87 replies to this topic

[OO7]

Defo getting better than motogp lol

You must have missed Mugello.

[stewie]

Best ever? Good god no, Canada 2011 was better for one.

[Spillage]

It kicked ass. I used to think that some circuits just produced better racing than others and while that may be true, recent races like Bahrain 2014 and Valencia/Abu Dhabi 2012 has shown that a classic can spring out of nowhere and at any time. I am very much enjoying the season so far 

[charly0418]

Bahrain was better I think. This one was interesting because of the Merc failures and the tires

[Atreiu]

The million dollar question remains, which is THE best race ever?

 

I'll go for Interlagos 2008.

[Kingshark]

The million dollar question remains, which is THE best race ever?

 

I'll go for Interlagos 2008.

 

That race was only exciting because of the championship prospect. In that respect, it has an unfair advantage over non-championship deciding races.

 

If Interlagos 2008 had happened at the start or in the middle of the season, no one would have remembered that race. Absolutely nothing memorable happened outside of the title fight.

Edited by Kingshark, 08 June 2014 - 23:54.

[Jimisgod]

Suzuka 2005? Today was pretty close.

[Alfisti]

Good race but not close to being best ever.

The current rules by random throw these casinos, but overall they limit stuff too much and lock in the early season standings. And mostly result in boring races, today was lucky instance with the technical problems, otherwise it wouldnt been even close.

 

And did you hear Buttons interview with Vilander? He seemed to imply that old drivers who have been aroud also enjoyed old all out formula more but it is what it is.

 

Still watch it and enjoy it, but it is not what it used to be.

 

Random exciting shuffles like today help ofcourse but noway close to best race ever. Feels too artificial (and i guess really oldschool fans will call the same stuff since the start of my "golden era" but still this is my honest opinion)

 

What are you gibbering??? In the old days reliability played a huge part in great races.

[SR388]

A lot of prisoners of the moment in here. It was a very good race and the fans got a great show.

[George Costanza]

It was a brilliant race with a lot of action, perhaps best since Brasil 2012. But one of the best ever is German Grand prix of 2000. Rubens first win.

[George Costanza]

I am surprised at lack of votes for Japan 2000 or 2005.

[Eff One 2002]

I wouldn't go that far, but yeah it was an awesome race and an awesome result, Dan Ricciardo's first win makes him only the 4th Aussie ever to win a Grand Prix so that was great to see. Rosberg did very well also to salvage 2nd place given his mechanical difficulties. A lot of drama and excitement. Great to see.  

[Andrew Hope]

It was good that an Australian won, but presumably no better than if anyone from anywhere else had won it instead.

[Radoye]

- Silly avoidable crashes? Check!

- Desperate passing attempts?

- Full course yellows? Check!

- Unpredictable results? Check!

- Exciting close racing? Check!

- Strategical blunders? Check!

- Stewarding controversies?  Check!

- Best race ever? Nah, just like your average IndyCar race!

[Dunc]

You can't have a best-ever race IMHO, it all depends on what you value in a race.  Personally, my favourite is Canada 2011 but many dislike it because of Button's collisions with Alonso and/or Hamilton, the fact it went on so long and/or they don't like Button.  It's all individual.

 

To some people a great race is one where one driver completely dominates.

[Jejking]

Best non-WDC race: Suzuka 2005 / Canada 2011 / Canada 2014. Though the edition of 2010 deserves a note of attention as well!

Best WDC deciding race: Interlagos 2008. Without a doubt. Suzuka 2000 a close second.

[OO7]

Defo getting better than motogp lol

Did watch the MotoGP race in Barcelona?

[sopa]

You can't have a best-ever race IMHO, it all depends on what you value in a race.  Personally, my favourite is Canada 2011 but many dislike it because of Button's collisions with Alonso and/or Hamilton, the fact it went on so long and/or they don't like Button.  It's all individual.

 

To some people a great race is one where one driver completely dominates.

