Best driver who didnt become champion

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Who?

Gilles Villeneuve
33
43%
Ronnie Peterson
6
8%
Wolfgang Von Trips
0
No votes
Carlos Reutemann
1
1%
Rubens Barichello
6
8%
David Coulthard
7
9%
Clay Regazzoni
1
1%
Stirling Moss
16
21%
Jose-Froilan Gonzalez
0
No votes
Tony Brooks
0
No votes
Jacky Ickx
1
1%
Bruce McLaren
1
1%
Other - write in post who
4
5%
 
Total votes: 76

dweller23
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Best driver who didnt become champion

Post by dweller23 » 02 Jan 2009, 16:26

Missed few names (Laffite, Watson, Arnoux, Alboreto...) due to poll options limit. Anyway, who do you think was the best driver never to become WDC? I was hesitating between Villeneuve and Moss, voted for Villeneuve.

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Arrows_F1
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Re: Best driver who didnt become champion

Post by Arrows_F1 » 02 Jan 2009, 17:10

i voted for david coulthard. he had the skills to win at least one championship, but when he had the best chance he was always the number 2 in his team...
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phil1993
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Re: Best driver who didnt become champion

Post by phil1993 » 02 Jan 2009, 17:17

Stirling Moss - As in 1958 Mike Hawthorn was penalised for a jump start and DQ-ed which gave Moss an advantage however Sir Stirling pleaded with the officials and Hawthorn was reinstated with a win, that ultimately a race later when Moss retired with engine failure, gave his friend Hawthorn the championship; an honest way to lose.

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megasyxx
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Re: Best driver who didnt become champion

Post by megasyxx » 02 Jan 2009, 18:09

dc gets my vote as well.......unlucky guy maybe, or a bit inconsistent.
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swca92
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Re: Best driver who didnt become champion

Post by swca92 » 02 Jan 2009, 18:36

I'd pick Villeneuve for his sheer talent.He was unbelievable in the wet,and drove that great race in 81 where he blocked everyone for 80 laps and won the race.Also the year he died he had possibly the best car and could well have won the title.

MP4/4#12
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Re: Best driver who didnt become champion

Post by MP4/4#12 » 02 Jan 2009, 18:41

Gilles Villeneuve and Moss as Phil explained it so clearly in a good day he would beat Fangio fairly. But i have to put Gilles 1st. David Coulthard ?!? Fine driver on his early years but that`s it, not World Champion material, i`d rather choose Jean Alesi.

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Re: Best driver who didnt become champion

Post by dweller23 » 02 Jan 2009, 19:26

I didn't even consider putting Alesi on list to be honest. He was very good driver, but somehow his bad luck made him look not so wdc-worthy.

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Re: Best driver who didnt become champion

Post by MP4/4#12 » 02 Jan 2009, 21:24

I know, just comparing him to David Coulthard, he doesn`t deserve to be on the list either. But in 1990 Alesi was a HUGE future star a bit like Vettel today (except the win) but he made a terrible mistake joining Ferrari.

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TwistedArmco
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Re: Best driver who didnt become champion

Post by TwistedArmco » 02 Jan 2009, 21:39

I put Peterson in the survey. Huge natural talent, massive speed, never got a WDC through circumstance and through being a damned nice fellow. He came second to JYS's dominant Tyrell in 1971, third to JYS again and great team-mate Emmo in 1973 (who he matched and took more victories than) and then second in 1978 to Andretti, who he had agreed to help win the WDC, and had been shadowing all season.
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TheViewer
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Re: Best driver who didnt become champion

Post by TheViewer » 03 Jan 2009, 15:10

I voted for Moss. He was a great driver who finished second 4 times in a row, and was an honest gentleman. He never complained either.
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blizzard
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Re: Best driver who didnt become champion

Post by blizzard » 03 Jan 2009, 20:27

Ultra hard with only 1 vote. Stirling Moss HAS to be mentioned, so does Carlos Reutemann in my oppinion. Ronnie Peterson was massively talented and Wolfgang von Trips might have been world champion, without the accident.

On the other hand, I don´t think Barrichello or Coulthard should be mentioned at all! Both were sitting in the best car for a couple of years and both got beaten by their champion teammates and it became more than obvious that they were at no point made of champion DNA.

I also don´t think Villeneuve would have ever won a championship. Very fast and talented, but didn´t have the brain of a champion.

In the end I voted for Reutemann, because I was very impressed by his driving in 78, as mature as anyone, unfortunately the Ferrari was no match for the Lotus over a whole season. But Rio de Janeiro was a Reutemann classic.
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Re: Best driver who didnt become champion

Post by Irishf1 » 04 Jan 2009, 02:03

In the end, I voted for Peterson. He was the Super Swede of F1, very talented driver. However, there was no way he could challenge the Tyrells in '71 and '73, the '74 Lotus wasn't the best car and in '78, he was challenging Andretti throughout the season. Shame for what happened in Monza

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Re: Best driver who didnt become champion

Post by dweller23 » 04 Jan 2009, 12:24

Reutemann had his chance in 1981, but he drove REALLY bad at Ceasars Palace... Piquet was beatable there. In 1978 he had few great races (Brands Hatch with great manouver on Lauda..), but Ferrari was nowhere near to Lotus.

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JoostLamers
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Re: Best driver who didnt become champion

Post by JoostLamers » 04 Jan 2009, 12:45

I voted Gilles, think he was the best of the drivers above. Huge personality, respect. And a huge talent in his sport.
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HandoZiZle
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Re: Best driver who didnt become champion

Post by HandoZiZle » 04 Jan 2009, 20:44

For me, it would be DC and yes i said it...Montoya.
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