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[racechick]

A bit of light relief whilst waiting for the season to start. Choose two drivers and state two things you respect them for, and two things that you consider their weaker points. If you can't find any weaker points about a driver you choose, maybe that's the true definition of a fanboy/girl ( a phrase I often see bandied about on here ). Please respect other people's choices and keep in mind that what some people see as a positive, others will see as a negative.
Here's mine

Michael Schumacher

respect him for
1. His bravery in making a comeback and risking his reputation, sticking at that comeback and not giving up, and the way he handled himself during that comeback.
2. Saving dogs. He rescued , at least one, I think more, stray dogs he found during a GP. Had them quarantined, seen to by a vet and then had them as pets.
Weak points
1. Unfair tactics on track when he can't win fairly
2. Treatment of team mates.

Lewis Hamilton

Respect him for
1. His exciting driving, amazing car control/ talent , and bravery behind the wheel
2. His honesty and fair play with other competitors both on track and off track

Weak points
1. His inability to express himself clearly, concisely and confidently, particularly when dealing withe the media
2. His naivety, which very often puts him at a disadvantage. (But that's a double edged sword because it endears him to me all the more

[andrew]

Your cons for Schumacher are quite incorrect. You cannot serious blame a driver for unfair treatment of their team mates when it is the team that does that. Besides, none of them were anything more than competant mid-field runners with the exception of Rosberg who has a lot of potential if he can get himself into a decent car. Unfair tactics and can't win fairly? I just fell off my seat laughing! The guy was (and still is) an absolute F1 legend and one of the (if not the) true greats, the like of which will not be seen for a very long time.

[racechick]

Your cons for Schumacher are quite incorrect. You cannot serious blame a driver for unfair treatment of their team mates when it is the team that does that. Besides, none of them were anything more than competant mid-field runners with the exception of Rosberg who has a lot of potential if he can get himself into a decent car. Unfair tactics and can't win fairly? I just fell off my seat laughing! The guy was (and still is) an absolute F1 legend and one of the (if not the) true greats, the like of which will not be seen for a very long time.

They Are my choices Andrew, not yours, I don't want to get into an argument about why I chose those things, it's how I feel, my choice. Feel free to make different choices but like the opening post said, respect different views.

[spankyham]

Enzo Ferrari
2 Good Points
- I admire his strength of character to pursue his dream through incredible adversity.
- I respect him for demanding every team member had to place the team ahead of themselves and I admire his courage and conviction in enforcing this no matter what the criticism.
2 Weak Points
- The more he was scarred by tragedy the more he closed up to people and life in general
- He stuck too stubbornly to some concepts i.e. "the horse pulls the cart" and "aeros are for people who can't build engines"

Gilles Villeneuve
2 Good Points
- Possibly the greatest pure driver that exuded joy and passion for his driving whether he was behind the wheel or not.
- Was totally loyal to Enzo and the team no matter they didn't provide him with a championship winning car.
2 Weak Points
- His inability to square his "run in" with Didier Pironi - Pironi was out of line but Gilles couldn't let go of it and in the short time till his untimely death, he didn't speak to him again despite the fact that they had, until the incident been great friends. It was nice touch that Didier's missus, after they both had died, named her twins Gilles and Didier.
- His all-or-nothing attitude ended up costing him too much - but then again, perhaps without that attitude he wouldn't have been the great GV

[racechick]

Gilles is one of my favourite drivers, I see some similarities with his style and Lewis'. I didn't know that story about his wife naming the twins. A lovely story, and a little sad. Thanks for those choices Spanky

[What's Burning?]

Mine is along the something old, something new line.

Kamui Kobayashi
1- One of those 'exciting to watch' drivers yet he seems like a genuinely humble guy, simply happy to be doing what he loves. He will be missed in F1.
2- He was able to pull some fantastic moves, a true racer and watching him on the podium in Japan was one of last year's highlights for me.
on the minus side;
1- He clearly had more crashes than most, earning him the Crashyashi title, albeit a short lived one and Maldonado and Grosjean made him look like Raikkonen in comparison.
2- He suffered as a qualifier, and given the current state of the sport, that cost him dearly against his team mate.

