109 replies to this topic

[V8 Fireworks]

Most F1 drivers manage to come across as a right nutter at some time or another (e.g., Pastor Maldonado.....).

 

So! Which F1 drivers manage(d) to maintain the reputation of a true, proper, fair & sporting gentleman?     

 

Heikki Kovalainen?

 

Damon Hill?

 

David Coulthard?

 

....?

[chunder27]

Stlrling I would say

[Imateria]

Stlrling I would say

That was my first choice as well, particularly given '58 season final.

[garoidb]

Elio de Angelis, perhaps.

[Bloggsworth]

John Watson and Bruno Giacomelli were so polite, if both had ever arrived at the same door at the same time, they would still be there now saying "After you..."

[William Hunt]

of the current field for sure Jenson Button

otherwise: Graham Hill

Edited by William Hunt, 11 September 2014 - 22:15.

[JimiKart]

Mika, he knew how to win and lose with grace...

[Risil]

Of the current bunch Raikkonen races very fairly but it would be a big stretch to ascribe any gentlemanliness to him. More like a contempt for the idea that any driver could be unsure of his own godliness to the extent that they'd push a so-called competitor off the road. So I'll go for Button.

 

Kamui Kobayashi and Romain Grosjean also strike me as lovely people, with incredible reserves of guts and mental strength.

[scheivlak]

There have been several threads about this like http://forums.autosp.../?hl=+gentleman

 

Names that come up: Tony Brooks, Phil Hill, Graham Hill, Jim Clark, Francois Cevert, Elio de Angelis, Mika Hakkinen, Jenson Button

[Lord Snooty]

Peter Collins.

[hollowstar]

Mika for sure. 

[gruntguru]

This thread belongs in TNF.  James Hunt?

[rasimmo]

gruntguru is right, but the answer is Jim Clark.

[LukeM]

Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Stirling Moss

[Jimisgod]

Prince Bira?

[darkkis]

Mika Häkkinen absolutely.

[Zoony]

7th Marquess of Bute

[DampMongoose]

Based on the way Stirling speaks of him, I'd say Fangio. 

[tifosiMac]

Stirling Moss and Graham Hill stick out in my mind.

[taran]

Are we talking about gentlemanly manners? Or gentlemen drivers, e.g. drivers using their own (family) money to race cars....

 

If the latter, I guess Chilton would qualify...

[Jyrjo]

I would vote for Button from the current active drivers.. Otherwise the nod would go to Häkkinen. (of the later years) 

[The Passenger]

I would vote for Button from the current active drivers.. Otherwise the nod would go to Häkkinen. (of the later years) 

Agreed.  Button from the current drivers, and Häkkinen from those drivers I've watched in the past.

[snakestone]

Talking about behavior on the track? 

Or the image in paddock ? 

[Tourgott]

Another vote for Button and Häkkinen.

[Raest]

Mika, Button, D. Hill. Can't say for older drivers as I know them only by reputation. 

[GoldenColt]

Jochen Rindt, Mika Hakkinen, Jenson Button.

[baddog]

Most F1 drivers manage to come across as a right nutter at some time or another (e.g., Pastor Maldonado.....).

 

So! Which F1 drivers manage(d) to maintain the reputation of a true, proper, fair & sporting gentleman?     

 

Damon Hill?

 

David Coulthard?

 

 

 

Ahahah no

[sportingcp]

Pastor Maldonado.

 

More seriously of the current grid probably Jenson Button, Romain Grosjean and Kamui Kobayashi.

Edited by sportingcp, 12 September 2014 - 10:04.

[The Passenger]

Damon Hill and David Coulthard were a bit critical of their opponent, Michael Schumacher, to count as gentlemen racers.  And I say that as their fan.

[jimjimjeroo]

Panis!

[Amphicar]

Jo Bonnier, Piers Courage, Tom Pryce, David Purley

[GoldenColt]

Wasn't Hill the one blocking Schumacher during the Japanese GP 1997 when being lapped and then letting Frentzen through straightaway to give him a chance for the win? He did pull a few of those stunts during his career so I can't see why anyone would see him as a gentleman racer. More like a sore loser.

[Waffle]

Jo Bonnier, Piers Courage, Tom Pryce, David Purley

Yes.  David Purley.  Just for this:

 

[Warning: The video below contains graphic, heartbreaking footage of a fatal accident - SophieB]

 

Edited by SophieB, 16 September 2014 - 09:36.

