I for one like the see the good guys finish first, who do you consider the nicest drivers in F1 ? I of course think that to have the history of wins he has, Schumy appears really down to earth and nice. Also Kimi does.
Michael does a lot of charity work you never hear about. Also DC does a lot of work for children. I once asked a reporter of F1 who has been with the teams for many races. He said the nicest guy of them all was DC.
Heard a story that Michael at last year's USGP went to check out a NASCAR simulation racing game that was open to the general public. He apparently waited on line like everybody else and wasn't even recognized... Very down to earth, as are DC and RB.
Heard the same story, but I believe it was more like the Petty ride where you drive a real car (as opposed to a PC game). BTW: The journalist I spoke to did indeed give JPM a vote. But for something else...
I havent met any of the current drivers but RB seems down to earth. MS as well. I did have the pleasure of meeting Mario one year and he seemed very nice and went out of his way to sign an autograph for a kid. He gets my vote.
Michael may be down-to-earth off the track, but behind the wheel he's a warrior. That's probably a good thing, in the eyes of the sponsors, when contesting a championship in a less than perfect package. But it tends to leave behind the past when auto racing was a gentlemens' sport. Rubino harkens back to the gentlemen's game, when a harsh word about a competitor might mean pistols at dawn. Okay, not really. But there was a time when rank had its responsibilities, as well as privileges. Geez, I'm gettin' old.
I like Michael because he said "bonjurno" to me last month at the Test Day in Maranello and was very nice to autograph my flag and teddy bear! I also saw him take time to spend with a handicapped young boy in a wheel chair at Test Day, a time that child will never forget. I admire the respect he shows his family by keeping them out of the "limelight" - occasionally you see Corina in the pits. I read an article in Autoweek about a stray dog they encountered in Brazil at the GP and he said if the dog is there when it's time to leave, it goes with them so it wouldn't be euthanized. Well, the dog went on the private jet to Germany and lives with his father. My second would be DC. Last year after Saturday's events in Indy, we followed him to his MB and he spent time talking to the small group of us. A gal from Holland was standing next to me and she asked David if she could kiss him, and of course he obliged so I said to him - me too - well, I didn't wash my lips for days! Damn, if the next morning I didn't see her again with her painted red lips and we just looked at each other and laughed! On the track is perhaps a different story! Carol
I not only think that he is a super racer but he is also a super human being. There are many things I can say about this man but one small example will highlight how nice he truely is. As we all know, earlier this year South Asia was a victim of a Tsunami that was probably one of the largest natural disasters in terms of lives claimed ever. Michael had been in the region just before the Tsunami on vacation. After hearing about the Tsunami, he was one of the first persons to react and call up authorities to help financially. But he did more than that. He did not stop by just writing a check. He called up everybody he knew who was in a position to give some monetary support and asked for their help. To a large extent he was single handedly responsible for a big portion of monetary and physical support for the Tsunami aid from Europe. He later on also made a brief visit to the region and tries to keep track of how things are on the ground. The example of the Tsunami relief is just one example. There is so much other charity work he does for orphans and needy childeren it is unbelievable that he finds time for F1. I know we all try and give back to community in our own little way, but Michael believes that he has the responsibility to do a lot of good because of his achievements and opportunities.
I have never met anyone of them but from what I heard and read DC seems to be a very good honest bloke. A friend of mine hosted MS, RB and Jean Todt when there were here in Bangkok and I was told that all of them were very down to earth people. However, I once heard a F1 commentator commented on MS that 'he never bought anyone a cup of coffee' so i had a pretty negative impression of him. But after his huge donation for the Tsunami victims then I really changed my perspective towards him.
Going back to different era, I read that Johnny Dumfries was supposed to be a great guy. I guess you have no choice but to be nice if you are totally outperformed by a teammate such as Senna ! But given Dumfries background people would give him credit for being nice.
Hello there I've visited nearly 100 GPs > Imola 1994 - then I stopped immediately going to GP's. My favourite F-1 drivers: (despite their results) Rene Arnoux (F) a funny guy, warm hearted and a GREAT character, very very friendly Martin Brundle (GB) a great chap, it's always interesting to speak with him - then and now Arturo Merzario (I) gosh ... what a mad guy. He can tell you incredible stories - I like him so much Jan Lammers (NL) very sympatic guy - a great sportsman !! Alessandro Zanardi (I) a big heart for this mum, mum's pasta, racing and his fans ... but also the other way round. current ones: Trulli and M. Webber
Hi Helmut, nice to hear from you again. I bet you have pictures of every driver you just mentioned. I remember them all from the "good ol' turbo days" and earlier. I loved Lammers' lion on the car.
