[Ranking] - the 90s F1 decade

[Antonov]

@PTRACER @PTfan54 @Arthur-vL @Everso Biggyballies @MonteCristo @DoubleFart @erwin greven @Cheeveer @SB83 @jimclark @Star @XcraigX @Warren @Ruslan @White six @John @Picci @Kai-Star @Michael Ferner @DaleJuniorFan @JBT @theracer120 @manny @marshall @Michkov

I invite all active members on here to join in in this 'game'.
Sorry if you are not in this list, but please note you are also more than welcome.

The idea is that we have a 'game' here in which F1 seasons are ranked.
This will be per decade: 80s, 90s, 00s and 10s

The idea is to downgrade (-1) or upgrade a season (+1). Each season starts at seven points.
UPDATE 22/03/2021: downgrade and upgrade will be with intervals of 2; so (+2) or (-2)
When a season reaches 0, it's knocked out.
A top three will emerge.

When the top 3 of all 4 decades are known, there will be a 'super-ranking' to determine the best seasons of F1.

We will start with the 90s:

1999 (7)
1998 (7)
1997 (7)
1996 (7)
1995 (7)
1994 (7)
1993 (7)
1992 (7)
1991 (7)
1990 (7)

If you can mention a reason or motivate why you upgrade or downgrade a season, that would be nice fodder for discussion.

Above all, let's have fun!

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Ranking the 90s F1 decade
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

[Antonov]

1997 (8) (+1)
1999 (7)
1998 (7)
1996 (7)
1995 (7)
1994 (7)
1993 (7)
1991 (7)
1990 (7)
1992 (6) (-1)

sorry for the Mansell fans, but 1992 was the equivalent of 2004 - a highly dominant season for one team and one driver in particular.
the season had its moments, for sure, but only unreliability, weather conditions or unexpected occurences meant Williams weren't dominant.

1997 was a massively competitive year, with the championship swinging between Villeneuve and Schumacher throughout. Sterling drives throughout the field, interesting evolution with Bridgestone stepping in, and often unexpected results. Cars definitely looked at their best.

[DoubleFart]

1997 (8)
1999 (8) (+1)
1998 (7)
1996 (7)
1995 (7)
1993 (7)
1991 (7)
1990 (7)
1994 (6) (-1)
1992 (6)


Upvoting 1999 - unpredictability, the humanity of Hakkinen, the chaos of the Nurburging, Frentzen and Jordan having a great year, Irvine almost taking the title, the wall of champions truly earning its name.

Downvoting 1994 - the loss of Senna and Ratzenberger, almost losing Wendlinger. Massive shunts all through the year. Politics ruining the sport. Stupid chicanes being built everywhere. Cars weren't particularly pretty (Simtek aside). Title was decided in far from sporting circumstances.

[Michkov]

1999 (9)
1997 (8)
1998 (8) (+1)
1996 (7)
1993 (7)
1991 (7)
1990 (7)
1995 (6) (-1)
1992 (6)
1994 (5)

Having a memory that only goes back to 94 isn't helping, because the early decade is behind rose tinted glasses and the last couple of years are the ones when I got into the sport and everything was interesting. I'd take 95 because it was a Benetton walkover and 98 because personally its my foundational season as far as following F1 goes.

[erwin greven]

1992 and 1993 were walk overs from Mansell and Prost. Both Williams cars in those years were utterly dominant.

[MonteCristo]

1997 (9) (+1)
1999 (9)
1998 (8)
1996 (7)
1993 (7)
1991 (7)
1990 (7)
1992 (6)
1994 (5)
1995 (5) (-1)

It's really just one big screw you to Chin.

[PTRACER]

1997 was good, but 1996 was the year of the 90s for me and gets my vote.

The championship was won with little controversy or nasty goings on, no cheating, no silly collisions between rivals etc. Quite a constrast compared to say 1994, 1995 and 1997 (Michael ). The races were really quite memorable, whereas I can't seem to remember individual races from 1997 quite as well even though that was probably the better season in general.

My downvote goes to 1992 because of the Williams domination. I originally wanted it to go to 1993, which seems to be the least talked about season of the 90s (and therefore must surely have been the worst), but that would be unfair given how little I know of the season myself. I think I should watch a season review sometime as an education.

1997 (9)
1999 (9)
1998 (8)
1996 (8) (+1)
1993 (7)
1991 (7)
1990 (7)
1992 (5) (-1)
1994 (5)
1995 (5)

[Antonov]

!!! IMPORTANT !!!

I think with the (+1) (-1) we might be stuck here for some time.
We'll increase (and adjust) the interval a bit to '2'.

Kind request to leave 2 different entires between your own posts.

Adjusted table:

1999 (11)
1997 (11)
1998 (9)
1996 (9)
1993 (7)
1991 (7)
1992 (3)
1995 (3)
1994 (3)

[Antonov]

1999 (13)(+2)
1997 (11)
1998 (9)
1996 (9)
1993 (7)
1991 (7)
1992 (3)
1995 (3)
1994 (1)(-2)

1999 was when my interest for F1 really started (France '99 to be exact).
Very interesting season with surprising twists and turns throughout.

1994 is on the brink of knock-out. My reason for downgrading it is as follows: Schumacher winning the championship by one point may point to a fantastic season. But it really wasn't. The championship deciding race summed the season up pretty well: controversial. That, two deaths, some nasty crashes, and probably the least talented grid (at the time).

I would really like to read some of @Everso Biggyballies 's insights.

[Michael Ferner]

1999 (13)
1997 (11)
1996 (11)(+2)
1998 (9)
1993 (7)
1991 (7)
1990 (7)
1992 (3)
1995 (3)
1994 (1)

Damon Hill winning was nice in a decade when my interest was generally on the wane. Still, I can't bring myself to "downgrade" a specific season - can't I downgrade the entire decade?

[MonteCristo]

can't I downgrade the entire decade?

IMO the 90s were the last decent decade.

The last 20 years have, on the whole, been awful. A few good races here and there certainly - but the seasons themselves are just getting worse and worse.

[Michael Ferner]

So I got out at just the right time? :feeling smug:

[Antonov]

Still, I can't bring myself to "downgrade" a specific season

please choose one

1994 is one post away from being knocked out.

[Antonov]

can't I downgrade the entire decade?

IMO the 90s were the last decent decade.

The last 20 years have, on the whole, been awful. A few good races here and there certainly - but the seasons themselves are just getting worse and worse.

I'll bring myself to watch the ITV highlights (+- 40 min. per race) of the 2000s.
As I've 'outgrown' being a (Raikkonen) fanboy, I wonder if I'll experience these seasons differently.

As to the 90s: I've started watching the BBC highlights (+- 40 min. per race) of 1996.
What a beautiful season that was - agree with @PTRACER on that.
Later on in this thread I will surely be defending it for a top position.

[Michael Ferner]

Still, I can't bring myself to "downgrade" a specific season

please choose one

1994 is one post away from being knocked out.

All right, if needs must I'll go for 1992. Never liked that mustachioed chap, and watching him sleepwalk to an F1 title was no joy.