Best Race In Formula 1 History

I would say that it was the '79 Dijon GP. After watching Villeneuve power that seriously slow car around lap after lap is truly phonemenal.

If we get into this, this could become a seriously long thread! What criteria are we using to define 'best'. Close racing? A great solo drive? An incident packed race? Could be good. I have a few in mind, some of them fairly predicatble, I guess, but I would encourage others to get their nominations in first!

No criteria- If you saw it, heard about it, read it, know anything about it, say so. I wasn't born until 11 years after the Dijon GP!:rotate:

Dijon 79 is probably the greatest 1-1 battle of all time.

But in terms of a race, maybe we need to split it up.

Greatest on track Battle:
Greatest solo drive:
Greatest race for action and incidents:

Dijon 1979 probably had the best [televised] racing dice of all time. I don't think we're ever likely to see something like that played out on our screens again as drivers like Arnoux and Gilles Villeneuve just don't make it to F1 anymore.

I think Donnington in 1993 was a very special race, probably one of the best for racing ever. I had the privilege of being at the Old Hairpin for it and though I know Senna's first few laps were mesemerizing, there was dicing the whole way down the field, something you didn't see on the TV.

Mallory Aurora July 1978. Trimmer coming up from back of grid to catch Bruce Allison with about 10 laps left; Allison held him off. Real racing, no prima donnas !!

Monza 1971. Everybody slipstreaming for the whole race. Peter Getin won but the first five cars were covered by 0.6 of a second.

It was also the fastest GP until 2003 - amazing.

One of the obvious ones for me to mention. Monaco 1961 - Moss at his best, in an underpowered Lotus, beats the works Ferraris.

One of the obvious ones for me to mention. Monaco 1961 - Moss at his best, in an underpowered Lotus, beats the works Ferraris.
Close races:
France 1953 - Fangio vs Hawthorn's race long duel with the further duel between Gonzalez and ascari for 3rd place - OK technically it wasn't a Formula 1 race but it was a Championship qualifier
Solitude 1961 - Innes Ireland in a Lotus 21 vs the Porsche team
Monaco 1961 as mentioned above, Moss in the outclassed Lotus 18 vs the Ferrari team
Monza 1960's and 70's - the pre-chicane Monza slipstream battles were often decided at the last corner
France 1979 - the last few laps
Monaco 1991 - the last few laps when Mansell had to make a late pitstop nd did everything he could to get past Senna

Virtuoso drives:
Germany 1957 - generally reckoned to be Fangio's best
Monaco 1961 - ditto for Moss
Monza 1967 - when Clark made up a lap on the whole field after a puncture and ran out of fuel on the last lap
Monza 1973 - Jackie Stewart had a puncture dropped back to 20th place and made it back up to 5th place to clinch the championship. At monza with every car running flat out to mak4e up time you had to be inch perfect to gain that tiny edge
Spain 1981 - Gilles Villeneuve's finest. In a car that had diabolical handling he held off race long pressure from about five cars. Had he made one mistake he would have lost the race

Close races:
France 1953 - Fangio vs Hawthorn's race long duel with the further duel between Gonzalez and ascari for 3rd place - OK technically it wasn't a Formula 1 race but it was a Championship qualifierProbably the best WC race of all time. And Fangio was nearly caught for 2nd by the Pampas Bull on the last lap.

Of those not yet mentioned, Japan 1994. Damon Hill's day of days on the best track in F1 and a wet surface.

Probably the best WC race of all time. And Fangio was nearly caught for 2nd by the Pampas Bull on the last lap.Not sure about that. Great race, but Reims wasn't the most demanding of circuits.

Amongst virtuoso performances, I would add Moss in Germany 1961.

Not sure about that. Great race, but Reims wasn't the most demanding of circuits.Its simplicity made it demanding. Make 1 mistake and you had almost no chance of making it up. You had to nail every corner every lap.

Bit like Monza pre-chicanes, which makes Jim Clark's drive of making up 2 laps on the field in 1967 perhaps the greatest ever since the war.

I think Spa '98 would be one of the biggest accidents... I think Murray Walker said it was the worst he'd ever seen.

D-type's gone mad and given us a long list which means we now have to dig deeper! My next nomination would have been France 1953, but that's been well covered here. How about 1957 Pescara - road racing through villages in a GP car - Moss again (Vanwall). I must get around to reading Richard Williams book on the race.

Would you tolerate a more recent nomination? Mansell winning from 12th on the grid at Hungary 1989 passing both Prost and Senna, the latter in one of the most opportunistic moves I've ever seen. I also seem to remember a couple of fine drives by Wattie in America from the back of the grid, but at the mmoment cannot recall dates and places. My choices seem to be all about solo drives.

