FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[hounddub]

All this talk of the newest Japanese F1 driver (KK) doing so well got me thinking...who is the best Japanese driver in your opinion.

There have been 20 Japanese driver to date....no winners.

My personal favourite is Satoru Nakajima who raced for Lotus and later Tyrrell.

Here's the list

* Hiroshi Fushida
* Masahiro Hasemi
* Naoki Hattori
* Kazuyoshi Hoshino
* Yuji Ide
* Taki Inoue
* Ukyo Katayama
* Kamui Kobayashi
* Masami Kuwashima
* Kazuki Nakajima
* Satoru Nakajima
* Shinji Nakano
* Hideki Noda
* Takuma Sato
* Aguri Suzuki
* Toshio Suzuki
* Toranosuke Takagi
* Noritake Takahara
* Kunimitsu Takahashi
* Sakon Yamamoto

[Jabberwocky]

for me it has to be Takumi Fujiwara

[Hansy]

Yuji Ide, no doubt about that.

Now seriously, I haven't known many Japanese drivers (I watch since 99), and most of them were nothing special - said Ide, Takagi, Nakajima Jr., Yamamoto, crazy Sato (some good moves but zero consistency). Kobi is the first that looks impressive.

[elfinitty]

I dont know the others so i am going to compare Nakajima(last year's) and Kobayashi.By results Kobayashi is significantly better.He might even be much more better in future but i dont really think

[myownalias]

Kamui Kobayashi by a country mile; Takuma Sato has the potential but is too erratic; crashes way too much!

[kerc]

Kobi is pretty awesome.

Ide is king.

[Irv the Swerve]

Katayama is my favourite, in a couple of season I think Koba could be a force in F1.

[darwin dali]

Katayama is my favourite, in a couple of season I think Koba could be a force in F1.

Hey stranger, long time no hear!

[darwin dali]

From what I've seen so far Kobi no doubt. I hope he gets a good seat and can score podiums on a regular basis some time in the near future.

[FRAFPDD]

From what I've seen so far Kobi no doubt. I hope he gets a good seat and can score podiums on a regular basis some time in the near future.

To be honest since the start of the season, the sauber has been a very decent car, its meant to suit suzuka, AND, sauber himself is confident of big sponsorship next year, could have a nice little car on their hands for 2011

[racechick]

Kobi. I dont know lots of the ones on that list but of the ones I do know I think Kobi is the best. He's exciting, has potential and he pulls moves off. The other ones I know seem to be lacking one or two of those ingredients.

[What's Burning?]

I have to clap on the list... I don't recognize 2/3 of the names on it!

[Hexagram]

Over the last 12 or so years I've been watching F1 Kamui has been the only Japanese F1 driver who displays the ability to actually win a race. So Kamui would be the best by quite some margin and has a future in the sport.

I wonder what Crashajima is up to these days? I know Sato is causing first corner pile ups in America.

[Hammer278]

Kobayashi for sure. He reminds me very much of Kimi, though not quite as quick....yet.

Even that's saying something, maybe on Heidfeld level at least? Though I really hope this guy wins a couple of races!

[The Immortal Dragon]

Kobayashi, without a doubt.