A very controversial question this but who could be considered the greatest driver ever to have raced for Ferrari? Firstly how do we define greatness? On pure statistics it would be MS and of the modern time he would be the greatest but lets for the sake of this confine ourselves to the period in which Mr Ferrari was around. Luada, he turned Ferrari around in the mid 70's and was largely responsible for bring Luca to the fore in the Ferrari organization. Ascari, a hero in his own right and in the same breath Frolian Gonzalez for winning the British GP. However for me there is only one a man who I wasnt fortunate enough to see race but thanks to modern technology I have been able to see videos of him and I havent ever seen driving like this, the way he never ever gave up, always gave 110% even in cars that werent that good to start off with. His car control was awesome and I can honestly say we wont see his likes again, its highly unlikely. In short I was left astonished watching videos of him, amazed at his committment and bravery. His number of wins are high but its the spectacle he provided, he understood what it meant to entertain. I know really feel the mystique of that famous number 27... A particulary good tribute to what was a fantastic driver. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ft706Y5O0VM Another one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjbi8E_3FF8
Michael Schumacher has done more for Ferrari than any other driver IMVHO. Gilles Villaneuave (sp?) did much for the team in his day.
Great videos... very emotional too. GV is the reason why I became a Ferrari fan but in all truth MS is the greatest Ferrari driver due to his accomplishments. In any case GV is still the bravest, most charisamtic F1 driver ever. He would have been a multiple WDC if that day at Zolder would have ben different....
Michael Schumacher " he is statistically the greatest driver the sport has ever seen" therefore has to be the best driver ferrari have ever seen with 5 in a row for ferrari, it really says it all. having said that there were other greats such as Ascari, Lauda, GV
Couldn't you argue that Enzo was the greatest Ferrari driver. He obviously did more for Ferrari than anyone else.
Autoweek-In 1977 Lauda clinches the F1 title at Watkins Glen, then leaves in a huff with the GPs of Canada and Japan still to come. So Ferrari hires Gilles Villeneuve. Why did Lauda leave?
The way I look at it is that Michael Schumacher is the best driver that ever raced for Ferrari (and arguably any team) but That Gilles Villeneuve is the greatest to have ever strapped himself into a Ferrari F1 car. In the second You tube vid posted above I wonder if the brief sight of the red 308 was the one he allegedly drove from Monaco to Maranello in 2 1/2 hours? I wonder how we would have regarded Stefan Bellof in this pathenon? he had signed to drive for Ferrari before his death in a Porsche 956.
Problem is, most folks remember Gilles when he was at his best, which was about 10% of the time. But, we ALL have our favorite drivers, and we ALL remember them when they were at their best, and we don't seem to remember the times they were lumbering along in 10th place. I'd have to vote Schumacher, since his era basically turned the team around, even though it was a lot more people than just 'him' that effected the turnaround.
...well documented that he had his run ins with Enzo and the political powers at the factory and his crew chief. He was fed up and tired of the BS at Ferrari and with Enzo himself. All drivers complained about that so it should be believed to be accurate. For the original Question: MS the best driver for sure. Lauda the best personality for sure, he tells you what he thinks no matter who you are. Ascari probably the bravest of them all racing in a shoebox held together with a string. Villoresi and some others come to mind. Hard to pick. Alboreto had a great personality and love for the sport. Alesi being a true tifosi though certainly not the best driver.
Rubens for lasting as MS's team-mate for so many years. LH needed a Rubens if he was going to win WDC...
..to ever have raced for Ferrari.... Thank you Martin, MENTAL NOTE: no bar bets with you on F1. For me, any amount of arguments can be made to support MS as being the best Ferrari driver ever and all would have validity, but his antics over the years can't make him the most respected. Even though it's one of the questions that will never be answered, I think Gilles might have been as quick as Micheal. Given the hapless cars he had and the fervour with which he drove them, GV should be given consideration. Although I doubt any driver will rival the accrued records MS has with Ferrari, personally I can't envision anyone but GV as typifying the 'greatest' Ferrari driver.
That and being outspoken, and fast and a winning driver and the 2nd richest F1 driver of all times and the coolest party lion there is. Successful in F1 without really trying, I like that. Kimi is getting close though.
Senna was oh so great. But not the absolute greatest. That belongs to Michael, and I would agree with Andreas I think that Eddie probably surpassed James Hunt in greatness when it come to off track atheletics. (Sex is a sport, right?)
