Forum Replies Created
- Posts
Always good fun, these, and definitely never contentious ;-)
Caveat beforehand: this has been a season of really decent F1 performance, mostly. The Haas and Russell are hard to place and gauge, everyone else has mostly done quite well, my 20-17 excepted. From 16-3 they’ve all done well, some very, very well. But 2 and 1 are in a league of their own.
Let’s see, counting down:
20 – Kubica. That he is here alone deserves merit, but even so… Say goodbye.
19 – Gasly. Comparison with his teammate is so bad.
18 – Stroll. The idea of him as a permanent fixture in F1 is frightening.
17 – Giovinazzi. If Kimi was done, he did not show it.
16/15 – Grosjean/Magnussen. Impossible to place.
14 – Perez. Grey, just filling the field right now.
13 – Hulk. Can’t say more about him than what I said about Perez, sadly.
12 – Ricciardo. Not taken the Renault to dizzying heights, which he really should have.
11 – Kimi. Hardly amazing, but still did some good stuff.
10 – Vettel. Just not shining, too many mistakes. Frustrated.
9 – Russell. Williams makes this impossible to gauge, as does Kubica, but I think 9 is about right.
8 – Bottas. Good, fine, had his moments, but once again the rut set it.
7 – Kvuat. Showing his quality, which makes me very happy.
6 – Leclerc. Definitely not one of the season’s stars, despite everyone salivating over his future. Too many mistakes. Lacks consistency badly. And in a field of young stars, no longer the sole pretender to the crown.
5 – Sainz. He did what Ricciardo didn’t do. Outshone the car. Took it to dizzying heights. Last year I thought Hulk had him pegged. This year (could well be car-related), the roles are reversed.
4 – Albon. A revelation. Never particularly rated him as a young driver, but he’s shown himself to be a future star. So mature. Steady and fast.
3 – Norris. The best rookie since our 1 and 2. Unbelievable what he’s shown.
2 – Hamilton. Only not number one because of how close Bottas has run him at times, and Hockenheim. I hope he remains interested and committed to F1 for a long, long time. Becoming a true statesman.
1 – Verstappen. Best driver of the field for around a year now. Finally seems to have everything he once promised. Gap to Gasly the only thing that might be flattering him a bit…I always love seeing the disparity in people’s perceptions. Although it is interesting when they get ‘confirmed’ by the opinions of those actually involved in the sport. Like last year for instance RaceFans was pretty much identical to the team bosses.
1 – Hamilton. Can’t really debate this, car was probably the best, but so was the driver. Most consistent, definitely not as dominant as some seasons (despite the points tally, which is down to reliability of the car too), but had to get stuck in more, and did so with aplomb. A worthy five time champion.
2 – Verstappen. If the season lasted from Canada to Abu Dhabi, he’d be one. But it doesn’t. His early season form was perplexing after a phenomenal 2017: he was fast, sure, but clumsy and overly hurried. Now that he’s (re)found the way to drive within himself, he’s doing better. Second half of the season was just nuts. Maximised it marvellously.
3 – Vettel. If the season lasted from Australia to Germany, he’d be one. But it doesn’t. Buckled under pressure, again. Now, permit me, I don’t agree with all the vociferous criticism: I’m more inclined to follow Mark Hughes’ description of how Vettel is trying to take the Scuderia in his direction, he’s essentially taking on more than he should need to. Needs a Todt, a Brawn. If Ferrari had been more stable, more adaptive, I think he’s WDC. Instead, thinly spread, he makes mistakes. Still a sensational driver who deserved almost as much to be champion.
4 – Alonso. Could be second, could be eighth. I just don’t know with him. Vandoorne’s car had issues all year long, so I can’t say whether or not he actually did a good job beating him. I don’t know if he outdrove the McLaren or not. It’s rare that a backmarker is the most exciting driver of the season. So yeah, this one comes with a caveat.
5- Leclerc. Anyone looking forward to the ‘big three’ having a battle next year, well, be happy that someone who may well be as good as them turned up and has gotten a top race seat. What a talent. What a year. Can’t wait to see how he fares next to Vettel.
