Ayrton Senna etc.....

It is now 20 years since shoddy Williams workmanship killed Senna. Harsh but true: check it out.

Do you think that, had he lived that he would still be an icon with mythical status or merely a highly respected retired driver like Schumacher? Respected with reservation due to his sometimes dubious sportsmanship.

Senna: Very charismatic to be sure when alive and undoubtedly gifted as a driver. Also ruthless like Michael.

Finally, on a lighter note..... Martin Brundle: foremost F1 commentator. Never won a race in his career.

I like to imagine a question session of the Sky commentators:
Johnny, how did you feel when you won at Silverstone?
Damon, describe the feeling of becoming World Champion.
Martin.... How did it feel to ....... Erm..... Errrr....Do you think it will stay sunny for the race?
It must sometimes prey on his mind.

We'll have to wait for Hamilton to retire John. :yesnod:

LH may be a good driver, but I wouldn't class him as enigmatic or charismatic tbh.
Even on t'telly, Senna seemed to have something different about him. Those who knew him attested to this.

Unless maybe charisma nowadays is wearing earrings that a gay pirate would find too camp? Or dodgy tattoos? Vettel, I have to very grudgingly admit is a good driver.... But I don't think he will ever be revered. Or even liked much.

Damon doesn't have a lot of personality, but there is something about him.
Prost is of the same era as Senna, respected not revered.
Hunt was a bell end, but loved immensely.

Jimmy Clark shares the same mystery as Senna.

I can't fathom it, tbh.

Finally, Sky F1 has a series on legends: Prost, Senna, Stewart, McLaren etc. imagine my surprise when Montoya was included in the series. Really????
Maybe Maldonado stands a chance in the future.

John and Sue wrote: LH may be a good driver, but I wouldn't class him as enigmatic or charismatic tbh.
Even on t'telly, Senna seemed to have something different about him. Those who knew him attested to this.

Unless maybe charisma nowadays is wearing earrings that a gay pirate would find too camp? Or dodgy tattoos? Vettel, I have to very grudgingly admit is a good driver.... But I don't think he will ever be revered. Or even liked much.

Damon doesn't have a lot of personality, but there is something about him.
Prost is of the same era as Senna, respected not revered.
Hunt was a bell end, but loved immensely.

Jimmy Clark shares the same mystery as Senna.

I can't fathom it, tbh.

Finally, Sky F1 has a series on legends: Prost, Senna, Stewart, McLaren etc. imagine my surprise when Montoya was included in the series. Really????
Maybe Maldonado stands a chance in the future.

How about 5 times world champion Juan Manuel Fangio, he was the true gentleman of formula one and some of his F1 records are still standing; although Schui took the main one, but it was Fangio's for 46 years.

Your right about Maldonado "Maybe Maldonado stands a chance in the future" he would stand a better chance if they started to use standard production cars; as at the moment they can't repair his accident damaged car fast enough to keep them on the circuit.

I recently watched a Senna DVD; Frank Williams and the team did take a pounding after his death, but the arrogance of FIA at the time over safety and ignoring the drivers concerns was quite astounding.

Nigel Mansell is for me a great, just the way he got every last ounce of potential out of a car was compelling. Mansell had some epic and memorable battles including Nelson Piquet at Sliverstone, a 'normal' guy from the Midlands that was supported massively by his wife in a team effort and attempting to push your car past the chequerd flag is worth lauding. And then as F1 Champion went to Indy car, won in his rookie season and is the only driver to hold both titles simultaneously..

Fangio: agree 100%. Also Ascari.
Mansell was a highly skilled driver and his epic battles are impressive, as are his sacrifices on the way to the top. Though he has mellowed, he didn't come across as very likeable at the time a bit like Shuey.

I admire old Stirling: very gifted but was never champ. When asked why he got into racing his answer was 'for the crumpet, old boy...' Classic!

Cornering is like bringing a woman to climax.

In one year I travelled 450,000 miles by air.

The years I raced in were fantastic. There was so much change in the cars. We went from treaded tyres to no wings right through to slicks to enormous wings.

I would have been a much more popular World Champion if I had always said what people wanted to hear.
I might have been dead, but definitely more popular.

Any guesses?


In my opinion not only the greatest driver for his achievements on the track, but also for the changes made to racing that he initiated, and in doing so saved countless lives ....

mogatrons wrote:

Cornering is like bringing a woman to climax.

In one year I travelled 450,000 miles by air.

The years I raced in were fantastic. There was so much change in the cars. We went from treaded tyres to no wings right through to slicks to enormous wings.

I would have been a much more popular World Champion if I had always said what people wanted to hear.
I might have been dead, but definitely more popular.

Any guesses?


In my opinion not only the greatest driver for his achievements on the track, but also for the changes made to racing that he initiated, and in doing so saved countless lives ....

Has got to be the Jock "Jackie Stewart"?

Definitely Jackie Stewart

:lol: wasn't difficult to guess ....

... aside from being a fellow Scot, I really do think that his efforts to bring the driving fraternity together to fight for better safety, along with his 3 WDC's mark him out for special acclaim ... and that he won across 2 decades of immense changes in technology..... how many more Senna's would we have lost without Jackie's influence ...

Yep, great contribution to racing safety. And a great driver.
Pity he's such an irritating little tw*t......