Jackie Stewart
1- The definition of a Champion, he was a great all around driver, dominant and skilled, always in the hunt, and doing it at a time where winning and losing often were synonymous with living and dying.
2- He (IMO) has done more for the safety of the sport, and for the good of his fellow drivers, his peers and all future drivers to come, than anyone else. Was a pretty good commentator too!
on the minus side;
1- Was not really able to translate his driving success into a team owner success, and it would have been nice to see him still in the sport. Would have much preferred a man like him doing Bernie the troll's job.
2- His association with the scum duckling bankers at RBS.

[spankyham]

Gilles is one of my favourite drivers, I see some similarities with his style and Lewis'. I didn't know that story about his wife naming the twins. A lovely story, and a little sad. Thanks for those choices Spanky

It was actually Didier's long time girlfriend who had twins and named them Didier and Gilles. Didier had died before their birth in a powerboat racing incident.

[What's Burning?]

Gilles is one of my favourite drivers, I see some similarities with his style and Lewis'. I didn't know that story about his wife naming the twins. A lovely story, and a little sad. Thanks for those choices Spanky

It was actually Didier's long time girlfriend who had twins and named them Didier and Gilles. Didier had died before their birth in a powerboat racing incident.

Do the twins speak to each other?

[racechick]

Gilles is one of my favourite drivers, I see some similarities with his style and Lewis'. I didn't know that story about his wife naming the twins. A lovely story, and a little sad. Thanks for those choices Spanky

It was actually Didier's long time girlfriend who had twins and named them Didier and Gilles. Didier had died before their birth in a powerboat racing incident.

My mistake. I was rushing to go out. Still a lovely thing for her to do.

[Hammer278]

I thought of an interesting choice for me personally...David Coulthard and Jenson Button

David Coulthard
Pros:
1) Serious pace on his day, and was known for his brave (yet sensible) overtaking manouvres during his hey days at McLaren
2) A perfect PR guy for the team and himself, while being political he could be the rudest (yet funniest) guys in the paddock.

Cons:
1) When he has a bad day, it all goes downhill. I remember 2003 very well..he was awesome in the first 3 races. In Australia he won, in Malaysia he was comfortably keeping up with Kimi till a car failure, then in Brazil in the most difficult conditions he should've easily won when the race was prematurely stopped when Alonso lost his head. He never came back that season, and Kimi took up the WDC challenge.
2) Not an outright talent in terms of speed like Mika or Kimi, but had the (inconsistent) pace to stay in a top team

Jenson Button
Pros:
1) Like DC, serious pace on his day and is able to always bring the car home without risking manouvres which aren't necessary. A solid points finisher in F1
2) His mouth has practically landed him a top seat in F1, the internal team politics he plays is impressive for a guy who's career is about driving cars quickly

Cons:
1) Not an outright talent to compete on pace with the best in F1, but easily good enough for a midfield team, or a 'best of the rest' team. I struggle to remember instances when he is setting fastest laps consecutively on a DRY track where everything is equal. DC on the other hand, has had many during his McLaren days.


There you go, only 1 con for Button. Who says H278 is biased?? But this 1 con is his barrier in being one of the best on the grid, but it can't be helped.

[racechick]

What I'm loving about this thread is seeing people can recognise the opposite side of their favourite/ less favourite driver. Get that Killem2 ? People on this forum, moderators included, are not pathetic, partisan and sad!! (okay, very angry mad rant over )

[CookinFlat6]

Lewis
pros - a winner, route 1 attitude, the way he rises to every challenge, bravery, talent, ambassador, trail blazer

cons - too nice, too well brought up for F1, too decent for F1, too much empathy for the poor people in India, too generous to the under priviledged

Button
cons - a snake, cowardly, deceitful, dishonest, lazy, generally useless, no grip, backstabbing, stupid shampoo commercial, constantly berating his poor balance, toady, mediocre, privileged, spoilt, rich kid, useless some more

pros - can sell a dummy to a mug, hypnotic ability on smitten TPs, looks smarter than he really is, in short perfect BBC commentator

see, even I can appreciate a snakes talents!!

[LewEngBridewell]

This thread is going to be interesting......

[What's Burning?]

This thread is going to be interesting......

Not until you post your work of art sweetie.

[LewEngBridewell]

This thread is going to be interesting......

Not until you post your work of art sweetie.

Oooooo well I'll keep you all on tenterhooks until I think of something