Not my opinion, but the title of a biography. Given that he and Gilles Villeneuve were active F1 drivers in the same years, I'm going to suggest that he was never more than 3rd best (on points scored and ability).

But you don't have to be the best driver, even in your own team, to win the title, Farina, Phil Hill, Scheckter for instance. 

I don't think Damon or Jaques would rate as the best drivers overall in 96 or 97 either.

Didier wasn't the best driver at Ferrari in '82, but after Gilles died, the car was so strong there was little year-long competition for the title. 

It was dominant on speed. Mario took pole in it first time out after a year off F1, 4 different drivers got podiums in it and it took the Constructors title.

Pironi would certainly have been champion IMO but for his hideous accident with Prost.

 

The title of the book would be better suited to one about GV though.

F1 is 90% car 10% driver i heard said and reckon largely true.

15 hours ago, camelspyyder said:

The title of the book would be better suited to one about GV though

Yes, that was exactly my thinking too.

Somehow missed this thread.

 

Pironi was a duplicitous toad whose behaviour at Imola in 1982 had a huge effect on Gilles that was a contributory factor in Gilles accident at Zolder (he couldn't bear to be beaten by Pironi in qualifying).

 

The Champ who never was? If Gilles had lived then he would have been a deserved world champ in 82. If Pironi hadn't crashed then he would have been. So many ifs; just like motor racing has been since it began.

@tweenster - Absol-frelling-lutely!