Juan Manuel Fangio - The Greatest Driver in F1 History?

Recently on a flight home from the beautiful city of Athens, Greece, I decided to watch a documentary that had been sitting in my Netflix downloads for some time - A Life of Speed: The Juan Manuel Fangio Story.

Now, I've been into motorsport and Formula One since a young age, so of course, names like Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clarke and Alberto Ascari, just to name a small handful, are familiar to me. But never have I truly delved into the deeper depths of Formula One history. This documentary was an eye opener, and gave me a whole new appreciation for those early decades of Formula One and how the sport has transpired into what it has today.

Juan Manuel Fangio started his racing career racing in local events in his hometown of Balcarce in Argentina, with a 1929 Ford Model A that he had rebuilt. Over the years, Fangio impressed the motor racing community in his home country, eventually being sent to Europe to compete, with a Maserati in tow. The Argentine would line up on the grid of the first ever Formula One race in 1950, before continuing in the series for several years. Despite being the oldest driver in the majority of his F1 races, Fangio battled through the physical and mental challenges of 1950's F1 to win the championship five times - in 1951, 54, 55, 56 and 57. He would go onto retire after the French Grand Prix of 1958, declaring to his team that "it is finished."

Fangio's F1 stats are very much impressive, even more so when the challenges of 1950's F1 are put into consideration. But regardless, since his retirement in 1958, Formula One has gone onto produce a range of different world champions and drivers who have crushed long standing records; some being Fangio's own. So, what really is it that makes Fangio so... special? When, as already established, in terms of success, other drivers in modern day F1 have gone onto to achieve bigger things.

One of the more interesting aspects of this Netflix documentary, which is better than Drive to Survive might I add, is a piece of research that was conducted by The University of Sheffield's Dr Andrew Bell, in which he used different F1 statics and analysis to figure out who may be the greatest driver in F1 history. This piece of research was focused on quite heavily during the course of the documentary and there's no prize for guessing who takes the top spot. Juan Manuel Fangio. This interesting read puts Fangio way above the likes of Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton, both of whom are the only drivers to have won more championships than Fangio himself, and both of whom barely make the top ten on Dr Bell's list. Intriguing, isn't it? But, maybe we needn't be so surprised. After all, in terms of percentages and ratios, his records were pretty immense, with a likelihood of never being beaten. You can read this piece of research in depth here.

"What he did in his time is something that was an example of professionalism, of courage, of style, and as a man, a human being. Every year there is a winner of the championship, but not necessarily a world champion. I think Fangio is the example of a true world champion." - Ayrton Senna

But back in the real world, the honest reality is that comparing drivers from the 1950's to drivers from today is a relatively impossible task. All you need to do is look at how much the sport has evolved in it's 70-odd years. Could Fangio win five championships in today's era? Could Max Verstappen do it in 1950? These are interesting thoughts to consider, for sure.

Despite this, with decades and decades passed since the 1950's, there really is no surprise to see Fangio's name still lighting up the subjective lists of F1 records. And, what about his memorable win at the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 1957? Pit stops were slow in the 1950's. But, slow pit stops were slower, and because of one Fangio came from nearly two minutes down on his rivals, catching and overtaking them, eventually winning the race. It was in this race he broke the lap record an astonishing NINE times!

But, do we really need to be wasting our time debating and researching - using scientific evidence, to work out who is the greatest driver in F1 history? The ever raging debate will continue on for infinity I'm sure. Even if we stop debating on this matter, achievements, such as Fangio's, should continue to be celebrated. They are pivotal moments in our sport's history, after all. Regardless, there is no denying, what Fangio achieved back in the yonder days is mesmerising and maybe watching this documentary will make people appreciate them and our sport's history the way it should be. At the end of the day, there are plenty of great drivers in Formula One, including the man of this post - Juan Manuel Fangio.

Suzuka: 5 Reasons Why It’s One Of The Best Tracks In The World

Ask any racing driver, team personnel, media person and/or motorsport aficionado, and they will gladly tell you that Suzuka is one of the greatest motor racing circuits in existence. But why is this so? When there are thousands out there, what makes Suzuka so special? Let me tell you!

Suzuka, originally a test track for Honda, joined the Formula One calendar in the late 1980's, making it one of the oldest currently on the calendar. Over the years, it has undergone several changes but has never lost it's trademark - the figure of eight layout. Only one of two FIA Grade One circuits to be designed and built in this way. You can find the second at Fiorano.

