What makes the 'perfect' F1 driver?
F1 Nation
Formula 1
4.3 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 20 April 2026
⏱️ 53 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Verstappen's mentality? Schumacher's teamwork? Alonso's intelligence? Tsunoda's physique? Tom Clarkson is joined by former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer and IndyCar race winner James Hinchcliffe to build the ‘perfect’ F1 driver.
They debate the key attributes needed to become the best in the pinnacle of motorsport and which drivers from past and present are closest to perfection.
Plus, the guys chat about the possible driver market ramifications if Max Verstappen does leave Red Bull Racing and they share their standout moments from the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix over the years.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Your life's already digital. From banking and shopping to streaming and learning. So why |
| 0:06.3 | does sorting government stuff still feel like such hard work? The government is introducing a new |
| 0:13.6 | digital ID to make access to services quicker and more secure for everyone. But we need to hear from you. |
| 0:21.0 | Your voice matters. |
| 0:22.8 | Search Digital ID consultation to have your say. |
| 0:26.6 | Digital ID, making it work for you. |
| 0:32.6 | What is the closest we've got to the perfect driver? |
| 0:37.4 | It can be past or present. |
| 0:38.3 | That's a pretty brutal question. |
| 0:40.3 | Fernando Alonso in those Ferrari years |
| 0:43.3 | is for me the closest we've had to perfection. |
| 0:51.3 | Lewis is also buried guys. |
| 0:53.3 | Peak Lewis is tough to beat as well. |
| 0:55.0 | Peek Lewis is really impressive. |
| 0:57.0 | I think Lewis 2007 was even more impressive than Lewis 2008. |
| 1:03.0 | He can't have been the best version of himself when he turned up. |
| 1:07.0 | Hitch, what about attitude? |
| 1:09.0 | I'm going to go with like the Max for Stappen approach and attitude in the car. |
| 1:13.6 | I was looking at a Max and someone like Michael Schumacher. |
| 1:16.6 | What about marketing and media then? |
| 1:18.6 | It's nice to have someone that's got a big personality and waltzes into Austin on a horse, great. |
| 1:23.6 | That's coming at the cost of something else though. |
... |
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