So who do you guys think is currently the most talented driver in F1? I'm not talking about who's got more points, etc, but just who you think will go down as an all-time great.

I think Vettel is the man to watch.

Although, a couple of years ago the same was said about Rosberg, but that hasn't worked out yet. The problem is that it is a combination of several factors to become one of the great. Only talent is not enough most of the times. A guy like Hamilton is lucky that he is in a great car (at least last year). Rosberg did not have that luck. And I'm not even talking about someone like Adrian Sutil. He also was a promising guy back in GP2, but he is not able to show/develop his talent at a team like Spyker/Force India.

But Vettel has proven that it is possible to be competitive in a mid field car, especially last year. Although his win last year can be, in part, contributed to the circumstances at that moment (with the rain and all that), he was quite competitive during the whole season while his teammate was struggling.

I make a distinction between best and most talented driver. The best current driver IMO is Alonso. He has the ability and he has the experience.

Most talented - I'm not so sure about that. Alonso has huge talent but Hamilton showed in his first season that he is nearly on equal terms with Alonso. What Hammy will make of it we will see. He currently has, what we call a character-building season. It remains to be seen if he will come stronger out of it.

The third guy to watch is Vettel. He has shown immense maturity for his age and his learning curve is very steep. If he continues with that he could become an all-time great.

I am really disappointed of Raikkönen. The guy has got talent in masses but he doesn't make anything out of it. Sure - Ferrari made some noises about how good Raikkönens statements concerning his car are. But every once in a while he has the occasional lacklustre race where you doubt if he wants to win it. He really lacks in the motivation department, something that was so remarkable about Michael Schumacher.

I really think the battle of the next years will be fought between Alonso, Hamilton and Vettel.

takuma sato

Alonso is the best driver for me.

Too bad there is a good chance he will leave in a year.

Hamilton and Vettel are my two picks from a pure talent perspective...just look how Hamilton is managing with such a crappy car, it's pretty remarkable. And Vettel is playing with the big boys as a still relatively young driver. I do have to agree that when you consider talent AND experience perspective, Alonso's gotta make the cut. I give an honorable mention to Button for his clean, managed driving style.

Same here, I think other than just talent, the guy has character too. I'll be a fanboy, and say Button's got real talent too (always has IMO)...just maybe not an all-time great. Vettel is someone I'll have my eye on for the future.

I like a driver who has soul, and not a robot. Kimi was a favorite of mine for a long time, of course not for the reason mentioned. Currently, I'm quite fond of Webber, and ofcourse Button for obvious reasons.

Most talented? Vettel. Best driver? Alonso. Most Underrated Driver? Barrichello, with Button as an honorable mention.

For me, most talented means a driver who can take an under achieving chassis and still score points.

Alonso is the king by this standard IMO.

Of the young guns, I would have to agree that Vettel is certainly a good bet for future champion.

Hamilton, I am on the fence about. He is a great driver, no doubt, but he needs everything to be going really well for him to perform at his best. Admittedly this season he has been punching above where he should, given his car. If he learns how to make lemonade then I think he'll be unstoppable.

Alonso

Actually I sorta skimmed over the original post to begin with, so I just notice his criteria: will go down in history as a living legend.

To me, the most likely person in F1 right now for that sort of consideration is Lewis Hamilton, full stop. He won the world championship his second year after an amazing rookie year, he's going to be remembered for awhile because of that.

You are right about that. As far as we know at this moment, he's the most memorable. But although it is more guessing than knowledge I'm somehow not convinced that he will reach a status like Schumacher/Senna/Piquet/etc. If I had to pick one who would make a change to join that elite club of people I would put some (not a lot) money on Vettel. But that is solely based on guess work and gut feeling. There is no way to predict it...

Isn't that what Jacques Villeneuve did?

I'm not trying to argue, but I still think it could go either way at this point.

I'm also torn about whether McLaren can pull it out again. They have had a competitive car for the Alonso/Hamilton years, but were less than competitive for a long time before that. They might be entering a new era of mid-range suckage.

There was also the never ending Schumacher/Hakkinen battle.

I just got into F1 at the end of that era. But I thought that was a very brief thing, like only a few seasons.

In fact Mika Hakkinen was the guy who sold me on F1. I was watching speed news, cuz nothing else was on, and they were showing Hakkinen giving Schumacher the finger while driving. Then they showed a montage of Hakkinen's more interesting on-track exploits, and I thought, "I have got to get into this". I think that was near the end of the 1999 season...or the start of the 2000 season.

You didn't mean this one, no? Because that was Coulthard.

I'm almost positive it was Hakkinen, but I could be wrong, it has been almost 10 years.

All time great? Hamilton, only because F1 is predominantely a European sport, where most of the teams are headquartered in Brittain.

On the virge of becoming an all time great? Button if he wins the WDC this year, and Vettel in the long term.

I think Button is proving he is sensational this season. I mean to open up a 15 second lead on the worse tyre in the opening stint at Monaco, whist everyone else is struggling is just awesome.

Obviously, all the drivers are good, or else they wouldn't be there, but as everyone has mentioned Alonso and Vettel seem to be are also the main men.

I think Massa and Raikkonen, on a good day are also very good - I guess the key is consistency, but then even Alonso hasn't been that hot this year so far - he did an excellent job last year in the under performing Renault, but I think it's worse for him now.

I watched that race live. It was Coulthard.

i miss zanardi. and his legs.