Talking Point: Like father, like son

Eurosport - Mon, 17 Nov 17:08:00 2008

Who was the best father/son combination in Formula One? Every week during the off-season, we are opening up a discussion point for Formula One fans in conjunction with our online poll. So let us know what you think.

FORMULA 1 - Michael and Mario Andretti - 0

Our shortlist of six:

Mario and Michael Andretti (pictured): As well as the Formula One World Championship, Mario won the Indianapolis 500, Daytona 500 and four ChampCar titles as he took the chequered flag 111 times in a career that stretched for five decades. Son Michael was consistent in his long American CART career, but struggled in his solitary season in F1 alongside Ayrton Senna at McLaren. The Andretti family has produced other drivers and runs a team in IndyCar.

Jack and David Brabham: Triple world champion Jack was the first driver to be knighted for his services to motorsport. He is the only driver to have won a world title in a car of his own construction, the BT19 - which he drove to victory in 1966. David has raced in Australia and the United States as well as in F1, and won the 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours.

Graham and Damon Hill: British hero Graham won two World Championships, with BRM and Lotus, and is the only driver to win the Indy 500, Le Mans 24 Hours and world title in the same year. He was tragically killed in a light aircraft crash in 1975 when son Damon was 15. After a late start - and not financially benefited by his father - Damon went on to match Graham's title feat when he beat Michael Schumacher in 1996, becoming the only son of a world champ to win the big one.

Nelson and Nelsinho Piquet: Brazilian Nelson Piquet Sr won three titles in the eighties and lit up the sport, especially after joining previous rival Nigel Mansell of Great Britain at Williams. He won his third title with that team and the three-way battle between the pair and Alain Prost was legendary. Eurosport-Yahoo! blogger Nelsinho was tipped for stardom when a force in GP2 and impressed in patches in a difficult first F1 season with Renault, finishing second in the German GP and retaining his seat for 2009.

Keke and Nico Rosberg: Finn Keke took over the Williams seat of retiring former champion Alan Jones in 1982 and was a revelation, winning the championship through consistency of performance. Nico, who holds dual Finnish and German nationality, was expected to shine but in his three seasons so far is yet to translate his occasional brilliance into success - although he has not been helped by an uncompetitive Williams.

Gilles and Jacques Villeneuve: Gilles starred for Ferrari but never won the title, finishing second to team-mate Jody Scheckter in 1979. He had completed only four full seasons with the Scuderia before his tragic death in qualifying for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder. Jacques honoured the memory of his father with his World Championship triumph in 1997, driving for Williams. He also won the 1995 Indy 500.

So vote now in our online poll - scroll down our F1 page to find it - and let us know your thoughts on the discussion board below.

Eurosport

Comment 38 - 57 of 57

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. Of course I menat to say:
    There is only one father/son combination that won the F1 championship, which is what the question is asking.

    From Bill Mac, on Wed 19 Nov 10:51AM

  2. There is only one father/son combination that one the F1 championship, which is what the question is asking.

    From Bill Mac, on Wed 19 Nov 10:49AM

  3. zipzapdavo: No, the above article is (unusually) correct Jacques was Gilles' son.

    From Bill Mac, on Wed 19 Nov 10:48AM

  4. Rob2B: I can see the point you are making but Damon did get a victory or two in slower cars but young Picquet hasn't done so yet.
    Now I am not saying he won't in the future but I am just not sure the thrust of your argument stands up.

    From Bill Mac, on Wed 19 Nov 10:45AM

  5. Give it time - Nelsinho Piquet will be one of the greats - just give him a decent car and he'll prove it. Trouble with Damon Hill was exactly that - once he lost his drive in the best car (and back then there was a HUGE difference between the best and second best), he was nowhere!
    Marnio, I guess you think it's the numerous sporting successes of Peru that gives you the authority to make such comments........... Back to the marching powder, you idiot!

    From Appalled, on Wed 19 Nov 7:49AM

  6. i voted for the hills too
    jim clark,big jack and surtees always were with graham...
    cant pick the better...

