258 replies to this topic

[jeze]

Did something similar in 2009 and Lewis/McLaren won back then and I guess this board is made up of primarily Brits, so perhaps that wasn't so surprising. With the return of Schumacher, Alonso fast becoming a Ferrari catalyst and icon and Vettel having won two titles perhaps things have changed around a bit, so I thought why not start this poll just to check? Keep discussions civil and don't make it driver X is better than driver Y. That's a safe way to get this thing locked I'd say if fanboyism prevails.

The driver section allows only 20 answers so I decided which 18 I thought were the most well-known at the moment based on gut feeling, which means three drivers who have stood on the podium but are not in uncompetitive cars missed out. I don't expect them to get many votes, but it's not like I didn't want to include them.

Well let's see who wins the popularity contest! All hail the F1 drivers

My votes are

Alonso

Ferrari

Team

Edited by jeze, 24 July 2012 - 21:07.

[Seanspeed]

Kimi
Ferrari
Team supporter first and foremost

[jeze]

Kimi
Ferrari
Team supporter first and foremost

That's interesting. If Fernando leads with Kimi second, who do you want to win? If the team is #1 ?

[MP422]

Lewis
Mclaren
Team supporter first in most cases but for Lewis i would probably make a exception. Lol.

[hello86]

Kimi
Sauber
If driver leaves team, I am gone as well

[spacekid]

I like that so far 4 people say Michael is their favourite (joint leader of something at last!!), but no one likes Mercedes!

[TheWilliamzer]

Whoever is #1 at Williams.

[tifosiMac]

Anyone who says Lewis Hamilton is not the most popular driver when most of the threads here are dominated by his existence by fans and detractors, must be in denial for voting for anybody else!!!!!!

[Seanspeed]

That's interesting. If Fernando leads with Kimi second, who do you want to win? If the team is #1 ?

Pretty simple actually - whoever is wearing the red suit. 2007-2009, I'd have said Kimi. 2010-present it'd be Alonso. When Kimi was at Ferrari, it was kind of a dream team for me. A shame it didn't work out as hoped, but it was absolutely the right decision for Ferrari, so I have no hard feelings about it. Very glad to have Kimi back and in a competitive car.

Kimi, Webber, Vettel I find to be the most likeable guys on the grid on top of being quite good racing drivers. Kimi's just really unique among the field. A party animal in his off-time yet one of the most calm and gentlemanly racers out there. Webber's a straight-shooter who's always got something funny to say. Vettel's really goofy and seems to really enjoy himself in the paddock. Most of the other drivers tend to be more serious/boring, which isn't necessarily a bad thing if its part of what makes them a great driver, but out of likeability and ability, I tend to put more weight on the former when picking favorites, not that ability isn't important to me.

Kimi
Sauber
If driver leaves team, I am gone as well

Yep, I double checked. Its not 2001 anymore. What u doing?

Edited by Seanspeed, 24 July 2012 - 19:07.

[TFLB]

No driver, Williams, and team over driver. I would have voted Sauber as well because I like them and Williams equally. I wouldn't start supporting a team just because a driver moved there, but if any of my least favourite drivers - Raikkonen, Hamilton and Vettel - ended up driving together at my favoured team, I would find it difficult to support that team.

[spacekid]

I wouldn't start supporting a team just because a driver moved there, but if any of my least favourite drivers - Raikkonen, Hamilton and Vettel - ended up driving together at my favoured team, I would find it difficult to support that team.

I had this problem when Rubens rocked up to Williams, but fortunately it was pretty easy to ignore.

[hello86]

Yep, I double checked. Its not 2001 anymore. What u doing?

This means that I firstly support Kimi but I am also happy if Sauber has a good result (behind Kimi )

Edited by hello86, 24 July 2012 - 19:22.

[discover23]

I was just thinking about a poll.. never done one before - of who people think is the best driver of the past decade and the past two decades. - Favorite driver is a totally different concept.. With some good quality posts on this forum I would assume that the vast majority would try to be as impartial as possible when voting on a best driver poll.

