RACERS RATED: HOW THE FORMULA ONE DRIVERS PERFORMED IN 2017
Hamilton was at the peak of his powers; Sebastian Vettel mounted a grand title challenge; Max Verstappen put down a marker for the future
1) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes Championship finish 1
Bthe most successful British driver with his fourth world championship, one more than Sir Jackie Stewart, and in so doing also surpassed Michael Schumacher’s record of 68 pole positions.
But his achievement is best measured by the competition he had to beat. A resurgent Sebastian Vettel in an equally strong Ferrari offered as tough a fight as he has encountered and it took nine wins and some flawless performances to see off the German. Now enjoying a revitalised, positive atmosphere in the team, he handled setbacks with composure and in turn was able to put the pressure on his rival. Deserved champion at the peak of his powers.
2) Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari Championship finish 2
Mounted a grand assault on the title, enjoying a car that was often quicker than the Mercedes. Vettel turned in some superb performances, as did his team, ag gressive and clever strategies in Australia and Bahrain both returning wins. There was fortitude, as seen in his recovery to finish fourth in Canada after losing his front wing but the four-time world champion was stymied by errors. The swipe at Hamilton in Baku was evidence he was feeling the pressure and crashing out after aggressively defending off the grid in Singapore cost him a likely win. Then Ferrari, who had started so strongly, proved fallible and mechanical problems in Malaysia and Japan all but ended the charge.
3) Max Verstappen, Red Bull Championship finish 6
A torrid opening to the season that included five DNFs had the 20-year-old openly frustrated with his team but by the close both sides were more content. Verstappen finished very strongly with two wins and signed a new contract with Red Bull. Was out- scored by his team-mate, Daniel Ricciardo, but when the car was working he out-performed the Australian. Verstappen out- qualified Ricciardo 13-7, including a fantastic second in the wet at Monza. There were errors that cost him – notably hitting Ricciardo in Hungary – but superb races in Malaysia, Mexico, Japan and the US, some electrifying starts and fearlessness in taking on Vettel and Hamilton belies his sixth place.
4) Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Championship finish 5
Enjoyed more reliability than his team-mate and in a car that was off the pace of Mercedes and Ferrari still turned in a very strong season, including some aggressive but controlled overtaking. The win at Baku came after dropping to 17th following an unscheduled pit stop and he was similarly impressive to take sixth from the back in Brazil and fourth from 16th at Monza, where his dive up the inside of Kimi Raikkonen at the first chicane exemplified his fighting spirit. Defended skilfully too, holding off Hamilton in Austria. Nine podium finishes are more than might have been expected from the Red Bull.
5) Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes Championship finish 3
Opened strongly but the Finn will be ultimately disappointed with a second half of the season in which he was well off the pace of Hamilton despite a flourish at the finish. Two of his three race wins, in Russia and Austria, were impressive, both including holding off Vettel in the latter stages, but with Mercedes so strong his returns should have been higher. There were errors too, spinning behind the safety car in China, a poor restart at Spa and giving up the lead too easily in Brazil. Deserves some leeway given it is his first year with the team and his victory in Abu Dhabi in the final race, but now has everything to prove next season.
6) Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari Championship finish 4
Even given that Ferrari were putting all their weight behind Vettel for the title, the 38-year- old did not deliver nearly enough. The Scuderia needed him at least to be in a position to take points from Hamilton but too often he was not in the mix. Pole at Monaco was a reminder of his undoubted talent but it was a one-off. Indeed, the Ferrari chairman, Sergio Marchionne, warned of him being a “laggard” in mid-season. Ferrari have re- signed him for 2018 but on this form it could be very costly.
7) Esteban Ocon, Force India Championship finish 8
Although beaten on points by his team-mate Sergio Pérez, the 21-year-old French driver was hugely impressive in his first full F1 season. He and Pérez were in a fight of their own that became feisty and costly on the track but Ocon maintained his composure remarkably well. Finished in the points in every race bar two and there were stand-out moments such as taking fifth in qualifying in the wet at Monza. Part of the Mercedes driver development programme, Ocon more than justified their investment and will have made just the impression the team wanted.