Bahrain invites F1 champs-Poll: Who's missing

[WhiteBlue]

Bahrain plans gathering of F1 champions
Reuters - January 14, 2010, 1:30 am
LONDON, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Bahrain is planning a gathering of champions at the season-opening grand prix in March to celebrate 60 years of Formula One, organisers said.

"There are 20 surviving world champions; they will all be here in Bahrain as part of the Grand Prix," the Gulf Daily News quoted Bahrain Circuit chief executive Martin Whitaker as saying.

"This will be a truly special occasion, especially for all those who love F1 and who have been following the sport for many years." Australian Jack Brabham, champion in 1959, 1960 and 1966, is the oldest living champion at 83-years-old.

(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, Editing by Ken Ferris

This got me curious and I investigated the list of living champs. I went to the excellent GP.com Encyclopedia http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/encyclopedia.html
From there I tried to figure out who of the champs is still living. I came up with only 19 champs until I recognized that they had not included Jenson Button yet. So for those who are curious here is my list of champs.

I have also added a poll who will be the most missed hero. I had to shorten the list of 11 champs to 10 because the forum software will not allow 11. I decided to drop Mike Hawthorn due to his role in the infamous Le Mans accident of 1955. Someone had to go, so please don't crucify me if Mike was your fav champ.

Personally the men most missing from that list will be Jim Clarke, Ayrton Senna and Jochen Rind. RIP the heroes of the past.


Living Champs

Fernando Alonso - 2005, 2006
Mario Andretti - 1978
Jack Brabham - 1959, 1960, 1966
Jenson Button - 2009
Emerson Fittipaldi - 1972, 1974
Mika Hakkinen - 1998, 1999
Lewis Hamilton - 2008
Damon Hill - 1996
Alan Jones - 1980
Niki Lauda - 1975, 1977, 1984
Nigel Mansell - 1992
Nelson Piquet - 1981, 1983, 1987
Alain Prost - 1985, 1986, 1989, 1993
Kimi Raikkonen - 2007
Keke Rosberg - 1982
Jody Scheckter - 1979
Michael Schumacher - 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
Jackie Stewart - 1969, 1971, 1973
John Surtees - 1964
Jacques Villeneuve - 1997


Missing Champs

Alberto Ascari - 1952, 1953
Jim Clark - 1963, 1965
Juan-Manuel Fangio - 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957
Giuseppe Farina - 1950
Mike Hawthorn - 1958
Graham Hill - 1962, 1968
Phil Hill - 1961
Denny Hulme - 1967
James Hunt - 1976
Jochen Rindt - 1970
Ayrton Senna - 1988, 1990, 1991

[Ted68]

Phil Hill.

Not because he's American, but because of his wide scope of historic drives and the people he drove for. Schumacher drove for Ferrari. Hill drove for Enzo himself. The same with Carroll Shelby and Ferry Porsche. Hill was a winner in any type of car he drove. I consider the post-war years 'til the mid-60's as the high point in automobile racing and Phil Hill was one of the giants of that era.

[ISLAMATRON]

hopefully young senna will be there on the grid as well for the Campos team to represent his beloved uncle

[DaveKillens]

Wow, talk about a trip down memory lane. Each and every person listed above was a great racer, but they were also unique, and each arrived at the top through different tribulations and paths. And you don't achieve greatness without facing down other great drivers. Many drivers who never won the WDC were in their own right worth as much respect.



My personal choices are the two guys holding their arms up.