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[racechick]

Well, no surprises I voted for Vettel.

Hamilton could be as well. But the future of Grand Prix racing is Hamilton and Vettel, with Kubica in tow. And you want a modern-day Senna-Prost pairing? Imagine Hamilton and Vettel on the same team. The rivalry would be absolutely fierce. 1989 all over again.

Vettel is fast. Webber is also a great driver. Only now can Webber show how great he is. But I doubt Webber will we even have another season to prove himself. This is Webber's year.

Oh. And Nelson Piquet Jr. as well.

Also, someone earlier said that Kubica and Alonso would be a dream pairing. I don't think so. Alonso is a wuss. He cannot tolerate his team mate being better than him. But then, neither could Senna, Shumacher, anyone else?

But the fact that Alonso expects his team mates to move out of the way (rather selfish when the team is already guaranteed a 1-2) rather than having the balls to overtake them doesn't sit right in my books. First with Hamilton, then Piquet, and now Massa. I don't know what Alonso was like in his Renault days, I wasn't following F1.

He was a wuss then too. Fischicella was his lackey.
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[The Immortal Dragon]

Alonso is a very fine driver, Button is the most intelligent driver I remember watching, but I don't think they are (or could be) at the level of Senna

Vettel and Hamilton could come near, though.
The only thing is that Vettel has to prove it quite from the beginning, Hamilton has already started doing so and in a nice fashion. In particular he produces very fascinating overtaking manoeuvres.
Although he's not my favourite driver (probably just because he is at McLaren ), I have to vote for Hamilton.

[Big Azza]

Yeah Hamilton currently is better than Vettel. I think Alonso is also up there but I just cannot tell because when he is behind he uses team orders to win races.

Hamilton was able to win one more race than Alonso in 2007, despite Alonso and his team at times preventing Alonso from getting good results. This in my opinion shows than Hamilton is better than Alonso.

It would be interesting though to see how Vettel goes. People are criticising him because he can't overtake, but remember Webber can't overtake either, which was evident when he bumped Hamilton off the track in Melbourne. This is because of the car. However, Vettel is also faster than Webber. If Vettel was not disrupted by the safety car in Hungary then I think he could have overlapped the rest of the field.

It's just his ability to handle such situations which has stopped him from winning last year's championship and could well do this year. Remember his glory days in a Torro Rosso. He was able to continually bring the car well into the points. That comes from overtaking and driving with skill. So I won't buy any of this nonsense that he isn't talented. The 2007 Chinese GP he started 17th and finished 4th, apparently making some brilliant overtaking manouvers. (I wasn't following then).

You can see Vettel's Formula One statistics on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebastian_Vettel

This was at the age of 20! The reason's for suggesting Seb's lack of skill are unfounded. He just can't handle tricky situations. But he's in his early 20s apparently men don't get their head screwed on until they're 25.

So I tell you, we have 2 of the greatest drivers in history on the grid.

*EDIT: 3 - we have Schumacher. 4 - if you count Alonso. He will likely win another World Championship, and anyone who wins 3 is worth noting as one of the greatest in history.

Schumacher is the greatest driver in history in my opinion and I don't like him.

[The Ram]

Vettel is slightly faster than Webber. But Webber is not really all that great in my book, quick but inconsistent and clumsy at times. Vettel hasn't really showed me anything other than he can beat his above average team mate in qualifying a few times, not really dominating him in anyway.

Let me ask one question thoug: Why is Senna better than Hamilton? What can Senna do that Hamilton cannot do better?

[myownalias]

Let me ask one question thoug: Why is Senna better than Hamilton? What can Senna do that Hamilton cannot do better?

You can not directly compare the two; when Ayrton Senna was driving; F1 was a completely different animal, even Hamilton himself said he couldn't imagine what it was like to drive with 26 other cars on the track in after driving Senna's McLaren, drivers have it easy in relative terms compared to Senna's generation, Hamilton is certainly one of the best in the modern generation but can not be directly compared to Senna, Prost, or Mansell, no more than Senna can be directly compared to Juan Manuel Fangio.

[f1ea]

But the fact that Alonso expects his team mates to move out of the way (rather selfish when the team is already guaranteed a 1-2) rather than having the balls to overtake them doesn't sit right in my books. First with Hamilton, then Piquet, and now Massa. I don't know what Alonso was like in his Renault days, I wasn't following F1.

How about the move on Massa in the pit lane entry? outrage... how could he. Such a move vs poor ole Massa.
How about the move on Kubica? that was neat! no contact. That a pretty looking move there.
How about the moves in Monaco?
How about the older moves? too many to mention. There's that awesome move at 130R in suzuka. There's more balls in that pass than all the KERS-assisted passes in the whole 2009 season put together and given viagra.

