35 replies to this topic

[just me again]

Don't know if we have a thread for this! But it is nice to see Vettel recite F1 world champions.

At least some(one?) of the current F1 drivers are interested in F1 history :-)

https://twitter.com/...9405716492?s=19

[Collombin]

Yes, refreshing to see.

I remember Donald Davidson loving the fact that Scott Brayton could recite all the back to back Indy pole winners. It's just rare to find any drivers very much interested in the history of the sport.

"I don't know if Ferrari have ever had a 1-2 before"

"So why didn't you do 100 GPs, Jackie?"

Though having watched it, it does look like he has just learnt the list parrot fashion rather than actually knowing too much about it!

Edited by Collombin, 10 August 2021 - 09:04.

[just me again]

I do think Vettel has a history of showing interest for the history of the sport.

[pete53]

Excellent and good to see. I'm okay up until about 1997 and then struggle with the order.

[Grayson]

Here's the whole grid having a go (you won't be surprised to learn that Vettel won by quite a lot but second place surprised me!)

 

My friend challenged me in the pub the other day - I managed to get it right back to 1994 but thought that Mansell had won in 1993.

 

My friend had only told me that Vettel managed the whole thing, so when I watched the video I was happier to see that I got the same score as Hamilton, Alonso and Mick Schumacher!

[arttidesco]

Better than me I managed '54 to '86 without looking it up ;-)

[absinthedude]

My standard boot up sequence is to recite (in my head) the list from Farina to Hamilton.

 

I was aware Vettel took an interest in the history of the sport but that's still quite impressive. I like him more and more as a person and really would like to share a pint with him. Maybe he'd appreciate my vast collection of old races on various moving picture formats.

 

Was quite impressed with Max and George too. 

[ensign14]

That was quite funny.  Norris and Ricciardo ("Seeeeproooomansell?") desperately trying to generate clues from the interviewer's body language.

 

Kimi: I won 2006 or so. 

 

Latifi looks like he's about to deliver a powerpoint about marketing stainless steel kitchen sinks or something.

[absinthedude]

What is interesting to note is how many of the drivers know nothing before they started racing themselves. 

[ensign14]

And Norris had a great last line.  Watching Ricciardo was like watching a drowning man try to climb Niagara.

[absinthedude]

Stroll....."2021 me...2022 me..."

 

 

And all of them "Lewis, Lewis, Lewis"....like they're getting bored. 

 

Poignant to hear Mick say "my dad, my dad, my dad". 

[davidbuckden]

This aspect of Vettel is one of the things that have made me very supportive of him despite the ups/downs of late. In contrast, it does appear that many other drivers have little appreciation of the history, and that's something that makes them seem quite superficial to an oldie like me. I'd be very happy to see Vettel make a fifth appearance in that list some time soon - so let's hope that someone at Aston Martin has come up with a demon tweek for next year's car!

[KWSN - DSM]

Why are we supposed to find this anything of note?

[JoBo]

I knew that he was/is much interested in the history of F1. But I find it quite remarkable that he could resite all F1-Champions from now on backwards up to the very beginning. I think no other of the current drivers could do that. But I think this is normal. Ask a novice pilot which was the first jetplane...(no, it was nothing from the UK! )

Edited by JoBo, 10 August 2021 - 12:44.

[Nigel Beresford]

Why are we supposed to find this anything of note?

 

 

I suppose because people don't expect modern drivers to have a knowledge or interest in racing history. Tell that to Dario Franchitti. Of course, there are as many variations in level of interest as there are drivers, and an ability to name previous champions is of less than negligible importance in their professional life - drivers are like porn stars... they have to have the ability to do one thing on demand. Anything else is of little or no relevance. 

 

Personally, I can recite all the indy 500 winners since 1960 and all the World Champions since 1950. Clever old me. 

Edited by Nigel Beresford, 10 August 2021 - 13:08.

[PayasYouRace]

In my experience, most jobs don’t require you to be an enthusiast, especially for history.

I’ve worked in the helicopter engineering world for years now, and very few can identify early helicopters. It’s just the nature of things.