6 – Ricciardo. Comprehensively beaten, but in an almost Germanic way managed to secure a good result whenever it was possible. Effective, a great overtaker, but there’s a reason he’s off to Renault. If F1 has a top three now that Alonso is gone, sadly he’s no longer in it.
7 – Hulk. Perennial top seven. Just so good. So consistent. We’ll never know what he could do in a race winning car, which saddens me. But next year if he’s as close to Ricciardo as he is here, I think that will have said enough.
8 – Bottas. Poor guy. His first third of the season was as good as Vettel’s and better than Hamilton. Once Lewis gets going there’s no stopping, however. A real shame he lost momentum and had some bad luck, but I reckon 2019 is his last chance and probably he won’t take it. Consistent, fast, nice guy, just not Rosberg.
9 – Ocon. Just edges out Gasly, based on the entirely subjective feeling I have of their seasons, Ocon outpacing Perez being more impressive. He’s too combative, makes quite a few mistakes, and is belying his ‘Prost to Verstappen’s Senna’ image: but he’s still dangerously fast and very, very good. Put him in the 2020 Merc and I won’t bet against him being WDC.
10 – Gasly. Impressive, fast, bit of a difficult guy. Red Bull next season will be fun (although apparently they’re mates). Beat Hartley nicely, drove that car to impossible positions early on, but didn’t have a Leclerc season. Very good, not great.
11 – Kimi. The epitome of good not great. Love the guy to death, loved his win and his pole, love how he’s still going because he loves the driving. But even though he had a decent season, you feel like he now has a ceiling – whereas with Bottas, you feel that his second half of the season didn’t meet his ceiling.
12 – Sainz. Here to stay, here to occassionally impress beyond the car, but also to have weekends of total gray anonomity. In that regard Sainz hasn’t changed from his junior career. For someone nicknamed Chilli he needs to be hot more often.
13 – Grosjean. On pace he has Magnussen, who I think is very overrated due to his bad-boy image. Recovered well from an appalling first third. Deservingly ahead.
14 – Perez. No longer the Mr. Consistent who everyone tips for a possible top seat. Well beaten on pace by Ocon. Just not impressive anymore.
15 – Sirotkin. Good rookie season. Showed what a modicum of talent can do with that car. Shame he’s losing his seat.
16 – Ericsson. Held his own better than I expected. Now that he’s going, I am actually going to miss him.
17 – Magnussen. Showed flashes, but also showed that he’s only brash because he gets into needless fights. Got pace, at times, little else. Not a complete F1 driver.
18 – Hartley. I understand they let him go. Solid, dependable, good feedback, nice guy, just not quick enough. Will be missed out of the car, not in it.
19 – Vandoorne. Could be anywhere outside the top 13. Still think he’s better than most drivers in F1. Don’t know what went wrong, never will get it. Supremely talented. Maybe not confident? Maybe the car? I don’t know. Really, really sad.
20 – Stroll. Sad in a different way.
I would love an explanation from an F1 driver how technical feedback works. How do they know about the various inputs, how do they know how to link certain car behaviours and handling characteristics to elements on their car? Do they get better over time due to experience or is it an intuitive thing? Do they need technical understanding or not?
Yes, he will be terrible at Prema. And, for all my enthusiasm about De Vries joining Prema and automatically being favourite for the title on that basis, he’s only there to be a driver coach to Gelael, basically the Gelaels have Strolled Prema. It’s going to be interesting what that has as consequences.
My driver ranking of F1:
1 – Vettel. I know. Many disagree. But if you look at the package, you don’t convince me the Ferrari was the better car. He would have been world champion if not for the Singapore start and engine issues in Japan and Malaysia, I am convinced. It’s an intangible, but he was superb.
2 – Verstappen. Arguably the fastest driver of the year, his quali record against Ricciardo and laps led against Ricciardo is astonishing. Still a bit of a rough one at times and inconsistent, but already past his much rated teammate. Just a shame I don’t see RB recovering to a good enough car for him to be World Champion any time soon.
