Formula One Rivalries: Old and New

The National Student

Formula One is one of the more gruelling sports in the world, and one of the most dangerous.

As with any professional sport, rivalries go hand in hand with that high-effort, high-risk atmosphere. Hate, anger, passion. Comparing the old against the new is indeed a challenge, largely due to the amount of change that has taken place in Formula One over the last 30 years, but here they are: the biggest and best F1 rivalries.

The Old

James Hunt v Niki Lauda

When the sport was being remodelled by Bernie Ecclestone, up rose these two. Hunt, the English playboy full of flair. Lauda, the reserved Austrian. It was destined to be a rivalry like no other. Despite being friends, on the track it was exceptionally fierce. It culminated in Lauda’s infamous crash at the Nürburgring, which caused his near-fatal and lifelong injuries. He incredibly returned a mere six weeks later.

Despite Lauda’s valiant effort, Hunt claimed his only title after Lauda retired at the Japanese Grand Prix, not willing to once again race in poor conditions. The pair’s competition was extremely well documented in the excellent 2013 film Rush. 

Nigel Mansell v Nelson Piquet

In the ’86 season, the two were paired up at Williams. However, a partnership in name was all it would ever be. Due to Piquet’s track record, it was assumed he would simply push Mansell aside as the primary driver, but the Brit had other ideas. The two never got on, a relationship epitomised by Piquet refusing to shake Mansell’s hand after a race. Piquet once referred to Mansell as “an uneducated blockhead”. In the season, it was 5-4 to Mansell. However in Adelaide, a puncture caused Mansell to swivel out and gift the title to Prost. 

Alain Prost v Ayrton Senna

A fabulous Frenchman against a brilliant Brazilian. Prost won four titles, Senna won three. Two major flashpoints were in ’89 where a lock between the pair’s tires caused them to stop. Senna was aided by the marshals, illegally, and was disqualified. Prost won that championship in that title-deciding race. Then in ’90, Senna was on pole in Japan. Yet he was on the dirty side of the track, which angered him. He ended up hitting Prost in the first corner, to reclaim the better side. Both men were out of the race, and Senna won the title. Senna tragically died in the ’94 San Marina Grand Prix, rounding the Tamburello corner at 307km/h and hitting a concrete wall. On a personal note, my dad was such a fan of Senna that I was almost called Ayrton.

The New

Michael Schumacher v Mika Hakkinen 

Definitely one of the rivalries that occurred in better spirit. Both drivers dropped their image and focused on the track. It took an immense emotional toll on the two, too. Hakkinen broke down in tears after after he was forced to retire in Italy in ’98. However he did go on to win the season. In ’99, the rivalry stalled as Schumacher was injured and spent six races out. It resumed in ’00, a year which Schumacher then claimed. Mutual respect throughout, and a challenge for two drivers both renowned for their emotional and physical fortitude. 

Mark Webber v Sebastian Vettel 

In the second year of the pair’s partnership at Red Bull, it began to get heated. After a wheel collision in Turkey during '10, most saw it was mostly Vettel’s fault. However, Webber felt that the powers-that-be within the team favoured Vettel, seen again when he was given a supposedly faster front wing than the German. Webber won the race, despite Vettel being on pole. It was after Malaysia ’03 when it got too much. Despite the pre-race understanding, Vettel overtook Webber after the final pit-stop and won the race. Webber said that Vettel made his own decision, and would have the team’s protection. He then retired from Formula One at the end of ’13. 

Lewis Hamilton v Fernando Alonso 

A young rookie steps into the ring, challenging the dominance shown by his elder teammate. Hamilton upset Alonso’s rhythm, and he made unusual mistakes whilst the youngster put in consistent performances. Alonso then, in a shock move, blocked Hamilton from leaving a pit lane in qualifying. He was docked five places on the grid. After this, Alonso threatened to release emails that exposed McLaren if he didn’t receive better treatment over Hamilton. It became known as “Spygate”. On the final day of the ’07 season, Raikkonen snuck in and stole the title. Alonso then moved to Renault after deciding one season was all he could take. 

Lewis Hamilton v Nico Rosberg 

Friends turned to rivals. Something bound to happen when competing for a World Championship. The first major flashpoint was when in ’13 Rosberg, who was fast enough to pass Hamilton, was told by the team to stay behind his teammate.

The new ’14 season started off extremely tense. Rosberg won the first race, Hamilton the next four. Then at Monaco, during qualifying, Rosberg stopped Hamilton from finishing his Q3 lap and thus a chance of gaining pole, over Rosberg. Things got tough, and tensions mounted as Rosberg was blamed.

The consensus was that where Rosberg was a better strategist, Hamilton was superior behind the wheel. Eventually Hamilton won the ’14 and ’15 title. However Rosberg won the ’16 title and, in a fashion similar to James Hunt, seemed content with the one Championship and retired. A rivalry that had the potential to be one for the ages. 

Sadly, it does seem that the newer rivalries are more concerned with politics and the workings of the team, as opposed to actual racing. Not so much down to skill as it is to feelings. Although sport always evolves, and this one is no different. The question remains though, has the Golden Age of Formula One come and gone?