Underrated Drives

Alright, time to get away from the who's the best driver threads and the political garbage.

Post some of what you feel are underrated performances from drivers. They can be grand prix's, qualifying, entire seasons, whatever.

I'll go first and in the spirit of civility, I'll start with Lewis Hamilton.

One season of his that isn't talked about enough is 2010. In a year where the Red Bulls were clearly the quicker machines, he was as good as Alonso at keeping up with them. His wins in Canada, Turkey, and Belgium were very compelling.

Had it not been for a tire failure in Spain on the last lap and the teams strategy failure in Australia, he'd have likely beat Vettel to the title in what was a car only as good as the Ferrari that year.

And speaking of Alonso, how on Earth did he get that ****box Ferrari to only miss out on the title by 3 points in 2012? One of the most impressive runner up performances ever. Roman Grojean's stupidity cost us a title, and if he wasn't such a nice guy, I'd hold a grudge against him for it!

What are some of yours?

 

Lewis 2007-2021 .Next....

 

Raikkonen 2012-13 are underrated IMO.

 

"Leave him alone, he knew what he was doing".

Rgds

 

Jean Alesi entire career...not by all, but by many...i would say especially 1990 and 2005 (Suzuka that year was his best race ever) were just amazing....but so where 92 in that ****box.....
Johny Herbert, he was amazing, his debut in Brazil in 89, when he could barely walk, and so many more afterwards...one of my favourite drivers, and probably the biggest british talent for the last 30 years, unfortunately his career was destroyed by a moron who should be driving a lawn mower insted of an f3000....

 

Here we go, the Jean Alesi saga again ...

 

I don't think Alonso's drive in 2012, or any yr he was with Ferrari, are under-rated.

 

Don't like, don't coment on it, you don't seem to get enough of elton, and he's not good enough to whipe Alesi's shoes...

 

Not sure. I’ve read multiple people shockingly downplay it. That was some of the finest driving I’ve ever seen and the end was heartbreaking as a Ferrari fan. I will never not blame Grosjean.

 

I’m going to go with Felipe Massa post-2009…

I give him a ton of credit for returning after a life threatening injury and partnering with Alonso after being paired with Schumacher and Raikkonen. The guy drove with a ton of heart and passion, and is impossible to not like and respect.

 

Yep.
And then, a year to the day after his accident, to be told ''Fernando is faster than you'', is especially painful.

 

And all for nothing in the end, as Alonso still missed out on the title.

 

All "smooth" driving drivers, if you pardon me the pleonasm...

Anybody remembers Tony Brooks? Never, ever the slightest touch of the faintest oversteer.
And yet, this guy started his career by a non-championship race at Syracuse, driving a Connaught (!!!) while studying for his dentist diploma...and beat the whole professional opposition, Ferrari included, and won the first ever Formula One race he was participating to.
In 1958, at the Nürburgring, he overcame being subservent to Moss at the start, and then went to repeat Fangio's legendary drive of the year before and beat the scuderia Ferrari - both cars - fair and square (unfortunately, one of the Ferrari drivers overdid it trying to follow Brooks, and got killed).
Same year, at Monaco qualifications, Brooks beat no other than Stirling Moss, his team-mate, same car, by - sorry for the margin - ONE SECOND AND A HALF.
Mario Andretti once said of Tony Brooks: "That man is the best of the best of the best; period"
Tony Brooks is still alive,by the way.

Rgds

 

Thanks for reminding us what a wonderful driver Tony Brooks was.
Among British drivers of that era, some put him just behind Stirling Moss, but above Mike Hawthorn and Peter Collins.
Brooks retired at only 29, because of family and business commitment.

I found this quote from him that sums up racing at that time:

"Nothing will persuade me there isn't more of a challenge to the driver if he knows he might hurt himself if he goes off."

 

Moss himself spoke very higly of Brooks, he said if he were to choose a team mate it would be him, that he was his fastest adversary!

 

Another driver many dismiss is Didier Pironi. On the year of of his accident he was considered by many the second fastest driver (or at least on the same level as Prost or Piquet). His problem was the fact that he was Gilles team mate who was a lot faster (but that would apply to anyone else). Mauro Forghieri himself said they only realized how good Didier was after Gilles death.
That 1982 championship was his after Gilles was gone, and probably many others after that. He was fast, impulsive but inteligent, and very, very political, i'm sure he would have been one of the gretas, together with Alain, Senna, Piquet and Nigel. That year still conflicts me, one one hand Ferrari lost the title, and Didier deserved it, on the other hand, heis behavior towards Gilles was unecceptable, and Keke was a formidable driver...oh well...

 

Indeed: Stirling Moss once said his "dream team" would be Jim Clark and Tony Brooks. Brooks was really incredible on the most difficult circuits: the old Spa, the Nürburgring, etc...and he was really a class act, both at the wheel and out of the car. A great underrated driver; I really do believe his drive on the Nordschleife in 1958 was exceptional.
Tony Brooks will turn 90 on February 25; I believe he is the "last man standing" from the fifties: the last Grand Prix winner who raced against Fangio, Moss, Brabham, etc...during the fifties.

Rgds