BBV10s S11 E10: The Top 10 rivalries of F1's V10 era (early access)
Added 2025-03-05 14:52:06 +0000 UTCFor the finale of Season 11 of Bring Back V10s we're debating the top 10 rivalries of F1's V10 era.
Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher and Nigel Mansell all feature prominently as you'd expect, as do the main foes they encountered - and usually fell out with.
Host Glenn Freeman is joined by the usual 'top 10' crew of Ben Anderson, Edd Straw and Matt Beer to debate which rivalries stood out the most, and compare their different approaches to the question of what makes an F1 rivalry great.
Comments
Hunt versus Walker?
Scuderia Irish
2025-03-13 00:12:11 +0000 UTCI know that it doesn't merit being on this list, but in the early 2000s I was certain that Kimi vs Alonso was going to be the next era-defining rivalry. They were the two best young drivers, they both featured on the podium in each other's first wins in 2003, and had that title battle in 2005 that lacked a proper climax. But it never really materialised after that.
Anssi Rulamo
2025-03-08 10:48:06 +0000 UTCYeah, often when periodising F1 in my head, 2006 to 2007 seems a clear cut-off point. Schumi retiring, Kimi moving to Ferrari, Michelin leaving, Hamilton entering, Alonso leaving Renault and Renault starting to struggling, Italy and Germany losing their two-races-a-year privilege, etc.
Anssi Rulamo
2025-03-08 10:45:24 +0000 UTCDamon definitely doesn’t ’hate Michael to this day’ 😅
The Race
2025-03-08 08:17:57 +0000 UTCsince you mentioned it a bit in this episode with Ferrari vs McLaren, doing a top 10 team principles of the v10 era would be really interesting. other rivalries would be Williams drivers vs Franks constant search for the next great thing mclaren vs engine reliability
sabrina
2025-03-08 00:37:54 +0000 UTCI’d read a whole book on Ronspeak
Ken Riegel
2025-03-07 13:55:11 +0000 UTCThe other thing with Michael vs. Damon is that it was for the most part a very one sided rivalry. Damon still hates Michael to this day, but Schumacher barely acknowledged he existed most days. (As opposed to Schumi/Mika or even Schumi/Senna.) Hill was very much the younger brother wanting to hang out with the cool kids who actively try to ditch him.
Mark Riccetti Jr
2025-03-07 13:26:41 +0000 UTC"Top 10 Ronspeak" needs to be an episode.
Mark Riccetti Jr
2025-03-07 13:25:02 +0000 UTCSurely you mean "making one's explainations concise, clear, compact and to-the-point in a way that the international audience of Formula One can comprehend in an easy and simple manner and the success or failure therein"
Simon Emms
2025-03-07 08:56:05 +0000 UTCThe Tyre wars starting 1997-2006 defined many of the team battles during this time. Intro of grooved tyres, departure of Goodyear, marriage between Ferrari and Bridgestone, and their failure to adapt to new rules. Debacle at Indy 05 etc
Nick of Oz
2025-03-07 02:09:22 +0000 UTCOne I was surprised wasn't featured was Schumi and Alonso. I know their title battle was in the V8 era, but you had the tussle at Imola in 05, the overtake at the 130r in Suzuka and some flashpoints in 2003/04 too
Mark Martin
2025-03-06 18:11:04 +0000 UTCIs it July yet??? Fantastic episode but needed more Schumacher! 🤣
Dragon_Ninja85
2025-03-06 18:02:01 +0000 UTC🤫
The Race
2025-03-06 15:44:38 +0000 UTCOnly just started this one but I think I know what's going to be number 1 already
Dan W
2025-03-06 15:35:35 +0000 UTCRon Dennis vs. Explaining something in short sentences
Ken Riegel
2025-03-06 14:53:42 +0000 UTCTalking of Jean Alesi vs. himself or Benetton (which are both good shouts), I thought of another couple of his - Jean Alesi vs. Martin Brundle (they had a long run of spats between 1989 and '95, although their relationship swiftly improved when Martin took to the commentary box). Also with Michael Schumacher, because he lost his Ferrari drive to M. Schumacher and ultimately it was that swap between them that made it clear that apart from the odd race here and there he wasn't as good as people previously thought. There was an amusing skirmish at the end of '95 when they had some great battles and claimed they could race each other without a problem, contrasting their conduct with Damon Hill's clumsy accidents that year, and then came Alesi's moment of madness at Australia 95. Yet despite all of that they ended up becoming friends. I don't think any of these Alesi rivalries are up there with the top 10 in the episode, but I thought it was worth me mentioning them. As for the episode (excellent episode by the way), I find it particularly hard to argue with the #1 choice, I sensed a certain inevitability about it, it really ticks all of the boxes.
Ian Simpson
2025-03-06 14:28:16 +0000 UTCAyrton Senna v. Jean-Marie Balestre.
Patrick
2025-03-06 12:13:40 +0000 UTCGood one, you could even just call it F1 v. IndyCar.
Patrick
2025-03-06 11:40:44 +0000 UTCTerrific pod. Perfect length too ... inspired me to walk home from work so I could listen to it. You can tell I don't like conflict when I tell you my favourite (read: this doesn't mean best) rivalry from the era was Michael v Mikka.