Plenty of racing drivers are happy to declare this as one of, if not, their favourite tracks. Lewis Hamilton once described it as "the best rollercoaster ride that I’ve felt in a Formula One car," whereas Charles Leclerc has said "I love the track, especially the first sector. For me, it’s really, really special. And it has something that you never find anywhere else. Also the passion of fans, it’s incredible.” For me, as a fan, Suzuka is incredibly exciting to watch. From the exhilarating speeds to watching the drivers navigate the corners such as Spoon and 130R, it's a racing driver's paradise and one I would 100% miss if it ever left the Formula One calendar.

Corners

One thing Suzuka has become known for is it's infamous fast and, somewhat, unpredictable corners, ready to catch any driver out if they get it wrong. Take the fast "S Curves" - 4 curves at different cambars, one after another; if a driver gets these right, then they may have set up a decent lap. If they get it wrong then it could mean a trip into the gravel. Then there's Degnar and Spoon, more technical and longer corners, before the slingshot that is 130R. It may be classed as a corner but very rarely is there any let up - a little bit like Spa's "Eau Rouge." If you want to experience some exhilarating 130R action, check out Fernando Alonso's overtake on Michael Schumacher at the 2005 Japanese Grand Prix. In fact, that move in itself is representative as to how great this track is.

Speed

As already established, despite having 18 corners, Suzuka is fast, with a top-speed being recorded at 315km/h, while the average speed hovers around 230km/h. The lap record, on the current track configuration is 1:30:983, set by Lewis Hamilton in 2019. There is no surprise that this track is classed as "high-speed," and is often described as a rollercoaster as it throws the driver around from one high speed section to another. A high level of commitment is essential for drivers if they want to max out their speed and post the perfect lap. You can read Rueben Barichello's Lap of Suzuka here.

Challenge

With it's infamous corners and tremendous speeds, there is no denying the challenge that awaits any driver who takes to it's tracks. In terms of mentality, physicality and technicality, there are plenty of aspects that come together to make this one of the most challenging tracks that features on today's F1 race calendar. But not only does the high speed and flowing corners give our drivers a task, there is also the challenge of keeping the car out of the gravel traps. That's right. Tarmac runoffs are a rarity around Suzuka! And what about tyres? With the circuit's figure of eight layout, all four tyres will, at some point, take the brunt of the weight when driving. So it's extra important that the perfect set-up is enabled to help with the added grip and traction a driver will be looking for.

Fans

For years and years, fans at Suzuka have never failed to hide their passion for Formula One. With their fun themed gifts for drivers and teams, wacky costumes - yes, those incredible DRS hats included, or just out right enthusiasm with supportive banners in the grandstands, fans at Suzuka have been classed as some of the best in the world. This takes nothing away from other fans of the sport, it's just that Japanese fans are something special and they never fail to put a smile on your face.

Old-School Track

Here we are with point number five, and surely it's "best til last." One of the most appealing aspects of the Suzuka circuit is that it's one of the remaining old-school tracks left on the F1 calendar. The Suzuka International Racing Course first opened it's doors in September 1962, before joining the Formula One calendar in 1987. Although, since then, the track has been slightly modified over time, it has generally kept to it's original state with that figure of eight layout and fast and elevated corners. It's a symbol of what F1 once was and what it should be. We shouldn't be loosing tracks like these to the likes of Vegas, Miami, Saudi Arabia etc. Old-School Tracks are a different breed and always bring the adrenaline and excitement.

So, has Suzuka's racing charm persuaded you to agree that it's one of the best tracks in the world? Well, next up is the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix. Excitement is waiting.

Race Review: Australian Grand Prix 2024

Remember the days when Australia used to be the season opener? That was in another era of Formula One. And, although the streets around Albert Park don't always give us the most exciting races, the past few years can easily challenge that statement and make it void. In 2024, things were not much different with another exciting, drama-filled race on the cards for us racing aficionados.