Refresh your memory. You'll see not only balls but very careful, clean and technical passes. Right now its all about the kamikaze pass. Clip a wing, puncture a tire, send the other to the grass or the wall....

The team always has a choice. Count on him to win the title. Count on the other driver. Or let them race.
Mclaren decided they were "racing Alonso". If Horner said that this yr vs Webber... i can almost imagine the outrage from F1's "moral purists".

Send any of Alonso's "move over" teammates to any other team, and let's see how many championships they win. So they didn't win any championships because Alonso asked them to move over... get real.

[The Immortal Dragon]

How about the older moves? too many to mention. There's that awesome move at 130R in suzuka. There's more balls in that pass than all the KERS-assisted passes in the whole 2009 season put together and given viagra.

That was an outstanding overtaking manoeuvre!
I didn't love it at the time as it was vs. Schumacher, but gosh.. that was brave!

[Ayrton-Lewis]

Let me ask one question thoug: Why is Senna better than Hamilton? What can Senna do that Hamilton cannot do better?

Senna was better than anyone because he was the fastest driver ever with not the best car most of the times...But let me say this...Hamilton is the closest driver in my eyes to Senna..Lewis is by far imo the fastest driver in the planet today..
Hamilton is the heir of Clark and Senna the 2 fastest drivers ever imo..Lewis is a phenom..
As I said Lewis is the only who has a small chance to surpass Senna as the greatest ever...But he must continue to drive in a high level for many years...For his legacy this year's championship is very important because McLaren is by far the worst car in the comparison with Red Bull and Ferrari...If he'll win the championship will be epic...

[racechick]

Mclaren decided they were "racing Alonso". If Horner said that this yr vs Webber... i can almost imagine the outrage from F1's "moral purists".

Send any of Alonso's "move over" teammates to any other team, and let's see how many championships they win. So they didn't win any championships because Alonso asked them to move over... get real.

Alonso tried his 'move over' technique on a rookie teammate called lewis-it didnt work. And that teamate has won a championship, and will probably win more.. Massa his latest 'move over' teammate almost won a champioship.

When mclaren said they were racing Alonso it was after he'd been sacked for blackmail and unreasonable demands that are against the spirit of racing and competition. Thats getting real..

[Big Azza]

How about the move on Massa in the pit lane entry? outrage... how could he. Such a move vs poor ole Massa.
How about the move on Kubica? that was neat! no contact. That a pretty looking move there.
How about the moves in Monaco?
How about the older moves? too many to mention. There's that awesome move at 130R in suzuka. There's more balls in that pass than all the KERS-assisted passes in the whole 2009 season put together and given viagra.

For Massa, that was selfish. The team would have obviously scheduled for a Massa pit-stop, not an Alonso pit-stop. So he didn't care about his team....

Kubica? Slower car. Big whoop. (According to similar arguments about Vettel's overtaking)
Monaco? Slower cars. Big Whoop. Vettel started 19th and finished 5th in '08 (Like I keep raving on about ).
Unfortunately I wasn't following F1 in Alonso's Renault days. But I'm not saying Alonso isn't talented, he could win 2 more World Championships. But what would be nice is if he could actually race his team mate instead of asking them to move aside, and prove how good he is against them.

Because he'd know he'd lose out. He tried it at least twice against Hamilton in '07. And Hamilton beat him in the championship that year!

Ever since then, I have never seen him race a team mate, which shows to me that he is definitely not as talented as Hamilton, and maybe not against Massa - although I'd be the first to admit Alonso is faster than Massa.

[The Immortal Dragon]

But what would be nice is if he could actually race his team mate instead of asking them to move aside, and prove how good he is against them.

Because he'd know he'd lose out. He tried it at least twice against Hamilton in '07. And Hamilton beat him in the championship that year!

Oh.. I know.. what about.. the move on Massa in China??
and.. selfish?? seriously??
so if Senna overtook Prost at McLaren just before a pit-stop, you would really say that *Senna* was *selfish* because the team was ready for Prost? Oh, come on.. I wouldn't believe that even for a second.

Hamilton and Alonso were tied at 109 points in 2007, and considering that Alonso had all his team against him for half a season.. it wasn't that bad. (It doesn't matter if it was right or wrong that he had all the McLaren team against him, it wouldn't change how things went)


And watch Alonso's overtaking move on Schumacher
Seriously, overtaking Schumacher is worth more than overtaking a team mate.

