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BBV10s S11 E10: The Top 10 rivalries of F1's V10 era (early access)

For 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.

BBV10s S11 E10: The Top 10 rivalries of F1's V10 era (early access)

Comments

Hunt versus Walker?

Scuderia Irish

I 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

Yeah, 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

Damon definitely doesn’t ’hate Michael to this day’ 😅

The Race

since 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

I’d read a whole book on Ronspeak

Ken Riegel

The 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

"Top 10 Ronspeak" needs to be an episode.

Mark Riccetti Jr

Surely 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

The 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

One 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

Is it July yet??? Fantastic episode but needed more Schumacher! 🤣

Dragon_Ninja85

🤫

The Race

Only just started this one but I think I know what's going to be number 1 already

Dan W

Ron Dennis vs. Explaining something in short sentences

Ken Riegel

Talking 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

Ayrton Senna v. Jean-Marie Balestre.

Patrick

Good one, you could even just call it F1 v. IndyCar.

Patrick

Terrific 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

LOL 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

Christian Fittipaldi vs Pierluigi Martini vs gravity at Monza 93?

Simon Emms

Have I? I didn't even realise it was still going as a magazine. Great minds think alike though

Simon Emms

You've read this month's Motorsport magazine!

Alexander Law

Minardi vs Money. How on earth did they stay afloat for sooo long?

Tim

I love these debates so much! The giggling, the teasing, and the different methodologies you all employ. Thanks so much.

Leanne Genn

Jenson 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

100% agree

Andy Campbell

Max and Bernie vs everyone else

Hugh

Ahh beat me to it

Hugh

The greatest rivalry of the V10 era is JV verses reality.

Michael Brown

FOM/Bernie vs Indycar A subtle but quite important rivalry

Hatman

Honorable 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

True. Damon's sacking was one of the longest episodes

Simon Emms

Damn, that's enough for an episode on it's own!

Cardiff Giant

Flavio vs. Number 2 drivers is right up there

Ken Riegel

Nice 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

Congratulations. You made me laugh out loud

Simon Emms

Ferrari 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

Balestre vs Bernie and Max.

Jan Machálek

Similarly, Jean Alesi vs Benetton. All downhill after Melbourne 97

Lewis Dalgarno

Jean Alesi vs himself

Nate B

It cozs schumacher is and was the best driver

Andy Barber

Schumacher 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

I 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

Schumacher vs Newey

Scotty Doran

I'll remember Perez and Ocon in 20 years' time - they made me cry with laughter! 😄

TJ Preston

Schumacer vs mika i alway thought was the best

Andy Barber


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