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[Big Azza]

This topic requires a little bit of thought and research. But I've been doing my research to pick the top 10 drivers of all time, and would like to know who you'd pick:

1. Prost (Reason - 4 World Championships, beating team mates like Senna, Lauda, Mansell, Rosberg, Arnoux)

2. Schumacher (7 World Championships, 91 Wins from 68 Pole Positions)

3. Jackie Stewart (3 World Championships - Instantly competitive 27 wins out of 64 race finishes)

4. Senna (3 World Championships, podiums in a Toleman, and a force to be reckoned with for ever single championship later on)

5. Fangio (5 World Championships in the Autumn of his career, including 4 in a row - a feat that stood for 46 years, beat the likes of Ascari and Farina)

6. Lauda (3 World Championships, could have been 4 if not for his accident at Nurbugring - he was still leading the championship, and withdrew from the last race 3 points in the lead of the championship. Balls of Steel)

7. Jochen Rindt (1 World Championship, Posthumously. Look at his results. When he'd finish the race he'd be on a podium, or he'd retire from the race. Died at 28, could've won more but would have retired)

8. Brabham (Maybe could be higher, won the championship in his second full season, and then thought he could do better so won 2 more in cars he made)

9. Fernando Alonso (2 World Championships, with a potential for a couple more. Famously ended Schumacher's run of 5 World Championships in a row)

10. Nelson Piquet (3 World Championships, Another force up until his retirement in 91)

I really could keep going to top 20.... But I don't have time right now...

[racechick]

Ayrton Senna

Jackie Stewart

Jim Clark

Stirling Moss

Gilles Villeneuve

Juan Manuel Fangio

Alain Prost

Graham Hill

Lewis Hamilton

(Hakkinen, Ascari, Lauda, Piquet- not sure out of those 4)

[Big Azza]

Ayrton Senna

Jackie Stewart

Jim Clark

Stirling Moss

Gilles Villeneuve

Juan Manuel Fangio

Alain Prost

Graham Hill

Lewis Hamilton

(Hakkinen, Ascari, Lauda, Piquet- not sure out of those 4)

Yes I would probably include Hill and Ascari in my top 20, possibly Gilles Villeneuve in my top 20. I would think Jacques is up highly. Hamilton might be in 20-30. Notice I said Grand Prix Racing drivers and not limited to Formula One. I say this because before 1950 there were some good drivers.

There also good drivers who never won championships and died early, like Gilles. Francois Cevert is one who comes to mind. Elio De Angelis, Wolfgang Von Tips (he could have been the first German World Champion)...

[spankyham]

Nuvolari (invented styles and changed race driving forever)
Fangio (5 time world champion, nemesis of Moss and Ascari)
Ascari (1952 75% win record, 9 consecutive GP wins)
Gilles Villeneuve (purest racer I have seen)
Moss (statesman of F1, character)
Prost (quality of people he beat, 4 times WDC)
Senna (could easily have climbed this list, triple WDC)
Stewart (career percentages)
Alonso (youngest double champ, potential to climb)
Schumacher (best total stats, bad racing acts let him down)

Although I've put them down from 1 to 10, for me, it really isn't practical. Reason being they are from different times and because, in my case, I add them to the list for different reasons. i.e. Stirling Moss is there because of his character and statesmanship more than because of his race/championship winning record.

[texasmr2]

Oh god yet another topic that has already been implimented/asked in some form or fashion and once again is NOT in the POLL section! Focus people this is NOT rocket science!

[Big Azza]

Nuvolari (invented styles and changed race driving forever)

Nuvolari - he definitely looks like a number one. Thanks spankyham.

Oh god yet another topic that has already been implimented/asked in some form or fashion and once again is NOT in the POLL section! Focus people this is NOT rocket science!

[nish2280]

I think all of you forgot me. I'm quite the speed demon.

[Robert12010]

in no paticular order....

alain prost
ayrton senna
michael schumacher
niki lauda
lewis hamilton
mika hakkinen
fangio
sir jakie stewart
sir sterling moss
martin brundle!
a slight joke about martin (sorry ) but a great comentator!
back on the serious note to add 2 others
fernando alonso
nelson piquet

[bud]

Ayrton Senna
Michael Schumacher
Sir Jackie Stewart
Alain Prost
Jim Clark
Sir Jack Brabham
Juan Manuel Fangio
Niki Lauda
Sir Stirling Moss
Nelson Piquet

Would also put John Surtees in there as he wont titles in both the F1 and top class motorcycle championships. Only man to achieve this in history.

Nuvolari (invented styles and changed race driving forever)

Changed race driving? it was in its infancy when he was around And from memory he never got to race in F1 did he not?

