Best of the current era?

[Razzzor]

So I'm wondering who everybody rates as the best overall driver and the purely fastest driver in F1 at the moment?

I'm assuming most of you will say Alonso is the best complete package, while Hamilton is fastest on raw speed.

However I'm wondering how close Vettel is getting to those two. He's obviously very fast and could be equal on raw speed to Hamilton, but he's making no mistakes this year (excluding practice sessions). Look at how many mistakes Hamilton and Schumacher have made this year. Vettel's only error came in Canada where he ran wide in the wet.

The other thing that intrigues me about Vettel is how he's not overdriving much, and only pushing the car to it's limits when he really needs to, which is making him into a great overall driver. Not overdriving and conserving the tyres, and no real mistakes since August's Belgium GP last year. Add to that the fact he's won 6 races this year in a car that isn't dominant at all in race trim (either McLaren or Ferrari have been right on his tail at most races).

And while Alonso might be a 2 time champion, he really had a lot of luck those years as nothing seemed to go McLarens way in 2005, despite their dominant car, and 2006 would have gone to Schumacher had he not suffered reliability issues in the last 2 rounds.

[wnut]

I would rate Vettel as by far the fastest on pure speed.
Half the time; turn of phrase Marbot, I don't need a four decimal percentage; Hamilton can't even qualify better than his team mate!

[wnut]

This should probably be in Armchair Enthusiast, but since Vettel's character has been called into question sometimes, I challenge anyone not to watch this and then not end up thinking he's a pretty decent, rounded character: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqHYy2yZ4qI


This was posted by Strider in another thread.
The precision of Vettel's lap just blew me away!

[JeremySmith]

Lewis Hamilton..Pure speed and raw pace...

[JeremySmith]

Originally Posted by wnut

This should probably be in Armchair Enthusiast, but since Vettel's character has been called into question sometimes, I challenge anyone not to watch this and then not end up thinking he's a pretty decent, rounded character: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqHYy2yZ4qI


This was posted by Strider in another thread.
The precision of Vettel's lap just blew me away!

This has nothing to do with the title of the thread...

[Mr V]

I'm going for Vettel (but then i would ), I was convinced after Monza 2008 that he'd become the best. He has pure speed, as much as Hamilton for sure, but whereas Hamilton maybe "racier" Vettel is by far more intelligent. Take Silverstone for example. I've seen Vettel criticised for not overtaking Lewis, but offline it was slightly wet and why risk valuable points? Had it been the other way around, for sure Lewis would have gone for it, but it would have been 50/50 as to wether he'd have made it or gone off.

As for Fernando, he is an incredible all round talent, but i do have to take issue with this...

Originally Posted by Razzzor

and 2006 would have gone to Schumacher had he not suffered reliability issues in the last 2 rounds.

I'm sorry, but Fernando took 7 wins (same as Michael) 7 second places (alot better than Michael) and they both had 2 retirements. Yes, Michael had trouble in the last race, finishing 4th, but that's off set by Alonso only managing 5th at Germany. Plus Fernando did Michael by 13 points. Fernando was by far, the more deserving driver that year.

[deeks6]

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

Lewis Hamilton..Pure speed and raw pace...

I think Lewis is on pure speed and his overtaking is very raw.

Vettel is definitely the man if you want the fastest single lap punched out 8 times out of 10. Teflonso is probably still the best all round driver but Vettel soon

[deeks6]

Originally Posted by Mr V

As for Fernando, he is an incredible all round talent, but i do have to take issue with this...

I'm sorry, but Fernando took 7 wins (same as Michael) 7 second places (alot better than Michael) and they both had 2 retirements. Yes, Michael had trouble in the last race, finishing 4th, but that's off set by Alonso only managing 5th at Germany. Plus Fernando did Michael by 13 points. Fernando was by far, the more deserving driver that year.

Couldnt agree more ... and furthermore FA just does not make silly mistakes and is the most consistent driver going around. Thats why he stayed in the WDC fight last year for so long even with the 3rd best car.

[JeremySmith]

Originally Posted by deeks6

I think Lewis is on pure speed and his overtaking is very raw.

Vettel is definitely the man if you want the fastest single lap punched out 8 times out of 10. Teflonso is probably still the best all round driver but Vettel soon

First of all Lewis can overtake, and Sebastian Vettel sometimes can overtake, he is not the racer Lewis is..

Sebastian has the best car on the grid period...

Alonso is very talented..................

