112 replies to this topic

[jeze]

Now that Kimi's gone, and it's 28 years on from Rosberg winning the world title, I think we can have a poll with some hindsight. Is the Finnish racing wonder over now, or will perhpas Bottas or someone else pick off now?

I vote for Mika, who just edges out Kimi based on his remarkable qualifying speed.

Edited by jeze, 17 February 2010 - 18:38.

[santori]

I'm going to take the coward's way out and say that Kimi was slightly more talented, in terms of driving ability, than Mika but that Mika made slightly more of his talent.

[Xaus]

Keke.

[SteF1an]

Kimi, Kimi and... Kimi!

[craftverk]

Keke Rosberg was awesome to watch on the track, something the rest weren't so good at. Mika was still pretty funny though.

Quickest has to be Hakkinen by far, we saw this when he outqualified Senna at Estoril and was only hundredths off of Senna's time in Suzuka, I think Hakkinen was the only one to prove his speed.

Edited by craftverk, 17 February 2010 - 18:50.

[ensign14]

Mika's 99 title surely has to be the best, it stopped someone patently undeserving from winning the crown.

[potmotr]

Hakkinen/Hakkinen/1999

Mika won that last title with an absolutely thumping drive at Suzuka, after a few scares along the way (Hockenheim blow out).

[Brawn BGP 001]

Hakkinen/Keke/Hakkinen '98 (titanic battle with Schumi)

[zarooch]

obviuosly Kimi...

Edited by zarooch, 17 February 2010 - 18:52.

[Victor_RO]

Mika can be considered the best of that lot, in my view, but my personal favorite is Mr. Keijo Erik R. and his never-say-die attitude which eventually led him to success.

[kismet]

Rosberg - Räikkönen - 1982

[potmotr]

JJ Lehto could have gone much further I reckon.

Nice guy, good looks, and didn't get nearly as far as his talent deserved.

[PNSD]

Mika, by a long way IMO.

[santori]

1999 is maybe my favourite season but for me Mika was too erratic that year for it to be my favourite Finnish title. I don't think it compares that well to his 1998 title.




I must admit that I was a Frentzen partisan, though, and my judgement may be a touch coloured by that.

[RodrigoL]

Q1: On paper, it'd have to be Mika.

Q2: This guy:


Q3: 2007, because no one really expected it.

[ivanalesi]

or will perhpas Bottas or someone else pick off now?

Yes.
Also Aaro Vainio, watch out for these 2.

Edited by ivanalesi, 17 February 2010 - 19:48.

[Sammyosammy]

* Kimi - I´m hangin´on a hope the story ain´t over yet.
If it is, then it´s Mika; seconds away from death but two time WDC. And has provided propably the greatest takeover in the history of F1..

* Kimi - can´t help it, kinda like edgy people

* 1998 - cause it was Mika´s first one.

These two are my ultimate favourites among finnish drivers.

But the most focused one, strongest one is our first real pioneer K.Rosberg. The man who taught me to love the sport..

Edited by Sammyosammy, 17 February 2010 - 19:12.

[Sammyosammy]

JJ Lehto could have gone much further I reckon.

Nice guy, good looks, and didn't get nearly as far as his talent deserved.

Never really came back after his neck injury..?

[sir jackie walker]

Häkkinen/Häkkinen/1999

1999 was such an exciting season, and Mika won the title in superb way in Suzuka after so many mishaps both from himself (Imola, Monza), and the team/equipment (e.g. Silverstone, Hockenheim, A1-Ring).

[FlashMaster]

Perfect thread for all those Kimi bashers out there

[ashnathan]

Mika hakkinen x3.

[H0R]

Keke / Keke / Mika

There was never a more spectacular driver than Rosberg. Never ever. And yes, that includes Gilles Villneuve. And he was the coolest cat to grace the Grand Prix circus. Yeah, standing on the rostrum with a fag and a Stetson. No one could pull such things off like Keijo did.
Still Mika was more a low key personality, but an all around nice chap. And he brought back a sense of sportsmanship to the sport that had been forgotten since the days of Graham Hill, Gurney and Clark.

[Touchdown]

I was never as impressed with Hakkinen as a lot of people seem to be. Don't get me wrong, he is an excellent driver, but I always thought Kimi was the better driver of the two, and with more reliable McLarens, the stats would show this as well.