Agreed re GV's Dijon '79, Monaco and Spain '81 were excellent.

A candidate for best battles and best finish Monza '71 was it? when several cars crossed he line similtaneously?

Then another for the latter would be Rosberg homing in on Elio at Osterreichring 1982!

Monaco 1984 was a close finish

Several of Senna's drives were worthy of best individual drive. Possibly one a year that he raced in F1?!

Namely Estoril 1985, Jerez '86, Monaco '87, Suzuka '88, Monaco '89, Hockenheim '90, Interlagos 1991, Monaco '92 and Donington '93 (I might then add his superlative qualy perfomances in each of the opening 3 races of '94 but they don't qualify for this thread!)

Of recent years i'd like to nominate Nurburgring, Spain and Estoril '96 (good aspects of otherwise dull year), the Spa '2000 race, Monaco 2003, Interlagos 2004 and Suzuka 2005!

I also seem to remember a couple of fine drives by Wattie in America from the back of the grid, but at the mmoment cannot recall dates and places. My choices seem to be all about solo drives.

And today's issue of Autospsport, amazingly coincidental, tells me that they were 1982 USA GP at Detroit where he won having started 17th, and 1983 USA GP West at Longbeach Long Beach where he won from 22nd!

And today's issue of Autospsport, amazingly coincidental, tells me that they were 1982 USA GP at Detroit where he won having started 17th, and 1983 USA GP West at Longbeach Long Beach where he won from 22nd!

Yep, I was watching the '83 race last week having ordered the season review. What a strange one!

Wattie suddelny appeared near the front a good way into the race after several guys battling hammer and tongs at the front ran into trouble or rooted their tyres!!

The lead scrap was sensational for the first half of the race - Rosberg, Laffite, Tambay, Jarier (in the Ligier!!) Patrese and a couple of others. Then all of a sudden both McLaren's homed in and Wattie picked em off like sitting ducks!

I mean judging by the edited highlights Jarier might have won if his car lasted!!

i have a video clip of dijon 79 if anyone wants a copy,

only the highlights, but shows the best bits

email me for a copy

J

I have to say Hungary 2006 wasn't too bad...

Spain, a981. Jarama, wasn't it? GV heading a 20 wheel freight train for lap after lap. But this was no static boring procession.
The Ferrari was a bullet on the straight, but just would not turn. At all. Sheer brilliant car control kept that thing on the grey bit, and in front of cars 2-3 seconds faster if they could only get past!

That was the ONLY era when I supported Ferrari. Lost interest once Gilles left us.

Monaco in 69, I think? Rindt hunting Black Jack down, and Jack yielding to pressure pretty much in the last corner.

Some of the Schumi v Williams battles early to mid 90s were a treat too. In an era where overtaking wasn't expected...

1985 or 6 season? Prost and Senna, Mansell and Piquet.
That was fun!

1953 France without a doubt - even autosport called it 'the race of the century'

Monza 1953! Ascari, Fangio, Farina, Marimon hammer and tongs all the way.Ascari spun at last corner allowing Fangio through to win. Fabulous.

Totally agree with Rheims 1952, one of the best ever.

Monza 1971 Gethin in BRM definitely in there.

Monaco 1972, Beltoise again in BRM won very wet race, beating 'Rain Meister' Ickx by 38 secs. Fittipaldi, Stewart. BRM's last win.

Spain 1997. Schumacher in Ferrari soaking wet track. His first for Ferrari.

Graham Hill (BRM) Germany 1962 on Nordschliefe again very wet, Clark passed 17 cars on one lap before settling for 4th place behind Surtees and Gurney.

They are the ones I remember.

Pescara 1957 someone mentioned; Moss beat Fangio by 3' 14" with Harry Schell at 6' 46". 18 laps of a 16 mile course!!

JT; Wattie won in America in 1982 and 1983 are those the drives you remember?

And, let's face it, any race with Gilles in it was a cracker, even when he only lasted a lap or so.

If you haven't read it before, there's an excellent description of Germany 1957 by Fangio himself here (http://www.nurburgring.org.uk/fangio.html).

At which point can I interject that Moss himself credits the Dunlop SP tyres for the 1961 German GP win. But he had no help at Monaco!

And talking of Monaco - the 1933 Nuvolari/Varzi duel must have been a cracker. But that's before Formula 1 and the World Championship so they won't let us mention it. And we're not allowed to mention Nuvolari's 1935 German GP win either.

At which point can I interject that Moss himself credits the Dunlop SP tyres for the 1961 German GP win. But he had no help at Monaco!

And talking of Monaco - the 1933 Nuvolari/Varzi duel must have been a cracker. But that's before Formula 1 and the World Championship so they won't let us mention it. And we're not allowed to mention Nuvolari's 1935 German GP win either.

