Seconded

Between DC and Rubens for me although we've seen how frustrated Rubens can get when things never went his way.

DC in Melbourne in 1998 showed great sportsmanship when he let Mika through after their agreement and never challenged it either.

...and hello to the forum.

Hill was good for Prost and Williams in 1993. Wins, podiums, strong races.

Eddie Irvine - I rate him higher than Barri.

Although one seems to recall that 1:16.80 pole lap by Peterson at Brands in 1978...

Mario, who was a very rounded driver, was the better developer of the car. But when he had set it up Ronnie would typically be faster with Mario's setup... Weird guy, that Peterson.

Clay Regazzoni
Graham Hill

Well Rubens was willing to donate wins to his team mate. But so was Kimi. And so was DC.

It's strange because Britain could have had 12 world champions, with Peter Collins ans Stirling Moss but that's sportsmanship and tremendous lack of selfishness for you. Francois was a great number 2 to Sir Jackie and was taught bye the great man to become Tyrrells number 1 alas it was not meant to be. Ronnie Peterson was an excellent number 2 and (is said) to have had a great relationship with Mario Andretti.

Another name that could be mentioned, Gerhard Berger?

Has to be Rubens. Consistently managed to both prove he is a top driver yet is totally wiling to take a right royal sausage up the chuff at the same time. And that was just Austria 02.

Alonso in 2007 @ McLaren

But excluding Alonso its Irvine for me

Hamilton by far

Reutemann was a good #2 of Lauda in 1977, of Andretti in 1979 and of Jones... only in 1980.

Hilarious! Spat water all over my keyboard. I'm still laughing. Good job sir

and I tend to agree too

Ronnie Peterson

Yes, their relationship was rare & genuine. I remembered reading something that Mario wrote and he said that when he went to Watkins Glen after Peterson's death, he looked across the track and saw a sign that said, "Hey, Mario, win this one for Ronnie." Mario said that it hit him really hard and he wanted to win that race for him.

Coulthard was a great number 2 driver. but, Heikki Kovalainen is also a good number 2.

Rubens ofcourse. Has there ever been a more succesfull driiving pairing then MS & Rubens?

edit: And he doesn't mind bending over for MS and take it in the butt

A case could be made for Lorenzo Bandini who backed up John Surtees at Ferrari. It had to be tough to keep that 12 cyl. from passing the more reliable but less powerful V-8. I bet he wore out lots of brake pads.
Number 2 being the worst job in the world? Don't most of us just wish we could make the field in one grand prix race? Reminds me of US Olympic skater Nancy Kerrigan's mother. When she was shown looking at her daughter performing on a tv screen inches from her face because of her poor vision, a television commentator said he felt sorry for her. Is he crazy? How many of us will ever see our children in the Olympics at all? I'd be happy to see my son winning the metric mile even if I couldn't see but a blur.
Jock Ellis

ryan briscoe in 08 was pretty awsome, and another oddball one, paul drayson. number two, AND pays the bills to go racing . plus he changed the FIA's mind...

another winner

dream on....face it, Mario ruled.

And formula one was a part time hobby for him

Fernando Alonso at Ron Dennis' McLaren (2007)

1973 Cevert at Tyrrell.
1978 Peterson at Lotus.

Allow me a correction: the Nº2 driver at McLaren in 2007 was Alonso, not Lewis.

That's exactly what I want to do!

Yea Barrichello...lol

Indeed and with honour. Collins himself could have taken the title there, but gave his car to Fangio. If any, the most unselfish act in the sport's history.

This is the stuff I like hearing about, what a guy!

He gets my vote.

rubens received more wins than he's donated...;)

Really undefined what "best" means. The best driver at the time he was No 2 as opposed to "that he would become" or "support for No 1" or what???

I think Graham Hill, already a WDC support for the brilliant Clark at Lotus in 1967 (and beginning of 1968) was fantastic. Secured first pole for the Lotus 49 Cosworth on debut and was a very good development driver of his time. Very solid personality and a great character, makes people like Irvine and Rubens look like kids.

On the attack of Irvine (a pay driver of the highest quality) when promoted to No 1 after Schumie's Silverstone crash was pushed hard by sub driver Mika Salo who in fact had to move aside for Eddie who was miles down the track. Mika would get no reward for his generosity - I thought at the time he should go for broke and ignore team orders which were in vain in the big picture anyway.

Denny Hulme also an honorable mention for 1967 when he won Monaco and Nurburgring on the way to WDC beating his team leader fair and square.

What is so funny about that?