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Your questions answered - part 14

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Murray Walker | 18:34 UK time, Monday, 26 October 2009

Another grand prix and another virtual mailbag of great questions. This week we tackle the thorny subject of trying to establish just who is the greatest British world champion. Click on the video below to watch me try and navigate my way around that potential minefield. You also wanted to know how impressed I was with Jenson Button's championship-winning drive in Sao Paulo, where Brawn's Rubens Barrichello will end up driving next year and whether Ferrari and McLaren will battle it out for next year's championship. Find out my views on all of these and more by watching the video below.

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Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    Your emigrating? I hope that won't stop you from doing pieces for the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ next year! I hope your move goes well!

  • Comment number 2.

    Murray

    as ever wonderful to hear your views.

    you didn't mention Red Bull as contenders for next year?

    and talking for Barichello - what a wonderful competitor AND sportsman, given others with tantrums, what a charming and genuine response to the outcome in Brazil, I so hope he gets a competitive drive

  • Comment number 3.

    Murray is emigrating? Unfortunately I wouldn't know that as the video is "not available in your area" as I live overseas. Ironically this means that Murray will no be able to see his own videos if he too emigrates.

    Dear Aunty, how can this be? Surely it can't be a copyright issue as surely these vids are produced by yourself and therefore you own the copyright.

  • Comment number 4.

    I'm not convinced Kobayashi's driving warranted the level of criticism Murray has given it in this latest video. Admittedly the collision with Nakajima was unnecessary and stupid, but to berate him simply because he got in the way of the (British) championship leader - while battling for position - seems a little unfair. Had he collided with Button and cost him the title then perhaps his defensive tactics would deserve criticism, but he didn't and neither Button nor the stewards felt the need to reprimand him (unlike his more experienced teammate Trulli, it should be noted). In the circumstances, he aquitted himself very well.

    All that aside, good video as always - I've enjoyed all of them this season and look forward to the next and last for this year after Abu Dhabi.

  • Comment number 5.

    Hi Cordas

    Just to confirm that Murray is not actually emigrating...it was a joke!!. Thanks for your comments though and please keep the questions flying in. For the last GP of the season, it would be nice to get a few on the season as a whole as we will be looking back on 2009 when we get together next Monday to film. Thanks and looking forward to hearing from you all again.

  • Comment number 6.

    @Roy Calley - ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sport

    Can you make the next anwser session with Murray a longer one as it's the last one of the season?

    We all love his insight and it would be good to hear more from him.

  • Comment number 7.

    Sorry, if you have already answered this. What can we read into Brawn's success this year? Apart from Ross's genius, in itself.

    Thank you and best wishes.

  • Comment number 8.

    Here is a new kind of question!

    What is the music called that is played for each question?

  • Comment number 9.

    Hi Murray,
    Thanks for producing a great blog all season - I always look forward to hearing your views. It was because of you that I got into Formula 1 in the first place; my dad bought me one of your 'Grand Prix Year' books when I was 8, and that (along with your great commentaries) sparked an interest which continues to this day, 16 years and counting!

    Just wondered what you feel has been the best performance by any driver over a single race weekend this season? My vote would probably go to Fisichella at Spa, even though he didn't win the race.

    Thanks again, hope you have a relaxing off-season and look forward to hearing your views again in 2010!

  • Comment number 10.

    why is everyone so down on Lewis Hamilton hasn't he proven over & over again just how good he is yet no matter what he does he just can't seem to get the recognition he deserves it's almost like a conspiracy to get him to quit just like his mentor ron dennis you all stood by & allowed that to happen & fernando alonso got away scot free i would like an honestt answer not a politiciitions waffle

  • Comment number 11.

    As a profoundly deaf british citizen with an interest in the topics covered here, I'd like to note that this blog is completely inaccessible to me as there is no transcription/summarisation/subtitling of the content.

    Could you please let me know how you will address this, as you are essentially denying me any form of participation by presenting this information in this particular format, and are not being inclusive at all.

  • Comment number 12.

    Hi Murray! What a fantastic blog you've had going this year, you have been pretty much spot on with all the goings on in F1 2009 and am looking forward to more of the same in 2010.

