This started as a comment on a thread just after Monaco, so got swept up and lost a little, so I thought I'd try it again. Which era, or specific season, do you think had the highest quality of drivers? How would you rank the current crop of Vettel, Webber, Hamilton, Button, Alonso, Massa, Rosberg and Schumacher, any real talents for the future you see on the grid now? Personally, I think the grid around 92-94 was quite special in terms of drivers: Senna, Hill, Coulthard, Mansell, Schumacher, Hakkinen, Alesi, Berger, Prost and Patrese all raced over that period. What does everyone else think?
I can only go by what I remember, and the mid 80's for me were the halcyon days of F1, but I'm sure those who watched the likes of G hill, Stewart, Clark, G Villeneuve, Lauda, Piquet, Brabham, McLaren et al will probably have a different view, and the even older ones may throw Ascari, Moss & Fangio into the mix (ErnieB, I'm looking at you)
I wish there was a way to tell, but unfortunately there ain't What you can say for definite though, is that the drivers of the past had balls of steel. Driving at over 150 mph with no seat belts and a leather hat instead of a helmet takes a sort of courage that I'm not sure gets exhibited in today's F1.
I think all eras were great. Usually, we tend to favor the era in which our favorite driver drove; but I think, even when Schumacher and Ferrari were unbeatable, it was a good era and had great drivers.
I think they'd still drive the same, but Vettel, Hamilton, Webber and Schumacher would've had shorter life spans me thinks. The real bravey comes from racing after one of your friends has just been cut in half or burned to death a couple of days before. I think they were all insane adrenalin junkies to be honest.
Well Ascari is a bit before my time I do remember him but have no clear recollection until late 60s, but for me there are several drivers who stand out, Moss, Clark, Stewart, Rindt,----------Prost, Senna, and Mansell if only for his work rate-----------Montoya------------Vettel, Button, Hamilton, -------------with Hamilton and Clarke drawing top spot for outright car control, and there you have it. 4 Brits 2 Scot's 1 Columbian 1 Brazilian 1 German 1 Austrian 1 Frenchman