[DrivenF1]

Schumacher
McLaren because they have my second and possibly third favourite drivers
I support drivers over teams always

[Seanspeed]

With some good quality posts on this forum I would assume that the vast majority would try to be as impartial as possible when voting on a best driver poll.

Edited by Seanspeed, 24 July 2012 - 19:23.

[Raifosa]

Kimi & Lewis
Sauber & Williams
drivers over teams

[spacekid]

I was just thinking about a poll.. never done one before - of who people think is the best driver of the past decade and the past two decades. - Favorite driver is a totally different concept.. With some good quality posts on this forum I would assume that the vast majority would try to be as impartial as possible when voting on a best driver poll.

Thing is favourite is purely emotional, while best, although still subjective, can be argued.

For instance my favourite driver is Schumi. He's the only one who's results I actually care about.

But for me Fonzie is clearly the best driver out there at the moment, and I've thought this for years now.

[PoliFanAthic]

I like that so far 4 people say Michael is their favourite (joint leader of something at last!!), but no one likes Mercedes!

I feel like I'm bound to like/support Mercedes if I support Michael. In the end, he's part of that team and his input is shaping it into what it is, at least to some degree.

Then again, once Michael leaves, hard to say where my loyalties will lie.

[Peter Perfect]

To pick only one driver and team...
Button
Williams
Drivers over teams

I don't tend to switch favourite drivers or teams.

[TheNewStig]

We love Kimi!!!!
(And also support Merc)

[as65p]

Anyone who says Lewis Hamilton is not the most popular driver when most of the threads here are dominated by his existence by fans and detractors, must be in denial for voting for anybody else!!!!!!

Well, anyone who counts 'detractors' on a popularity scale must be in need of a dictionary.

[Wingcommander]

Kimi & Marussia.

[Kvothe]

Lewis
McLaren
It depends....

[heineken2008]

Well, anyone who counts 'detractors' on a popularity scale must be in need of a dictionary.

Brilliant . . pretty much sums up LH fans, hahahahahah. GOLD

[tifosiMac]

As far as nice guys go in the paddock, I'd have to say Hamilton, Button and Grosjean. Williams is possibly the most respected team for what they have done as a privateer

[Sakae]

Vettel / Schumacher
Mercedes
I tolerate RBR, respect Sauber, and love Mercedes (German cars really), thus I will always find time to drop in on Merc (or Audi, BMW, and Porche).

Edited by Sakae, 24 July 2012 - 20:05.

[tifosiMac]

Brilliant . . pretty much sums up LH fans, hahahahahah. GOLD

I couldn't see that post until you quoted it but how funny. Just add nah nah nah nah on the end and you have a classy response to your bait.

[joshb]

Vettel
Vettel
Vettel

but still have a soft spot for Schumacher after he was the driver me and my dad supported since I watched F1 in the late 90s

Congratulations to the (at this point) other person who chose the best option!

Edited by joshb, 24 July 2012 - 20:07.

[lambylamby]

Kimi & Marussia.

Marussia, you're a man after my own heart. Although, I'm a Glock fan. :-)

[walkindude]

Schumacher
Ferrari
Team

[Lord_Shaitan]

Grosjean and Lotus.

[SteF1an]

Vettel / Schumacher
Mercedes
I tolerate RBR, respect Sauber, and love Mercedes (German cars really), thus I will always find time to drop in on Merc (or Audi, BMW, and Porche).

This

[Rob]

Heikki and Caterham.

[discover23]

For instance my favourite driver is Schumi. He's the only one who's results I actually care about.
But for me Fonzie is clearly the best driver out there at the moment, and I've thought this for years now.

[velgajski1]

Hamilton
McLaren
Team preference

[choyothe]

I felt you weren't quite clear enough, let me help you:













Kimi, RB and if the driver leaves...

[Seanspeed]

Thanks. It helps when I have somebody more articulate to help me explain things.

[bub]

Kimi (Lewis a close 2nd)

McLaren

Drivers slightly more important to me.

[seltaeb]

Webber
Ferrari
Driver over team.


