393 replies to this topic

[Massa]

Raikkonen, Alonso and Hamilton are equal for me. The Raikkonen vs Button ( IIRC ) at Brazil was pure madness.

[BARHonda006]

Raikkonen, Alonso and Hamilton are equal for me. The Raikkonen vs Button ( IIRC ) at Brazil was pure madness.

In what way was it madness?

[MikeV1987]

I'd give it to Raikkonen again this season but then again any of the WC's are all very good at going wheel to wheel, honorable mention to Ricciardo, he has been a fantastic racer this season as well.

Edited by MikeV1987, 20 November 2014 - 13:45.

[rpn453]

That will teach me to read before clicking things. Or probably not.

Same here.  I didn't realize until I started wondering why Ricciardo wasn't getting any love.  Then I noticed Webber on the list.

 

I went with Alonso and Maldonado.  I don't know how I'd order the rest but I think Kimi, Button, Hamilton, and Ricciardo are up there, while I'd put Massa, Perez, Grosjean, and Rosberg near the bottom.

Edited by rpn453, 20 November 2014 - 17:45.

[Button4life]

Best this season are Button, Alonso, Kini and Ricciardo. Worst are Maldonaldo, Perez and Grosjean

[Afterburner]

Same here.  I didn't realize until I started wondering why Ricciardo wasn't getting any love.  Then I noticed Webber on the list.

 

I went with Alonso and Maldonado.  I don't know how I'd order the rest but I think Kimi, Button, Hamilton, and Ricciardo are up there, while I'd put Massa, Perez, Grosjean, and Rosberg near the bottom.

As per last page, I think it may be best to start a new poll, but I thought it was funny how only two people of five-hundred or so gave Ricciardo a chance last year... and they were right.

Edited by Afterburner, 20 November 2014 - 17:59.

[P123]

Best this season are Button, Alonso, Kini and Ricciardo. Worst are Maldonaldo, Perez and Grosjean

I'm trying to think of anything particularly stand-out from Kimi this season, and similarly I don't recall Grosjean having any howlers.

[SlickMick]

Magnussen should be thankful this poll is out of date!

[charly0418]

Perez had 2 biggies this year, Canada and US. So still learning and not there yet

[MJB5990]

As this is about going wheel-to-wheel and not necessarily overtaking, I think the best five are the ones with a WDC (Alonso, Hamilton, Raikkonen, Button, Vettel). I'd probably put them in that order aswell, certainly with Vettel at the bottom although a case could probably be made for mixing up the other four. Ricciardo is also very close behind, along with Bottas and Hulkenberg.

 

At the other end of the scale, going wheel to wheel with Maldonado, Perez or Magnussen would probably make me think twice and although they've looked calmer this year, I'd probably be a little bit hesistant with Massa and Grosjean aswell.

[Disgrace]

Perez had 2 biggies this year, Canada and US. So still learning and not there yet

 

How many seasons do most drivers get a "still learning" pass? Most don't get the four Perez has, and he's yet to take responsibility for either of those incidents. The first step to solving a problem is acknowledging that there is one; until then Perez is not learning anything at all.

[charly0418]

How many seasons do most drivers get a "still learning" pass? Most don't get the four Perez has, and he's yet to take responsibility for either of those incidents. The first step to solving a problem is acknowledging that there is one; until then Perez is not learning anything at all.

 

yup, I didn't like the fact that he didn't admit his mistake in Canada. At least the US one he admitted he did a stupid move

[septerra]

Why isn't Magnussen on the list?

[f1RacingForever]

Hamilton and Alonso are best. Kimi is quite good as well. Button is an underrated overtaker but he can't defend worth a damn. Not sure who the absolute worst is but Perez and Maldonado can be shocking. Massa is also very poor.

[BARHonda006]

Hamilton and Alonso are best. Kimi is quite good as well. Button is an underrated overtaker but he can't defend worth a damn. Not sure who the absolute worst is but Perez and Maldonado can be shocking. Massa is also very poor.

Can't defend? I beg to differ. He's put up as good a fight as anyone against Alonso. Twice this season. Picks his battles wisely.

[f1RacingForever]

Can't defend? I beg to differ. He's put up as good a fight as anyone against Alonso. Twice this season. Picks his battles wisely.

He has a tendency to not defend the inside aggressively enough. This is how Alonso snuck by in Austin with late braking into turn one with little defence from Jenson. I can go on and on with many examples.

[BARHonda006]

Please do....

[SpartanChas]

Button can't defend now?

 

Perez is a difficult one. He can be impressive at times (Monza with Button) and then he's smashing into the back of Sutil like someone having their first go on a Playstation.

Edited by SpartanChas, 20 November 2014 - 19:37.

