Who is the greatest Grand Prix driver of all time?

Answer 1

Unquestionably Juan Manual Fangio; the cars were far more difficult to drive in his day and safety was an afterthought at many of the circuits.
Anyone who has done a lap at the old Nurburgring (in a road car) can appreciate the skill (and daring) involved when he powered an unwieldy Mercedes to victory there at the 1954 German Grand Prix.

Answer 2

This is a very difficult question to answer. Looked at purely from a statistical point of view, nobody comes close to Michael Schumacher. The figures you can append to Schumacher's name are so far ahead of any other driver that it is probably impossible that anyone will ever match his statistical record. There are more things to consider than statistics.

For raw speed it would be difficult to say that Schumacher is the equal of or better than Ayrton Senna. Schumacher may have exceeded Senna's record of most pole positions but he has had many more Grands Prix in which to do so than Senna had. In other words, taken as a proportion of qualifying sessions contested and pole positions earned, Senna comes out way ahead of Schumacher.

Senna's untimely death at Imola robbed us of the opportunity of having Schumacher and Senna race each other for a world championship. We, thus, will never know whether Schumacher is a better racer than Senna was.

If greatness requires honesty and sportsmanlike behaviour both Schumacher and Senna score badly but Schumacher perhaps worse.

In my view a great racing driver emerges when he is challenged by drivers of equal driving ability. Save for the couple of years when Schumacher had to compete with Mika Hakkinen, Schumacher has not had to face any real competition. If you consider the ding-dong Ayrton Senna/Alain Prost/Nigel Mansell years or the Niki Lauda/James Hunt battles or even the Gilles Villeneuve/didier Peroni fights, you get a better picture of what true Formula One competition is all about.

Add to all of this the fact that Formula One has changed radically over the years and it becomes even more complicated.

In conclusion, therefore, the answer is: I do not know!

Answer 3

Michael Schumacher, beyond a doubt. There are only 2 or 3 all time records he has not won yet and, if he doesn't announce his retirement at the end of next week and carries on into the next season, he should have taken EVERY Grand Prix record.

I remember seeing Ierton Senna, Sterling Moss and Manuel Fangio when they were actually racing (obviously no all at the same time) and the things I know made them great are all a part of Michael's abilities...

Michael Schumacher is probably the best F1 driver ever or ever will be. It''s just so sad that Americans have never heard of him but they know who Dale Jr. is.... and Dale Jr.... or any other NASCAR driver... isn't qualified to shine Schumacher's driving boots.

Answer 4

On paper, based on records, schumi is most successful but:
1.Senna was on a pace that would have eclipsed even Michael if he had lived.
2. Mika Hakkinen always gave michael very stiff competition - I have no idea why Mika left F1 when he did. I think in equal cars Mika would have won.
3.Schumi is getting older and with the young talent in both Raikkonen and Alonso they could eclipse Michael if they stay in F1 long enough.
4. Although juan manual fangio had more championships Sir Jackie Stewart and Alain Prost actually had more race wins because they seasons were longer in the modern era (when the tires are fat and the drivers are skinny).

Answer 5

Senna and Prost are the greatest of all time.

Alonso might go in the club of the greatest in a few years' time.

Schumacher is nowhere near as great as the greats. His unsporting behaviour has spoiled his image for ever. When people will say "Michael Schumacher" after the German retires, they will say "7 WDC's", but also "Adelaide 1994", "Jerez 1997", "Monaco 2006".

Answer 6

I would say that it would be Ayrton Senna. What a wonderful driver!!

I am a giant Schumi fan for the reason that he drives wonderfully, holds a wonderful pace consistently, and seems to be more than competitive in watever machine he enters.

Answer 7

Senna

Answer 8

Mika Hakinen...unbelievable under pressure, and with the right machine, untouchable.

Scumacher and Senna are great cyborg drivers...NO CLASS

Answer 9

Stirling Moss.

Answer 10

I would have to say it is "The Mary Kay Lady". If she doesn't have the Pink Caddy, she will have the Platinum Grand Prix. That will be me soon!

Debbie