Dear Nigel,
I’m going to be cheeky as I have two burning questions, hopefully you will answer them both?1. I’m still a little mystified by Jenson Button’s transfer given his genuine affection for ‘his’ old team. My only theory is that he had a strong inkling that Michael Schumacher was on the way, Nico Rosberg would be demoted to test driver, and it would have been him against Schumacher – in a team run by Schumacher’s old buddy! Knowing how all Schumacher’s team-mates got treated, what would you do… any thoughts on the truth of that?
2. I’ve just read Crashed & Byrned, the book about Tommy Byrne – what a talent we missed out on! How do you think he measured up to Ayrton Senna? And why did no other Formula 1 teams pick up this guy after his McLaren test?
Tim Davison
Tag: Ayrton Senna
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Theories on Button and Byrne
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Hall of Fame opens with a bang
February 11th, 2010 | Damien Smith | 37 Comments
Motor Sport broke new ground last night – for both the magazine and for British racing – when we launched our Hall of Fame event at the Roundhouse in Camden.
It was a star-studded night as some of the biggest names in motor sport joined 400 guests for a celebration… Read more
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Top 10 drivers revised
Dear Nigel,
Based on what you have seen in last 30 years, how would you review your Top 10 list that was published in the book (itals) The Grand Prix Drivers (Racing heroes from Fangio to Prost) issued in 1987? Many thanks in advance for your attention.
Piero Dessimone -
Will Schuey be another Lauda?
January 11th, 2010 | Rob Widdows | 44 Comments
Everywhere I go these days the hot topic is Michael Schumacher. Will he or won’t he? Everyone wants to know. And this got me thinking back to 1984.
I can hardly believe that more than a quarter of a century has passed since I stood at Paddock Bend watching Niki… Read more -
Goodwood gets in the festival mood
March 23rd, 2009 | Louisa Skipper | 5 Comments
Glorious Goodwood certainly lived up to its name last week for the Festival of Speed and Revival press day; the sun was shining and there was no better place to mingle than on the Goodwood House lawns while admiring the wonderful cars on show. Journalists from the world of motor… Read more
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The two sides of Mansell
Dear Nigel,
I wanted to ask you for your recollections of Nigel Mansell. Having witnessed much of the ‘Nigel-mania’ in the ’80s, I wondered why he has been mentioned so rarely in the past few years.Do you think he was only interesting in those few years of spectacle and not worthy of being remembered as an important personality in Formula 1? Silly behaviour and all, but he was a very strong and spectacular racer for several years, and his fight with Piquet was quite spicy on and off the track.
Bojan Prosnec -
Bellof could have been champion
Dear Nigel,
For years I have been reading about the lost talent that was Stefan Bellof and always after finishing each article I find myself wanting to know more. I was wondering if Motor Sport has ever compiled a definitive article relating to his life, career and the impact he would have made on F1 had he survived? In Bellof I believe we were robbed of a driver who, had he lived, may now be regarded among the greats such as Gilles Villeneuve and Ayrton Senna.
Al Crawford -
Nannini’s sacrifices for F1
Dear Nigel,
What are your memories of Alessandro Nannini and how did you rate him as a driver?
Sas Nader -
Last lap before Christmas
December 17th, 2008 | Rob Widdows | No Comments
Not long till Christmas, so may I draw your attention to a couple of books for those of you wondering what to give a motor racing nut.
The first is a most unusual story. I mention this one because I haven’t read it myself yet and I’m hoping somebody will… Read more
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Struggling to stay in love with F1
Dear Nigel,
Not so much a question, but more a thank you.
I found myself at the British Grand Prix in 1984. I watched the cars go off on their warm-up lap and was blown away by the noise and power. They all stopped and went away for real, 20-odd turbo cars, popping and banging, sliding away.
From that moment I was hooked, and found every outlet that could provide me with information about F1. I discovered Autosport and read every article that you wrote. I discovered Gilles through you, bought every book and tape about him, even named a cat after him. I also noticed somewhat that F1 for you died the day he died. In my young mind I never really got to grips with this, just carried on my merry way, though still absorbing all you wrote…
Then for me, on May 1 1994, my F1 world fell apart. Although I was to attend many a race after this, my F1 world had finished. The flame had gone out and I understood what you went through at Zolder. Now I try to watch the races, but they leave me cold. Something that had touched me so deeply no longer has any meaning – it’s just cars trundling round…
Martin Poole
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