Earlier this month Amazon Web Services (AWS) courted controversy when it released its list of the top ten fastest drivers using data taken from 1983 to 2019. Ayrton Senna claimed the number one spot ahead of Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton while four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel was down in 10th place.
The German ranked lower than his Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc as well as the two biggest surprises inside the top ten, Trulli and Kovalainen. Sebastian was smiling when Kai Ebel (RTL) told him the Top 3 of AWS Fastest Driver Of All Time ranking: “Complete nonsense, because Michael was the very fastest. We all know that, don’t we?”
“I think it’s very difficult to judge and I don’t know if the algorithm is good enough there yet. I think it would make more sense to ask someone who has really been around for a long time. I think he can then give a better impression. But that is how it is in our world. We believe the computer more than the people.” – Sebastian Vettel added.
F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn has previously defended the controversial ranking.
According to the former Ferrari and Mercedes man
“What we set out to do here was just to try and identify who we thought was the fastest driver – a driver who has demonstrated his speed over one lap and not necessarily his racing prowess or his results,” Brawn told ESPN.
“There’s been one or two surprises but when you delve into it, there’s a certain amount of sense. Someone who worked with Jarno who I know very well said that if grands prix were five laps long, he’d win every race because his speed was phenomenal over a very short period. We’ve extrapolated this and we’re quite proud of it and I think it stands scrutiny and it’s controversial and we will get lots of debate around it and maybe we will refine it. I don’t think people are laughing at it. I think it’s caused plenty of debate. I think once you understand the methodology then people will start to understand.” – he explained.
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