[Razzzor]

Originally Posted by Mr V

I'm sorry, but Fernando took 7 wins (same as Michael) 7 second places (alot better than Michael) and they both had 2 retirements. Yes, Michael had trouble in the last race, finishing 4th, but that's off set by Alonso only managing 5th at Germany. Plus Fernando did Michael by 13 points. Fernando was by far, the more deserving driver that year.

Well who the most deserving driver is, is a different matter. Alonso WAS the more deserving champ in 2006, and in 2005 as well because he still managed to win in a car much slower than the McLaren. He simply drove better than RK/JPM.

But my point was more that he had to have a bit of luck on his side, not considering the rest of the 2006 season, Schumacher was faster than Alonso in the final 2 races, and Alonso would never have been champ had Schumacher's engine not blown while leading the penultimate race (he lost 10 of those 13 points right there) and the other technical problems he had in qualifying for Brazil. But yeah, Alonso still deserved the 2006 championship. He and MS both drove brilliantly. For that matter, Alonso probably deserved the 2007 title more than anyone else as well.

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by Razzzor

Schumacher was faster than Alonso in the final 2 races, and Alonso would never have been champ had Schumacher's engine not blown while leading the penultimate race (he lost 10 of those 13 points right there) and the other technical problems he had in qualifying for Brazil.

I suppose it's all relative isn't it. After all would Michael have been that close in points going into those last 2 races had Fernando's engine not gone pop in Monza??

Originally Posted by Razzzor

For that matter, Alonso probably deserved the 2007 title more than anyone else as well.

This i have to agree with and had he, (FA) stayed at McLaren in 2008 i personally believe that he'd have won the 2008 title, giving him 3 WDC's and Lewis none.

[deeks6]

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

First of all Lewis can overtake, and Sebastian Vettel sometimes can overtake, he is not the racer Lewis is..

He can overtake clearly slower cars (who cant?) but when attempting against equal cars, accidents generally happen. Vettel would not want to be the racer that Hamilton is, he'd rather be himself (i.e. much better)

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

Sebastian has the best car on the grid period...

At some circuits yes, others no

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

Alonso is very talented..................

Goes without saying

[wnut]

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

This has nothing to do with the title of the thread...

The video shows the character of the man, and how he deals with people.

The real point I was making, is look at how Vettel drives the lap in the reasonably priced car! The precision, smoothness and mechanical sympathy is amazing, and the lap is the fastest ever!

Watch how Vettel drives the lap and compare it with the footage of anyone else who has driven the lap. (I judge drivers according to how they perform, so I fail to see how this display of Vettel's is irrelevant in the debate about who the best driver is.)

This performance alongside his regular pole times has made me a believer.
I think he is probably the best and only Alonso is comparable ( and he stuffed up big time in the last race last year).

Last year Vettel took the title, from Japan onward he has been pretty well flawless losing out completely only in Korea through engine failure after starting on pole.
This year he has had 6 wins and 3 seconds (204 points from a possible 225!), his team mate Webber (124) who is a pretty decent driver has not faired nearly as well. So if we take Webber as the standard Vettel has done a stunning job.
The difference between a WDC and merely a good driver?


Adrian Newey's opinion about how good Sebastian is, how hard he works and how humble he is about his success must also set him apart from some of the others who seem to think they are god's personal gift to F1, and motor racing in general. I know who I'd rather be building a team around. The video showed the character of Vettel as a man.

[jab]

I think Vettel has quite a few questions to answer before he should even be considered the equal of Lewis and Alonso, let alone better. I think the car has flattered him for the last 3 years and also at Monza in 2008 as well. And I still don't buy that he's the nice, innocent guy he is made out to be

Alonso edges it for me. He doesn't quite have the tendency to overdrive as much as Lewis does, even though I think Lewis is marginally the faster driver. Kubica would be up there as well if he hand two working hands

At the moment I'd have it down as thus

Alonso
Lewis
Vettel
(gap)
Button
Webber
Rosberg (even though he's having a duff year this year)

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

First of all Lewis can overtake, and Sebastian Vettel sometimes can overtake, he is not the racer Lewis is..

Sebastian has the best car on the grid period...

Alonso is very talented..................

This would need to be between Vettel and Hamilton.

o Raw speed - I would say they're equal.

o Wheel to wheel race combat - Hamilton.

o Getting the car to the end to win races - Vettel.

Tinges of Prost and Senna really.