WHO IS BRITAIN’S FAVOURITE FORMULA 1 DRIVER?
The word favourite immediately implies a huge degree of subjectivity. And, in motorsport conjecture, subjectivity is never far from the surface.
It is foolish, although not impossible, to compare statistics from different eras of Formula 1. Of course, each era is different and the technologies – not to mention the number of races, the safety and the reliability – mean that shining a light on drivers from a different decade can produce whichever result the observer wants them to.
But choosing a favourite is something that can’t be argued, and it can come from so many places. It can be a driver admired while motorsport was claiming a place in heart of fans, it could be someone who performed against the odds or it could be, even, a racer whose approach was appreciated more than any other.
More than 80,000 votes were cast online when MN tried to unearth who is Britain’s favourite F1 racer since the World championship began at Silverstone in May, 1950. We drew up a shortlist of 50 and put the selection out online to garner opinion. Here, we print the top 25.
Do you agree or disagree? Is your favourite not there? Please let us know: email matt.james@kelsey.co.uk.
THE MN READERS’ COUNTDOWN
25 MARK BLUNDELL
F1 CAREER: 1991-1995 RACES: 61 BEST RESULT: 3 x 3RD
After a decorated and rapid rise through the junior ranks, Barnet-born Blundell went from being a test driver for Williams to join the Brabham team in 1991.
The team with Yamaha power wasn’t the force it once was, but the Brit scored a point. He returned in 1993 for his most successful season in a Ligier-Renault with two podiums before a year at Tyrrell and replacing Nigel Mansell at McLaren in 1995.
24 ROGER WILLIAMSON
F1 CAREER: 1973 RACES: 2 BEST RESULT: DNF
On small things does motorsport history rest. Had Roger Williamson’s manager Tom Wheatcroft, who