[Dolph]

I don't know why everyone's saying Kimi all of a sudden. Historically he's always been a bit contact-averse and inclined to get pushed around, now these days he's a touch prone to accidental contact.  Sebi and Lewis are the masters wheel-to-wheel atm, followed by Nando.  I voted Lewis, he can be hard as nails but knows when to give way.  I voted Gutierrez as the worst, though we don't see a lot of him.

 

All of a sudden!?

[Pharazon]

voted Massa as worst...

 

can't remember the last time he actually made a move for position that wasn't tyre deg related..2008 maybe

[lbennie]

dan, fernando & lewis easily top for me.

[Jimisgod]

Massa and Maldonado remain pretty bad. Felipe had some shockers early in the year.

[SR388]

The 20 people who voted for Hamilton as the worst might have a screw loose.

Button is a bit underrated. Canada 2011 and turkey 2010 aside he does a good job.

[hollowstar]

Räikkönen, Alonso and Hamilton are probably the best. Maybe Ricciardo there as well.

Button and Vettel are average.

Maldonado, Sutil, Massa and Rosberg among the worst, for different reasons. Some time ago I would have included Grosjean there but he may no longer deserve that.

[travbrad]

Some time ago I would have included Grosjean there but he may no longer deserve that.

 

Yeah.  His racecraft in 2013 was a big improvement over 2012.  It's a bit hard to judge this season though.  Their car is so slow and unreliable there isn't a lot of passing or defending to do.  That being said Maldonado has still managed to crash plenty.  

[hollowstar]

That being said Maldonado has still managed to crash plenty.

To his credit, he never seems to struggle too much with that. He's very adaptable.

[SWAN]

surprised Kimi got so many votes. I think he's decent but not sure Id put him higher than Vettel...Alonso and Lewis the more robust racers IMO...Danny Ric showing some skills for sure...then Seb and Kimi...then Jenson and Hulk...Filipe is quick but wheel to wheel IMO he is quite average...the rest of the drivers are fairly similar...I admit I didnt see much of younger kimi so perhaps some of these votes are historic...

[Mercedestorque1]

Best

 

Hamilton & Alonso

 

Worst

 

Rosberg & Grojean

[jamesm]

how on earth is Kimi leading this poll?? Sure he is clean but too passive sometimes, no comparision to Alonso and Hamilton although Lewis is clumsey at times.

[hollowstar]

how on earth is Kimi leading this poll??

 

 

He got the most votes. 

[Leprechau]

Kimi leading

 

As always, threads like this are only popularity contests.

 

A lot of Kimi and Lewis fans around and many Perez haters as well

[HammyHamiltonFan]

Best? Hamilton

Worst? Maldonado 

[darkkis]

It's funny how so many people fail to note the date of this thread, and then they jump in, and go nuts about how this and this guy leads.

Edited by darkkis, 21 November 2014 - 08:26.

[Skizo]

I voted Button,because he have very few votes and Maldonado.I think the best in wheel to wheel battle is Alonso/Hamilton/Button/Kimi,but if we add to that the ending,then i think the first 2 guy is better,more aggressive and still clean(on average).After them Vettel and others.+Ricciardo who looks like will be in top3-5 if he continue like this.Maldonado still not learning.This is last years poll,thats why Perez have so much vote,but he still make those mistakes.

 

When the Champions meet on track,we often hear in interviews how they loved it,because even now,in DRS time,they can fight.

[jamesm]

The dates got nothing to do with it because Kimi has never been the best wheel to whee racer. I can think of many barn storming drives, amazing over taking moves from Alonso or lewis but barely anything from Kimi rings a bell, and after Spa 2008, kimi does not deserve to be mentioned in this topic.

 

The best by a country mile would be the driver who has spent the last 5 years qualifying almost midfield, charging to the front, with consistent amazing starts and overtaking moves without any contact, which would be alonso.

Edited by jamesm, 21 November 2014 - 08:32.

[DaddyCool]

The dates got nothing to do with it because Kimi has never been the best wheel to whee racer. I can think of many barn storming drives, amazing over taking moves from Alonso or lewis but barely anything from Kimi rings a bell, and after Spa 2008, kimi does not deserve to be mentioned in this topic.

 

The best by a country mile would be the driver who has spent the last 5 years qualifying almost midfield, charging to the front, with consistent amazing starts and overtaking moves without any contact, which would be alonso.

 

It's a good thing that this poll is about being a clean wheel-to-wheel racer, and not about jawdropping drives or driver mistakes.

[jamesm]

It's a good thing that this poll is about being a clean wheel-to-wheel racer, and not about jawdropping drives or driver mistakes.

 

Alonso is clean.

