JONATHAN McEVOY’S END-OF-SEASON F1 AWARDS
DRIVER OF THE YEAR
LEWIS HAMILTON. A racer for the ages, at the zenith of his career. This season everything has fallen into place. With Nico Rosberg gone, the Brit has laid his paranoia to rest; with Sebastian Vettel committed to Ferrari, he feels contentedly part of the furniture and fittings at Mercedes. Hamilton’s deportment is not to every taste, but he has struck a successful balance between his jet-set lifestyle and the demands of racing. Still, it wouldn’t be Lewis if there were entirely calm waters ahead.
VILLAIN OF THE YEAR
SEBASTIAN VETTEL, calm, private and smiling out of the car, but a weakness for the ruthless in it, seemingly caused by a flash of anger. Hence the German ramming into Hamilton in Baku. I also suspect he could have done more to avoid Hamilton on the opening lap in Mexico. Naughty.
LAP OF THE YEAR
HAMILTON’S qualifying romp that defied all-known physics in Monza on the most protracted, rain-soaked day of the season. He put nearly a second on the next best. It was not only arguably the best lap of his life, but surely as good as any ever seen.
TEAM OF THE YEAR
THE obvious answer is Mercedes. But we honour the miracle on a shoestring: Force India. With an £80million budget — compared to Ferrari’s £300m — they are expertly run by Otmar Szafnauer and Bob Fearnley. With two very decent drivers, Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez, they deserve their fourth-place finish in the constructors’ standings.
LONG SERVICE AWARD
JENSON BuTTON returned for a one- off in Monaco. His mind had long since switched to triathlons and retirement in sunny California, and it showed. He will not be back. And Massa, re- employed by Williams to fill the hole left by Valtteri Bottas (right), has retired again. For good this time.
PICTURE OF THE YEAR
BERNIE ECCLESTONE talking animatedly to Vladimir Putin in the stands in Sochi while Chase Carey, the new chief executive, sat twiddling his thumbs. This awkward image highlighted Ecclestone’s pulling power, and why Carey so resents the octogenarian’s presence even on the periphery of the real action.
RACE OF THE YEAR
A MAD first few seconds in Singapore — as the Ferraris collided with Max Verstappen’s Red Bull — were lively. But Azerbaijan provided the most tension and controversy with the Vettel- on-Hamilton shunt. We should put a word’s praise in for events across the Pond. While the jewel that is Monaco was serving up a turgid race, Fernando Alonso, given dispensation to miss it, almost won a scintillating Indianapolis 500 that contained an unforgettable smash. Alonso wooed America by how expertly he adapted to oval racing.
CLANGER OF THE YEAR
THE annual Ferrari implosion that took the heat out of what had been a gripping title fight. They are the great enigma: blessed by the biggest budget, but falling short. Ferrari have prospered when strong drivers have asserted themselves — Surtees, Scheckter, Schumacher. Can Vettel do the same?