The 3 Greatest F1 Drivers Of All Time?

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Who Are The 3 Greatest F1 Drivers Of All Time?

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Impossible to tell, as explained by others previously. Also because I think you need the full picture of a driver and the environment he was racing in. No matter how many videos you watch or articles/books you read about a certain driver, you have to "live with him" to comprehend as much as possible his value, merit and contribute to the sport and fans.

Said that, I repeat here my votes of the GPDA survey, since there I had to chose 3 names to continue the questionnaire: M.Schumacher, G.Villeneuve, R.Peterson.

About Schumacher, I think one has to look at what he did when he wasn't that dominant like in 2000-2004. From his debut to 1999, in my opinion that really tells even more of how great he has been.
I wasn't even born when Gilles Villeneuve and Ronnie Peterson raced. The two combined had 0 world championships and respectively only 6 and 10 GP wins, so they surely can't be considered between "the greatest F1 drivers" which is the precise question. Since it's impossible to tell for me, I went a bit off topic just to give a bit more consideration to the unusual names. And those two always fascinated me more than other legends I haven't "lived with".
 
I suppose there's more than one way to interpret "'Greatest' F1 Driver".

1. Statistically.

Schumacher must be the best by this measure, with Fangio and Clark having impressive percentages compared to starts.

2. Degree to which he psychologically dominated the other drivers, and the extent to which this was widely or not so widely acknowledged.

Here, Villeneuve and Fangio are at or near the top. Senna, Andretti, and a few others also had this quality, I think.

3. The amount of overall positive influence on F1, its commercial, sporting and popular success.

This is somewhat subjective, but by this measure it's impossible to discount Stewart at or near the top. Personalities such as Brabham and Lauda also added greatly to F1.
 
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Greatest "F1 Driver" Exclusively or Greatest Driver In Motorsports Who Also Did Well In F1?

Because I'm pretty sure nobody beats Mario Andretti for sheer multi-discipline success over such a long period of time. As a pure, unadulterated racer, the man is an ultimate winner.
 
Liquid
Greatest "F1 Driver" Exclusively or Greatest Driver In Motorsports Who Also Did Well In F1?

Because I'm pretty sure nobody beats Mario Andretti for sheer multi-discipline success over such a long period of time. As a pure, unadulterated racer, the man is an ultimate winner.
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Why would you need to ask that question?

The topic title answers that clearly.
 
Liquid
Greatest "F1 Driver" Exclusively or Greatest Driver In Motorsports Who Also Did Well In F1?

Because I'm pretty sure nobody beats Mario Andretti for sheer multi-discipline success over such a long period of time. As a pure, unadulterated racer, the man is an ultimate winner.
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I followed Mario over the complete length of his career, seeing him in person several times. A true monster, badass, and hard man.

The only special insight I can offer is that he was a bit of car breaker, nowhere near mechanically sensitive as some. Very early on he acquired the reputation as "The only man on Earth who can break an anvil with a rubber mallet".

I believe AJ Foyt was as talented and dominating, and better at long-distance racing. But he refused to rough up Mario before the races like he did others, considering it beneath his dignity to punch such a small man.
 
Interesting fact about Alain Prost - he beat five world champions as teammates; Rosberg, Senna, Mansell, Hill and Lauda. A record that I doubt will be matched anytime soon.

Mike Rotch
Villoresi, Rosemayer, Gonzalez...where are they.

Stupid list to start with ..... Jacques Villeneuve?!
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Rosemeyer never raced in Formula One.
 
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Senna - Prost - Schumacher

Maybe past drivers were better but I never saw them drive, for me those are the 3. Maybe Vettel can come in the list but it's a bit too early to tell yet.

Prost is the most underrated driver. Maybe because he's french lol.

Not my favorites I should say, but the best one in my eyes.
 
Fangio, Gilles Villeneuve and Lauda.

But kicking myself that I missed Hakkinen. When Michael Schumacher says he's the only driver he felt challenged by, you know he's special. Shame his career ended so abruptly. I'd like to believe that he had a third title in him.
 
My 3:

Schumacher-Senna-Hakkinen

Reason I say Hakkinen is because when he was racing alongside Schumacher you could see just how hard he was fighting and to be able to challenge Schumacher in his prime means you really had to be something special. Honourable mentions:

Alonso
Fangio
Moss
Lauda
Prost
 
Fangio, Senna, Schumacher.

Fangio for obvious reasons - won everything, everywhere, in different cars at a time when safety meausres were nonexistent.

Senna was the most naturally talented driver of my generation and could do things in a car that no one else could

Schumacher, despite his lack of principles, was an amazing all round package. To take 2 teams to multiple World Championships was an amazing achievement.

It pains me to leave out Clark, Moss and Stewart, all who I think could have won many World Championships if their careers had been longer. Jim Clark, in particular, was one of the most naturally talented drivers of all time.
 
ShiftingGears
Interesting fact about Alain Prost - he beat five world champions as teammates; Rosberg, Senna, Mansell, Hill and Lauda. A record that I doubt will be matched anytime soon.
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And he won more world titles than any of them. Excellent bit of trivium, but with the small concession that Damon Hill was in his first full season when Prost beat him, and Mansell also won his title after being Prost's teammate.

Still an excellent fact none the less. I'd rate Prost ahead of Senna; Senna has the mythos about him but like you say, Prost beat so many great champions in his own team. Schumacher never had to deal with that and even Senna had comfortable team mates apart from Prost. Warwick vs Dumfries at Lotus, anyone?
 
