31 replies to this topic

[RDM]

It seems to me that F1 drivers are getting younger (then again, policemen all look like teenagers to me these days, so maybe it's just me getting older), but I was wondering if the 2007 grid will feature the youngest ever average age for the drivers. I cannot think of anybody over the age of 30 apart from Coulthard, whereas in the past there always seems to be several in this age bracket.

Any statisticians out there who (can be arsed to look up the stats and) can compare this year with previous years in this regard?

[indian]

Originally posted by RDM
I cannot think of anybody over the age of 30 apart from Coulthard

Don't know for sure, but Barrichello, Webber and Ralf must be somewhere above 30 as well...

[TT6]

Fisi born 1973
Trulli 1974
Wurz 1974
Ralf 1975
Webber 1976
Heidfeld 1977

[K-One]

Webber is 30 years old, but there are rumours that he is older.

[RDM]

Mm, shows how much thought I put into my question!

Ralf: 31
Webber: 30 (officially, but believed to be in his late 50's )
Rubens: 34

[Peri_Piket]

The fact is there is a big gap after the 30 yo guys and the rookies.
Somehow they had lots of problems to stabilish in F1.

Specially considering the top teams, the statement is true:

McLAren:
Alonso 25
Mamilton 20 ?

Renault:
Fisi 34 (next year maybe Piquet 21)
Kovailanen 22 ?

Ferrari:
Kimi 27
Massa 25

Very young people carrying a massive annual investment on their backs.

[schead]

Hamilton is 22, (his birthday is Jan 7th, so he has just turned 22).

Heikki is actually 25.

[Peri_Piket]

Originally posted by schead
Hamilton is 22, (his birthday is Jan 7th, so he has just turned 22).

Heikki is actually 25.

Thanks, my bad.
Anyway, still pretty young people.

[Bluesmoke]

Originally posted by K-One
Webber is 30 years old, but there are rumours that he is older.

Rumor is, he's born in 1973. That makes him 33 at least.

[carbonfibre]

The only thing i know is that this is the 2nd youngest driver pairing that Ferrari has had in their history.

They only had a younger pairing in 1968 with Jacky Ickx and Chris Amon.

[Dudley]

Originally posted by carbonfibre
The only thing i know is that this is the 2nd youngest driver pairing that Ferrari has had in their history.

They only had a younger pairing in 1968 with Jacky Ickx and Chris Amon.

And quite frankly they only had that pairing because they managed to pretty much kill off their entire line up in 1967.

[Haddock]

Originally posted by K-One
Webber is 30 years old, but there are rumours that he is older.

Yes, but would it really be that easy to lie about your age these days? I know Gilles Villeneuve got away with it, but that was some while ago. He would have to have been lying about his age for a very long time.;

[RDM]

Originally posted by Haddock


Yes, but would it really be that easy to lie about your age these days? I know Gilles Villeneuve got away with it, but that was some while ago. He would have to have been lying about his age for a very long time.;

I think it was the fact that Mark Webber claimed to be "minus 5 years old" when he started nursery school that gives it away.

[Jackman]

Originally posted by Bluesmoke
Rumor is, he's born in 1973. That makes him 33 at least.

I've heard that rumour a lot, but there's nothing to it - a mate of mine has known him since he was racing Formula Fords in Australia, and when I asked him about it he said he knew for a fact that Webber's age was real. It probably started because Webber's girlfriend is older than him.

[dutra]

Originally posted by K-One
Webber is 30 years old, but there are rumours that he is older.

I hope so... He would be closer of retirement...

[Peri_Piket]

Maybe he lies because it makes him a bigger wonder.

A driver at 30 being as fast as a driver at 33 means more racecraft - maturity and experience.

Also all that healthy marketing makes him look like he's hiding something. :

[checkonetwo]

i think it´s a bit funny that mclaren have the youngest line up on the grid.

[Peri_Piket]

Originally posted by checkonetwo
i think it´s a bit funny that mclaren have the youngest line up on the grid.

Isn't Toro Rosso (Speed + Liuzzi)?

[HBoss]

Originally posted by RDM
Mm, shows how much thought I put into my question!

Ralf: 31
Webber: 30 (officially, but believed to be in his late 50's )
Rubens: 34

late 50s, lol

[Dudley]

Originally posted by Peri_Piket

Isn't Toro Rosso (Speed + Liuzzi)?

It would be, but right now that's not their line up.

[lukywill]

rosberg is still the youngest f1 driver at 2007.

[giacomo]

Originally posted by Haddock
Yes, but would it really be that easy to lie about your age these days? I know Gilles Villeneuve got away with it, but that was some while ago. He would have to have been lying about his age for a very long time.;

Also Damon Hill pretended for a while to be born in 1962 instead of 1960.

[Jackman]

Originally posted by Jackman
I've heard that rumour a lot, but there's nothing to it - a mate of mine has known him since he was racing Formula Fords in Australia, and when I asked him about it he said he knew for a fact that Webber's age was real. It probably started because Webber's girlfriend is older than him.

[tidytracks]

Originally posted by Dudley


It would be, but right now that's not their line up.

Actually it wouldn't be

Speed turns 24 this week and Liuzzi is 26

Alonso is 25 (turns 26 later in the season) and Hamilton has just turned 22

STR = 50
McLaren = 47 / 48

So McLaren would still be the younger of the two teams

[lukywill]

williams gets the better:

wurz: 38
head: 75

makes 113.

[Peri_Piket]

Originally posted by tidytracks


Actually it wouldn't be

Speed turns 24 this week and Liuzzi is 26

Alonso is 25 (turns 26 later in the season) and Hamilton has just turned 22

STR = 50
McLaren = 47 / 48

So McLaren would still be the younger of the two teams

Yep,
It's Alonsos fault.

The guy conquered 2 WDC when at 25 y.o.
And even though I consider him the most mentally resistant driver after all he passed through 2006.
Alonso Senna also "Doesn't crack under pressure" - the moto of a famous Tag Heuer add with Ayrton, to the newbies.

[Rosemayer]

www.markwebber.com

[Juan Kerr]

Originally posted by Peri_Piket

Yep,
It's Alonsos fault.

The guy conquered 2 WDC when at 25 y.o.
And even though I consider him the most mentally resistant driver after all he passed through 2006.
Alonso Senna also "Doesn't crack under pressure" - the moto of a famous Tag Heuer add with Ayrton, to the newbies.

After all he's been through in 2006 ? Well to be fair Michael could have just as easily beat him but for a few reliability changes here and there. They both did enough to win the championship basically so I suppose I'll give credit to Alonso anyway.

[Riker!]

Originally posted by Jackman
It probably started because Webber's girlfriend is older than him.

Yeah about 20 years older....

[Haddock]

Originally posted by Riker!


Yeah about 20 years older....

Yeah, that's pretty unusual in F1 circles, I should imagine. Hasn't she been his manager since he was, like 16?

[ezequiel]

Originally posted by Haddock


Yes, but would it really be that easy to lie about your age these days?

If you are an African "under-20" football player, yes.

[Fletcher]

Originally posted by giacomo
Also Damon Hill pretended for a while to be born in 1962 instead of 1960.

Roland Ratzenberger did that, too. His year of birth is still wrongly listed in places, e.g. in grandprix.com.