formula 1 Formula 1's No. 1 driver of all time according to the BBC:

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Formula 1's greatest drivers. Number one: Ayrton Senna

BBC Sport is profiling 20 of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all time. The BBC F1 team were asked to provide their own personal top 20s, which were combined to produce a BBC list. Veteran commentator Murray Walker provides his own reflections in a video of their career highlights, and chief F1 writer Andrew Benson profiles the driver. This week, number one - Ayrton Senna.

Death, perhaps inevitably, has lent Ayrton Senna's legend a romanticised sheen.

The greatness of the man and the brilliance of his driving is remembered easily, the occasional darkness of his psyche perhaps less so.

But it does Senna a disservice to honour only part of his legacy. The significance of his achievements cannot be properly understood without a full appreciation of their origins.

Probably no driver in Formula 1 history dedicated himself more to his sport, gave more of himself in the unbending pursuit of success.

Senna was a force of nature, a powerful combination of spectacular raw talent and sometimes terrifying determination.

He had the good looks of a romantic hero, a charisma that could quieten any room, the eloquence of a poet and a spirituality with which millions felt they could identify.

His dark eyes were windows to a soul of complexity and volatility.

All that made him into a demi-god in his homeland of Brazil, and admired the world over like few sportsmen before or since.

But with that determination, and his own knowledge of just how good he was, came a sense of entitlement that was less attractive and which led him to take actions that put his own life - and the lives of his opponents - at risk.

Source and full article: BBC Sport

I have to agree with this choice. Senna was probably the most complete and fastest driver F1 has ever seen. It's a shame his tragic death robbed us of several years of a Senna vs Schumacher duel.

[The Evil Overlord]

I thought he was a very capable driver, but I do believe he was the greatest? No, the legacy was over romanticised, but that's because I think Nigel Mansell was the greatest F1 driver, though I do agree with what you said, a Senna vs Schumacker duel would have been very entertaining to watch, seeing as both drivers have been known for their sometimes underhanded tactics

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

I thought he was a very capable driver, but I do believe he was the greatest? No, the legacy was over romanticised, but that's because I think Nigel Mansell was the greatest F1 driver, though I do agree with what you said, a Senna vs Schumacker duel would have been very entertaining to watch, seeing as both drivers have been known for their sometimes underhanded tactics

Mansell? Oh come on. There are many drivers I'm rating a lot higher than the whinging Brummy - Clark, Fangio, Prost, Lauda, Schumacher, Villeneuve Sr to name but a few.

[The Evil Overlord]

Brummy? Thought he was from the Isle of Man...?

EDIT!

You've actually made a very good point, Fangio, Lauda and Prost, among the greatests :)

[Farstrider]

For me the greatest, because of many factors has to be Juan Manuel Fangio.

[Shiranui]

You guys know nothing! Satoru Nakajima is the greatest of all time!

Oh, sorry, I thought we were talking about backmarkers.....

[Haggis Veteran]

Senna is up there but as said it was romanticised due to his death

Prost would have to be my choice i think

[simonlang]

senna? no surprise... just have a look at some of his onboard laps during his mclaren years, they had to fight much much more with the car and manual gearshifting, todays cars feel like on rails.

[testman]

I thought he was a very capable driver, but I do believe he was the greatest? No, the legacy was over romanticised, but that's because I think Nigel Mansell was the greatest F1 driver, though I do agree with what you said, a Senna vs Schumacker duel would have been very entertaining to watch, seeing as both drivers have been known for their sometimes underhanded tactics

You do know they both raced against each other in past F1 championships?

[Crisp]

Mansell.

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

You do know they both raced against each other in past F1 championships?

They did from 1991 until early 1994, sure. Still: the best part of a Senna/Schumacher rivalry was only about to start in 1994. Take the question of who would have driven for whom for instance - it's an open secret that Senna wanted to join Ferrari after his two-year Williams contract runs out. Where would this have left Schumacher?

[sanctified Veteran]

In Senna's days car were much much MUCH difficult to handle. That alone grants him the highest spot.

[123456789A]

Yo Ayrton, I'm really happy for you, I'ma let you finish... but Maldonado is the best F1 driver of all time

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

Senna is most certainly the #1 "memorable" driver. However, as an understated and "drivers driver" I'd go Mansell!

[The Evil Overlord]

You do know they both raced against each other in past F1 championships?

I know they did, I also watched Mansell give Senna that ride as posted in the pic by Crisps, mentioned Senna vs Schumacker, my reply was directed to that :)

(God now I feel nostalgic, Mansell, Prost, Senna....)