3 – Hamilton. World Champion, ridiculous qualifying, but also lucky in reliability and his opponents. Some great drives, some where he barely had to break out a sweat. Deserved World Champion, just not as deserved as Vettel would have been.
(These first three positions are more or less ex aequo, as in the differences are minute, and they were all extraordinary. These are the best drivers in F1 by a distance. The distance to this season’s number four needs emphasizing)
4 – Ocon. The next big thing. You may argue his quali pace isn’t quite there yet, but that is an experience issue, just look at Verstappen vs Ricciardo. A great racer, fast and consistent, so much talent, so well done. Hugely impressed.
5 – Alonso. The ultimate intangible, ungraspable. No idea if he should actually be 1st or 10th, only the comparison with Vandoorne helps and Vandoorne had a pretty average rookie season but wasn’t even that far off. Some stellar drivers, just not the best driver in the field anymore, I reckon.
6 – Bottas. Kept Hamilton honest more than I expected, but inconsistent. Pace is there, raw talent, but not yet the mental edge to fight Hamilton or improve his style to fit multiple circumstances. Might get there, might not. But deserving of another chance none the less.
7 – Ricciardo. A fortuitous win and many a fortuitous podium in a season in which he outscored a teammate but was outperformed all round. Still one of the best in F1 but in serious danger of being a number two driver wherever he goes. Might need to move to say McLaren of Renault to be number one at a big team. Not of the level of Hamilton, Vettel or Verstappen at the moment, and no longer has the element of underestimation on his side.
8 – Hulkenburg. Did very well to get that car up the field at times. Quali was breathtaking, as is his talent. Races were good, if a bit variable, although that is the car, too. Kept Sainz very honest during the last few races, which after having to race Palmer would likely have been a good eye-opener. Needs to push on to get that horrible, ignominous record off his back.
9 – Perez. Out starred by a teammate he outscored. A very good driver, indeed F1 in 2017 is stronger than ever when Perez is 9th in these rankings. Just needs to watch out he isn’t supplanted next season.
10 – Sainz. Had an easy job at first, but still Kvyat held him too close on quali, which is alarming. True hot and cold driver, almost of the highest level when he is on it, midfield fodder when he is not. Didn’t really elevate the car beyond its level this season. Competition with Hulkenburg will do him well, I reckon.
11 – Vandoorne. Decent enough rookie season from a very good driver. Kept Alonso honest. Still reckon he has a good enough level to be a future World Champion. But needs a better functioning car: expect him to get close to Alonso next season.
(the gap between Vandoorne and the rest is also quite large)
12 – Grosjean. Good enough, nothing special. Moans too much. Has a teammate who I think has been found too weak for F1 but kept his position anyway, beat him but by no means convincingly. Needs to step up if he wants to merit staying in F1 much longer.
13 – Gasly and Hartley. An impressive rookie stint from both. Good to see them in F1.
14 – Kimi. Wish he would just retire. I love the man, but he’s not on it. Quali was ok, races were appalling.
15 – Massa. We’ll never know how good the Williams was this year. Underperformed but still utterly obliterated Stroll.
16 – Magnussen. A big mouth that doesn’t match his ability. Shows a few moments of promise, but you get the feeling ego and work ethic don’t match.
17 – Wehrlein: see Magnussen.
18 – Ericcson. Kept Wehrlein honest, the fact that Wehrlein is being dropped and not Ericcson (it seems) no longer feels unfair. Wehrlein has more talent: Ericcson more desire to improve.
19 – Kvyat. Dropped harshly but finally. His quali record shows that the talent is there. The application and mental strength was lacking.
20 – Stroll. A rookie so not last, but the worst driver in F1 by a distance comparable to a McLaren after grid penalties. A shame on Williams’ illustrious history.
21 – Palmer. Awful. Didn’t deserve an F1 seat. Didn’t deserve a second season. Dropped. Nice guy, average racing driver.
A return to 2010 and 2012 would do me fine, multiple race winning cars.