Michael Holden
2025-03-06 11:34:10 +0000 UTCLOL the Bish and Edd might raise an eyebrow on that comment - heh more like universal stolen copies for each other :-P. Agree that it's one of the biggest rivalries of the period.
Alexander Law
2025-03-06 05:46:52 +0000 UTCChristian Fittipaldi vs Pierluigi Martini vs gravity at Monza 93?
Simon Emms
2025-03-06 05:34:50 +0000 UTCHave I? I didn't even realise it was still going as a magazine. Great minds think alike though
Simon Emms
2025-03-06 05:30:06 +0000 UTCYou've read this month's Motorsport magazine!
Alexander Law
2025-03-06 05:23:14 +0000 UTCMinardi vs Money. How on earth did they stay afloat for sooo long?
Tim
2025-03-06 05:04:10 +0000 UTCI love these debates so much! The giggling, the teasing, and the different methodologies you all employ. Thanks so much.
Leanne Genn
2025-03-06 01:50:09 +0000 UTCJenson button vs the contract recognition board/BAR/Williams Serious answer though has to be Max and Bernie vs everyone. Jean Alesi vs himself I would second shout as well.
Andy Campbell
2025-03-05 22:35:16 +0000 UTC100% agree
Andy Campbell
2025-03-05 22:31:08 +0000 UTCMax and Bernie vs everyone else
Hugh
2025-03-05 21:01:27 +0000 UTCAhh beat me to it
Hugh
2025-03-05 21:00:55 +0000 UTCThe greatest rivalry of the V10 era is JV verses reality.
Michael Brown
2025-03-05 20:34:26 +0000 UTCFOM/Bernie vs Indycar A subtle but quite important rivalry
Hatman
2025-03-05 20:13:55 +0000 UTCHonorable mention to Schumacher vs. Alonso. It peaked in 06 but there were some glimpses earlier. 2006 is a strange year in general. Without Hamilton and Vettel who both defined the V8 era, but still had peak Schumacher and Montoya there as well. It would really fit if 2006 was the last year of V10s.
Peter Selecký
2025-03-05 19:38:14 +0000 UTCTrue. Damon's sacking was one of the longest episodes
Simon Emms
2025-03-05 18:47:50 +0000 UTCDamn, that's enough for an episode on it's own!
Cardiff Giant
2025-03-05 18:46:27 +0000 UTCFlavio vs. Number 2 drivers is right up there
Ken Riegel
2025-03-05 18:39:37 +0000 UTCNice episode as always! The winner was a foregone conclusion and solid reasoning and some nice discussion for the rest. Since you guys focused on the cream of the crop, I would be quite curious to hear some more about other rivalries further down the grid. There are probably some quite spicy and intense ones there as well, which just didn't last very long or happened too far down the order to have much historic significance. In regards to teams, the McLaren vs. Ferrari rivalry doesn't rank particularly highly for me. If I were to include a team rivalry, it would probably be Williams vs. Schumacher. This one lasted quite a while, had multiple world champions, very controversial title deciders and it also neatly includes the Britain vs. Germany aspect of the era as well as some feisty non-driver personell like Patrick Head.
David Trippler
2025-03-05 18:34:19 +0000 UTCCongratulations. You made me laugh out loud
Simon Emms
2025-03-05 18:09:00 +0000 UTCFerrari vs McLaren is the greatest team rivalry and one that continues to this day, but I don't get excited by team rivalries. If you'd have let me guess the shortlist, this wouldn't have even be on it for me. My fun suggestion for a great BBV10s rivalry - Williams vs their own world champions.
Simon Emms
2025-03-05 18:04:47 +0000 UTCBalestre vs Bernie and Max.
Jan Machálek
2025-03-05 17:52:12 +0000 UTCSimilarly, Jean Alesi vs Benetton. All downhill after Melbourne 97
Lewis Dalgarno
2025-03-05 17:49:56 +0000 UTCJean Alesi vs himself
Nate B
2025-03-05 17:41:09 +0000 UTCIt cozs schumacher is and was the best driver
Andy Barber
2025-03-05 17:32:16 +0000 UTCSchumacher himself said Mika was the one who challenged him the most. I find it interesting that Schumacher was probably the driver who had the most rivals over the years, probably owing somewhat to said rivals moving to other teams (Hill) or staying with the team during a decline (Villeneuve and Mika)
Cardiff Giant
2025-03-05 16:40:26 +0000 UTCI remember F1 racing publishing an article 'Would you rather a Shuey or a Newey?' and they rightly went with the latter. He is still winning titles 20 years after Schumachers last. Talking of Schumacher. I was never a fan. But it's so terribly sad what happened to him. I'd have loved to hear stories of the V10 era from his perspective and with hindsight.
Cardiff Giant
2025-03-05 16:36:38 +0000 UTCSchumacher vs Newey
Scotty Doran
2025-03-05 16:24:46 +0000 UTCI'll remember Perez and Ocon in 20 years' time - they made me cry with laughter! 😄
TJ Preston
2025-03-05 16:24:14 +0000 UTCSchumacer vs mika i alway thought was the best
Andy Barber
2025-03-05 15:49:23 +0000 UTC
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