[FRAFPDD]

Jesus H Christ, how on earth did i know an argument would come of this.......

Way i see it, Alonso is not too old to win this years or the next years Championships, he could be the greatest ever quite easily, he has GOT to stop moaning like a w*ore when he doesnt race at his best, which he seems more to more and more nowadays, jumping starts, team orders to get first place. If he can just stop moaning and concentrate he's got a great chance of becoming best ever.

Hamilton although im his fan, has drove like a champion since Australia 2007 and noobdy in their right mind could say he's put a foot wrong this year, 2009 was a massive year for him and you can tell from interviews and his attitiude this year that the arguments that he is arrogant are void, that hes harsh on his tyres are void, hes a dirty driver are void. People are getting less and less to catch him out on cause hes such a brilliant driver. Hes made mistakes and he actually started Alonso's implosion at Mclaren so he hasnt been perfect, but he has not just the best chance of this years current crop, but of many years since Senna to actually be ranked up there. Biggest problem is that half of Brazil,Spain and Italy DETEST him and if being one of the greatest ever depends on popular vote, he could suffer. IMO best thing since Senna. Infact im not one of them nostalgic idiots that will say Senna can never be topped, any driver can be topped, Hamiltons been F1 only for three years coming on four, he kees getting better andbetter.

[f1ea]

For Massa, that was selfish. The team would have obviously scheduled for a Massa pit-stop, not an Alonso pit-stop. So he didn't care about his team....

Ok. That was selfish

Kubica? Slower car. Big whoop. (According to similar arguments about Vettel's overtaking)

Ahem... overtaking 101: the car in front must be slower.

Monaco? Slower cars. Big Whoop. Vettel started 19th and finished 5th in '08 (Like I keep raving on about ).

Monaco. Monaco. Monaco.
So Vettel did a big time race... so? we're not talking about what Vettel has been able to do... that Vettel was good in another race at Monaco does not exclude other performances. if so... then there's no point talking about Monaco after a couple of Senna races...........

Unfortunately I wasn't following F1 in Alonso's Renault days. But I'm not saying Alonso isn't talented, he could win 2 more World Championships. But what would be nice is if he could actually race his team mate instead of asking them to move aside, and prove how good he is against them.

Because he'd know he'd lose out. He tried it at least twice against Hamilton in '07. And Hamilton beat him in the championship that year!

Ever since then, I have never seen him race a team mate, which shows to me that he is definitely not as talented as Hamilton, and maybe not against Massa - although I'd be the first to admit Alonso is faster than Massa.

Well, after Renault, he has:
1- Raced against his team. That much more than racing his teammate and ended up behind in the championship because he didnt take crap and pulled the stunt at Hungary. Not because anybody beat him or whatever....
2- Drove a very poor Renault. And still got a couple of superb races. Lots of people think Kubica is great... Alonso did MUCH better in a much poorer Renault

Race his teammate?
He did. And you said it's selfish. He does, and ussualy Qs ahead of him. he has... and his teammate took his own tires in trying.

or do you mean racing his teammate = taking his teammate out?
Sorry. I doubt it'll ever happen. Alonso rarely does sloppy overtakes. Maybe his worst move was the one in Monaco vs Heidfeld a few yrs back...

Prove them how good he is by racing his teammate... he doesnt owe any proof, to anyone. In fact, he doesnt have to prove anything. But why did Vettel block 'only' him? why is he the highest paid? why did a 1.5 sec faster car had to pull a wild strategy to beat him?

He owes this 'proof' to the team; they are the ones who pay him. Not Niki Lauda.


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For Lewis to be regarded as the greatest ever, it'll take much more than just the british media's opinion.
He has to show greatness. So far he's been very good. Not great.

[Hammer278]

And then there was 1 dominating the poll.....

Youngest WDC to date
Only Rookie to defeat a 2X WDC in F1 history
Consistently winning the biggest trophy in every series in his 2nd year

Denial is not only a river in Egypt, but his fans are loving every minute he's driving the car on the ragged edge....

[myownalias]

Lewis Hamilton has potential but will he live upto that potential? nobody knows that's the answer, I believe he has the ability to become the greatest of his generation but not the greatest of all time, F1 today is too different from the time of Senna, but arguably the best drivers of all time are those who drove at the limit in cars where if you crashed, you are almost certain to have career ending injuries or be killed. In relative terms, drivers these days have it easy, nothing like the racers of the 50s/60s!

Comparing Hamilton to Senna and Senna to Fangio is like comparing an Apple to a Brick and a Brick to a Plant!