 

Yep. Donington 1993, Barcelona 1996, Hungary 1997 are often considered great races, largely because we had one driver dominating these.

[superden]

Races that are gripping from start to finish are rare beasts. Very few fit into that category.

 

Best race ever? BTCC, Silverstone, 1992. The man's an animal! In fact, any race from the 1992 BTCC season.

Edited by superden, 17 June 2014 - 15:52.

[chunder27]

World Supersport from Assen in about 2006, about 8 riers all passing and repassing each other.

 

British Superport in 2011 when Richards won it on his way back to the pits after crashign and Kennedy blowing up.

 

But I reckon BSB 2011 qwith Hopkins and Tommy Hill, possibly the greatest few laps of bike racing you will ever see, and the biggest cahunas of any two blokes. They reallyshould have both won the championship.

[bourbon]

Suzuka 2005 is the definitive all time greatest race ever for me.

 

Brazil 2012 a very close second.  But that is very outcome based and due to the significant hardships Vettel had to overcome during the race. 

 

Races are kind of like songs for me, different ones become favorites for a time.  There are certainly other great races.

Edited by bourbon, 17 June 2014 - 16:24.

[superden]

For me, there hasn't been an F1 race since Spa 2000 that could be classed as an all time great, though there have been some fantastic races/individual performances.

 

It is however, an entirely subjective matter and I can see how many, especially younger, forum users would argue otherwise.

[Ferrari_F1_fan_2001]

Most exciting for me personally was Suzuka 1998. Even though Mika won it, Michael Schumacher's storming drive through the field from 22nd to 3rd (at the time) in an era of no DRS, KERS, ERS and all the other fakery, it was epic to watch. It was then that I had a new hero.

[Henri Greuter]

Yep. Donington 1993, Barcelona 1996, Hungary 1997 are often considered great races, largely because we had one driver dominating these.

 

For me the best race is probably either Monaco, Jarama or Canada 1981.

I am biased since I am a Gilles fan but even if I didn't like him, I still find it impossible to believe that he won two races on a twisty track that on paper didn't suit a turbocharged car, let alone the disastrous Ferrari 126CK. And Canada, finishing on the podium with that same car in a race with pooring rain and a front wing gone also defies believe for me.

 

If I am not permitted to select a Villeneuve event, Jarama 1996 and Estoril 1986. I am not a fan of either of the two winning drivers that day, (In one case, I still get upset when thinking about him and his tactics) but these were brilliant races.

Title deciding races: Estoril 1984 when Lauda had to climb through the field and just made it,

 

 

To proclaim Canada 2014 as the best ever proves one thing for me: How dull and predictable racing has become in recent years that some out here get excited because of a different winner who largely owes that success to the mishap of what normally are by far the best cars in the field.

 

Henri

Edited by Henri Greuter, 17 June 2014 - 17:01.

[Exb]

Whilst Canada 2014 was very good its not on my 'best ever' list - however there are usually 2 or 3 stand out races a season and  it would be similar to those (the fact we have already had 2 'stand out' races this year I think bolds well for this season)

 

I have quite a short time frame to judge the races from (even though its now my 12th year of following F1, compared to lots of people on here I'm still an F1 newbie). I have seen a lot of races from before 2003 (and probably the better ones) thanks to BBC and Sky showing classic races but its not quite the same as seeing them live so when it comes to choosing my favourite race I will stick to races from 2003 onwards. (and I have to say the first one I saw was a cracker - Brazil  and almost makes my shortlist). I also find that as I learn more about the sport and understand it better, I appreciate what I'm watching more, I'm sure if I went back and relived the 2003/04/05 and even 06 seasons I would enjoy them a whole lot more now than I did at the time.

 

So my 'best race ever' is Canada 2011  For me it was just perfect (even the red flag just added to the tension and built up the excitement)

Japan 2005 as well is up there along with Brazil 2012, which was a great race even before the added title deciding factor.