I’ve always admired Seb’s interest in F1 beyond driving the car. I had that list down when I was 10 years old (a race programme had the list in it), but I wouldn’t dare criticise or belittle anyone who is interested/involved in the sport that doesn’t.

[absinthedude]

Working in education for 22 years I wish people had a sense of history....in order to understand where we are now and the direction we're going....it's good to have some knowledge of how we got here. It explains why things are the way they are, especially where they are far from perfect or even ideal.

 

With racing drivers, I would assume they began by being interested in motor sport. I guess it still amazes me that people who are interested, don't research the history of the sport. Which is how we get people in the RC forum saying something that happened in 2005 is "the worst evaaah" because they have no concept that the sport actually existed before then. It's heartening to see that several drivers on today's grid clearly know well the WDC's from years before they became involved...while it is disappointing to see that some don't seem interested at all. It's all part of the impression a driver gives as a human being. 

 

For all his troubles on the track, for which I have criticised him at times, Seb seems a well rounded guy with a keen interest in F1 history and several outside interests not related to motorsport at all. Out of everyone on the grid, I'd pick him to enjoy a pint with. 

[ensign14]

I'm guessing Seb will be one of those who would be happy to rock up to GFoS to have a punt in a 250F or P2.  Alonso too.  Hamilton eventually, it's difficult to appreciate the gargantuan level of attention he draws.

[Dave Ware]

I can recite most of it.  The Prost and Senna years are cloudy for me.   Perhaps that's the time I stopped paying so much attention. 

 

I wish all the drivers, and most of the fans, cared more about the history of the sport.  Some things are done not because they are exciting or fun, but because it's tradition.  I shake my head when I read those kids complaining about how boring Monaco is, and even more so when Sir Lewis moans about being so terribly bored there. 

 

Well.  There are reasons we are all here at TNF. 

[PlatenGlass]

What is interesting to note is how many of the drivers know nothing before they started racing themselves. 

The fact that a single mistake knocked them out means it doesn't say very much. Just a bit of fun.

[Collombin]

The fact that a single mistake knocked them out means it doesn't say very much. Just a bit of fun.

That happened to Henry Hope-Frost when he was on You Bet, and he knew everything. Admittedly his challenge was a bit tougher than just naming the champions though, his was naming individual GP winners (driver/car/engine) from a random selection.

[PlatenGlass]

That happened to Henry Hope-Frost when he was on You Bet, and he knew everything. Admittedly his challenge was a bit tougher than just naming the champions though, his was naming individual GP winners (driver/car/engine) from a random selection.

And here it is: 

[PayasYouRace]

Here's the whole grid having a go (you won't be surprised to learn that Vettel won by quite a lot but second place surprised me!)

 

My friend challenged me in the pub the other day - I managed to get it right back to 1994 but thought that Mansell had won in 1993.

 

My friend had only told me that Vettel managed the whole thing, so when I watched the video I was happier to see that I got the same score as Hamilton, Alonso and Mick Schumacher!

I enjoyed that, and pleased that so many of them got so far.

[Michael Ferner]

Well, they did better than me naming today's grid... Different blokes'n'strokes, that's all.

Edited by Michael Ferner, 10 August 2021 - 20:29.

[AJCee]

I wonder if all followers of sport today had a keen eye for their sport’s history whether they would accept some of the things thrown before them as progress? I suppose football, which I once keenly followed but no longer care for, is also a prime example?
In an age where the Hungaroring is regarded as a ‘classic’ track I readily admit that I surely fall in the old fogey category and yes, I would struggle to name everyone who ever drove for Toro Rosso, but I could probably recite the podium of every race in 1979….

I like Sebastian Vettel too, he seems a really nice bloke and interesting to listen to.

[absinthedude]

I wonder if all followers of sport today had a keen eye for their sport’s history whether they would accept some of the things thrown before them as progress? I suppose football, which I once keenly followed but no longer care for, is also a prime example?
In an age where the Hungaroring is regarded as a ‘classic’ track I readily admit that I surely fall in the old fogey category and yes, I would struggle to name everyone who ever drove for Toro Rosso, but I could probably recite the podium of every race in 1979….