[Spillage]

Yes. David Purley. Just for this:

https://www.youtube....h?v=VGtW9UgjeVI

Worth pointing out for those unaware that the above video contains a fatal accident and some very harrowing footage indeed.

In response to the question and sticking exclusively to current drivers, I think it's interesting how several of the drivers who are cleanest wheel-to-wheel - Alonso, Button, Vettel - are also the most likely to whinge about opponents. Just going by the track, I think the fairest guys are the five world champions and Ricciardo, possibly Hulkenberg as well. But whether they're gentlemanly, well, not knowing them away from the track I can't answer that.

EDIT: I also think Massa's very fair, just a bit clumsy sometimes. What he said after Brazil 2008 was really fantastic. I also remember Schumacher shaking the hand of each of his mechanics just after his engine failure in Suzuka 2006. In both cases, they're not especially popular outside their teams but nobody who worked with them has a bad word to say about them.

Edited by Spillage, 12 September 2014 - 10:56.

[Kimble]

Alain Prost

[hollowstar]

Pastor Maldonado.

More seriously of the current grid probably Jenson Button, Romain Grosjean and Kamui Kobayashi.

Definitely not Romain Grosjean. The guy was unable to acknowledge his own mistakes. Even after Spa 2012.

[thiscocks]

Michael Schumacher

[Radion]

Most F1 drivers manage to come across as a right nutter at some time or another (e.g., Pastor Maldonado.....).

 

So! Which F1 drivers manage(d) to maintain the reputation of a true, proper, fair & sporting gentleman?     

 

Heikki Kovalainen?

 

Damon Hill?

 

David Coulthard?

 

....?

on or off-track?

[Morbus]

gruntguru is right, but the answer is Jim Clark.

If that is true, it means the best ever F1 driver EVER, was also the most gentlemanly.

 

Props.

[bub]

I'll also say Chilton out of the current bunch.

[solochamp07]

In my opinion, from my own viewing experiences and by my own personal definition of the term (a driver who gives his/her all, eschews dubious on-track behavior and exhibits respect for the sport, its history and his rivals):

 

Past drivers:

• Gilles Villeneuve
• Gerhard Berger
• Olivier Panis
• Justin Wilson
• Allan McNish
• Heinz Herald Frentzen (EJ notwithstanding)

 

Current Drivers:

• Daniel Ricciardo (surprised nobody's mentioned him yet, he's currently the poster boy for this title, IMO)
• Valtteri Bottas 
• Jenson Button

 

 

[Zava]

could somebody explain the "gentlemanliness" of Button to me? I see him mentioned in every second post, but I just don't get it. what is so gentleman-ish about him, apart from being a Brit and once trying to (and failing in   ) growinga 'stache.

[andrewr]

Until Suzuka 1989, Alain had this in the bag.

[InSearchOfThe]

It begins and ends with Jim Clark.

[snakestone]

could somebody explain the "gentlemanliness" of Button to me? I see him mentioned in every second post, but I just don't get it. what is so gentleman-ish about him, apart from being a Brit and once trying to (and failing in   ) growinga 'stache.

He looks good in Boss suits 

[Nonesuch]

Wasn't Hill the one blocking Schumacher during the Japanese GP 1997 when being lapped and then letting Frentzen through straightaway to give him a chance for the win?

 

It's possible, but that might have been Villeneuve. He was racing, but it wasn't known at the time if he could actually score points (Williams had appealed a penalty). That resulted in a race full of team-based slow-down tactics, and while it wasn't pretty - it was quite interesting how it played out.

Edited by Nonesuch, 12 September 2014 - 14:13.

[GoldenColt]

It's possible, but that might have been Villeneuve. He was racing, but it wasn't known at the time if he could actually score points (Williams had appealed a penalty). That resulted in a race full of team-based slow-down tactics, and while it wasn't pretty - it was quite interesting how it played out.

 

Nope, it was Hill indeed.

 

 

[MikeTekRacing]

Wasn't Hill the one blocking Schumacher during the Japanese GP 1997 when being lapped and then letting Frentzen through straightaway to give him a chance for the win? He did pull a few of those stunts during his career so I can't see why anyone would see him as a gentleman racer. More like a sore loser.

he also has the canada 3 blocks move on Schumacher

[MikeV1987]

I was going to say Raikkonen, because he's one of the cleanest racers on the grid. but i think button would be a better choice since kimi isn't much of a gentleman 

[superden]

All wrong. Jack Brabham, by a country mile.