Talking Point: Best driver in F1

Eurosport - Tue, 25 Nov 22:14:00 2008

Who is the best current driver 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 Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton 2008 - 0

Our shortlist of five:

Fernando Alonso

The Spaniard became the youngest driver since Emerson Fittipaldi in 1972 to win the World Championship when he secured the first of consecutive titles for Renault in 2005. A national hero in Spain, he returned to the French regie after a year's hiatus at McLaren and did brilliantly to win two races in an uncompetitive R28. No one can doubt he has ability in spades.

Lewis Hamilton

The British driver took the F1 world by storm when he made the step up with McLaren in 2007, finishing on the podium in his first nine races and going on to lead the drivers' standings by 17 points with two races remaining. He lost that chance to be world champion but a more consistent season in 2008 saw him crowned after a dramatic fifth-place finish in Brazil - taking the youngest champ mantle from Alonso in the process. A flamboyant driver who sometimes annoys his rivals with his aggressive driving style.

Robert Kubica

BMW Sauber man Kubica was in with a shout of this year's title himself until late on, having enjoyed a season just as consistent as that of Hamilton: he failed to score points in only four races, less than Ferrari pair Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen. However his relative lack of race wins - only one to Hamilton's five and Massa's six - cost him. The first Pole to lead a race, never mind win one, great things are expected of him if BMW can pull their socks up.

Felipe Massa

The Brazilian thought he had won the title with victory at his home track of Interlagos, only to hear news of Hamilton's dramatic improvement; his distraught defiance on the podium tugged at the heart-strings of even the most fervent Hamilton supporter. At times brilliant, he is also prone to the odd error. The manner in which he fought for the title while team-mate Kimi Raikkonen fell apart brought him many admirers and showed a driver who had matured. He was also a threat in the two previous seasons however, taking race wins in both.

Kimi Raikkonen

The 2007 champion sneaked that triumph from under the nose of an imploding Hamilton and desperately unhappy Alonso, but no one could begrudge the Finn his moment of glory after several years as a contender with McLaren. Having taken the title to Italian marque Ferrari, there was no question of who was expected to be the lead driver at the Scuderia in 2008: however he was woefully inconsistent in the F2008. Still brilliant on his day.

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

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  1. Fernando Alonso is the greatest driver in Formula One,­ hands down. LH was in the best car. If you need­ reasons:

    1.) Alonso has the greatest resume on track­ despite having raced for one of the "big­ three" for a grand total of one season. He holds­ more wins, points, pole positions and ultimately­ championships than any other driver. And he did it­ with Renault.
    2.) During that one season, at McLaren,­ FA was relegated to the second car behind the­ "golden boy" LH - a brit and thus more­ marketable...FA still pulled even on points.
    3.) LH is­ chastised by many drivers, experts, and fans for his­ lack of tact. Even Mark Webber said that he drives­ like he's the only person on the track...Mark­ Webber!! It's said that the drivers often­ don't engage him off-track. He is generally­ ostracized. It speaks to the lack of respect the other­ drivers have for his abilities, and the disdain he­ garners for it. No one constantly criticizes FA's­ abilities. FA's passes are generally clean,­ skillful, and downright brilliant.

    Unfortunately, in­ this sport one can make up for a lack of skill with an­ equal lack of tact and a quick car. As such the­ villain now has a title. I for one am glad, it makes­ the story that much more interesting!

    From smarts, on Wed 26 Nov 3:46PM
  2. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    nobody wants fernando not even the team he is in so it­ has to be mr hamilton
    as for massa he needs the help­ of he team mate to win the race

    From ROY, on Wed 26 Nov 2:44PM
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    It has to be Hamilton. But look for Felipe to edge­ Lewis for the title in 2009.

    From Michael, on Wed 26 Nov 2:33PM

  4. Raikkonen. Had a bad year, especially since the halfway­ point because he had no motivation.
    Far better than­ Massa, but the car he had this year was much more­ suited to Massa's driving style. But look at the­ fastest lap counting. Raikkonen had 10, Hamilton got­ only 1 the entire year. Same car same track between all­ the drivers Raikkonen would be fastest. 1. Raikkonen 2.­ Alonso 3. Hamilton (much as i hate him 4. Kubica 5.­ Massa
    I also think Vettel will be very good in the­ future

    From swazi5, on Wed 26 Nov 12:52PM

  5. r.l. milliman is Hamilton's @#$%!!!
    Hehehehehe.

