1. Stefan Bellof
Active years: 1984 - 1985
20 GPs
A tragedy in motorsport is first and foremost a personal affair, centered around the distress imposed on the family and friends of a victim. But motor racing as a whole and Formula 1 in particular lost out badly when Stefan Bellof was killed at the Spa 1000 kms sporstcar race in 1985.
Many will feel that our decision to designate the German as the best F1 driver never to win a Grand Prix reflects a sense of injustice towards our runner-up Chris Amon. It's an understandable perception given the latter's 96-race track record spanning 13 years in F1 versus Bellof's two-year spell and 20 outings in the sport, all conducted with Tyrrell.
Both men were sublime talents, but Bellof holds an edge in our view. His blistering speed was a blend of extraordinary ability and perilous fear, a precarious fusion that certainly put him on the ragged edge and beyond once too often.
Thin ice and slippery grounds were Bellof's field of expertise and the risky terrain on which he best showcased his genius.
In motorsport's collective memory, the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix was all about the rise and arrival of Ayrton Senna. Yet on that day, in the pouring rain, as the Brazilian gained on race leader Alain Prost and before the race was prematurely halted, Bellof was the fastest driver on the track, a fact which is often overlooked when one recalls that memorable day.
Mocking the treacherous conditions, the German ace would have perhaps overhauled both Senna and Prost had the race run its full distance.
Bellof's incredible natural ability and daring determination, had they been given a chance to be durably applied to F1, would have undoubtedly put him on a collision course with Senna in the following years, and what a battle royale that would have been!
But audacity and boldness void of patience and discipline are like walking a tightrope above an abyss.
On that fateful day at Spa in 1985, Bellof hadn't yet fully grasped the potentially devastating pitfalls of his intrepidity.
