Is Juan Manuel Fangio – The Greatest F1 Driver Ever? His name belongs to the history of Formula 1. He is the first and only driver to have won five world championships in the 1950s, with four different teams.
Fangio has 24 race wins out of 51 starts, giving him a win percentage of 47%. He is admired for his skill, courage, and sportsmanship in a dangerous era of racing.
But is he also the greatest F1 driver of all time? This is a question that has been asked for generations among fans, experts, and drivers themselves. In this article, we will explore some of the reasons why Juan Manuel Fangio deserves to be called the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) of F1.
We will look at his achievements, his skills, his personality, and his legacy. We will also compare him with some of his rivals and successors, such as Ayrton Senna, and Lewis Hamilton.
With our neutral scoring system you will be able to judge for yourself who is the greatest of all time.
Juan Manuel Fangio’s Racings Statistics
Fangio holds the following racing achievements
- No of races entered 52
- Race wins 24
- Pole positions 29
- Podiums Achieved 52
- Number of racing points ever achieved (No Applicable)
- 5 world drivers championships
- Race wins as % of races entered 46.15% (the highest of all the drivers)
His racing statistics score is 161. Does this make him the greatest ever f1 driver?
Juan Manuel Fangio’s Consistency
Juan Manuel Fangio came in 1st place in his 2nd formula one race and came in 2n in the first world championship f1 season.
He won the world championship in his second year
He ended up winning 4 world championships
This speaks to an incredible consistency
Based on the scoring described above the value of his consistency is 994.
Juan Manuel Fangio’s Driving Ability
Juan Manuel Fangio was one of the most skilled and talented drivers in Formula 1 history. He had a remarkable ability to drive fast and consistently, to adapt to different cars and conditions, to control the race and the car, and to overcome the challenges and dangers of his era.
He was a master of speed, precision, courage, and endurance.
Fangio had a remarkable ability to drive fast and consistently.
- He was able to extract the maximum performance from any car he drove, regardless of its quality or reliability.
- He was able to find the best lines and braking points on any circuit, regardless of its layout or surface.
- He was able to set the fastest lap times and pole positions on any occasion, regardless of the weather or the competition.
- He was also able to maintain his speed and concentration throughout the race, regardless of the distance or the fatigue.
He Was Rarely Overtaken
- He was rarely overtaken or outpaced by his rivals, and he often won by large margins.
- Fangio also had a remarkable ability to adapt to different cars and conditions.
- He was able to drive for four different teams in his career, winning championships with each of them.
- He was able to drive different types of cars, such as front-engine or rear-engine, naturally aspirated or supercharged, narrow or wide tires, etc.
- He was able to drive on different types of circuits, such as street circuits or permanent tracks, flat or hilly terrain, clockwise or anti-clockwise direction, etc.
- He was able to drive in different types of weather conditions, such as dry or wet, hot or cold, sunny or cloudy, etc.
- He was always able to find the best setup and strategy for each car and condition, and he often made adjustments during the race.
He Was Always In Control
Fangio also had a remarkable ability to control the race and the car. He was able to manage his tires, his fuel, his engine, and his brakes.
Fangio was able to avoid mechanical failures and punctures, which were common in his era. He was able to anticipate and avoid accidents and collisions, which were frequent and fatal in his era.
Fangio could recover from mistakes and setbacks, such as spins or delays. He was always aware of his position and his rivals’ position on the track, and he knew when to attack and when to defend, when to overtake and when to wait, when to push and when to save.
He was also able to communicate with his team and his mechanics through hand signals or pit boards.
Finally, Fangio also had a remarkable ability to overcome the challenges and dangers of his era. He started his career late, at the age of 37, after World War II had interrupted his racing plans.
Fangio faced fierce competition from some of the best drivers of all time, such as Alberto Ascari, Stirling Moss, Mike Hawthorn, etc.
He raced in some of the most difficult and demanding races of all time, such as
- The Mille Miglia, the Nurburgring 1000 km
- The Argentine Grand Prix,
He raced in some of the most unsafe and risky conditions of all time, such as poor visibility, inadequate safety measures, lack of medical assistance, etc.
