Yeah, the Buzzin Hornets are playing tonight! Let's check 'em out and have a Budweiser.... ...or a Red Bull if you're on the wagen!
No, I am saying 2 things.... one, that F1 has gotten more competitive with each decade. It's more competitive today than it was in 1990, and more in 1990 than in 1970, etc. Second, I don't discount Fangio, Stewart, Senna, Clark or any of them. MS is just their better - by a huge margin.
In terms of physical strength there is no doubt that today's drivers are vastly superior. But we can't know how fast they'd be in the older machines. Not to be maudlin, but how many of today's drivers would hang it all out if they knew that they wouldn't be walking away from an accident?
From the standpoint of balls, I agree - it took a lot more balls to drive all out during the old days up to about Jackie Stewarts days. More talent today by far, more balls back then by far. I'd argue balls don't make you a good driver, just crazy
Today's training, nutrition, vitamins etc. have made the driver's better. In a way the drivers are just as technically improved as the cars are so they're faster as well. That they have more natural talent and motivation is unlikely.
That is certainly true for the cars, technology and teams, but I doubt it made the drivers any more competitive than they already were. Tell that to the Fangios, Sifferts, Clarks, Brabhams, Fittipaldis, Stewarts, Laudas, etc.. I think you're simply dead wrong on this point.
I'm curious as to how long you've been watching F1? I don't know about you, but I'd have to say that F1 was way more competitive in the 80's than it was in the early 2000 and late 90's even. The MS years from 2000 to 05 were so horribly boring and not competitive at all. And no freaking way in hell MS was better than Senna, Stewart, or Fangio by any margin. Gordon Murray once rated MS's talent level at around that of Nelson Piquet's
MS learned from Piquet... Piquet learned from Lauda... Test, test, test, to get to know the car and speed its development. When racing, stack up podium points instead of risking the car on an unlikely victory. There is no shame in finishing second. Piquet got 7x 2nds in 87 and gained the WDC early as a result... Have a subservient #2 driver whenever possible that will not divert resources from the best driver with a shot at the championship (the driver with WDC's on their resume...) What distinguished Michael's was the total dream team around him that when allied to the continuity they enjoyed, meant that EACH YEAR they were able to refine, where other teams were still developing chemistry in different areas of their teams due to key personnel changes... This is a key factor in the success that often is not given it's due. Frank
Absolutely right, this is the key to success. A "friendly" relationship with the FIA certainly helped as well, until people finally got sick of the same guy winning over and over. This also doesn't mean that the guy doing all the winning is the best ever. He's had an awful lot of help.