I think we should be able to mention what ever we like - in the right context. That's near enough F1 for me!

Good enough for me.

A candidate for best battles and best finish Monza '71 was it? when several cars crossed he line similtaneously?

And of course Peter Gethin's only Grand Prix victory!

:cool:

I'd say the 2006 French Grand Prix. Best afternoon's sleep I've ever had....errr.....if it was that one, might have been another, could be one of half a dozen.

Best F1 race I've seen live was John Watson's British G.P win. chasing down the Renault with the broken turbo. Great reaction from spectators. Gilles Villeneuve trying to do a full lap on 3 wheels. Slim Borgudd coming 6th in the A.T.S, back in the days befrore overtaking was banned.

Don't laugh... I bumped into a couple I know at Snetterton last week at the BTCC meeting. Despite living only a few miles away from the circuit, born and bred in Norfolk and in their 60s, they had never been to the circuit or motor racing ever, until last week.

Watching the Formula Renault race the wife said to me half-way through 'is this the race or a practice?'
'The race' I said.
'Why are they not overtaking each other or are they not allowed to here?'

Sadly it is not only F1 that has overtaking issues!

i think silverstone '03 was the best. the race was eventul with lots of overtaking and the only bad part about the race was the idiot who came onto the track

Yes, indeed, Ruben's 'Day of Days'. Great drive!

Welcome AFC1986!

Suzuka 2005 was a mind blowing race- Raikkonen overtaking people on the outside through the sweeper at 320+ km/h!

The Japan 05 race lifted what was a season with a ridiculous amount of dull races, to be honest. That race showed us what F1 should be like week in, week out. But that race was made good because you had Alonso and Raikkonen, among others low down as a result of the qualifying system designed to mix up the grid. So although it was a great race I think it was all a bit false.

And of course the last F1 race was great. Most wet races are entertaining, come to think of it.

The best race I have watched live was Silverstone 2003. Non-stop action and a well-deserved win for Barrichello.

Surtees at Spa, 1966.

Hey, Ensign, a bit of fact checking required....

Get a look at Autocourse for the '67 season and check how much time Jim Clark took off Graham Hill in that race.

IIRC he was never 2 laps behind anyway. A great drive but the Lotus 49 with its Cosworth engine should always have been way too strong for a Repco or the current-at-the-time Honda.

Reims 1953 was special but as has been pointed out it wasn't the most difficult of circuits and if you lost a bit of time in the slow haipins, slipstreaming could get you back up there again.

Greatest race for solid hour after hour pressure and tension has to be Monaco 1961. I know, 'cos I saw it on the tele.

Hey, Ensign, a bit of fact checking required....

Get a look at Autocourse for the '67 season and check how much time Jim Clark took off Graham Hill in that race."The field", not the leader...I know NGH was way ahead until car went boom but even so...I was trying to work it out via Sheldon, it looked as if he lost a lap and a bit but unlapped himself & then overtook everyone.

I think Donnington in 1993 was a very special race, probably one of the best for racing ever. I had the privilege of being at the Old Hairpin for it and though I know Senna's first few laps were mesemerizing, there was dicing the whole way down the field, something you didn't see on the TV.

Fantastic, magnificent undoubtedly - but as the comics have reminded us several times Senna and Andretti had traction control - the others didn't.

That always takes something away from it for me

The overtaking move that always sticks in my mind was Mansell around the outside of Berger at Peradelta (?) in Mexico - very intimidating to have him in your mirrors coming up to that sort of corner

Fantastic, magnificent undoubtedly - but as the comics have reminded us several times Senna and Andretti had traction control - the others didn't.

I don't think that's right. Pretty much everyone [if not the entire field] was using traction control that day. I'm certain of this because I heard them with my own ears !

Anyone from a team that can confirm/deny this ?

I don't think that's right. Pretty much everyone [if not the entire field] was using traction control that day. I'm certain of this because I heard them with my own ears !

Anyone from a team that can confirm/deny this ?

Well I reckon that only Williams, McLaren, Ferrari and Lotus had it at that point of the season?

I remember some wag or other (no not the current definition of one!) trying to suggest that Schuey could've done what Ayrton did that day if he'd had TC on his B193... tssshhhh tshhhhhh ;)

Well I just remember Schu sliding off at Goddards very early on after holding a load of people up and having just been nailed by Rubens his future teammate no less.....

Well I reckon that only Williams, McLaren, Ferrari and Lotus had it at that point of the season?

I remember some wag or other (no not the current definition of one!) trying to suggest that Schuey could've done what Ayrton did that day if he'd had TC on his B193... tssshhhh tshhhhhh ;)

Well I just remember Schu sliding off at Goddards very early on after holding a load of people up and having just been nailed by Rubens his future teammate no less.....

