Which Driver most impressed you in 2010?

[Giblet]

This is why I'd love to see a series like BMW Procar return. Let the drivers duke it out for 10-15 laps on Friday or Saturday in equal and fun machinery.

It would create great exposure for whatever car company into it, and would draw more fans to the track on the less busy Friday and Saturday.

[noname]

Difficult choice but, ultimately, I gave my vote to Kubica (probably being a Pole helps in making the choice).

Ok, he can play hard and put the things on the edge, however it stays within the limits (at least from my point of view). I think it would be hard to neglect his influence on the Renault this year, as well as his commitment and devotion (sometimes I think obsession would be a better word) to racing. In recent years he was criticized (also here) for complaining on his (white and blue than) team and not being able to be a team player (in contrary to Nick who never allow himself for being disappointed of what the team has done). I knew I will repeat myself (sorry !) but I do think it was Robert, not BMW, who knows what the sport is all about.

I agree he's not the one who creates sparks often, but his consistency on the track, ability to extract every ounce of performance from the machine, and using his brain like not many others earns him my respect.

[wesley123]

It was a tie for me between Kubica & Alonso. Voted for Kubica. For those claiming it is Petrov- with all respect, F1 isn't driving school, not driving into the wall shouldn't be considered an achievement.

Uhh, i am pretty sure the title is 'which driver most impressed you in 2010' and not 'Who was the best driver in 2010' therefore Petrov is imo an pretty worthy contender. Afterall he came in only by the 15 million from his father and with that everybody expected a driver a la Rosset, He pretty much proved everyone wrong and showed that he is worthy for formula 1.

He outperformed 'the great Kubica' multiple times and on raw pace was really close matched to Kubica. On the end of the season he simply drove without any mistakes and could keep up the pace.

Also ironic that you call Alonso who 'impressed you most' and then call Petrov bad while Petrov held up Alonso for 40 laps in the last race.

Sure Alonso impressed me too, but not in a good way haha, he showed he is an crying baby that isnt a real racer afterall that made alot mistakes too. Let me name Belgium where he crashed in the wall by his own mistake, let me name Valencia where 'it was unfair' that Hamilton passed the safety car and got a drive through(while the rules clearly state that you get that penalty).

Also he has shown he cannot even overtake his own teammate who isnt the best blocker, to be clear, massa cant do it for ---(he simply left the door open for Hamilton in Germany 2008 for example) and Alonso couldnt pass him without team orders, wow great racer you are, also he couldnt pass Petrov who you call bad.

Most impressive, Alonso vs. Petrov, in what way did Alonso impress I am asking you right now, for me it is pretty clear.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

The way Alonso came back after being 70 odd points behind is the most impressive thing of the year.
He did have help though with Red bull killing themselves and Hamilton making some uncharacteristic errors.
Best drive for me was Kobayashi in Japan, and Kubica around Monaco. but thos are individual achievments at single race events.
The way Alonso strung his results together shows you the guys class.

[segedunum]

What kinda poll is this anyway, where is MS?

Now that would just be cruel.

[xpensive]

What do you mean seg, could you imagine a "Which team principal impressed you most in 2010?" poll without RB to vote for?

[Blackout]

How can a driver outperform his F1 car ? that's nosense...

[Giblet]

When a driver outperforms, it's not to be taken literally, like he was getting %110, it just means that he was able to extract more then expected by the team and the general population of F1. Alonso putting the Minardi in unexpected places.

[xpensive]

How can a driver outperform his F1 car ? that's nosense...

If alive, Ronnie Peterson and Gilles Villeneuve might have a story or two to tell, as could Keke, Senna and MS I'm certain.

[Donuts]

He outperformed 'the great Kubica' multiple times and on raw pace was really close matched to Kubica. On the end of the season he simply drove without any mistakes and could keep up the pace.

Statistics Robert Kubica vs. Vitaly Petrov(only qualifying sessions with both drivers active, just to be kind to the latter driver mentioned):

Bahrain Q2 1.54.963 - 1.56. 619
Australia Q1 1.25.588 - 1.26.095
Malaysia Q2 1.46.951 - 1.48.760
China Q2 1.35.550 - 1.36.311
Spain Q2 1.21.599 - 1.22.139
Monaco Q2 1.14.549 - 1.15.576
Turkey Q3 1.27.039 - 1.27.430
Canada Q2 1.15.682 - 1.16.844
Europe Q3 1.38.137 - 1.38.523
Great Britain Q2 1.31.344 - 1.31.796
Germany Q2 1.14.835 - 1.15.307
Hungary Q3 1.21.328 - 1.21.229
Belgium -
Italy Q2 1.22.880 - 1.23.819
Singapore Q2 1.46.949 - 1.48.165
Japan Q2 1.32.042 - 1.32.422
Korea Q2 1.37.179 - 1.37.799
Brazil Q3 1.16.552 - 1.17.566
Abu Dhabi Q2 1.40.780 - 1.40.658