Favorites of the past 10 years? Rubens/Jenson and Brawn GP .

[KavB]

Kimi and until 2007 my favourite team were McLaren. (Stopped supporting them because of the Alonso and Spygate saga, not because Kimi left)

I respect Force India the most. The way they have progressed since 2008 is impressive. And they never take a driver on solely because of money. They even let Sutil out of a seat in the nicest way possible.

[jeze]

I watched F1 for the first time in 1996 when I was five years old - I immediately fell for the red Ferrari car. I had always asked my parents about what cars things were so I knew that a red fast thing was a Ferrari.

I watched Jerez in 1997 and got upset when my dad told me they had excluded Schumacher from the season. I asked "why was that. He finished second"? That was the moment when I really decided to start watching F1 for real and support Schumacher. So for many years I was just that - a Schumacher fan. I didn't cheer too much when Barrichello won a race, I just wanted Schumacher to win. When he retired he left a void and the one thing that remained was the two red cars and I didn't care much for either Räikkönen or Massa to be perfectly honest. I was the following the team only and cheering both of them on.

When Alonso came to Ferrari and Schumacher signed for Mercedes for the same season the choice was easy. I'd supported Ferrari only for three years and would always continue doing so. The thing is now that Alonso has proved himself to be so good, my manlove for him has grown to such an extent that I see Alonso as an extension of Ferrari and can't imagine him at another team now. I still love and respect Schumacher, but I have to say that since Alonso is driving the red car he is my main man now. As long as Schumacher isn't a direct threat to Ferrari in the championship I'd like to see him beat Rosberg and do alright and I was very happy for him when he got the Valencia podium. But to me I as a Ferrari supporter put my faith in Alonso, and he has delivered all that I hoped for since he signed. I thought he'd be just quicker than Massa - he's done even better than what I thought. I never cared much for Kimi, he was just a driver Ferrari signed to drive for them. Was happy when he won, didn't cry when he left. Alonso on the other hand has really got my affection. Gut feeling tells me that the Tifosi in Italy agree with me. That said, Kimi will always have my respect, and if Ferrari can't win I'd much rather see him do well than someone who hasn't won the title or races with Ferrari.

Edited by jeze, 24 July 2012 - 21:25.

[Absulute]

I do find it odd that people would support a driver over a team.

It's like an Everton fan becoming a Man Utd fan because Rooney went there.

[Markn93]

Lewis/Jenson
Mclaren

Will support JB/LH wherever they go for their careers, but will always support Mclaren (my local team!) and it's drivers. I have a strong affinity for English drivers, always have, since Damon (the first Englishman I remember seeing), untill now.

[ForeverF1]

I watched my first race in **** when I was five years old -

Same here, but they never showed up.

[jeze]

Same here, but they never showed up.;)

Better if I write it in Swedish next time ;)

[MSchumi]

Why don't you do a most hated driver/team. I'd love a topic to bash Räikkönen's arrogance with him being so smug all the time.

[choyothe]

Thanks. It helps when I have somebody more articulate to help me explain things.

Glad I could help.

Why don't you do a most hated driver/team. I'd love a topic to bash Räikkönen's arrogance with him being so smug all the time.

[jeze]

Why don't you do a most hated driver/team. I'd love a topic to bash Räikkönen's arrogance with him being so smug all the time.

Do it yourself, then, buddy boy. I dislike Red Bull a lot, but I can't say I hate anyone. Since I feel Vettel is going to be a Ferrari driver one day I'd be nuts hating him. That I swear in German (not my language) whenever he wins is just because I really can't stand Red Bull doing well

[Silli]

I do find it odd that people would support a driver over a team.

It's like an Everton fan becoming a Man Utd fan because Rooney went there.

I don't think people see F1 as traditional team sport as soccer for example. In F1 majority of the action culminates on the driver performing on the racetrack rather than the team behind it all.

[scheivlak]

I do find it odd that people would support a driver over a team.

It's like an Everton fan becoming a Man Utd fan because Rooney went there.

Why should every sport build on this kind of tribal nonsense?