[racerbruce]

There are so many F1 drivers that exuded style and popularity during their time in the sport....who are some of your favorites and why?

Sir Jackie Stewart overcame childhood dyslexia.

His Formula Three debut in the wet at Snetterton began with a 25 second lead in the first two laps.

Stewart was a leading voice for driver (and spectator) safety.

Nicknamed "The Mod Scot" he set fashion and style trends in the sport to this day.

What say you?

[EdM5]

Gilles
Nr 27
True legend

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by EdM5

Gilles
Nr 27
True legend

Him.
This guy is the pick of the bunch, he had the style that no one else even came close to.
I didn't pick a brit so I suppose I'll have social media after me baying for blood

[EdM5]

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

Him.
This guy is the pick of the bunch, he had the style that no one else even came close to.
I didn't pick a brit so I suppose I'll have social media after me baying for blood

Fair enough, I will pick another unforgettable Brit.

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by EdM5

Gilles
Nr 27
True legend

I'd have to go with, in chronological order:

Hunt - Swashbuckling, screw-the-system, devil may care attitude.
Villeneuve - "Gilles was the last real racing driver...we are now paid professionals." Appx quote on Villeneuve from Alain Prost.
Senna - His speed was epic. His passion for the sport unmatched. His death a global tragedy. So amazing that his arch-rival sits on the board of his foundation.
Hamilton - Started as Senna. Transitioned to Prost. The current sum is greater than the equal of its parts. 1 Billion people in his social networks. Has his own fashion label within Tommy Hilfiger. Global Icon.

P.S. GREAT THREAD, BRUCE!! Thanks for starting this!!

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by EdM5

Fair enough, I will pick another unforgettable Brit.

For sure Hunt is a close second! He had it all then unfortunately wrong investment decisions and booze reduced him in stature.
I saw him driving in Wimbledon at that time, he was in a small grey Austin van with his big Mercedes champion title prize car on jacks without wheels. He said he couldn't afford to run it.

[EdM5]

Originally Posted by MKSixer

I'd have to go with, in chronological order:

Hunt - Swashbuckling, screw-the-system, devil may care attitude.
Villeneuve - "Gilles was the last real racing driver...we are now paid professionals." Appx quote on Villeneuve from Alain Prost.
Senna - His speed was epic. His passion for the sport unmatched. His death a global tragedy. So amazing that his arch-rival sits on the board of his foundation.
Hamilton - Started as Senna. Transitioned to Prost. The current sum is greater than the equal of its parts. 1 Billion people in his social networks. Has his own fashion label within Tommy Hilfiger. Global Icon.

Well said Sir and I agree 100%

[EdM5]

Less famous but I liked his style.
A real racer, the original flying Finn.
Keke

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by EdM5

Less famous but I liked his style.
A real racer, the original flying Finn.
Keke

You can read my mind!! Yup Rosberg too just down from Hunt and you could see how Nico has his dad's character in the way he beat HAM to the championship.

[yco]

i like Jackie's driving style as well.. i guess it was in his Beyond the Grid podcast, he was saying that you need to treat the car gently and not fight with the car.. flow with it.. which this "less aggressive" driving style is diminishing day by day i guess because its connected with patience and cars different suspension geometry and downforce.. but does it mean no other driver not treating their car gentle and going with the flow of it now.. there are few more still today..

and i d go for James Hunt as well.. such rebel and heart-driven personality.. and one of the best "branded" helmets he had..

in history above all no doubt Senna.. Lewis is still not history and some needs to be passed for us to see what he was doing totally different.. more clearly..

especially after 1:24 in this video..

Originally Posted by MKSixer

Hamilton - Started as Senna. Transitioned to Prost. The current sum is greater than the equal of its parts. 1 Billion people in his social networks. Has his own fashion label within Tommy Hilfiger. Global Icon.

MK i totally agree with heart-driven like Senna part but no way i can agree on Prost part.. cause Lewis never been an as***** like Prost.. even today i still cant stand to see him in Renault garage though a perfect match for Cyril Abiteboul..

anyway apart my perception he has such a "sneaky" character that doesnt overlap with Lewis.. Lewis is open and fair.. communication wise and everything.. Lewis always think of winning.. if you meant for calculative part of Prost.. i believe Lewis created his own dosage of that as well that it was the year Lewis started to wear less yellow helmet he became like that i believe.. cant remember which year was that though but not long ago..