[FonzCam]

Mika/Kimi/Kimi

I have a ton of respect for Mika but was never a huge fan of his (as a die hard Williams fan with a soft spot for Ferrari, back then McLaren were more often then not the 'enemy'). Keke was before my time so doesn't really factor into my favourites (apart from him winning the WDC in a Williams!). Kimi is quite high on the list of my all time favourite drivers so for the two favourites I'll go for him.

[Crazy Ninja]

Hakkinen/Keke/Kimi.

[Rob]

Hakkinen/Hakkinen/1998

Just watch the 1998 Luxembourg Grand Prix at the Nurburgring. Possibly Mika's finest drive.

[Raziel]

Hakkinen/Hakkinen/1998

[TenienteX]

when berger retired mika was my favorite driver of that period.

his spa-move on schumacher, with zonta in between them, was one of the most epic szenes in modern F1.

[VAR1016]

Keke Rosberg all the way.

Remember that stunning Silverstone lap in qualifying? ANd then he went out again even quicker just for the hell of it. And he smoked! Hurrah

[DaleCooper]

Best: Hakkkinen (just shades Kimi - he cared more)

Favourite: Rosberg - He was cool with charisma, Kimi was just cool. Hak had a clever sense of humour. Rosberg was also the most spectacular and exciting to watch, but a lot of that had to do with the era he drove in

Favourite championship would have to be 1982 - Rosberg was not expected to win it against the turbos, but he did. A great competitive season. Mika won in easily the best car, and had his wobbles. Kimi's championship epitomizes his career: sometimes he makes it look so easy, sometimes you wonder if he is even in the race. Hamilton gave it to him because he lacked maturity.


Cooper

[Ellios]

Mika Häkkinen/Mika Häkkinen/1999

To achieve what he did after 1995 Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide is nothing short of remarkable, plus I loved watching him drift an F1 car!

Edited by Ellios, 17 February 2010 - 21:39.

[William Hunt]

For me Keke because he was such an aggressive and exciting driver to watch. He also never had the best car in the field. Williams did not have a good car when Keke won his title; sure he was helped by the misfortune of Ferrari that year but the Williams was not a great car, it was a midfield car but he did win the title with it.

Edited by William Hunt, 17 February 2010 - 21:41.

[se7en_24]

Perfect thread for all those Kimi bashers out there

Please try to keep the thread on topic.

[glorius&victorius]

hmmm... if I think of the numerous engine failures Kimi suffered... I'd say Kimi..

[ensign14]

OK, who voted for Mikko Kozarowitsky and when did they allow computers into asyla?

[Raelene]

I'm going to take the coward's way out and say that Kimi was slightly more talented, in terms of driving ability, than Mika but that Mika made slightly more of his talent.

that's exactly how I feel

[fullthrottle]

OK, who voted for Mikko Kozarowitsky and when did they allow computers into asyla?

[BlackCat]

Kimi / Mika Salo / Keke
but have to confess in real life have seen only Kinnunen.

[gerry nassar]

Hakkinen/Hakkinen/1998

Just watch the 1998 Luxembourg Grand Prix at the Nurburgring. Possibly Mika's finest drive.

I'd say it was his finest. The look in Schumacher's face said it all!

[Buttoneer]

Keke. Porn just hasn't been the same since



Why is he actually fixing the refrigerator?

[Mekola]

I voted Hakkinen, specially his '98 season fight against Schumi makes him the greatest Finn.

[F1Johnny]

Mika Mika & Mika 1998.

He is my all time favourite.

[Lewis]

I'm going to take the coward's way out and say that Kimi was slightly more talented, in terms of driving ability, than Mika but that Mika made slightly more of his talent.

Which Mika?









I was always impressed with Salo, but is it correct that he never got the change to drive for a topteam?
Kimi and Hakkinen were the best I guess.

Edited by Lewis, 18 February 2010 - 01:19.

[nordschleife]

I was always impressed with Salo, but is it correct that he never got the change to drive for a topteam?

6 races for Ferrari in 99 substituting for Schumacher. Had to give a sure win at Hockenheim to Ferrari's then best hope for the title, Eddie Irvine. So, yeah, he delivered.

Now, about those choices:

Greatest: I want to say Keke but he was embarrassed by Prost. I'm willing to say Hakkinen but did he ever take anything that wasn't his to lose? I can agree with Kimi but only because of what I presume he would have achieved with a reliable McLaren. I can't put forward a case which I can defend for a particular one being inarguably greater than the rest.

Favourite: Keke. It's not even close. In fact, he's pretty close to Gilles in my book.

