i was at work when i thought came over me in 20 years time what would people think of the current f1 drivers like how people in the future would view them if they all retired at the current moment who would they view view as the best driver in this time era first thread ever so go easy on me
not counting msc as his era was 7-8 years ago really people will look back and see the two youngest double world champions in alonso and vettel. in my opinion these two are the best of this era, drivers like button, raikanon and hamilton really need more than 1 title to be considered great drivers especailly when they drive in one of the fastest cars. if they were to retire today. i would personally give it to alonso as he is the man to dethrone schumacher and challenge for titles in 3 different cars. vettel is however very young and could win many more titles even surpassing schumacher (i belive he is that good), but atm it is alonso for me
It would be great if it was as memorable as say the Senna, Prost, Mansell, Piquet etc. era. Probably not if they all retired now, but with a few more years under their belts they may, *puts on old man hat* "By 'eck..them we're t' days, Back when I was a young 'in, when Vettel, Alonso, Hamilton, Button and were scrapping week in, week art... an' cars were proper cars, not these namby pamby hydrogen prams that er built by boffins. Just look at em... naught but bloody milk floats wi' wings." As for who would be remembered as the greatest. Right now it's a toss up between Vettel and Alonso based on their 2 championships (I'd say it's safe to assume Vettel is making it a back to back). The next few seasons could either change or reinforce that though.
I wouldnt be suprised if in 20 years time that people call Alonso/Hamilton/Vettel the GOAT. Everyone gets more praise after they have retired/been killed. Not seeing the other eras live, I would probably say this may well be the most competitive era yet in terms of drivers all round. One day I will be old and forget everything that happened though.
People will think the same as they do now they will remember their favorite with rose tinted spectacles and dismiss the ones they didn't like, just like they do now nothing will change. You will have to go down several generation before people will be less judgmental don't ask me how many because even now there are argument on who is or was the best, since F1 began. And to be honest it doesn't matter.
I think Vettel, Alonso and Hamilton will definately be remembered as greats. Vettel already has 17 career win despite being only 24, there is another 15 years in him, Alonso has 2 titles (at the moment) and will be remembered as the ma who beat Schumacher in his prime, and Hamilton will be remembered for his all out attacking style, and bravery in poor conditions. You don't need to win titles to be remembered, you just have to stand out. Look at Jean Alesi, only ever won a single race, but we all remember his driving ability, and how much bad luck he suffered (retired whilst leading in about 8 grand prix)
It's hard to say really. I wonder if personal golden eras are based on when you first get hooked on the sport... For me it was the mid 80's through early 90's. There was just something about that era that was special. The cars, the driver, the teams, Murray Walker and James hunt getting in to it... It all seems so perfect looking back on it, even having to trawl teletext for qualifying results or hope Grandstand announced them and then only seeing the top 3. Those were the days.
Its not just about howm many WDC's someone wins that gets them remembered 20 years down teh line. Stirling Moss and Gilles Villenueve to name two obvious examples. It is often what they do on the track that will get remembered as much as the hard results they produce. What will be remembered abotu this era, in the same way as the late eighties, is how many quality drivers, or be it with different styles, were fighting at the front. Alonso, Vettel, Hamilton & Button will be remembered in the same way Senna, Prost, Piquet and Mansell were. Any one who won a title in that era will have worked for it! F1 has not had it so good for a long time.