Didn't Rubens run out of fuel (or at least slow down to save fuel) in the Donington race because he had used so much traction control (which apparently increases fuel consumption).

I seriously doubt that Schuey would appear anything like as often in the record books if he only ever had the same equipment as Ayrton, and certainly not if he had as much comeptition.

Whether the cars did or didn't have traction control the Donington race was certainly the best race of modern times - the weather was so bad and traction control so new (e.g. nothing like as effective as it is now) that it really tested everyone that day.

It also shows that a decent circuit makes a difference, while they continue to hold GPs at Silverstone they will always be boring.

It also shows that a decent circuit makes a difference, while they continue to hold GPs at Silverstone they will always be boring.

Much as I like Donington as a circuit I personally think it was the weather and Sennas remarkable performance that made that such a special race. I don't find the Silverstone races always boring and I don't think they would much better at Donington, although I would like to see Donington get another chance.

I don't find the Silverstone races always boring and I don't think they would much better at Donington, although I would like to see Donington get another chance.

I was thinking the very same thing on Saturday strangely, the access ain't upto Bernie standards but the venue atmosphere, (the acoustics of hearing cars all over the place) and the track itself is excellent for drivers and spectators alike.

but agreed re Senna, only he could have 'done' that race, no disrespect to any other champion driver before or after him....

I was thinking the very same thing on Saturday strangely, the access ain't upto Bernie standards but the venue atmosphere, (the acoustics of hearing cars all over the place) and the track itself is excellent for drivers and spectators alike.

An interesting comment. When Donington first reopened there were a lot of trees on the inside of the circuit which have now gone to allow better viewing. I can remember the noise of F2 cars really echoing on the run up towards McLeans as the sound bounced between the trees and the outside wall of the circuit. Brilliant!

Well I reckon that only Williams, McLaren, Ferrari and Lotus had it at that point of the season?

The Jordans definitely had TC, I remember seeing Barichello ratcheting his car through Coppice in the morning. IIRC most of the rest of them sounded the same. Senna's drive that day was blistering, there's no question about it. I am so glad that I happened to be standing at the Old Hairpin to witness it live.

Much as I like Donington as a circuit I personally think it was the weather and Sennas remarkable performance that made that such a special race. I don't find the Silverstone races always boring and I don't think they would much better at Donington, although I would like to see Donington get another chance.

I guess I'm spoilt, living so close to Spa!
Silverstone's big open spaces make the cars look tiny which doesn't help, even if there is some action you don't get the impression that they are very close.

Most of the recent races that have been interesting have been in the rain, that suggests that less grip helps make things more exciting (as all historic fans know) - a drastic reduction in downforce (make them run single element 70's style wings) would transform F1.

a drastic reduction in downforce (make them run single element 70's style wings) would transform F1.

For certain it would... and I can't understand why those in the position to set such rule changes can not, or will not, appreciate that.

The Jordans definitely had TC, I remember seeing Barichello ratcheting his car through Coppice in the morning. IIRC most of the rest of them sounded the same. Senna's drive that day was blistering, there's no question about it. I am so glad that I happened to be standing at the Old Hairpin to witness it live.

Good one about the Jordan, I hadn't realised they had adopted it then as well. I wish i'd been there that day too, not just on the Friday!

Great avatar Chunterer... as I mentioned before on the forum... Capris are in my blood. I was born the day the Capri was launched 24.01.1969, not a lot of people here can say that :-)

An interesting comment. When Donington first reopened there were a lot of trees on the inside of the circuit which have now gone to allow better viewing. I can remember the noise of F2 cars really echoing on the run up towards McLeans as the sound bounced between the trees and the outside wall of the circuit. Brilliant!

Yep, knocking down the trees improved the viewing at Donington but removed much of its soul. And then they went and put that dreadful loop on at the end - sorry but a dry GP at Donington would probably be the most boring race of the year. Only the rain that day and Senna's driving made it exciting.

Best race for me (a 70s child) has to be Monaco 82. Six leaders (was it?) in the last two and a bit laps. Unbelievable drama. But also before that there was plenty of really hard racing from the leading group and drivers having a good nibble at each other in some unlikely places (Prost lapping de Angelis into St Devote and wheel banging with de Angelis one side and the barriers the other)! And it had the old chicane on the harbourfront. I note that the winning car didn't run a front wing of any description that day and on a track where downforce is paramount...

Lots more: 82 Osterreichring; 83 Zandvoort & Osterreichring; 85 Paul Ricard; 1990 Hockenheim... and then the wings just got too fancy.

Monaco 1982 was indeed unbelievable. At one stage Derek Daly was leading in the Williams and for a moment [albeit an extremely short one] I really thought he'd do it.