acknowledged he isn't as quick as vettel or Hamilton

I've not heard or read that anywhere?

The outright fastest drivers come from a relatively simple half dozen, picking others beyond that isn't quite ah clear...

Moss, Clark, Rindt, Peterson, Villeneuve, Senna.

Then you would probably throw in any number of Hamilton, Alonso, Kimi, Prost, Gurney, Pryce, Keke Rosberg, Schu, Jpm, Hakkinen, Bellof etc etc!!!

**John Turner** · 31 Dec 2012, 09:05 (Ref:3183227)

Yep, good case for Bellof; probably too fast for his own good. Impossible to say though really because, as always, comparing drivers of different eras with different equipment, circuits, safety factors etc is only ever going to be a fun academic exercise.

**Born Racer** · 31 Dec 2012, 09:10 (Ref:3183229)

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Turner

comparing drivers of different eras with different equipment, circuits, safety factors etc is only ever going to be a fun academic exercise.

Indeed, John. We will go round in circles, but we should have fun doing so.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunterer

I've not heard or read that anywhere?

Me neither.

**GTRMagic** · 31 Dec 2012, 09:22 (Ref:3183234)

The man in the yellow hat could eke speed out of a car that seemed reluctant to do so...

HITMAN · 31 Dec 2012, 09:55 (Ref:3183238)

Stefan Bellof , Jochen Rindt ,Ayrton Senna , Tazio Nuvolari , Tommy Byrne ( I realise how briefly ) . Chris Amon.

**Born Racer** · 31 Dec 2012, 10:06 (Ref:3183241)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

The man in the yellow hat could eke speed out of a car that seemed reluctant to do so...

He's still good at it. Arguably better than Vettel and.. wrong thread.

**John Turner** · 31 Dec 2012, 10:10 (Ref:3183245)

I thought GTRM was probably talking about Senna rather than Hamilton, but I stand to be corrected! They are both candidates.

nicanary · 31 Dec 2012, 11:21 (Ref:3183261)

What exactly does "fast" mean in this context? Consistently fast, as in being able to take the lead and pull out a huge margin, or occasionally fast, as in having the ability to put in a "banzai" lap once or twice a season, but flattering to deceive. There have been umpteen drivers like the latter.

Gilles was fast all right, but looked like he might "go off" at any time. Stewart and Prost didn't look fast, but then you looked at their lap time and were surprised. Ditto Fangio and Clark.

I wouldn't call it a rubbish question, just unanswerable, like the " who was the best" posts we get every year.

PS Love the Nuvolari suggestion - just give him a "lost cause" and a car on song, and there's the probable answer.

**GTRMagic** · 31 Dec 2012, 11:29 (Ref:3183265)

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Turner

I thought GTRM was probably talking about Senna rather than Hamilton, but I stand to be corrected! They are both candidates.

I did mean the late, great Ayrton Senna da Silva

He could take those ordinary Lotus cars and put them in places their budget, and specification did not deserve them to be... he drove the customer (arguably B-grade) Ford customer engines in a handy McLaren to some of the greatest rain dancing perhaps we shall ever see..

Sublime skill, irreplaceable passion.. Awesome!

**Born Racer** · 31 Dec 2012, 12:05 (Ref:3183277)

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Turner

I thought GTRM was probably talking about Senna rather than Hamilton, but I stand to be corrected! They are both candidates.

I was just making light of the Lewis thread.

**Bononi** · 31 Dec 2012, 14:08 (Ref:3183298)

And I thought Keke Rosberg was the fastest guy in F1...

JohnSSC · 31 Dec 2012, 14:16 (Ref:3183303)

Does he still hold the fastest race lap record, Bon?

nicanary · 31 Dec 2012, 14:26 (Ref:3183305)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bononi

And I thought Keke Rosberg was the fastest guy in F1...

On three-and-a-half inflated tyres. Would it be allowed today? You could have killed everybody!!!!

Marbot · 31 Dec 2012, 14:40 (Ref:3183309)

Honda must have been asking themselves where all of that speed went only a few months later.

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