[SenorFunkyPants]

Originally Posted by yco

MK i totally agree with heart-driven like Senna part but no way i can agree on Prost part.. cause Lewis never been an as***** like Prost.. even today i still cant stand to see him in Renault garage though a perfect match for Cyril Abiteboul..

Wow...I always liked Prost...preferred him to Senna.
In terms of the OP...I would go with James.
He used to pop out of the commentary box (leaving Murray on his own) for a quick pull on a joint.

[racerbruce]

Originally Posted by SenorFunkyPants

Wow...I always liked Prost...preferred him to Senna.
In terms of the OP...I would go with James.
He used to pop out of the commentary box (leaving Murray on his own) for a quick pull on a joint.

Hunt was truly one-of-a-kind....did you see the movie "Rush"?? As you know, it is the story of the lives of Hunt and Lauda, directed by Ron Howard (I believe it was released in late 2013),

Such a great movie.

[3798j]

got lucky...saw him up close...thought he was just too, too cool...

[racerbruce]

Originally Posted by 3798j

got lucky...saw him up close...thought he was just too, too cool...

Tell us all about your encounter with Graham Hill!!!!

[3798j]

Originally Posted by racerbruce

Tell us all about your encounter with Graham Hill!!!!

LOL...not the greatest of stories. In the '60's, Friday practice for the USGP was not heavily attended. No "crowd control" to speak of. The pits were nothing like they are today...not even located in the same place. They were small and very open, even from the back. During a pause when no cars were on course, three of us (16 yr olds) just walked up to the back of the pits peering in just to see what we could. As we walked the length of the pits, there he was sitting on a short wall, facing away from the track, all by himself. One buddy called out to him...with a "hey Graham"...he turns smiles and waves. We were about 15 yards away. We waved back...in awe. That was it. A big moment for the three of us.

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by yco

i like Jackie's driving style as well.. i guess it was in his Beyond the Grid podcast, he was saying that you need to treat the car gently and not fight with the car.. flow with it.. which this "less aggressive" driving style is diminishing day by day i guess because its connected with patience and cars different suspension geometry and downforce.. but does it mean no other driver not treating their car gentle and going with the flow of it now.. there are few more still today..

and i d go for James Hunt as well.. such rebel and heart-driven personality.. and one of the best "branded" helmets he had..

in history above all no doubt Senna.. Lewis is still not history and some needs to be passed for us to see what he was doing totally different.. more clearly..

especially after 1:24 in this video..

MK i totally agree with heart-driven like Senna part but no way i can agree on Prost part.. cause Lewis never been an as***** like Prost.. even today i still cant stand to see him in Renault garage though a perfect match for Cyril Abiteboul..

anyway apart my perception he has such a "sneaky" character that doesnt overlap with Lewis.. Lewis is open and fair.. communication wise and everything.. Lewis always think of winning.. if you meant for calculative part of Prost.. i believe Lewis created his own dosage of that as well that it was the year Lewis started to wear less yellow helmet he became like that i believe.. cant remember which year was that though but not long ago..

I agree...I only meant calculated racing and car preservation in driving. Totally agree on character. He was kicked out of a team for shagging the bosses wife. WTF does that?!?!! And his unholy alliance with Jean Marie Balestre to deny Senna a championship still irritates the heck out of me.

And about Cyril...my brother and I have a name for him: Thug Abiteboul.

[yco]

Originally Posted by SenorFunkyPants

Wow...I always liked Prost...preferred him to Senna.

well we can agree to disagree of course..
but for me Prost is one big moment that expresses his character.. probably watched million times the video below..

when you pause at 0:23.. its obvious that Prost wont able to make the chicane in that line unless his car can jump though.. if you except the dirty part of racing like this.. which is controversial but he took things one step further got even more dirty.. actually dirty can not fulfill that action.. and this way of behaviour tells a lot from a man suppose to be more man since he was racing.. by French alliance with Jean Marie Balestre.. thats not acceptable..

but when you observe how much respect Prost can get from the Paddock which he is an invisible man these days.. and it has reasons.. big ones.. cause things happened back in the days were worse what Schumacher did to Hill or what he did on Monaco quali.. and why im not surprised Nico Rosberg did as well.. these 2 did ugly dirty things but Prost created a league of his own.. how im suppose to like a person like this..

