Heidfeld only ended up with more points ... Kimi was the one that looked fast. Again ending up with more points at the end of a year is NOT the main driver telling point. Yep I know it should be, but you are looking for promise and accidents, failures, etc. happen. Qualifying is where it is at really ... but with this stupid single lap ... er, hard to tell anymore. Pete
Nick/Kimi history before F1. Kimi started karting in 98, 3 years later he is in F1 and now he is considered the best driver in F1 today. amazing.. Quick Nick: 1994 F. Ford 1600, Germany, 1° 1995 F. Ford 1800, Germany, 1° / F. Ford, Germany, 2° 1996 F3, Germany, 3° 1997 F3, Germany, 1° 1998 F3000, 2° 1999 F3000, 1° / F1 (McLaren), test driver Kimi: 1998 Karting, Finland, 1° 1999 Karting FA, Finland, 2° / Karting FSuper A, International, 10° 2000 F. Renault, England, 1° As for Nick vs Mark... I find it was more exciting to see NH passing FA than MW passing FA at Monaco. And wasn't at Imola where Nick overtook Mark right after the MS move on JB. Nick's qualifying at the Nurburgring was great also. Pete, I repeat Heidfeld isn't a wimp. Webber seems to be a better qualifier (NH still has his pole position in his pocket, Mark doesn't have one) but often makes mistake during race day. + Mark's race strategy (at the beginning of the year) weren't that good. + He has had some bad starts. But the war between these 2 isn't over.
My memory isn't that good (I didn't watch religiously in 2001)... What were the inspired drives by Kimi?
My memory is vague too, but I do recall being excited about this Kimi guy ... And I'd like to have a look at the results for Nick's racing career ... did he win by being the most consistent OR was he the fastest? Pete
Aside from being superfast, he has uncanny car control (probably learned on the icy back roads of Finland). He showed some of that in at least two episodes (not sure they both happened in 2001 though): He lost it in Suzuka and got his wheels on the grass, yet maintained to pull it off. JPM managed the same, however Massa again at the same spot totally lost it. The other dicy moment was when he held his steering wheel of the Sauber in his hand at Imola. It came loose (mechanic's fault) and he managed to slow the car down to a stop without a major accident.
So in the end regarding Nick, we have to ask 'Why hasn't he got the big drives?' Why have all the team managers either ignored him or reluctantly (yep even Frank) taken him on as a number 2? There has to be a reason ... and from my couch it is this: Remember when RB came on the scene in a Tyrrell (I think) and he actually excited a few (by passing Senna) ... but then his true colours showed through and cruise he did, and straight to a firm number 2 role! Thus yes Nick has pulled off a few moves ... but they are an exception rather than the true Nick. MS and Kimi (for example) look for these opportunities EVERY race ... big difference. Trulli, Fisi, Nick, RB and RS, etc. are all 'let the race come to me' drivers ... MS, Kimi, Montoya and (the old) Webber are 'what can I make out of this race' drivers. Pete
