Top 15 all time Great drivers- statistically

[John S]

I found this statistical comparison of Drivers up to the 2001season, it's interesting to see Fangio heads every single category, is your most favourite driver there?


http://www.f1-grandprix.com/top15.html

[cosworth151]

Great find, John! Since my all-time favorite driver is Fangio, it gives me something else to use in "who's the best" discussions around the bar!

[TheStig]

Great find john.

Hill above Mansell though?

TheStig

[Dare]

Nice one John,a few names I didn't
expect to see there.

I could make a top 15 list and it would change
year to year.I tend to pick my favorite drivers
and leave a few who should be there off

[Steven Roy]

I am surprised Fangio is top of the pole position % list.  I never really think of him as a great qualifier.  I thought Clark would be miles ahead of anyone on that list.

[SennaMan]

these conclusions are very misleading as they do not take into account some very salient historical conditions

juan FANGIO raced when the #1 driver could not only take over his team mate's car at any time but also team orders forbade the #2 from even passing him - ask sir stirling MOSS all about that one!

consequently I view FANGIO with less than rose-tinted glasses while still rating him as probably the very best as he often won the very long GP's of his day [300 miles plus] by huge margins in clearly inferior cars.

However, this also reveals the big  performance margins between the old cars. The top 8 cars/drivers are now exceedingly close. 

it could reasonably be claimed michael SCHUMACHER did not have anywhere near the quality of competitors that e.g.jim CLARK or ayrton SENNA always had to overcome

statistics are really too 'dry' to accurately pinpoint drivers over the past 50 years and the actual site acknowledges that but it is a good guide

one thing that surprised me is how much more modern drivers race than the old guys did

[cosworth151]

Fangio also had the highest points-per-race percentage. This is in spite of the facts that, hrough 1960, a win only scored 8 points, and only the first 5 places scored points.

[Steven Roy]

The thing that astounds me about Fangio's qualifying record is that driver's generally lose the qualifying speed edge as they get older but the championship did not start until he was well into his 30s.  I suppose qualifing had not evolved into the specialista art it became by that time.

[cosworth151]

Fangio won all of his WDC's in his 40's. Imagine what his record would be if he hadn't lost his prime years to the war.

[lkjohnson1950]

I think Clark's % of podiums and average points per start reflect the famous fragility of the Lotuses he drove. Modern driver's make many more starts for two reasons: there are many more races per year to start, and they don't die as frequently in competition.

Lonny

[Steven Roy]

One of the great motor racing statistice is that Clark won 25 races and was only second once.  If the car was good enough and lasted long enough he won.

[SennaMan]

One of the great motor racing statistice is that Clark won 25 races and was only second once.  If the car was good enough and lasted long enough he won.

now that is a great stat and thanks for that SR - I was privileged to see jim when most of the top F1 drivers used to come downunder to NZ and Australia for the TASMAN series. His car control, driving and race-craft set him apart.

Already a legend, he looked so classy he was on another stratospheric level

i was gutted when i heard of his death