Pondering on why I'd lost interest in Formula 1 some years ago, I reflected that none of the current bunch of drivers (Lewis Hamilton excepted, maybe) have any of the flair of one of the historic "greats" - Gilles Villeneuve. I vividly remember his epic, if ultimately unsuccessful, drive in the 1979 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort and have discovered that a video of the incident is available on You Tube at http://youtube.com/watch?v=cnpf_9bAUu8
Would, could, that ever happen today? ... and would most of the current F1 drivers care?
Enjoy. Andrew.
Andrew is right about Gilles Villeneuve. I remember being at the Silverstone GP when Gilles Villeneuve made his Grand Prix debut in a third McLaren. He had been in to the pits and was a lap down but was circulating right behind the two star McLaren drivers, (Hulme and Revson I think) and matching their pace completely. Even though he was a lap down it was obvious to us spectators that this young man had an exceptional talent that was greater than most other Grand Prix drivers. I think that all grand prix drivers are brilliant drivers but there are a few, like Gilles Villeneuve, who have that something extra; it is so obvious to the spectator that their cars are being driven differently from the rest. Even in a processional race watching those few great drivers using their amazing car control is wonderous to us mere mortal drivers. Roll on 2008 with no traction control. All we need then is an excess of power over grip on corners and an FIA who have some faint inkling of how to control motor racing and Grand Prix viewing may become a Sunday must watch event.
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