(When I look at my top 3 4 I do wonder if my bias as a McLaren fan is showing a bit )

 

Brazil 2008 is an odd one for me, the reason its not in my top 3 and only 4th is I barely remember any of the race before the final 6 laps (but what a final 6 laps they were) although I definitely did not enjoy them at the time - it was absolute agony, I don't think I've ever screamed and swore at the tv as much during a race (or ever) as I did then . (I hate to think what my neighbours were thinking  I'm usually so polite and quiet )

Edited by Exb, 17 June 2014 - 21:34.

[scheivlak]

 

 

To proclaim Canada 2014 as the best ever proves one thing for me: How dull and predictable racing has become in recent years that some out here get excited because of a different winner who largely owes that success to the mishap of what normally are by far the best cars in the field.

 

Henri

While I certainly don't think it's the greatest race ever I enjoyed it quite a lot - that had nothing whatsoever to do with the result and I don't think many people who enjoyed it did that because of the outcome and the eventual winner. If anything, the formidable performance of Nico Rosberg in such a wounded car even added to the quality of the event. It was great fun because it was a real thriller and you could know only in the final stages who would be the winner of this all.

[MetallurgicalHedonist]

Yep. Donington 1993, Barcelona 1996, Hungary 1997 are often considered great races, largely because we had one driver dominating these.

As Jo Ramirez said, "it was not a race anymore". Maybe Jarama and Monaco 1981 were one of the best. From recent time (meaning from the new millenium) Suzuka 2005.

And speaking of Donington: BTCC in 1998 when Mansell was guest driver! I mean, what the?

[Henri Greuter]

As Jo Ramirez said, "it was not a race anymore". Maybe Jarama and Monaco 1981 were one of the best. From recent time (meaning from the new millenium) Suzuka 2005.

And speaking of Donington: BTCC in 1998 when Mansell was guest driver! I mean, what theIt is interesting

 

I have always had a lot of respect for Senna's own comments about Donington that he owed that race to being one of only a few drivers in the starting field in a car with traction control, unlike Estoril 1986 when nobody in the field had it and everyone just had to make do with the amount of HPs in their cars (remember, 1.5 liter turbocharged engines with on/off power outputs)

Given the fact that in principle the entire field was much more equal then at Donington, a good and honest comment by Senna.

Donington is way too overrated if it comes to comparing the winner with the ones he beat that day.

And even the winner himself said so.

 

Henri

[Spaceframe]

If every race were like that, then none of them would be special.  Compare e.g. crucial goals in football with crucial baskets in basketball.  You can think of hundreds of the former, but none of the latter.

I can actually think of one crucial basket in basketball - at the 1972 Olympics the US and the Sovjet Union played each other, and the US led 50-49. They thought they'd won, but te referee decreed three seconds still to play. And those three seconds were enough for the Sovjet team to score another basket for a 51-50 win.

 

42 years ago, and I still remember - which actually supports your point, although "none of the latter", should perhaps have been "one of the latter".

[PayasYouRace]

For me the best race is probably either Monaco, Jarama or Canada 1981.

I am biased since I am a Gilles fan but even if I didn't like him, I still find it impossible to believe that he won two races on a twisty track that on paper didn't suit a turbocharged car, let alone the disastrous Ferrari 126CK. And Canada, finishing on the podium with that same car in a race with pooring rain and a front wing gone also defies believe for me.

 

If I am not permitted to select a Villeneuve event, Jarama 1996 and Estoril 1986. I am not a fan of either of the two winning drivers that day, (In one case, I still get upset when thinking about him and his tactics) but these were brilliant races.

Title deciding races: Estoril 1984 when Lauda had to climb through the field and just made it,

 

 

To proclaim Canada 2014 as the best ever proves one thing for me: How dull and predictable racing has become in recent years that some out here get excited because of a different winner who largely owes that success to the mishap of what normally are by far the best cars in the field.

 

Henri

 

Re: Jarama 1996. Trying to work out if you got the date or the location wrong.

 

Though I must point out that Jarama 1981 was a driver benefitting from the retirement of a much more dominant car in front of him too.

