http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/13022009/58/view-hamilton-greatest-briton.html Eurosport-Yahoo readers have narrowly voted Lewis Hamilton the greatest British driver in Formula One history ahead of Nigel Mansell. McLaren sensation Hamilton almost won the World Championship in his debut season then took the most dramatic of all victories last year in Brazil to become the youngest world champion in F1. He took 24 per cent of the vote, with over four and a half thousand of you selecting your favourite man, while Mansell missed out by 46 votes at the time of writing with 23 per cent. Mansell's 1987 British Grand Prix victory at Silverstone is one of the greatest drives in F1 history, while he twice missed out on the World Championship thanks to a burst tyre then spinal concussion before finally taking the crown in 1992. Third was Jim Clark with 18 per cent, ahead of Jackie Stewart (16); trailing were Stirling Moss (8), Damon Hill (6), his dad Graham Hill (3) and James Hunt (2). Who is the greatest British driver? 4,659 votes as of 13:00 UK time on Friday February 13 Results: Lewis Hamilton - 24% Nigel Mansell - 23% Jim Clark - 18% Jackie Stewart - 16% Stirling Moss - 8% Damon Hill - 6% Graham Hill - 3% James Hunt - 2% Things must really be tuff in the UK if Hambone is considererd the greatest. As they say a drowning man grabs at straw.
Stirling Moss or Jim Clark. These "surveys" always favor the recent winners over the people from a generation ago. Sad, but if it didn't happen last year, he wasn't the best.
True that - and let us not forget Mike Hawthorne. Strange too that Jackie Stewart is so quickly forgotten.
Hopefully one day the US will have a winning driver in F1, only time will tell. I don't intend on holding my breath until it happens.
No Mike Hawthorn? Shame. These polls, especially on line, only serve to determine the age and generation of the voters IMHO.
Absolutely. People are much more likely to vote for someone who was alive during their lifetime and about whom they have some first hand knowledge. For twenty and thirty somethings Jim Clark, who would get my vote, is a historical figure so they are unlikely to vote for him.
Maybe I should rephrase that f1 "in a current series" Phil Hill and Mario were and will always be world class. Now Michael Andretti , Danny Sullivan and Scott "No" Speed, were just a bad joke.
He's good for the sport and he's fast, fast, fast, no doubt, but shouldn't he win a couple more titles b4 annointing him thus?
Shame this is not for the greatest British driver instead of focused on F1 - a no-brainer for sure = ALLAN McNISH. Allan was voted "British Competition Driver of the Year" by readers of Autosport, an award presented annually to "an outstanding British driver in any class at International level". Previous winners have included John Watson, Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill. McNish, who was also nominated for the "International Racing Driver of the Year" Award and is a former winner of the British motorsport magazine's "British Club Driver of the Year" Award. Carol
WTF? LH is not (yet) fit to carry Sir Jackies, Sir Sterling's, or Jimmy's jockstrap. He may get there, but has a *long*way to go. IMHO Cheers, Ian
Those of us with intelligence know polls mean nothing.. Ask someone in 10 years who the GOAT basketball player is, they will say Kobe or LeBron. Ask it 10 years ago, you get Jordan. Ask it 20 years ago you get Magic or Bird. 30 you get Jabbar, and 40 you get Wilt, Big 'O', Elgin or Bill Russell. Ask this for F1, today you get Michael. 10 years ago you got Senna 20 years ago you got Lauda/Stewart/Clark/Moss/Fangio 30 you got Clark/Moss/Fangio
+1 Problem is, all of the good drivers in the USA end up in nascar. Even the open-wheel guys end up in nascar - that's what Jeff Gordon was before nascar - usac sprint series driver. etc.
Allan is an awesome sportscar driver, but in F1 he was mediocre. He really showed nothing that would indicate any further potential, and was beaten by Mika Salo. It's more likely that a top class F1 driver would do better in sportscars, than a top sportcar driver driving at the same level in F1.