    My question is do you think Sebastian Vettel made the right choice in staying at Red Bull next year? For me it was an odd choice considering he could have easily landed a drive at McLaren or Brawn. I'm not sure Red Bull will have the chops next year to maintain their current momentum and I fear 2010 will be a wasted year for the talented German.

  • Comment number 13.

    i am sorry if i opened a can of worms but i tell it as i see it

  • Comment number 14.

    Dear Murray,
    Great review as always...and if you do consider immigrating may I suggest Galicia, Spain - the seafood OMG! etc....

    REF 10 and 13

    No one is putting Lewis Hamilton down!
    HOWEVER - he has a long long loooong journey ahead of him before he can sit at the table of Britsh F1 Valhalla with the likes of Moss,Stewart and Clark...and that is in no way disrespectful....

    On the question of Barrichello - why not Toyota?
    Why didn't they go knocking on his door? He's been driving one of the best cars this season, proven that he can win with it and has all the years of experience and technical know-how behind him. He is 'fresh' from that winning experience, has the confidence, charisma and likeability to forge a strong unit in any team, has years of working with the best ie. Ross Brawn, under his belt...
    Rubens and Glock could work, or better still Rubens and the crazy Japanese rookie Kamui Kobayashi.
    Williams have been shrewd to consider mixing youth and experience in their team - I just don't see where Toyota's driver's philosophy has actually achieved for them so far.
    Rubens can go a long way in being at the very least a stop-gap for a season or two to allow Toyota to organize their optimum driver line-ups in the near future - he could very well be the first to bring them their first win {if Raikkonen doesn't go there instead}

  • Comment number 15.

    I'm not surprised that Stirling Moss gets mentioned as the best British F1 driver; some consider him to be the best F1 driver ever. Unfortunately for me, I wasn't born until the late 60's so can't truly appreciate the greatness of drivers like Moss, Clark and Stewart. It's the the same reading about it in books.

    On the point about Kobayashi: Yes, he needs to stop the erratic driving habits he learnt elsewhere, but if he was to get punished for the Nakajima off, then Webber would have had to be punished for the same offence, at the same part of the track, when he decided force Kimi onto the grass to prevent Kimi from overtaking him. And it's not the first time that Webber's been overly aggressive this season; remember him unnecessarily driving into Rubens at the start of the German GP? I'm not having a go at Webber and I'm not defending Kobayashi's, but I think it's unfair to penalise and condemn a rookie for his driving when more experienced drivers are doing similar and sometimes worst things.

  • Comment number 16.

    @10 - Murray simply said that its too early to tell with Lewis, Lewis is 24 and just finishing his 3rd season in F1. The fact that he has won a DWC and contended for another shows his undoubted talent, but lets let him show us what he can do over the next 10-15 years in the sport before we start eulogising him. Personally I think Lewis has the potential to become one of the greatest drivers ever in F1 (if not the greatest), but the reality is thats just POTENTIAL.

    As for questions for Murray - What's your take on the whole Silverstone/Bernie situation? Do you think the black mark that is going to be associated with Max Mosely's stewardship of the FIA is fair? Which of the rookies/new drivers has impressed you most this season (Vettel aside) and why, who are the diamonds in the rough?

  • Comment number 17.

    Well done Murray for putting the ridiculous GOAT question in its place. Why do people want to compete great champions from different eras.All I can say is that everyone knows who the candidates are and one thing is certain not one of them would ever say he was the greatest. It happens with Tiger and Federer too. All the great ones in any sport know that its an honour to be amongst the "GOAT" Can you imagine Jim Clark saying he was greater than Sir Stirling and vice-versa?

  • Comment number 18.

    Good video Murray, couldn't agree more with the Jackie Stewart decision, by far the best in my opinion and he's Scottish :p :p. I do think he's the best of the lot though and lets not forget he was also successful with running an F1 Team in the late nineties (winning a grand prix I may add) and also helped his son with his F3 team 'Paul Stewart Racing' the springboard for upcoming talents, all of which constitute the best f1 driver of all time in my opinion (that's without going into his driving, skill, speed, flair and the fact he can still thrash a car round at stupid speeds at his age.)

