I once met Juan Fangio of Argentina. Was he the greatest Formula One driver of all time?

Question

Interestingly enough he was appraising my sexy red Chevrolet Corvair (Unsafe at any Speed fame) that was supposed to be the poster car of all the badly built US cars. He tested the Corvairs for Chevrolet and said they were good and safe. My driving experience included several accidents, but they were my fault and nobody was hurt in any way, except me and my insurance company. The front and rear would just crumple up, reguirering extensive repairs, especially as there were many odd part and parts covered with chrome. Repairing the only one in Argentina could be expensive, especially if the dealer thought you had money to spare. I guess I got about $10,000 for this one when it sold, but gave most to charity. Anyway, was Fangio really the greatest driver of all time in F1?

Answer 1

Yes, I believe Juan Manual Fangio was the greatest ever Formula One driver. When he raced, safety was an afterthought and the cars were far more difficult to drive than modern racing machinery. I believe Stirling Moss once said that even in a car that was 25 percent lesser in performance, Fangio could still beat most drivers in his era.
Several years ago, I paid to drive a (rented) road car around the old Nurburgring and I can only imagine what it was like for drivers like Fangio to race there.
I once stood beside him after he had completed several demonstration laps (in one of his old cars) at the Brazilian Grand Prix when it was run at the Jacarapagus circuit; I don't understand Spanish, but I knew by his gestures that he was explaining how much the car vibrated. I don't collect autographs, but I'll always regret not asking him for one.

Answer 2

Your question is a good one, and as others have demonstrated here, hard to answer precisely. But, yes, he must be included on the list of the very very best F1 drivers. I can really only echo what others here have already posted and say that I would put Sir Jackie Stewart, Alain Prost and (even though he was a highly temperamental and somewhat 'cracked' genius) Ayrton Senna on that list with Fangio.

However, I would also add one extra personal choice, 'Il Leone', Nigel Mansell. Not because he won a series of world championships (like Schumacher), nor because he had powerful connections like Jacques Villeneuve (who is one of only two real racing 'stars' I have seen in these past 10-15 few years - the other being Eddie Irvine), nor because he could always command a race better than anyone else. No, none of these things are true. BUT, he did have more courage and sheer determination than any other racer of his era, and the only one who ever had the courage to race wheel to wheel with Senna. Remember him literally pushing his empty-of-fuel car to the line in the soaring heat of Dallas in 1984, but not making it because he fainted? Now, that's courage! And F1 needs a bit more of that these days, I think. Thanks for your question, and take care.

Answer 3

Fangio was more than just F1, he was racing in about 4 different series at the same time so I would call him just the greatest Motor Racing Driver of all time!

Answer 4

Fangio is a Legend. I'm the daughter of Aussie GREAT, Lex Davison and Fangio was a household name in our house.

Answer 5

In my view, 4 F1 drivers deserve the title of "the greatest ever", and Fangio is one of them.

You can't quite compare him to Jackie Stewart or Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna, because they drove in different ages of motor racing. But they are truly Formula 1's giants.

Answer 6

Fangio has gotta be at the top of the list.

Answer 7

I know he may never have won a F1 title but one must put Gilles Villeneuve on anyones lists as a F1 great.

Answer 8

Little known fact. The greatest driver of all time was Truman Sparks from Three Forks Montana.