Before my time was Fangio. Have him on a DVD, he was a master. When my father was a teenager, there was Tazio Nuvolari. He was beyond the Greatest of the Pre-War drivers. Like Clark, he could bring just about anything home in first place. He is credited as the possible inventor of the 4 wheel drift.
en.wikipedia.org
So,
1. 1930’s - Nuvolari
2. 1950’s - Fangio
3. 1960’s - Clark, (my opinion the GOAT)
4. 1970’s - Toss-up Lauda - Andretti, because Andretti was versatile
5. 1980’s - Prost/Senna
6. 1990’s - Senna/Schumacher/Hakkinon
7. 2000’s - Schumacher
8. 2010’s - Vettle
9. 2020’s - Verstappen.
Where’s Hamilton, watching someone else win when he did not have the very best car or did not have a half way decent teammate.
So, like assholes, everyone has one as well as opinions - this is my choice, Your milage may vary.
Then there is Sterling Moss and Jackie Stewart, Emerson Fittapauldi, Graham Hill and so many other’s.
Best F1 story, featured Sterling Moss. (Unfortunately, I do not know the name of the #1 driver)
In the 1960’s, Colin Chapman teamed up with Ford of England, to field a team of Lotus Cortina’s in English Salon races. The Cortina was pretty much the class of the field in those days and the team leader had great hopes of continuing his success in the Formula classes. For one race, Colin invited Sterling Moss to come out of retirement to run in one race.
Sterling was getting advice about driving the car and the team leader, especially what gear to take each corner. The team leader told him that one particular curve should be taken flat out.
Sterling went out and drove lap after lap after lap. Finally he came in, white in the face, obviously shaken. Getting out of the car he said, I worked and worked and worked and finally made that corner flat out in
4th Gear. The Team leader immediately also turned white and was even more shaken than Sterling. He exclaimed, Sterling!
I MEANT FLAT OUT IN 3RD GEAR! At that point, he knew, he would never be a formula 1 driver.