Fangio survived several crashes and injuries that could have ended his career or his life. He retired at the age of 47 after winning his fifth championship in 1957.
We score Juan Manuel Fangio’s drivers ability as 20/20
Juan Manuel Fangio’s Contribution To The Sport
Juan Manuel Fangio was not only a great driver, but also a great contributor to the sport of Formula 1. He played a significant role in the development and innovation of the sport, as well as in its popularity and prestige. He also left a lasting legacy and influence on other drivers and fans.
Fangio was one of the drivers who helped to shape the evolution of Formula 1 in the 1950s, when the sport was still young and growing.
He was involved in the introduction and improvement of various features, such as supercharged engines, fuel injection, disc brakes, and rear-engined cars. Fangio also contributed to the advancement of aerodynamics, suspension, gearbox, and steering.
He Was Willing To Try New Ideas
He was always keen to experiment with new ideas and solutions, and he often collaborated with some of the best engineers and designers in the sport, such as Enzo Ferrari, Alfred Neubauer, Colin Chapman, and John Cooper.
Fangio was also one of the drivers who helped to increase the popularity and prestige of Formula 1 around the world.
Juan Manuel Fangio’s was involved in some of the most thrilling and memorable races and rivalries in the history of the sport, especially with Alberto Ascari, Stirling Moss, Mike Hawthorn, and Peter Collins. Fangio also represented some of the most iconic and successful teams in the sport, such as Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, and Lancia.
Juan was a fierce competitor who always fought for victory and glory, but he was also a gentleman who respected his rivals and the sport. Fangio was admired for his skill, courage, professionalism, and charisma.
Finally, Fangio left a lasting legacy and influence on other drivers and fans. He inspired many young drivers who followed his footsteps and tried to emulate his style and achievements.
Some of them became world champions themselves, such as Jack Brabham, Graham Hill, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Emerson Fittipaldi, Niki Lauda, etc. He also influenced many fans who admired his driving ability and personality.
Juan Manuel Fangio’s is widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers of all time by various polls and rankings. He is also honored by various awards and recognitions, such as the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1990, the Argentine Sportsman of the Century in 1999, the FIA Hall of Fame in 2017.
We score Juan Manuel Fangio’s drivers Contribution To The Sport as 20/20
Juan Manuel Fangio’s Popularity
Juan Manuel Fangio was one of the most popular and famous drivers in Formula 1 history. He had a large and loyal fan base around the world, who admired his driving ability and personality. Fangio also had a significant impact on the media and the public, who followed his career and achievements with interest and enthusiasm.
He was a global icon who transcended the sport and became a cultural phenomenon.
Fangio had a strong appeal to the fans, who appreciated his speed and consistency, his adaptability and versatility, his control and endurance, and his courage and skill.
He was also respected for his sportsmanship and professionalism, his honesty and integrity, his humility and generosity, and his charisma and charm.
He was also able to inspire the fans with his achievements and legacy, by winning races and championships, by overcoming challenges and difficulties, by breaking records and barriers, and by leaving a mark on the sport.
Fangio also had a significant impact on the media and the public, who followed his career and achievements with interest and enthusiasm.
He was involved in some of the most thrilling and memorable races and rivalries in the history of the sport, especially with Alberto Ascari, Stirling Moss, Mike Hawthorn, and Peter Collins.
Juan Manuel Fangio also represented some of the most iconic and successful teams in the sport, such as Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, and Lancia.
He was also involved in some of the most controversial and dramatic incidents in the sport, such as his kidnapping in Cuba in 1958, his near-fatal crash at Monza in 1952, his miraculous recovery at Nürburgring in 1957, etc. He was always in the spotlight of the media and the public, who were fascinated by his story and personality.
We award him 100/100 for popularity.
Final Result (Score)
Juan Manuel Fangio’s total score is 1,295
Divided by number of years in F1 (7) average score per year is 185