Red Bull's weekend was pretty hit and miss from the get go, with both cars struggling in practice, qualifying and the race. Although, some fans hopes and dreams were diminished when Max Verstappen, once again, stuck his lean, mean racing machine on pole. However, come race day, the racing Gods had other plans, causing Verstappen's and Red Bull's first mechanical retirement since Australia 2022. The crowd may have gone wild with excitement, but no driver wants to retire from a race through no fault of their own. Despite this, and with no disrespect to Verstappen and Red Bull, Formula One needed this to happen. To regain faith from fans, so to speak. But, did Verstappen's retirement actually add anything to this race other than giving the F1 world a winner that wasn't him? Maybe, maybe not. I won't moan though, this race was essentially like a "breath of fresh air."

What is sad though, is that after every race we find ourselves questioning the performance of Sergio Perez, and Australia was no different. With Verstappen out of the way, this should have been Perez's big opportunity. Of course, his grid penalty for impeding Nico Hulkenberg in qualifying made his quest for victory that little bit harder, but still, when you're in the fastest car it's easy for the sofa experts to be so critical. It was a difficult race for Perez, with floor damage and zero grip, as well as the grid penalty, making it a frustrating 58 laps for the Mexican driver. However, some people like to ignore the potential issues that have plagued him and generally expect more of him. It's no secret though that his 2023 slump seems to still be there in one way or another. With his contract up at the end of this season, it really looks like it's going to be "Drive to Survive" for him this year.

Plenty of other drivers also found themselves in a nightmare during this weekend's race. For us fans, it just added to the dramatics. Both Mercedes drivers of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell ended up with a big fat DNF. Hamilton for mechanical failures, Russell due to a big crash on the penultimate lap. Were Race Control correct to end the race under a Virtual Safety Car, or should they have thrown a red flag and abandoned the final lap? The online debate is intriguing, and, if you're interested, I'm team red flag. But, at the end of the day, there is no bigger relief than seeing a driver come away unscathed after a crash. Still, it's disappointing to see Mercedes struggle. From dominating the championships from 2014-2020, to now finding themselves fighting at the mid to back end of the points. As frustrating as their domination was at times, we need them back up there, fighting with the pack - something that we all crave.

Another interesting debate to have come to fruition from the race is the penalty that Fernando Alonso received several hours after the chequered flag. His crimes? Dangerous driving that caused George Russell's accident. It seems to be a complicated affair with many against the drive through penalty (twenty seconds) that demoted the Spaniard to an 8th place finish. In reality, with Alonso admitting a change in approach to turn six, the dirty air was ultimately to blame for the accident. But, the stewards have the data, the telemetry. Surely there is some sense behind, what seems to be, madness? Is there? And, if you think I'm done with the drama, then I'm not sorry to report that there is more. From a 5 second time penalty for Alpine's Pierre Gasly, to more slow stops for Sauber - an issue that has plagued them in all three races thus far in 2024.

Shall we talk team orders? We saw them in Bahrain, we saw them Saudi Arabia and now we've seen them in Australia. All very interesting considering how early we are into the season. Sometimes you just want to see teammates race but alas, Ferrari told their drivers to hold positions (I shouldn't moan, as a Sainz fan,) and McLaren ordered theirs to switch. A bit harsh for Oscar Piastri who, at his home race, was nearing a podium position. Despite this though, the race was all about one man only - Carlos Sainz, who went on to dominate the race, taking only his third win in Formula One. What made this even more incredible was that it was his first race back since appendicitis. With no seat for 2025, and hype surrounding Oliver Bearman - Sainz's replacement last time out; Carlos was definitely on a mission to make a statement. And, a statement he made indeed.

Another driver out to make a statement this past weekend was RB's Yuki Tsunoda. A young driver with a fiesty reputation, Tsunoda hasn't always got people's tongues wagging. Until, this season, where he seems to be "wiping the floor" with critically acclaimed teammate; Daniel Ricciardo. 2024 is turning into a big opportunity for Tsunoda to prove his worth, and exciting prospect for those who enjoy watching the younger guys flourish.

And finally, Haas need a mention for their double points finish. Haas haas finally gotten on top of the car that struggles to get into the points on a usual sunshiny day? Or have both Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen decided now is the time to make an impact, with young Bearman waiting in the wings?

This Australian Grand Prix has made me feel like I've fallen in love with this sport all over again. And, I kind of wish Verstappen hadn't retired! Would we have had a big Sainz v Verstappen show down? Would Ferrari have beaten Red Bull as per Perez's claims? We will never know. Not this year, at least.