Favourite title: Rosberg's 1982 run was the best possible outcome to a horrible but fascinating year. However he was nowhere near the peak of his powers.
The tension in Hakkinen's title years was whether he would lose what he clearly ought to win. Nothing epic about that.
Needing Massa to hand over the win in order to beat rookie Hamilton? That's an unworthy way for a talent like Kimi to become champion.
I choose, if you will indulge me, the years 1986 and 1987 which, if he had stayed at Williams-Honda, Keke Rosberg would have swept in dominant fashion. So there.

Edited by nordschleife, 18 February 2010 - 02:00.

[Anssi]

Mika Häkkinen/Mika Häkkinen/1999

To achieve what he did after 1995 Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide is nothing short of remarkable, plus I loved watching him drift an F1 car!

I've been left with a somewhat of a trauma caused by a newspaper front cover having Mika's bloody head shown. Blood coming from his ears, mouth and nose. Eyes wide open. It's clear he's not knowing what is going on. It brings tears into my eyes just to think of that. I wish the newspaper would have left that out.

The most exciting F1 qualifications I've seen were those in which Mika drove the red and white McLaren absolutely on the limit! I can't see such driving in qualifying any more - I wonder what happened to F1 or to the drivers.

[Mauseri]

Keke was good and he opened the door, but I think this one is going to be a difficult choice between Mika and Kimi. I think Kimi is maybe better all rounder, better in the wet, better in hopeless positions, and more raw talent, but Mika was able to focus harder and at his best drive qualifying laps one after another in the race. As a F1 champion I'd say Mika is greater, because has was able to change championships to his advantage on the decisive moment on the race track and he didn't lose one bit the hunger having won the championship. I'm not saying that Kimi gave up after he won, but his behaviour changed to someone who had already accomplished his mission. I think Kimi is more talented as a driver, and he has already proven this in rallying.

For the favorite personality and favorite championship I still vote Kimi.

Edited by Bianchimont, 18 February 2010 - 02:07.

[ch103]

Keke was good and he opened the door, but I think this one is going to be a difficult choice between Mika and Kimi. I think Kimi is maybe better all rounder, better in the wet, better in hopeless positions, and more raw talent, but Mika was able to focus harder and at his best drive qualifying laps one after another in the race. As a F1 champion I'd say Mika is greater, because has was able to change championships to his advantage on the decisive moment on the race track and he didn't lose one bit the hunger having won the championship. I'm not saying that Kimi gave up after he won, but his behaviour changed to someone who had already accomplished his mission. I think Kimi is more talented as a driver, and he has already proven this in rallying.

For the favorite personality and favorite championship I still vote Kimi.

Its hard to pic one Finn really out of the choices discussed.....

The bigger question is where would Kimi, Hakk, and Rosberg end up in the alltime F1 lists?

Would all three be in the top 15 -20?

[CSquared]

The most exciting F1 qualifications I've seen were those in which Mika drove the red and white McLaren absolutely on the limit! I can't see such driving in qualifying any more - I wonder what happened to F1 or to the drivers.

Possibly the most exciting lap I've ever seen in person was Mika qualifying at Indy 2001. Cars were flashing by all day at 160 mph. You can't really tell the difference between a good lap and a bad one where the car's doing "only" 158 mph. But here came Mika screaming down the back straight, impossibly late on the brakes, and flicked it into the corner and disappeared. My friend and I looked at each other with dropped jaws. "F---! That's gonna be a fast lap!" A few seconds later his number went to the top of the board. Schumi later got the pole, but he just didn't look as visibly fast, as impossibly on the limit as Mika.

[intelligentsia]

Keke was good and he opened the door, but I think this one is going to be a difficult choice between Mika and Kimi. I think Kimi is maybe better all rounder, better in the wet, better in hopeless positions, and more raw talent, but Mika was able to focus harder and at his best drive qualifying laps one after another in the race. As a F1 champion I'd say Mika is greater, because has was able to change championships to his advantage on the decisive moment on the race track and he didn't lose one bit the hunger having won the championship. I'm not saying that Kimi gave up after he won, but his behaviour changed to someone who had already accomplished his mission. I think Kimi is more talented as a driver, and he has already proven this in rallying.

For the favorite personality and favorite championship I still vote Kimi.

Yep, I have to agree I think Kimi was or is the most talented and better driver, but Mika perhaps applied himself a bit better.

[Atreiu]

Hakkinen, Kimi, 1998.