What would you choose:

A - Robert Kubica had two bad qualification out of nineteen(and it was still close). Vitaly Petrov never improved his pace and was never close to Robert Kubica's pace(except on thoose two occasions, otherwise >0.4s)
B - Quote



You also have to take into consideration that all Vitaly Petrov did during the free practice sessions was to practice, while Robert Kubica did all the evaluation of new development.

So that's your opinion of what is impressing? No "fanboizm", just fact.

[ringo]

Petrov is going to rip those yellow stripes off Kubica next year.
I'm just saying it to stir the pot, but it would be nice to see Kubica losing his cool like Alonso in 2007.
Petrov can be as fast as Kubica, i have seen it and i think he can annoy Kubica next year, maybe not beat him, but get under his skin.

Aside from Hamilton, I was impressed by Rosberg. I said he was going to open up a can of whoopass on Shumacher and everyone laughed, but i'm glad he made it more clear than he needed to. Shumacher is no match for Rosberg.
Rosberg is pretty allrounded, and i would say Sutil falls in that category as well bar the mistakes.

Alonso was the same as usual. I rate him so highly that he didn't surprise when he started to drive really well. Nothing new from him this year really.

[Giblet]

You don't know much about Kubica then

The guy is likely the most laid back yet hardest working fella in F1. He is also very quick.

Eric Boulier: "Yes Robert pushes the team because he want to win. He is committed to the team, and everyone feels that - and that's when you get the best out of people".

Like many of the former greats, he has speed which is hard to deny. He makes very few mistakes, which is very easy to confirm. But unlike some like Sutil who have pace but are considered lazy, he gets done what he needs to. Moved to Russia as a teen to compete in Karts as there was nowhere to race in Poland. Alonso and Hamilton rate him higher than anyone else, and for good reason.

Petrov had to be asked to move to England as an F1 driver, had to prove his ability to stay focused for a whole weekend. You won't see that being an issue with Kubica.

I feel Kubica and Rosberg are two drivers that while rated highly by everyone IN F1, have yet to truly breach the consciousness of fans.

Petrov showed some flash and skill, but he has some way to go.

I would be very surprised if Kubica loses his cool. He never lost it after the Canada shunt, and is the most laid back driver on the grid by far. No entourage, no bling, no press events for himself, just driving and working at the factory often the last to go home.

[ringo]

I like bling bling drivers. If your fast and know then show it.

I get tired of the humble "he's just a laid back guy like me" drivers. They all need to get their asses kicked; pretending like they don't give a damn.
They'll bitch and whine when things get out of control just like everyone else. Don't be fooled by the coolness.
Kubica's wild driving is probably his inner self, if Petrov gets a little more consistent, Kubica will lose it.

I don't buy that Bob is very quick either. There is no proof. Sutil is probably faster than him.

Kube is no quicker than Heidfeld. Sutil beat fisichella as teammate, who is no slouch. It's safe to say Sutil has more speed credibility than Robert.

Petrov will beat Kubica on speed next year. Write it down!!!

[segedunum]

There's no way Kubica will lose it because we all know Petrov is going to be the same as he always was next year. Kubica just isn't Alonso though, it's as simple as that. There's no way Alonso would have tolerated Heidfeld being as close to him as he was to Kubica at his time at BMW. There would have been serious fall-out there, but both he and Heidfeld got on with it. The only thing Kubica bitched about in all his years was BMW giving up on 2008, and he was proved to be dead right.

There was ample proof this year that when you dangle a carrot in front of Kubica and give him an uncomplicated and straightforward environment to work in he flourishes. There might have been a few question marks over him at BMW as to how good he was but any doubts were dispelled this year.

Petrov was annihilated this year so on what we base the notion that he will magically beat Kubica next year I have no idea.

[wesley123]

You also have to take into consideration that all Vitaly Petrov did during the free practice sessions was to practice, while Robert Kubica did all the evaluation of new development.

So that's your opinion of what is impressing? No "fanboizm", just fact.

The fact that most guys just expected this guy to be an regular paydriver who would be kicked out at half season. Over the season he showed a steep upward line making less mistakes and he was far more consistent. I actually expected him to be worse than Piquet, Petrov was way and way better. He also isnt confirmed for the 2 coming season without a reason.