    I agree completely with dpryan (poster 4) about the Kobayashi issue, I don't think he raced badly for a debut and he at least provided some entertainment with his fellow countryman, both vying for the Toyota seat next Season.

    My one question is about young Sebastian Vettel. Do you think Sebastian Vettel based on his last three years in f1, has the talent to be as successful as Michael Schumacher and do you think it'll be Red Bull where he'll achieve his greatest success if you believe he'll be successful at all?

    Thanks

  • Comment number 19.

    Thanks for answering my question Murray, great to hear your views

  • Comment number 20.

    is this going to be put on the red button?

  • Comment number 21.

    Who has been the best driver this year,not giving an advantage to drivers who had a championship winning car

  • Comment number 22.

    I also would like to see a transcript or text version of these Q&A sessions from Murray. I'm not deaf, but at work I have no access to video or audio streaming. Surely the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ is restricting access to The Walker Wisdom by only having his views accessbile on video?

  • Comment number 23.

    Murray,

    Great VT as ever. Has been really interesting to hear your views over the year, and i have really looked forward to seeing the videos on the website. I also agree with you on the best British driver/ world champ situation. I have one thing that I want to ask though. Why do Red Bull, (whose factory is in Milton Keynes) not play the British anthem when they win a race for the constructors anthem? I only noticed this after Suzuka, but noticed the same for Mark Webbers win in Brazil. Am I right in guessing its the Swiss anthem?

    Facemandave

  • Comment number 24.

    I have listened to Murray for more years than I can remmber, even meeting him when he commentated in Macau. Will someone at ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ, PLEASE accept you have overseas supporters and get this sorted out........this attack is directed at Roy Calley - ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sport

    Apologies if it is not your fault, but you are better placed than I am to SORT IT.

  • Comment number 25.

    @ Facemandave

    The constructors anthem we hear for RBR is the Austrian for the team's owner Red Bull honcho Dietrich Mateschitz even though the team are based in Milton Keynes with an English Principal.

  • Comment number 26.

    Please do not misunderstand my posting..........it was not about the content it was the fact we can not VIEW the video as we were able to in the past.................can you please click (or maybe a boot up the butt) to your tech guys.........or give us none UK resisents an explanation why we miss out on such IMPORTANT F1 expertise...........Thanks.

  • Comment number 27.

    On the subject of defensive driving, personally i think Mark Webber should have got at least a drive through penalty for the stunt he pulled on Raikkonen though im sure there are those of you who disagree.

  • Comment number 28.

    @17 The GOAT issue is as old as the hills and will never go away... Mostly because if it were possible to get the greatest drivers and cars from the history books and then race them it would make for a fantastic race...

  • Comment number 29.

    Thanks murray for answering my question in such detail.

    thought you would enjoy it.

  • Comment number 30.

    Got to love Rubens Barrichello...I hope he gets the drive he deserves for next year.

    Great film again, Murray. My question is:

    What has been your favourite moment of the 2009 season?

  • Comment number 31.

    17) i totally agree with you

  • Comment number 32.

    I'll third that request for a transcript. All this video only stuff on the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ webiste is a bit tedious.

  • Comment number 33.

    Hi murray, do you think that Sebastian Vettel will win the champinship? And do you think if Nico Rosberg has a good car he will win?

  • Comment number 34.

    Thanks a lot for answering my question, Murray, really appreciate it here.

  • Comment number 35.

    Great video Murray.

    I totally agree with your comment on Sir Jackie Stewart being the greatest british world champion, but I really don't know how Stirling Moss never won the world title. Just wanted to ask you a question for your next video:

    Do you think that Vettel will be a future world champion?

  • Comment number 36.

    I have the "not available in your Area" across the video,
    but there is a link "If you are watching from outside the UK" that works.

    Well I agree that the top three are Stirling Moss, Jackie Stewart and Jim Clark. The problem is that I was too young to see much of Stirling Moss, but do remember him driving the Monte Carlo Rally.
    So its hard not to just agree that he was the Best.