[ensign14]

I can actually think of one crucial basket in basketball - at the 1972 Olympics the US and the Sovjet Union played each other, and the US led 50-49. They thought they'd won, but te referee decreed three seconds still to play. And those three seconds were enough for the Sovjet team to score another basket for a 51-50 win.

 

42 years ago, and I still remember - which actually supports your point, although "none of the latter", should perhaps have been "one of the latter".

 

And even then it's not the basket itself that brings it back, but the controversy surrounding. 

[Atreiu]

Istanbul 2006 or Mugello 2009, MotoGP, obviously.

Barcelona 2009 was also insane until the last corner. And Mugello 2006.

Edited by Atreiu, 18 June 2014 - 14:03.

[DampMongoose]

Just a mention for Monza 1971, the last race before the chicanes were added.  Fastest average speed Grand Prix for 30 odd years, top 4 covered by 2 tenths of a second and Ganley in 5th at 0.6, closest winning margin in F1 history at 0.01, plus the novelty that any of the 5 drivers in with a shout on the last lap had never won an F1 race up to that time. Gethin taking his only championship F1 win (and podium) from 11th on the grid despite being 4th with one lap remaining...

 

 

That's a real race isn't it?

[Henri Greuter]

Re: Jarama 1996. Trying to work out if you got the date or the location wrong.

 

Though I must point out that Jarama 1981 was a driver benefitting from the retirement of a much more dominant car in front of him too.

 

 

May fault, I meant Barcelona 1996, MS first ever Ferarri victory in the poring rain, with misfiring engine and all

Sorry.

 

 

In fact, Monaco was pretty much the same, same driver too....

But even then, given the car involved, even second place behind Jones on both occasions should have been a near miracle already.

 

 

Henri

[discover23]

British GP 2003 has to be up there.

[PayasYouRace]

May fault, I meant Barcelona 1996, MS first ever Ferarri victory in the poring rain, with misfiring engine and all

Sorry.

 

 

In fact, Monaco was pretty much the same, same driver too....

But even then, given the car involved, even second place behind Jones on both occasions should have been a near miracle already.

 

 

Henri

 

Ah. Well I don't know if Barcelona 1996 can really be considered a great race, though it was a magnificent drive from Michael.

[Spaceframe]

Just a mention for Monza 1971, the last race before the chicanes were added.  Fastest average speed Grand Prix for 30 odd years, top 4 covered by 2 tenths of a second and Ganley in 5th at 0.6, closest winning margin in F1 history at 0.01, plus the novelty that any of the 5 drivers in with a shout on the last lap had never won an F1 race up to that time. Gethin taking his only championship F1 win (and podium) from 11th on the grid despite being 4th with one lap remaining...

 

 

That's a real race isn't it?

It certainly was - as was to be expected at Monza before the chicanes broke the tow...

 

Monza 1969 was fine as well - I have footage of the final lap with the Matras of Stewart and Beltoise fighting with Rindt's Lotus and McLaren's McLaren. For once Murray Walker's trademark entusiasm was completely spot on!

 

And Monza 1967 - Clark losing a full lap, catching the leaders, unlapping himself and catching the leaders and overtaking them once more, only for his fuel pump to fail to pick up the last drops, leaving Surtees and Brabham  to battle for the line....

 

And it wasn't just Monza that gave great racing on a regular basis. In 1971 there also was a fine duel between Stewart and Ickx at Montjuich, between Ickx and Rodriguez in the rain at Zandvoort (another circuit which produced many very fine races) and between Stewart and Ronnie Peterson at Mosport.

[Henri Greuter]

Ah. Well I don't know if Barcelona 1996 can really be considered a great race, though it was a magnificent drive from Michael.

 

I got to say, thinking your comment over, that's indeed true. I have seen more exciting races then Barcelona '96 but I've rarely see such an awesome display by a winner, the more while the '96 Ferrari was not a good car at all and MS had to deal with a misfiring engine too.

 

Henri