These stats are funny but truth is always more complex. Let's see:

1. Damon was a rookie
2. Rosberg was well past his prime and on his way out
3. Mansell was still building up.

4. Lauda was waaaay past his prime AND Lauda beat Prost too (1-1)

5. Senna was less experienced then Prost AND Senna beat Prost too (2 -1, advantage Senna).

From all Prost battles with teammates, the most impressive feat was Lauda's.

Regardless, Prost is (as Lauda) one of the all time greats.
 
When discussing Prost and Senna we are into the Higher Mysteries. What's better, brains or heart?

Both were genius level drivers, far beyond the talents of Mansell, Lauda and Piquet. Each had freakish abilities, but were different. Senna bested Prost slightly more than otherwise, IMO, but perished under clouded circumstances. His star burned more brightly, but more briefly.
 
Dotini
He burned more brightly, but more briefly.
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Senna was undoubtedly the more exciting driver to watch. Prost was the more technical, critical thinker's driver.

However I absolutely believe that Senna wouldn't have added to his three titles had he not died at Imola. The 1994 and 1995 Williams weren't great cars; both were completely outclassed by the two Benettons. As well, Senna would be 30 points behind Schumacher with 0 points on the board going into Monaco 1994. By the end of 1995, aged 35, I think he'd be considering retirement.

It's really interesting being able to actually compare some of these great drivers, Prost and Senna being the best example. It's like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in football; we are blessed to have two of the very best at the same time, instead of Pele and Maradona, or Fangio and Schumacher, having competed in different eras.
 
The most boring drivers that I have personally ever watched are, in order, Graham Hill, Alain Prost and Niki Lauda.

They had the very odd ability to pass every car on the track, and make it look easy and undramatic, never having a wheel out of place.

The most exciting, even lurid driving of a GP-level driver I have personally ever seen is that of Gilles Villeneuve. Of all pro-level road race drivers I have ever seen in person or on film, Dave McDonald hung the tail out the farthest. He died young, and took others with him.
 
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As someone who grew up during the Senna/Prost years, I was not initially a Senna fan. He was arrogant, abrasive and generally, a bit of a cock. But over the years I became a huge fan as he consistently did things in an F1 car that no one else could do.

Prost was quick, and a very intelligent driver. Senna was just flat out fast.

Liquid
It's really interesting being able to actually compare some of these great drivers, Prost and Senna being the best example. It's like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in football; we are blessed to have two of the very best at the same time, instead of Pele and Maradonna, or Fangio and Schumacher, having competed in different eras.
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Very true 👍
 
1. Fangio - held so many records for so long, only raced in relatively few Grand Prix
2. Senna - got polls and race wins with cars that weren't always the best. We'd never know whether he'd have won more championships or races - But Williams had racing cars that dominated the mid 90s
3. Prost - the most complete racing driver, narrowly lost out on at least 2 more championships, whilst racing against a number of very very good drivers ... Senna, Lauda, Rosberg, Piquet, Mansell (all who were champions themselves).

and out of interest
4. Lauda .. became a 3 time world champion despite several wilderness years of retirement and poor racing cars between 1978 and 1983. his achievements, I believe have been under rated
5. Schumacher - raced against less accomplished rivals, who on their day were fast, but weren't to the level of the Senna/Prost era. Utterly dominated the team, and had the very very best design/management team ever up until the Newey/Vettel/Red Bull dominance of a few years ago.

Never saw Moss or Clark, had I then maybe they sneak in ahead of Lauda
 
ShiftingGears
Interesting fact about Alain Prost - he beat five world champions as teammates; Rosberg, Senna, Mansell, Hill and Lauda.
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Liquid
And he won more world titles than any of them. Excellent bit of trivium, but with the small concession that Damon Hill was in his first full season when Prost beat him
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I know this is adding a big old 'what if' into the debate, but if I remember correctly, Hill missed out on what would have almost certainly been three consecutive race wins in '93 due to team orders, a mechanical failure and a puncture, which would have been enough for him to beat Prost in the Championship that year.
 
GTP_Ingram
I know this is adding a big old 'what if' into the debate, but if I remember correctly, Hill missed out on what would have almost certainly been three consecutive race wins in '93 due to team orders, a mechanical failure and a puncture, which would have been enough for him to beat Prost in the Championship that year.
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And Prost beat Senna in 1988 all races included. What Ifs are absolute crapshoots.
 
Well, F1 drivers themselves have stated repeatedly who was the best driver ever.

Most people here will vote based on their own values and experiences.
 
RodolphoPNeto
Most people here will vote based on their own values and experiences.
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Only partially true, I think maybe one or two of the posters here might've been born when Juan Manuel Fangio was beating the competition, but even if they were born I doubt they were paying attention to F1 then ...
 
Liquid
And Prost beat Senna in 1988 all races included. What Ifs are absolute crapshoots.
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Absolutely. As I once heard an F1 engineer say, if my aunty had balls she'd be my uncle. The stats don't tell a full story and it's interesting that many people rate drivers like Gilles Villeneuve above other statistically-more-successful drivers.
 
1. Ayrton Senna - ANY ARGUMENT AGAINST HIM IS INVALID
2. Micheal Schumacher - Bad@$$
3. Jackie Stewart/James Hunt/Nicky Lauda - Tied for 3rd.
 

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