The Top 10 Drivers?

Based on a scientific study of
the period from 1950 to 2006...

1. Juan Manuel FANGIO
2. Jim CLARK
3. Michael SCHUMACHER
4. Jackie STEWART
5. Mike HAWTHORN
6. Fernando ALONSO
7. Alain PROST
8. Graham HILL
9. Emerson FITTIPALDI
10. Jacky ICKX

The sheer randomness of F1 in 2012, when so many different
factors can influence the results, makes it harder than ever to
determine the best drivers. In truth the world championship
standings have never been an entirely fullproof method of ranking
drivers - witness all the great talents who failed to win the
title. However one comprehensive scientific study has analysed
both circumstances and talent to determine the best drivers in
history.

Professors Reiner Eichenberger and David Stadelmann, of the
department of economics at Frieburg University in Switzerland,
revealed their findings in a scientific paper published in
December, 2009. Entitled 'Who Is The Best F1 Driver?' and
covering 768 races from 1950 to 2006, the paper analysed the 302
drivers (from 718 participants) who scored at least one
championship point in their careers, which (to reduce the element
of luck) had to include at least 40 races.

The approach used by the professors is based on the use of
Econometrics (the application of mathematical and statistical
techniques to economic theories) as a tool to calculate an
estimate of a F1 driver's talent independently of his car and the
many other variables that influence race results.


The criteria included the length and configuration of each grand
prix track, the number of race laps, the number of participants,
the weather (good performances in bad weather counted higher) and
so on. Key individual factors were the driver's age (at the start
and finish of his career), the number of races he entered, the
quality of his peers, the quality of his cars, his race
retirements (whether due to human error or mechanical failure)
and his results, with the emphasis on wins and podiums. All these
factors were fed into a computer and the data analysed to produce
a ranking of the best drivers in the first 57 years of the sport.

(All those in the Top 10, with the exception of Ickx, won world
championships. Still active are Schumacher and Alonso as well as
Raikkonen (ranked 11th) and Button (21). The period of study does
not include such recently established talents as Vettel and Hamilton.
Senna is ranked only 26th, presumably because he often had the
best car. Many would disagree with such a lowly evaluation and the
authors of the study admit to shortcomings in their methodology)

Here's a link to details of the study...
http://ideas.repec.org/a/eap/articl/v39y2009i3p389-406.html

And a link to profiles of all the world champions ...
http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_drivers/hall_of_fame/