[darwin dali]

Ayrton Senna

Jackie Stewart

Jim Clark

Stirling Moss

Gilles Villeneuve

Juan Manuel Fangio

Alain Prost

Graham Hill

Lewis Hamilton

(Hakkinen, Ascari, Lauda, Piquet- not sure out of those 4)

No Mr. Chubby on here? Are you ok? Do you run a fever?

[darwin dali]

Changed race driving? it was in its infancy when he was around And from memory he never got to race in F1 did he not?

Oooh, didn't know you're THAT old ...

[cap-dude]

Think only Murray Walker and Moss can remember Nuvolari racing by now.

Top 10 that come to mind

Tazio Nuvolari
Juan Manuel Fangio
Stirling Moss
Jim Clark
Jackie Stewart
Gilles Villenueve
Ayrton Senna
Alain Prost
Micheal Schumacher
Fernando Alonso

The top 9 there I've put there because they each defined a generation of racing. From 2006 onwards the level of drivers you have to say is pretty incredicble when you consider we have the likes of Hamiliton, Vettel, and Kubica. But Alonso you have to say is the most complete driver over the last 5-6 years.

[spankyham]

Nuvolari (invented styles and changed race driving forever)

Changed race driving? it was in its infancy when he was around And from memory he never got to race in F1 did he not?

His career was over by the time F1 was around. There is just far to much to say/write about this guy, but any search will turn up enough to get you started on how good this guy was. Tazio Nuvolari "Nivalo".

He raced and won on both motor cycles and cars. He raced from 1920-1950 with 353 competitive races, 107 wins, 99 fastest laps, 5 speed records, 7 times Italian Champion (no WDC in his day) but he did win GP's. 10 of his 30 years of racing was on bikes and cars - at the same time.

He drove ambulances during WW1.

He's credited with inventing using drifting to control his race car during races. Remember cars in those days raced on thin tyres, weighed 1300Kgs, and he would drive these beasts at over 350Kph! No roll bars or proper helmets.

He was managed by and drove for Enzo Ferrari when he ran a private Alfa Romeo team.

A few notable quotes:-

"Nobody else like him join an incredible sensitivity of the car with an inhuman courage" - Enzo Ferrari

"Nuvolari is the greatest driver of the past, the present and the future" -Ferdinand Porsche

"Until in the world it will be spoken about automotive sport, we will remember Nuvolari" - Lord Howe

[FRAFPDD]

Ah this is hard

In no particular order,

Fangio- Going purely on what ive heard and statistics, the first ever legend of formula one racing.
Mansell- a crying shame he only won one title. ballsy working class hero and a brilliant racer.
Schumacher- made everyone at ferrari his bitch, great car with an outstanding driver, 5 titles. not to mention a double with benetton
Alonso- definitely not the best personality in F1, but who cares, consistent, fast, picked up politic tactics of his (first) nemesis schumacher and has made ferrari his team, hes one of the few drivers with prost being the main one that is amazingly fast AND clever, usually its either one or the other.
Senna- wet,dry,slower car, faster car, untouchable. coupled with a slight ruthless streak, consistency, and personality wise a devout catholic who kept his charity secret until death and didnt moan when things didnt go his way. the greatest.
Hamilton- No driver steps into their rookie season in a mclaren, against another f1 great, and beats him/equals with him. From the moment he was under attack from kubica on his debut race start before taking alonso over first corner to the moment he went to brazil with a 5 odd point lead over raikkonen AND alonso and massa. Hes like schumi and alonso in the sense that he polarizes opinion. I dont like being all fairytale but being a mclaren boy that doesnt look like driving for ferrari with a senna style helmet with skills to compliment it, and the " im going to race for you one day" speech to mclaren boss ron aged 10. He is going to win four titles at least IMO. Hes got the speed and hes clearly learning the tactical side of racing fast. at least in the top three of best overtakers in the sport ever.
Prost- THE most underrated world champion ever, people always mention schumi and senna but this bloke, amazing, he took on prime senna mansel, prost,all of em not only the cleverest ever (and still is) racer, he actually was fast aswell, he had the confidence to save brakes and tyres early and risk being attacked and was aptient enough to wait till the end of races and attack then. Senna said he hated him doing it. A legend driver who won four titles for a bloody good reason.

I cant actuallly decide about the next three so im gonna put lauda, piquet, gilles, stewart and hill down.

[racechick]

Ayrton Senna

Jackie Stewart

Jim Clark

Stirling Moss

Gilles Villeneuve

Juan Manuel Fangio

Alain Prost

Graham Hill

Lewis Hamilton

(Hakkinen, Ascari, Lauda, Piquet- not sure out of those 4)

No Mr. Chubby on here? Are you ok? Do you run a fever?

I know I know. I thought long and hard. I think he should be in but he didnt get the chance to show all he could do....or he would have been in.