[Radion]

The dates got nothing to do with it because Kimi has never been the best wheel to whee racer. I can think of many barn storming drives, amazing over taking moves from Alonso or lewis but barely anything from Kimi rings a bell, and after Spa 2008, kimi does not deserve to be mentioned in this topic.

 

The best by a country mile would be the driver who has spent the last 5 years qualifying almost midfield, charging to the front, with consistent amazing starts and overtaking moves without any contact, which would be alonso.

Hamilton wasn't even able not to make contact with others in germany this year.

Edited by Radion, 21 November 2014 - 08:52.

[Jerem]

Räikkönen is not so good at overtaking (he is often seen trailing behind a slower car forever) but for me he's the best wheel-to-wheel. Never leaves more or less space than necesary to the other car, harsh but fair. The videos in one of the first posts are good examples of it. Others are better at overtaking though: Alonso, Hamilton, Ricciardo (Alonso is good especially in opening laps, but there are examples where this aggressivity cost him too). In defending position, I don't think anyone is as good as Räikkönen, Button is probably second best.

 

Regarding the worst wheel-to-wheel racer, I voted Gutierrez because he usually changes line under braking, but then realized Pérez was probably worse - I still remember his overtaking style at McLaren : just dive in and force the other car out since he can't make the corner. Maldonado and Grosjean have improved regarding this (or maybe we have barely seen them in '14 so we don't know some stupid moves they did - last brain fade from Pastor being Bahrein with Gutierrez if I haven't forgotten something). Kmag has done some stupid moves too, same style as Gutierrez.

 

I think Rosberg is not very good wheel-to-wheel either, often defending quite dumbly and not being able to find that extra bit of smartness to surprise his opponent when trying to overtake. This is what may eventually cost him WDC this year, because he wasn't able to resist Lewis when he was in front and to pass him the few times he was faster.

[Leprechau]

The dates got nothing to do with it because Kimi has never been the best wheel to whee racer. I can think of many barn storming drives, amazing over taking moves from Alonso or lewis but barely anything from Kimi rings a bell, and after Spa 2008, kimi does not deserve to be mentioned in this topic.

 

 

 

this.

 

Hamilton had too many clumsy crashs(especially into poor Massa) to be put on the same level as Ricciardo or Alonso, tbh.

 

Maldonado is not great at it, but let's be honest, last time he crashed into someone was in Bahrain(Gutierrez)

 

 

[Imateria]

this.

 

Hamilton had too many clumsy crashs(especially into poor Massa) to be put on the same level as Ricciardo or Alonso, tbh.

 

Maldonado is not great at it, but let's be honest, last time he crashed into someone was in Bahrain(Gutierrez)

 

 

Your going to hold accidents Hamilton had 3 years ago against him, in a year where we all know his head wasn't properly in the game for whatever reason, yet let Maldonado off lightly because his most recent crash was only round 4 of this year (and he collided with someone in Spain at turn 10 on the first lap so your wrong there as well)!

 

For me it's clear that Button, Hamilton and Alonso are top of the class here, Kimi can be on that level as well but there are times when he seems just very passive both in attack and defense and Ricciardo is almost there as well (if he's doing the same thing next year then yes, he's definitely top tier).

 

Worst would be Maldonado and Perez. Both far too aggressive, causing accidents and don't learn from their mistakes.

[Longtimefan]

Voted:

Best: Alonso
Worst: Perez

[MikeV1987]

Button can't defend now?

 

Perez is a difficult one. He can be impressive at times (Monza with Button) and then he's smashing into the back of Sutil like someone having their first go on a Playstation.

He can, he is smart enough to know not to battle with a faster car for too long because it ultimately costs him too much time. it's not just him giving up a position, he's playing the long game. Some people need to pay attention.

 

anyway, I don't know how people don't think Raikkonen isn't great at wheel to wheel either. He's had a lot of exciting moments since his come back alone, some fans just cannot give any credit where it's due. 

Edited by MikeV1987, 21 November 2014 - 14:07.

[polesetter1]

I don't think Hamilton is the best wheel-to-wheel racers. He is very fast but he's not clean in wheel-to-wheel racing. He had contact this year in Germany, he pushed his rival of the track in Bahrain and he tends to do so. He eliminated Bottas in Brazil '13. Maybe crashes with Massa are thing of the past but those things are still in my memory. I thing that LH is somewhere in the middle of the pack in case of clean wheel-to-wheel racing. For me the best drivers in that aspect are Raikkonen,ALonso,  Button and Ricciardo with Bottas from the young drivers.

For me typical poor wheel-to-wheel racers are Webber, Maldonado and Perez.

We have to differ pure speed & ability to overtake from clean racing and making superb fights (which is racing side by side through-out several corners).