Comments on: Kubica, Schumacher and Hamilton: Why they are ‘the ones who got away’

By: dfdg

dfdg — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 11:30:03 +0000

after 2 years, these came true. except in Hamilton’s case

By: alexf1man

alexf1man — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 06:26:42 +0000

To think that all but the Hamilton one have all come true in 2010!

By: xxxyyy

xxxyyy — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:44:41 +0000

don’t forget about sponsorship and sponsors around F1 world – Formula 1 is bussiness in first place – if you like it or not – that’s one of the reasons why not every talented driver gets into this world.

second – just luck. We shouldn’t underestimate this component on our live. sometimes it just goes for someone, sometimes doesn’t.

third – there can be a difference between your score and real talent you possess. Look at kovalainen – renault last year. does anyone here thinks Kova is deprived of talent? I think not, and he didn’t act well in first half of last season.

forth – as to the kart racing achievements and other formulae – compare Kubica and Piquet jr. – if anybody didn’t know I will just point it (Keith, I think You should update it in Kubica’s CV couse in my opinion it’s one of the most important and splendor achievement for robert – he became the first ever driver who won champ in the best italian gokart league who was not from Italy – and Italian league is the most powerfull in the world. Kubica not only kicked their asses once, but he made it second time also ) That’s why he is so popular in Italy and that’s why a lot of people join him with Ferrari in the near future.

But going back to the topic – what I meant is that somehow it occurs that in formula 1 better gokart drivers have some edge over drivers who were better in “higher” series (compare Kubica – piquet for example). We cannot also forget that the points doesn’t show what really happens on the truck.

And last but not least – I’m realy not convinced at all that there are the best drivers in the world in formula one – some of the guys not in this category are just underestimated and will never have chance to prove their worth, but that’s how it goes and no one will ever change it – when human factor is involved in decision making there will always be mistakes…

Look at your own opinions – If I’d ask you who is the fastest driver in the world there will be a regular war here as in every other forum when discussing such a topic – and that is why there will always be people who hire someone and other people that will say there was someone better to choose…

By: Steven Roy

Steven Roy — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:12:33 +0000

I have just had a look at your site Mary-Ann and now I understand your interest in karting. I keep changing the structure of my article to try and take all the disparate pieces of information and try and make the whole thing coherent. It would be so much easier if they all did the same championships with similar quality teams and with similar budgets.

It will probably take me a week or so to sort out the car records of the drivers I want to cover but I will contact you regardig their karting records and the bits that are not obvious from the stats. Budgets, teams etc.

By: Mary-Ann Horley

Mary-Ann Horley — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:52:25 +0000

@Steven, I think that’s a shame of course but then I would Any information you do want I’m maryann@kartlink.com.

Re: Di Resta & Vettel; I could make the point that Vettel was a European Karting Champion and Paul wasn’t, and although he’s a pretty decent driver I was never convinced he is truly top class.

By: the limit

the limit — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 01:24:34 +0000

The Schumacher/Mercedes marriage would have been very interesting, imagine a German champion in a German car,
pure poetry.
I do believe, although its just my opinion, that Schumacher and Ron Dennis were never going to be ‘good
bedfellows’. We saw this in recent years with Juan Pablo Montoya and infamously with Fernando Alonso.
At the end of the day, Dennis calls the shots.
For Schumacher, Ferrari was the perfect marriage. Ferrari in 1996 were in a terrible mess, complete disaaray, completely different from the modern day team.
Then along comes Michael, complete with Ross Brawn, Rory Bryne, and a host of other magicians.
The success did not come straight away, but lets look at the facts. In 1997, Ferrari missed out on the title by the stubbourness of a Williams sidepod.
In 1998, the McLaren/Hakkinen combination was just a little too strong, but Ferrari and Michael fought the whole way.
By 1999, the ingrediants were in place, to such an extent, that Eddie Irvine came ‘oh’ so close to becoming champion. If not for a broken leg, Schumacher may, just may be now an eight times world champion!
The rest is history, all within the space of four short years. That, despite the joining of Michael to one of Germany’s most beloved automaker’s, would not have been possible at McLaren.
Too many cooks in the kitchen. For Michael to be successfull, he needed to be involved at every level of the team, and to have his opinions listened to.
At McLaren there are the drivers, and those in charge.
Two, starkly different teams with different ways of winning.
Then again, Nigel Mansell was not welcomed into F1 with open arms. Back in 1980, a certain media outlet, suggested that there were ‘more deserving drivers more worthy of an F1 drive than Mansell’. Ouch!
Seven years later, and that overtaking move on Piquet Snr behind him, the ‘blockhead’ had made everybody sit up and take notice.
Not bad for a man whose house was mortgaged to the hilt and up to his eyeballs in debt. How easily the pendulum of fate swings.

By: Sassan

Sassan — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:04:45 +0000

Remember Senna when he tested for williams and brabham in 1983. They let him slip through their fingers. I would of thought Williams would have learnt their lesson by now. Their have been drivers though you don’t want to waste your money on and put lots of faith in then it all goes to waste for example Modena, Serra ETC

What do you think Keith?

By: Keith Collantine

Keith Collantine — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:26:22 +0000

Thanks Steven

Of course you’re more than welcome to contribute to F1 Fanatic should you ever want to: Writing a guest post

By: Steven Roy

Steven Roy — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:18:14 +0000

It is not my site. In fact the current lead article is by someone called Keith Collantine whose stuff is worth reading.

http://www.f1-pitlane.com/

By: Arun

Arun — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:24:51 +0000

Steven, can you give us a link to your blog/website?Looking forward to the article.