And for the youngest pole position ever ;-)1 – Max Verstappen. And yes, I’m taking factors into account. If you consider he absolutely rinsed my 7 ranked driver, and then immediately started regularly besting everyone’s number one pick, at his age and level of experience, how can he not be? Sensation doesn’t begin to cover it. He’ll draw masses to F1 like we haven’t seen since a yellow helmet in a Lotus.
2- Lewis Hamilton. Still the fastest in F1, I think. Unlucky at times, deserved more, deserved a title too. His emotions block his driving at times. That stops him being number one.
3 – Daniel Ricciardo. As good as it gets, if sometimes a little lacklustre in the race. Not nearly as consistent as in 2014, regularly beaten in a a car he knew better. Best qualifier in the game though and made that count. Worry he may well be second best next season.
4 – Nico Rosberg. A deserving world champion. Finally managing to consistently turn poles into wins. Incredibly fast and very good at developing the car. Not a brilliant racer but still was there when it mattered.
5 – Nico Hulkenburg. Incredibly underrated because of Perez, Hulkenburg was better this season. Next year, with normally degrading tyres he’d have beaten him soundly. Great qualifier and consistent racer.
6 – Kimi. My favourite driver did himself no shame this season. Impressive stuff and probably should have won Barcelona. Vettel was not at his amazing 2015 best but Kimi really pegged him this year. Hope it continues.
7 – Carlos Sainz. Soundly beaten by Verstappen and tailed off badly at the end of the season, but still showed a great amount of promise and skill during the European part of the season. Future race winner.
8 – Sebastian Vettel. Best driver last year, this year his frustrations showed on the track. Whining hypocrite and not beating Kimi dominantly. Final race of the season was brilliant again though so hope that fire still burns.
9 – Sergio Perez. Big benefits from the degrading tyres, on pace was second-best to Hulkenburg. Still a future race winner and strong driver.
10 – Fernando Alonso. Very difficult to gauge how good the McLaren actually was so can’t place him too highly. Outdrove the car at times, still one of the very best.
11 – Valterri Bottas. Had an off colour season. Not showed himself enough due to the car but also rarely outdrove it.
12 – Pascal Wehrlein. Never really rated him but his Q2 performances have been brilliant. Ocon had his number in the races though I reckon.
13 – Joleon Palmer. Never rated him at all and felt vindicated during the first part of the season. The way he improved was very impressive. Kudos
14 – Romain Grosjean. Got points when he could. Didn’t impress me enough vs Guttierez on pace.
15 – Jenson Button. Final season blues.
16 – Esteban Ocon. Probably the biggest talent outside of Verstappen but didn’t really (get to) show it in the Manor. Hope he shows it next to Perez next season.
17 – Daniil Kvyat. Beat Ricciardo last season. Terrible at the start of this one. Just too inconsistent and mentally unready. Still very fast and by the end regularly ahead of Sainz. Glad he’s been given another chance.
18 – Esteban Guttierez. Quali pace impressive. I for one hope he isn’t lost to F1 yet.
19 – Kevin Magnussen. Never thought he deserved a McLaren seat but he did show potential. Didn’t this season. Poor.
20 – Felipe Massa. See Jenson Button. Glad he’s going.
21 – Marcus Ericsson. Beat his teammate in everything but points. Improved.
22 – Felipe Nasr. Poor.
23 – Ryo Haryanto. Bye.
So, my ranking, in order:
1. Max Verstappen
2. Daniel Ricciardo
3. Lewis Hamilton
4. Carlos Sainz (what a season he’s having)
5. Sergio Perez
6. Kimi Raikkonen
7. Nico Rosberg
8. Valtteri Bottas
9. Nico Hulkenburg
10. Jenson Button
11. Fernando Alonso
12. Sebastian Vettel (I am a Vettel fan, but he’s having a bad season by his own, very high, standards)
13. Esteban Guttierez
14. Pascal Wehrlein
15. Romain Grosjean
16. Daniil Kvyat (still scored a podium)
17. Kevin Magnussen
18. Ryo Haryanto
19. Marcus Ericcson
20. Felipe Nasr
21. Jolyon Palmer
22. Felipe MassaThat’s it.