Opinion Poll: Which Fin is the most talented and why? TIA.

I'd say it's pretty close between Mika and Kimi. When they had cars that were able to compete with the Ferrari, they had some great battles with Michael, especially Mika. I would say Mika, because he came back from a horrible accident that nearly killed him, and became a two times world champion.

 

Kimi of course . I remember reading somewhere that Ron Dennis said that Kimi was the fastest driver he's ever worked with. That included Senna ,Prost, Lauda and Mika.

 

I call BS on this, care to post a link or refer me to the article? Also, would you have this opinion if Kimi hadn't won the title this year?

 

Of the three Mika as he is the driver Michael Schumacher most rated, but Tommi Makkinen surely must be the greatest Finnish driver of all time with 4 WRC titles.

 

Mika















Salo

 

Kimi of course. The man is a driving machine, and when he is in the zone there is no stopping the Iceman.

 

No I don't have a link. It might have been in one of the magazines I read and yes that has been my opinion from the beginning of the season. See post #6.

http://www.ferrarichat.com./forum/showthread.php?t=167431

 

Try post 18, quite possibly the best F-Chat post ever.
http://www.ferrarichat.com./forum/showpost.php?p=137071454&postcount=18

 

Hehe.I remember that one.

 

I don't remember where I read the article, but Ron Dennis did say that to someone in the press.

Mark

 

I wasn't around in the Keke days so I can't really comment on him.

Between Mika and Kimi, it's hard to choose between them on speed. In my opinion, Kimi is stronger mentally and should have more staying power than Mika did. I can't imagine Kimi breaking down and crying after a retirement from a race like Mika did in Monza. Hopfully this will translate into more than just one more WDC.

 

Agreed, Kimi has an incredible steely resolve and takes setbacks in stride better than anyone I'm aware of.

 

Thanks . I knew Kimi was fast but I didn't pay that much attention to him until I read that quote. They even said that from his telemetry, the Mclaren engineers said that he went beyond the limit of his car.

Now depending on my bowel movements perhaps Maxorido will get lucky in the next couple of months and I could come across the magazine where I found that quote.

Until then he should or should not take our words for it. Either way I really don't care.

 

it's not BS. it was a couple of years ago. 2005 i think. i clearly remember Ron saying that.

 

KIMI

 

Mika I could understand him..

I really like both I'am a bigger fan of Mika though.

Kimi may be better overall and he still can go on to become greater..

 

MIKA SALO

A great guy, always smiles and says hi, appreciates the fans, and is very easy to understand. He has a very diverse career - most notably the 1999 German GP (Ferrari made him a substitute when MS broke his leg at Silverstone) when team orders had him give the race which he lead most of to Eddie Irvine - Eddie in turn gave his trophy to Mika. He's driven for Lotus, Tyrrell, Arrows, BAR, Sauber, Toyota and Ferrari. He was 11th in the championship with Sauber. He and Allan McNish went aboard with Toyota for their entry into F1 - Mika was only the 2nd driver to score points on a team's debut in modern times. He drove for PKV Racing in '03 on their Champ Car team - he was the 1st Champ Car rookie since 1993 to earn a podium finish in one of his two starts. In 2003 he ran the 12 Hours of Sebring for the UK based R8 team. His link with Ferrari got him as part of the development program of the MC-12. In 2004 he ran in the FIA-GT series winning 2 races and finished 2nd once. He then teamed up with AF Corse driving the F430 with Jaime Melo finishing 3rd in the Driver Championship and he and Jaime won 8 races in GT2. THEN. . . Guiseppe had him drive when possible for the Risi #62 F430 in ALMS (had he been full time, it may have been a manufacturer win, team win and driver championship last year!) - driving full time with Jaime for Risi in this season's ALMS races, they achieved Manufacturer, Team, Driver Championships in GT2. This had historical significance - first major sportscar win for Ferrari since the NART of so long ago.

Mika is a very determined, fast, winning driver. I really like listening to his radio transmissions while he's driving the 430 - absolutely no nonsense, all business.

Congratulations Mika - well deserved.

Carol

 

I was about to say the same thing, Carol. I worked with him a few years ago when he drove for Toyota F1.

 

When I mentioned Mika Salo below I was kidding.

Here we have 3 Fins who all are World Champions and one guy, who didn't make it in F1 and was soon shown the door again.

Leaving his German GP victory to Eddie was a noble gesture and about the only time he came ever close to being first. Ferrari was grateful for that, but instead of offering a racing seat in F1 gave him a second life in GT racing, where he is doing great.

But let's be realistic here. The picks should be made from the WDCs.