I like Sebastian Vettel too, he seems a really nice bloke and interesting to listen to.

 

The number of times I have had to inform younger people, at least people younger than me, that we lost the old Zandvoort in favour of the Hungaroring and that the "Neuburgring" was a huge disappointment when it first appeared in F1 such that it disappeared for nearly a decade. By the time it returned, it almost seemed a good track. THe Hungaroring has, oddly, grown on me. Having driven it in Geoff Crammond's first two computer games, I appreciate it's a fun and technical track which is satisfying to "get right". The extension to the main straight has generated at least one genuine overtaking opportunity. But full length Zandvoort, it is not.

 

I always hope that people who get into something like a sport will research it's history....but perhaps that's the geek in me. Lando Norris appeared pretty much clueless about those in who's footsteps he hopes to follow. The others, even Mazepin who strikes me as rather disagreeable, made mistakes which were "in the ballpark". And as someone pointed out above, one mistake and a driver was out. I would imagine Max and possibly George, Lewis and Mick are aware that names such as Jim Clark and Graham Hill won in the 60s even if they cannot recite the exact details. 

[Collombin]

THe Hungaroring has, oddly, grown on me. Having driven it in Geoff Crammond's first two computer games

His first racing game preceded Hungaroring. Revs only had Silverstone and Brands Hatch but was still wonderful because of the realism of the tracks: for the first time we had a racing game where the tracks had inclines - not just up, but down as well.

[SamoanAttorney]

Vettel has always been interested in the historical side of Formula 1.

 

A few years back he acquired a special piece of art on this very topic:

 

https://www.grandpri...f-f1-champions/

 

I saw some of the pieces before the sale, very impressive, though completely out of my price range.

 

Subsequently, Sutton and Dickens produced another piece of art, this time on Ferrari.

 

https://www.grandpri...on-and-dickens/

 

Bernie bought that at the beginning of this year.

[TennisUK]

Well done Seb. I can do the same, and even recite the top 6 at every race from 1988 until 1994 (when I think I had a memory like a sponge for useless trivia) - frequently the catalyst for quite a bit of eye rolling from my wife.

[Derwent Motorsport]

Just out of interest, not having time to look at it, who came second or did well?

[absinthedude]

His first racing game preceded Hungaroring. Revs only had Silverstone and Brands Hatch but was still wonderful because of the realism of the tracks: for the first time we had a racing game where the tracks had inclines - not just up, but down as well.

 

Quite so...I remember it well. Only had a Spectrum myself (indeed I still do) but the school BBC Micros were often commandeered for the playing of Revs.... I should have clarified that I meant his first two Microprose Grand Prix games on the PC. Slap my wrists for posting before my first cup of tea!

 

I used to have a sponge memory and at one time could probably challenge Henry Hope-Frost in reciting the winners of individual grands prix. Sadly I have developed something of a sieve. I suspect my memory is somewhat full of facts of dubious usefulness. However the list of WDC is something I can always recite, and usually do in my head every morning. 

[Tim Murray]

Just out of interest, not having time to look at it, who came second or did well?

No-one else came anywhere near Seb’s score of all 71 champions. Max Verstappen was second with 38, and George Russell third with 34. Lowest score was Yuki Tsunoda with 2.

[ensign14]

In part that was because a) they were going backwards (I found it easier going forwards) and b) one mistake meant you were out, so there was no chance to get 70 out of 71 unless the one you forgot was Farina.

[Alan Baker]

I used to be able to do this....... around 1970.

[Arjan de Roos]

In case you missed it, Seb is also a great car mechanic:

[SKL]

Seb has always been one of my favourites, for many reasons.  He can speak English better than most Americans (plus 4 other languages) and has a great sense of humour, and to tell jokes not in his native language and do it well.  Out of all drivers, he and Dario would probably be the most interesting to just sit and chat with about the history of the sport we all love...