    From zipzapdavo, on Wed 19 Nov 7:17AM

  7. i thought jaques was gilles' brothers kid like the sennas...

    From zipzapdavo, on Wed 19 Nov 7:11AM

  8. The best thing that happened in F1 2008 wasnt Lewis winning the F1 title.... it was seeing the Ferrari teams faces ONCE the little nodules descovered the had LOST the crown.... he he

    From Jigabyte, on Tue 18 Nov 9:04PM

  9. marnio from peru.... uk DOES HAVE SOMETHING..... TOOO MANY GAY BOYS FROM STINKY PERU.... GO HOME

    From Jigabyte, on Tue 18 Nov 9:02PM

  10. marnio from peru...U have the red face your beloved Ferracrap, the only time I would have a Ferracrap if one was given to me so that I could sell on ebay to some @#$% like you, then go buy a PROPER car.......

    From Jigabyte, on Tue 18 Nov 8:58PM

  11. marnio from peru: Usually I simply ignore you (and your alteregos ollieyyboy and JBolan), but I feel the need to correct you on the fact Ferrari never made the Muira, that was a Lamborghini. That now said, I'm going to go back to ignoring you.

    From ginger_gitt, on Tue 18 Nov 8:17PM

  12. Jerry R: The story may very well be titled "Talking Point: Like father, like son", but it is a story on an F1 news page and more importantly the opening sentence of the article asks "Who was the best father/son combination in Formula One?" The important words there being Formula One. Not IndyCar, NASCAR, BTCC, WTCC, V8 SuperCars, ALMS, MotoGP, Superbikes, and so on, but FORMULA ONE. so yes, bringing the Brabhams into the discussion (no mater how successful they have been in other motorsports) is off topic as the question is about Fomula One and the father/son combinations to have raced in it. And I still say the Hills win it comfortably.

    From ginger_gitt, on Tue 18 Nov 8:12PM

  13. emerson.spottipaldi (36), besides the votes storyn there is a so-called article, furthermore titled 'Like father, like son'. Allow me to consider that mentioning that Jack Brabham's THREE sons were professional racing drivers was not off topic, to say the least... and that the author most likely is totally unaware of this.

    From Jerry R, on Tue 18 Nov 7:51PM

  14. Agree Alan P. And Graham's TV interviews - that cheeky grin and droll sense of humour. And Damon inherited the best traits and was so gentlemanly when he could so easily have had his say at some outrageous incidents.

    From m.e.jenner@..., on Tue 18 Nov 6:55PM

  15. There may have been longer term drivers (Mario?) or more spectacular (who could ever forget Gilles?) on the list, but Graham & Damon have something nobody else has ever managed so far. And as for after dinner speeches, Graham, you were the best!

    From Alan P, on Tue 18 Nov 6:05PM

  16. Graham & Damon Hill. They are the only father and son to of both won the title and Damon won it against arguably the best driver in the world.

    From ckbr@..., on Tue 18 Nov 5:03PM

  17. graham and damon

    the public don,t appreciate damon,s acheivements

    graham

    From grahamlpickup, on Tue 18 Nov 11:54AM

  18. ckastam: I can remember Jacques and Gilles Villeneuve but I don't remember Les Villeneuve. Was that another son or a cousin but Les is not a very French name? Are you sure you don't mean Les Dennis sweetie?

    From Mrs Valerie Quigly, on Tue 18 Nov 11:42AM

  19. Look darlings. How many father and son world champions have there been in F1? So the way this question is couched there can only be one answer.
    It's those handsome Hills.
    God bless the charming Graham.
    The Villeneuves were formidable but only one of them was champion and he wasn't the best you know.
    The Andretti's? Perlease darlings? I would'nt employ Michael as a chauffer you know. mario was jolly good though, jolly good.

    From Mrs Valerie Quigly, on Tue 18 Nov 11:39AM

  20. To say anything bad about Mario Andretti is pure ignorance. I vote for the Hills.

    From mario s, on Tue 18 Nov 11:31AM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account