  • Comment number 37.

    it's a shame murray couldn't explain why moss is his choice because mosses records show that he had a eleven year career and scored no points in his first three years and only four points in his fourth season and didn't win any championships. is it because he is the oldest living f1 driver? or is it because he has been the underdog finishing 2nd 4 times and 3rd three times in the last 7 years of his f1 career? on average it looks like he performed better than button has done in the same length of time but hardly set the sport alight.

  • Comment number 38.

    #37 aveli667

    One sentence best sums up why Murray thinks Moss is the greatest British driver: Statistics don't always tell the truth.

    And Moss would have won the 1958 title BUT, after Hawthorn was disqualified from 1 race (think it was Germany), Moss defended Hawthorn, got him reinstated, Hawthorn ended up pipping him to the championship.

    Worth remembering also which cars Moss was driving in his early F1 career, and also who he drove against later on. And that he was only 33 when his career was ended by that crash.

  • Comment number 39.

    Thanks for sorting out the Video for non-UK residents, very much appreciated. Throughly enjoy getting Murrays comments and observations and I endorse the request that his season wrap-up video could be a much longer version.

    Again thanks for looking after us poor soulsin exile..........:)

  • Comment number 40.

    Murray, what great former circuits would you like to see reinstated into the calender? and do you think theres any chance that this could ever happen given the modern policy of selecting boring tracks in the middle of the dessert for money?

  • Comment number 41.

    Not sure if anyone's ever asked Murray this question, but if you could make up a dreamteam of 2 drivers and 1 car, which drivers and which car would it be? (you can mix up the era's if you like).

    For me it would be Senna and Jim Clark driving the McLaren that Lewis drove last year.

    Bit of a weird question I know, but it does take some thinking about.

  • Comment number 42.

    @41
    Then PLEASE do a current one..........Current Drivers but with 2009 cars............you wouldhave to be a MERLIN to do it in 2010 cars.

  • Comment number 43.

    Dear Aunty,

    Thanks for fixing this so us ex-pats can watch. It's much appreciated.

  • Comment number 44.

    Dear Murray,
    Is F1 becoming more and more commercialised? For example, the new Abu Dhabi circuit will be a great place, but the fans simply aren't there. To me it has no sense of character or soul, it's very cold. Where as in Interlagos or Silverstone, you get a sense of heritage and theatre and most importantly soul. It's surely what shapes the sport?

  • Comment number 45.

    @ 42 - I'm sorry, but my question was for Murray to answer (if he so chooses) it was'nt put for you to criticize.

    Okay I shall rephrase the question then.

    Who are the best 2 drivers in the history of the sport, and which is the best car ever developed?

    Happy now? Or will you find fault with that, as well?

  • Comment number 46.

    Every person that owns a car knows that the worst time to be on the Road is during the twilight hours (40% of road accidents occur at this time). What are your thoughts on starting the Abu Dhabi race at such a visually challenging time for the drivers?

  • Comment number 47.

    #44 Abu Dhabi is a sell out for the race, so there must be some fans there!!!


    anyway......here's my question.

    Murray, How do you feel about the government spending millions (billions?) on the olympics and probably the football World Cup (if we get it) but seem to have no interest in doing anything to save the British F1 GP, even when it appears we are very close to losing it. Wouldn't a world class racing circuit/facility be a good investment?

  • Comment number 48.

    Hi! Is there anyother team that has won the Constructors and Drivers Championship in their first year?

    Thx and hope u answer.

  • Comment number 49.

    hi
    There has been little mention of where drivers like nick heidfeld, roman Grosjean and Timo Glock, please could you fill us in?

  • Comment number 50.

    Murray

    Who do you think should fix the damage caused to Donington Park? Bernie, Gillet, Wheatcroft, or should the fans contribute to a re-building fund?

    It would be a great shame if Britain lost such a great circuit because of the actions involved in trying to get F1 to race there.

  • Comment number 51.

    Murray,

    can you explain how this works for me please? In 2010, engine suppliers can only supply four teams for the season, so how come we have five teams in 2010 with the Cosworth engine? (Williams and the four new arrivals)

    Thanks
    Phil

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