How long if they suddenly forgot how to drive
Discussion
Hypothetical question for a bit of lighthearted start of season fun.
Suppose Lewis or Max have banged their head over the break and all their talent to drive a car at the same level fell out. They are not dangerous all the time, but some of the stuff is way out there at rookie level and they are a fair bit off the pace.
At the press conference they think they are doing a geat job and it's all going to come good soon - no problems with the car.
How long do you think it would take before they were just disapeared and somebody else took their place? Six races, 8 races, survive all season?
Obviously the level of leniancy they got would be directly related to their marketability. I'm sure Lewis or Max would last longer than one of the lower rated drivers.
Can you rate current (and past drivers) in terms of how quickly they would be replaced?
Extra points if the thought experement means they qualify last every race but their teammate is well up the front of the championship.
Assume nobody pays for their seat as that skews things somewhat.
Suppose Lewis or Max have banged their head over the break and all their talent to drive a car at the same level fell out. They are not dangerous all the time, but some of the stuff is way out there at rookie level and they are a fair bit off the pace.
At the press conference they think they are doing a geat job and it's all going to come good soon - no problems with the car.
How long do you think it would take before they were just disapeared and somebody else took their place? Six races, 8 races, survive all season?
Obviously the level of leniancy they got would be directly related to their marketability. I'm sure Lewis or Max would last longer than one of the lower rated drivers.
Can you rate current (and past drivers) in terms of how quickly they would be replaced?
Extra points if the thought experement means they qualify last every race but their teammate is well up the front of the championship.
Assume nobody pays for their seat as that skews things somewhat.
JulietRomeo said:
Are we talking Max,Seb,Romain here?
Talking world champ material, darling of the sponsors, top of their game at the end of the last season. Next season car great but can't get it in gear without stalling twice and well of the pace. Still a darling of the sponsors but just not magic behind the wheel anymore.They might even have a hat that says world champion as they qualify 18th all the time.
I know that a rookie would be gone pronto but how long do we recon a big name would take before they were no longer booked flights and hotel accomodation for the next race.
Edited by pistonheadforum on Monday 21st February 17:33
If you listen to stuff about Piquet, he was never the same after the big shunt in Imola in 87, he was back at the track that evening, tried to race even luckily Sid stopped it.
But in interviews Dernie says he had vision issues until mid season and was never really the same after, OK he was older and newer drivers came in. But to win the title that year is massively overlooked as usual especially in Britain due to Mansell mania
But in interviews Dernie says he had vision issues until mid season and was never really the same after, OK he was older and newer drivers came in. But to win the title that year is massively overlooked as usual especially in Britain due to Mansell mania
Motorsport has seen some incredible comebacks from massive, life threatening shunts e.g. Lauda '76, Hakkinen '95, Massa '09; NASCAR driver Ernie Irvan '94. The examples given were, more or less, back to the level of driving preceding the accident.
Robert Kubica comes to mind as a driver who wasn't back to his best.
F1 is a ruthless sport and even Max would get the boot at RBR if he wasn't a strong #2 driver, let alone race winnner.
Robert Kubica comes to mind as a driver who wasn't back to his best.
F1 is a ruthless sport and even Max would get the boot at RBR if he wasn't a strong #2 driver, let alone race winnner.
entropy said:
Robert Kubica comes to mind as a driver who wasn't back to his best.
He was never that great to begin with. I have never understood the praise he is given here on pistonheads. He was on par with his teammate Nick Heidfeld but no better. Nothing more than a journeyman as far as I can remember and certainly never looked like a future word champion in the way Schumacher, Mika, Alonso, Lewis or Max did at the start of their careers. LukeBrown66 said:
Using Kubica as an example is harsh as his injuries truly affected him from being able to drive in F1, he made a remarkable recovery in every way.
I would also add the likes of Mick Doohan in 500 GP racing, Barry Sheene too.
That's my point with Kubica. It's going to take neuro-physiological injury of significance to alter your performance level, as well as will power - see Mick Doohan.I would also add the likes of Mick Doohan in 500 GP racing, Barry Sheene too.
Speaking of bikes, Fast Freddie Spencer wasn't the same after making a comeback from wrist injuries.
sandman77 said:
entropy said:
Robert Kubica comes to mind as a driver who wasn't back to his best.
He was never that great to begin with. I have never understood the praise he is given here on pistonheads. He was on par with his teammate Nick Heidfeld but no better. Nothing more than a journeyman as far as I can remember and certainly never looked like a future word champion in the way Schumacher, Mika, Alonso, Lewis or Max did at the start of their careers. Kubica was quicker in quali than Heidfeld.
I don't remember a massive buzz over Mika and more of a wait-and-see whether he would fulfil his potential. More hype with Alesi and Schumi around the same time.
Besides, he never drove for a top team in a WDC battle so we will never know how he really was.
No mention of Sir Stirling.
He took the "big bang on the head" (Goodwood, Easter 1962) and was lucky to survive.
Just over a year later, and less than fully-recovered, he returned to Goodwood to privately test a Lotus 19. He was quickly on the pace and onlookers were delighted by his performance. However Stirling was a realist and had insight. Yes, he could still drive quickly and precisely but he realised that his natural instincts and razor-sharp reflexes were blunted. He took the brave and honest decision to walk away from mainstream motor sport.
In years to come he realised that he had needed more time to mend. Maybe a comeback in '64 would have been more realistic, however by then Clark, Hill, Surtees etc were in their pomp...
He took the "big bang on the head" (Goodwood, Easter 1962) and was lucky to survive.
Just over a year later, and less than fully-recovered, he returned to Goodwood to privately test a Lotus 19. He was quickly on the pace and onlookers were delighted by his performance. However Stirling was a realist and had insight. Yes, he could still drive quickly and precisely but he realised that his natural instincts and razor-sharp reflexes were blunted. He took the brave and honest decision to walk away from mainstream motor sport.
In years to come he realised that he had needed more time to mend. Maybe a comeback in '64 would have been more realistic, however by then Clark, Hill, Surtees etc were in their pomp...
Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff