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I would dispute the assertion that both Fittipaldi and Andretti were better than Peterson. Fittipaldi certainly had the edge in certain areas at that stage in Peterson’s career but Peterson was still improving. There is also the ‘number one and two driver’ factor at play, Ronnie didn’t always have the same equipment as Andretti and Fittipaldi and was discouraged from challenging them. The frustration with Chapman over this was the reason he left Lotus in the first place. I guess it was another case of the team assuming that he would have his chance later on. Saying Andretti was better than Peterson is a bit like saying Scheckter was better than Villeneuve. Neither Villeneuve or Peterson ever got a proper shot at the title with a top car and a team backing them 100%.
This is mine, my home town with an elevation chart to show how hilly it would be! I reckon there’d be a jump or two!
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=4230469
The section by number 1 would have to be the pit straight, the other side of the dual carriage way could be used.
At point number 5, there is a narrow steep downhill, fast sweeping right over a crest into a sharp left then right in between two steep, brick embankments!
I can’t believe how few mentions Peterson is getting! Peter Colins and Carlos Reuteman were both unlucky not to win WDCs but They weren’t in the same league as Gilles, Stirling and Ronnie.
Anyone mentioning Felipe Massa needs their head examining!
Gilles Villeneuve, Ronnie Peterson and Stirling Moss are three of the top 10 F1 drivers of all time, period. I’d rate all three of them above Hawthorn, Brabham, all three Hills, Jones, Hunt, Fittipaldi, Andretti, Mansel, Jacques Villeneuve, Scheckter, Farina, Hulme for certain as well as probably Hamilton, Alonso, Hakkinen, Vettel, Button, Piquet and Raikkonen.
Von Tripps and Ickx are other honorable mentions as drivers who were plenty good enough to win the WDC but never did. Ickx is the greatest sportscar driver of all time and he drove them in an era when sportscars were faster, more difficult to drive and the races more dangerous than in F1 but Gilles, Ronnie and Stirling are in a class apart.
Chris Amon is the classic, he was considered by his contemporaries to one of the top drivers (his contemporaries being Dan Gurney, Jack Brabham, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart etc!).
Stefan Bellof was one of the all time great talents, he truly was on a par with Senna and Prost in terms of pure speed. He was the best not to win a Grand Prix for me.
Other honorable mentions are Ricardo Rodriguez, Tom Pryce, Vic Elford (who was and still is one of the best all rounders ever seen in 4 wheeled motorsport) and I honestly think of the last 20 or so years, Nico Rosberg is probably the best to have not yet won a race.
