Is it raw speed? The defining statistics? Their personality? Determination whatever the cost? Talent? Or even in what era their successes were achieved? What is it that defines a “great” champion?
Over the past 65 contested Formula One championships there have been 32 different winners of the greatest prize in Motorsport. Not all of them have been easy to achieve, nor have many come without some sort of controversial moment that defines that driver or season in which it was won.
Statistics are one way of looking at who is greatest of all. If we were to use this measure, Michael Schumacher would be the man who stands out; 91 wins, 68 pole positions and seven world titles. It’s safe to say that he is the most successful man to have competed in the sport, but he certainly came with his controversial moments.
In Adelaide in 1994, where he and Damon Hill collided fighting for the title, or Jerez in 1997, where he took himself and Jacques Villeneuve off the track and into the gravel, guaranteeing himself the world championship; he was disqualified from the championship for this move. But does this still make him a great champion?
Kimi Raikkonen won the title at the final race in Brazil in 2007. The McLarens of Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton had been fighting all season long and when Lewis’ gearbox malfunctioned for 30 seconds, causing him to slow down with Fernando out of the running, Kimi won the race to sneak the title away from the McLaren drivers by one point, but does his manner in winning the title matter differ from that of any other driver?
If we used Raw Speed and determination to win, a lot of people could pick out Ayrton Senna as the man who most fits that profile. 41 wins, 65 pole positions and three titles, he may not have statistics on his side, but no one forgets his identity in the sport. His wet weather skills were legendary; the way he could dance the car around a track on its very limit of capability was amazing. Despite all his talent, it always felt like there was a controversial moment awaiting him. While a team-mate of fellow champion Alain Prost at McLaren, controversy was what was served up every time.
In 1989, Senna went for a move up the inside of Prost into the triangle chicane at Suzuka, and Prost shut the door. They collided, Prost was out, but Senna managed to keep going to win the race, but was later disqualified for skipping the chicane. Was this the right decision? The following year at Suzuka, again after more controversy over where the pole position grid slot would be on the grid, Senna dived up the inside at turn one, taking both he and Prost out in spectacular style, but many believe he did it on purpose. Despite being the idol of millions around the world, does this still make Senna a great champion?
Jackie Stewart won three titles, but he was and still is a pioneer of safety in the sport. He was one of the fastest drivers in his day, but with poor safety standards in the early days of the sport, is Stewart’s standing as a champion any different from those of a modern day driver?
The Argentine, Juan Manuel Fangio took five titles in the 1950s, in a day where hay bales were the barriers and fireproof clothing had never been heard of. Is he a great champion because of his achievements in a time where an accident could kill a driver and many spectators standing at the side of track?
John Surtees is the only man to have won a title in Formula One and in Motorcycling’s top category. At the time, he was fast on everything he drove in his era. Does this bear weight on his status as a great champion?
It goes to show that many drivers have won the illustrious title in many different ways over the years. However, does any of their success have an effect on their standing on who is a great champion? That’s the subjective matter.
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