    From Mauricio, on Wed 26 Nov 11:46AM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Hamilton, Alonso and Massa, all equal.

    From needles66, on Wed 26 Nov 9:46AM

  7. milligan how did i know all that spam was from you­ without even looking at the name at the bottom first?­ thats right because your a @#$%!

    From pond.simba, on Wed 26 Nov 9:45AM

  8. Unknown U:

    Talk about a bias evaluation of three­ drivers.

    To say Alonso is the best because he beat­ Schumacher is unfair on the other two. Massa may not­ have been good enough to beat Schumacher, but it is­ also fair to say Ferrari never gave him the chance to­ race on an equal footing. And Schumacher was out of­ the picture by the time Lewis came along so thats a­ comparison that can never be made.

    Massa hasn't­ always been there. And to claim he has is overlooks­ then fact that Lewis is two for two in terms of­ Championship Battles (not wins) and Alonso has spent­ more time fighting at the top than the pair of them­ combined.

    And to claim Lewis is just lucky shows a­ serious lack of knowledge about F1. How come the­ Schumacher Haters can still admit he was one hell of a­ talent and one of the all time greats, yet the Hamilton­ Haters CANNOT admit that this guy is special? Anyone­ with serious knowledge of F1, who understands the sport­ and who is blinkered/bias, can see that whether you­ love him or loath him, Lewis is an exceptional talent. ­ He may be a little rough around the edges but you­ don't become World Champion at 23 on luck­ alone.

    In answer to the story though, the best DRIVER­ out there at the moment is Fernando Alonso. He is the­ best developer of the car in F1 right now and is one of­ the best racers on the grid (along with Hamilton,­ Vettel and Raikkonen). And it pains me to say that­ because I loathe the guy and would happily see him­ retired from the sport (in good health obviously) so he­ can do something else (like IndyCar or sailing for all­ I care).

    From ginger_gitt, on Wed 26 Nov 9:17AM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM yep 2010 and onwards as­ Lewis is just going to get better and better

    From r.l.milligan, on Wed 26 Nov 9:15AM

  10. FERNANDO IS THE BEST

    From ANGEL A, on Wed 26 Nov 9:14AM

  11. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm and in 2009

    From r.l.milligan, on Wed 26 Nov 9:14AM

  12. fair enought fernando outqualified his team mate in­ every race...thats because his team only focused on his­ car. Just as Mclaren with Hamiltons and Ferraris with­ Massa.

    I still think Alonso will win, the guy is­ unbelievable. How does he manage to find that extra­ speed in the latter part of races!!! Incredibe

    1.­ Alonso - He beat the best who is Schumacher and will­ challenge Massa
    2. Massa - Always finishing near the­ top.. he might win this one
    3. Hamilton - Aggressive­ still doesnt always work; gets lucky at times..

    From Unknown U, on Wed 26 Nov 8:23AM

  13. Massa 09 he is going to win it all next year

    From Chris, on Wed 26 Nov 8:04AM

  14. Put him in a Ferrari or McLaren and he would be­ unstoppable? Hmmmm... how did that work out last­ season?

    From tt, on Wed 26 Nov 7:33AM

  15. the bookies dont have it sussed atall fernando is 6-1 i­ have £50 on him :D hamilton is 2-1 haha what a waste of­ money the bookies dont seriously think hes guna win it­ in 09 do they?

    From pond.simba, on Wed 26 Nov 7:29AM

  16. Alonso, is by far the best in F1 today. Put him in the­ Ferrari or McLaren and he would be unstoppable.

    From tifoso, on Wed 26 Nov 7:21AM

  17. Alonso, is by far the best in F1 today. Put him in the­ Ferrari or McLaren and he would be unstoppable.

    From tifoso, on Wed 26 Nov 7:20AM

  18. The photo used in this article is kinda funny - LH­ looks like a kid asking FA for his autograph. Maybe­ next year?

    From Mr Burns, on Wed 26 Nov 7:20AM

  19. Tifosi,
    Fernando is definitely worth a flutter for­ 2009 (but I bet the bookies have that sussed too!) -­ Almost missed your post amongst the increasing amount­ of shyte here.

    From Mr Burns, on Wed 26 Nov 7:17AM

  20. Lewis Hamilton money made driver and arrogant so not my­ vote but mine goes to Massa

    From INNOCENT, on Wed 26 Nov 7:06AM
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