Originally Posted by MKSixer

I agree...I only meant calculated racing and car preservation in driving. Totally agree on character. He was kicked out of a team for shagging the bosses wife. WTF does that?!?!! And his unholy alliance with Jean Marie Balestre to deny Senna a championship still irritates the heck out of me.

And about Cyril...my brother and I have a name for him: Thug Abiteboul.

well i didnt know shagging bosses wife thing.. why on earth im not surprised from such a "sneaky" character.. at least Senna spoke it out many times.. Mansell's nodding tells a lot as well..

1:00..

Thug Abiteboul made me laugh cheers MK!

wish that Jean Marie Balestre d replaced right away not after 2 years...

[racerbruce]

Originally Posted by 3798j

LOL...not the greatest of stories. In the '60's, Friday practice for the USGP was not heavily attended. No "crowd control" to speak of. The pits were nothing like they are today...not even located in the same place. They were small and very open, even from the back. During a pause when no cars were on course, three of us (16 yr olds) just walked up to the back of the pits peering in just to see what we could. As we walked the length of the pits, there he was sitting on a short wall, facing away from the track, all by himself. One buddy called out to him...with a "hey Graham"...he turns smiles and waves. We were about 15 yards away. We waved back...in awe. That was it. A big moment for the three of us.

THIS.IS.RICH!
Such an incredibly great story and memory. Don't you love the fact that the paddock and crowd control was virtually non-existent compared to today.

Thank you for sharing this - it is etched in your memory and is to be treasured.

[SenorFunkyPants]

Originally Posted by yco

well we can agree to disagree of course..
but for me Prost is one big moment that expresses his character.. probably watched million times the video below..

I certainly watched it a few times as well.
Argued the hell out it on Usenet (Rasf1) at the time.
I still maintain it was a typical Senna "pass or crash move" that he pulled quite a few times in his career.
Prost was quite within his rights to turn into the chicane from that place on the track just as he had done on previous laps.

[yco]

Originally Posted by SenorFunkyPants

I certainly watched it a few times as well.
Argued the hell out it on Usenet (Rasf1) at the time.
I still maintain it was a typical Senna "pass or crash move" that he pulled quite a few times in his career.
Prost was quite within his rights to turn into the chicane from that place on the track just as he had done on previous laps.

from the footage its clear that Prost makes a very late defense steers into crash since with that line he wont even able to take the chicane cause he d jump over the kerb at least with the belly of the car like that.. late dive is something, late defense is something else.. if there are some footage about makes Prost's move "legit" i d like to see really?

[eggman51]

In the car flamboyance - Gilles Villeneuve
Out of the car - James Hunt
Flamboyance in the form of results - Schumacher

I saw (and felt) the Mercedes Group C car up close at Spa in 1990. It vibrated the grandstands as it went by. Schumacher did not drive that race, and I was disappointed as I had heard he was a brilliant up and coming talent. I took pictures from vantage points that could have been fatal if something went wrong - as noted above, even in the 90s there was minimal crowd control, especially in Group C Sports Car racing.

The following year I saw Schumacher's F1 debut at that same track. The thing I noticed, standing at the top of Eau Rouge, was "that guy sounds different than the rest". He qualified in the top 10 in his first race in a midfield Jordan. He never came past us at speed in the race, the car dying on the first lap.

But he did redefine what is meant to be a racing driver. While I prefer the James Hunt archetype, and I thought Schumacher was a bit of a ruthless asshole in the car, he stepped up the whole game, requiring F1 drivers to become top notch athletes. I think Senna was the closest thing to that type of approach before Schumacher.

Good topic

[SenorFunkyPants]

Originally Posted by racerbruce

Hunt was truly one-of-a-kind....did you see the movie "Rush"?? As you know, it is the story of the lives of Hunt and Lauda, directed by Ron Howard (I believe it was released in late 2013),
Such a great movie.

Rush is a great movie...I'm sure I have it on DVD somewhere.
Was never much of a Lauda fan when he was racing but more recently at Mercedes he seemed like a super nice guy...sadly missed.
That year was the first year I paid attention to F1.