It’s a good question – and thanks to Arnab Das for asking it on our recent livestream. With the disclaimer that no-one can say for sure, and bearing in mind that Peter saw Sir Jackie racing from 1967-73 and Niki from 1972-84, here is his response.
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20 Comments
Prost rated Niki as the best 'racer' he raced against – better than Senna. Not sure how much qualifying really mattered to him.
Nicki at 🇨🇦 Mosport in the BRM in the rain ☔️ was magical as the talent became visible in an under achieving vehicle . However I must favour Jackie as a smooth 3 time champion who won 🏆 27 races in 99 starts while rallying fellow drivers to unite and embrace safety standards . He made everyday “ a great day for a motorcar race” 🇨🇦❤️
Lauda vs Stewart: "who was British?"
Answer: Stewart, and thus he was faster.
Stewart's reputation was – unforgivably really – damaged by his safety crusade. I seem to remember DSJ was always running him down because of that.
Stewart was better and he was close to Clark in speed.
Both are legends but Sir John Young edges it!
For me Jackie was the best – the first professional driver!
Both true icons of the sport.
I think Niki was, when he knew he wasnt at his Qualy peek, he would set up the car perfectly for the race. Niki was also quick in any car, remember the Mercedes invitation race at the new GP circuit of the Nürburgring 84? Lauda finished second behind Senna. Lauda also won the BMW M1 Procars in 1979.
Thank you
Even though they only competed a few years head to head, I think Stewart would be Lauda in the lower horsepower, skinny tires F1 cars. Lauda excelled with fat tires at the limit of adhesion. As Lauda would tell people, he had a great ass and you need a great ass to feel what your car is doing on the track.
They never raced against each other, so you can't really say. But Lauda was the fastest when the car was the fastest. Stewart had the fastest car in the field once – 1969. He won 2 World Championships with the second or third best car on the grid.
Fantastic first hand historical knowledge.
I would agree with that, but who would you say was better Clark or senna
I don’t know about Niki really being at his fastest in the BRM, he was the slowest of the trio there in 1973. Would quite easily have to hand this to Stewart, because he had everything that allowed Niki to win all those Grand Prix and Championships, (mostly his intelligent approach to a world championship) but was also much quicker from a natural driving perspective.
Who is faster Norris or Piastri?
Picked the Brit. Shocker.
The BRM had an amazing sound though!
I think you should compare these only on cross plies because radials changed the game and Jackie never did those.
I dont think you can compare them other than 72 and 73 and of course Niki had second rate cars and Jackie was in the Tyrrell.
If you compare Niki and Ronnie you got to remember that March probably did not have resources for for two equal cars for some with experience and the other none.
You can compare Niki and Clay and I'd say that s pretty clear in the long run. And Clay you can compare with Jacky Ickx who you just might be able to compare with Jackie.
But the longer the comparison loop is the more uncertain it becomes.
But then you can say that Jackie had some of the best ever drives by anyone (The Ring, Monza 1973,…) while Niki really did not have any super drives. Niki wins from 1974 onwards came in the best car driving solid races. So ultimately I would say, the answer is Jackie. But Niki was special too. He had the best brains of them all.
You are wrong. Niki always had something in hand. That was the whole point with Niki. I love Jackie, great man, great driver.