1.Eddie Irvine - He was great. He stood up to the world champion Hakkonen for a dog fight when MS was injured. He could have been the #1 driver for Ferrari but got screwed over.
2. Rubens Barrichelo - Amazing driver, could win any race with a good car, but got completely screwed up by the Ferrari manager.
3. David Coulthard - A great support to Hakkonen, very poised and calm. However, couldn't handle the pressure of being the #1 after Hakkonen retired.
4. Jaques Villeneuve - Was the second to Damon Hill (how is that possible, what a shame) on Williams. He then had problem with the Williams team. Too bad, what a waste of talent.
5. J.P. Montoya - Great driver, and looked like a future legend, but for some reason, just never quite get there. I like his style though.
6. jean Alesi - Very good driver, but always got stuck with a team that had mechanical problems with their cars...
Who else?
2006-09-11 08:50:56 · 7 answers · asked by tienyutai 3 in Sports ➔ Auto Racing
Not to be rude PolarCeltic, but Alain Prost is a Legend and he had records to go with it. By the way, I do like Panis, Heifield, and Fisichella as well. They did some very good things with non-top rank cars. What about Frentzen?
2006-09-11 10:11:34 · update #1
Sorry PolarCeltic, I noticed my mistake, but for some reason I couldn't edit the question after I posted it. My bad.
Anyhow, I do agree with someone who mentioned Ralf as well. Too bad for the former f3 Champion to live under his brother's shadow forever.
By the way, everyone has been making very good points here. It will be hard for me to give out the best answer....
Mansell was an incredible driver. He was getting tougher and tougher towards the retirement.
Mika Hakkonen is a legend to me. His career ended too early due to family issue, which was understandable. He was also one driver that pushes Schumi/Irvine Combo to the edge along with Coulthard.
2006-09-11 16:21:02 · update #2
Of those you named I liked David Coulthard the best; I thought there were several years that he would have done substantially better if he wasn't following team orders. Jacques Villeneuve would be my second choice followed by Rubens Barrichelo; Frentzen showed great potential when he was starting out but I don't think he lived up to it.
2006-09-11 14:18:25 · answer #1 · answered by heinlein 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of these 6, I think I'll choose the "bad boy" (Montoya). He was actually on target for a WDC in 2003 when the FIA blew it(also for Raikkonen) by forcing Michelin to change some tire compounds for the last 3 races. That proved the two drivers' undoing.
And also Barrichello. He got screwed up bigtime by the Ferrari management, glad for him that he's moved to Honda, in a more relaxed and calm environment, without the cr*p of team orders.
2006-09-11 16:46:04 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Revised my answer.
Of all of the non legendary drivers the award has to go to Johnny Herbert, always trying so hard but never quite getting there, but always happy even though he got the worst part of the deal especially when teamed with Schumacher at Benetton.
The other would have to be Gerhard Berger, a real character in the sport
2006-09-11 15:54:44 · answer #3 · answered by PolarCeltic 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i agree with your alesi and Villeneuve choices. Alesi deserved more than his canada victory , he had great flair. Villeneuve also was unfairly dumped by BMW.
I also tthink Oliveir Panis and Nick Heidfeld also has always done spectacular things in poor cars , although he never really makes headlines and very underated.
I would also have said Ginacarlo Fisichellla but he has totally lost his raw pace he used to have since hes had his dream move to Renault , he has been destroyed by Alonso which has been painfull to watch.
2006-09-11 16:01:07 · answer #4 · answered by MSC89 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Almost all of the above are right under the non legendary definition here, except JP, I couldn't agree less, I think he is an arrogant looser.
But, what about Mika Hakkinenn?
Do you remeber the guy that had an early retirement after a couple of tours with Mercedes earlier this century?
It comes back to me another guy, whose name escapes, that lost both legs in a F1 accident, couple of years after the Senna accident.
2006-09-11 18:07:33 · answer #5 · answered by Carlos 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Nigel Mansell may not have ever torn apart a record book, but he was amazing to watch behind the wheel. Incredible talent!
2006-09-11 18:56:48 · answer #6 · answered by Nc Jay 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ralf Schumacher... will never leave his brother's shadow.
2006-09-11 22:07:53 · answer #7 · answered by ANA83 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