Top 10 drivers currently in F1

Top 10 drivers currently in F1

Poll: Top 10 drivers currently in F1

Total Members Polled: 114

HAMILTON: 68
ALONSO: 23
VERSTAPPEN: 63
NORRIS: 21
RUSSELL: 30
LECLERC: 24
SAINZ: 11
GASLY: 4
OCON: 3
PEREZ: 5
Author
Discussion

Zarco

17,907 posts

210 months

Wednesday 14th September 2022
quotequote all
C70R said:
trackdemon said:
waffle
That was a lot of effort in (largely ineffectively) troll Max fans. I can't imagine why you bothered...
Didn't seem like trolling at all.


C70R

17,596 posts

105 months

Wednesday 14th September 2022
quotequote all
Zarco said:
C70R said:
trackdemon said:
waffle
That was a lot of effort in (largely ineffectively) troll Max fans. I can't imagine why you bothered...
Didn't seem like trolling at all.
A bloke who hasn't won a race in almost a decade in second place, ahead of a soon to be back-to-back world champion?

May as well drop Damon Hill in 4th place.

laugh

Adrian W

13,897 posts

229 months

Wednesday 14th September 2022
quotequote all
Stick George Russell in a fast car, then watch him win everything

StevieBee

12,938 posts

256 months

Wednesday 14th September 2022
quotequote all
The problems with polls like this is determining the metrics upon which judgement is made.

Statistically, the list proposed by the OP is spot on. But that doesn't really make for lively debate so by what measures are we considering the rank order? Or is it just case of what we feel?

If the latter, then at the moment i 'feel' that Sainz is a better driver than Leclerc. But I can't clearly articulate why I feel that.

......

6,538 posts

150 months

Wednesday 14th September 2022
quotequote all
1. Hamilton
2. Verstappen
3. Lando
4. Leclerc
5. Russell
6. Sainz
7. Alonso
8. Gasly
9. Ricciardo
10. Bottas

Hamilton is the best, unquestionably. Verstappen just isn't quite there as an overall driver because he comes from the "we will crash unless you back out" school of thought, and has also never had a champion for a teammate; Hamilton by contrast debuted against Alonso and damn near won the championship, then beat Button and Nico, the latter quitting rather than race another year next to Hamilton.

Lando, Leclerc, Russell and Sainz are all at the same level with strengths in different areas, but Lando takes it for me because he came in against a man who was widely rated as a top driver and beat him so badly the other guy is now looking at realistically a sabbatical.

Leclerc is very good, matching Vettel in his first shot at a decent car, but mistake prone. Russell is also very good, but we just don't know how good yet; three years in the worst car makes it difficult to get a sense of his real level.

Sainz is undoubtedly the best number two driver on the present grid, and he could easily lead a team. But he does lack ultimate pace.

Alonso definitely seems to have gone off since his championship years, and his team picking ability is abysmal. But, he is very good when he's working properly and IMO he is the best wheel to wheel racer.

Gasly definitely struggled at the number one Red Bull team, but, he has settled into a solid driver.

Bottas and Ricciardo are both drivers who I want to like, and I want second chances for. But, Bottas has consistently shown he's a number two driver, and Ricciardo has been made to look terrible by Lando. The car is a POS of course, both drivers agree on that. But somehow Lando can get results with it... Ricciardo deserves a shot in a different car to find out if it is just the McLaren being terrible. If I was running McLaren I would have put Lando, Ricciardo and all the test drivers in a spec challenge using a whole variety of road and track cars to work out exactly where they were to each other, but if they have done that and he's still getting sacked for a rookie then it probably is over for him, which would be a loss if Red Bull days Ricciardo is still in there somewhere.

Honourable mention:

Vettel
In his time at Red Bull during the final years of the V8s, he was absolutely brilliant. He matured into a true statesman of the sport, and he deserves to enjoy his retirement. However, it is a bit pointless to rank the guy who's quitting at the end of the year.

kambites

67,602 posts

222 months

Wednesday 14th September 2022
quotequote all
For me the top three is:

Hamilton
Verstappen
Russell

Next I think would be Alonso, Leclerc and Norris but I don't know in what order.

C70R

17,596 posts

105 months

Wednesday 14th September 2022
quotequote all
StevieBee said:
The problems with polls like this is determining the metrics upon which judgement is made.

Statistically, the list proposed by the OP is spot on. But that doesn't really make for lively debate so by what measures are we considering the rank order? Or is it just case of what we feel?

If the latter, then at the moment i 'feel' that Sainz is a better driver than Leclerc. But I can't clearly articulate why I feel that.
Performance statistics only work when they are relevent, otherwise Schumacher would be in with a shout of being on this list.

To put Alonso, who hasn't won a GP in almost a decade, in second place made me stop reading properly there. That's nonsense.

Zarco

17,907 posts

210 months

Wednesday 14th September 2022
quotequote all
I'm finding it hard to define a top 10.

Theres a clear top 3. Could argue all day who is the best. Hamilton has managed to be in good cars to make the most of his talent. Alonso is brilliant but has a knack for picking the wrong team. Verstappen is right up there but just getting started.

Hamilton
Alonso
Verstappen


Next tier:

Russell
Leclerc
Norris
Sainz

The rest:

Vettel
Perez
Ocon

Vettel on recent performance is not brilliant but you can't argue with his track record. Once he lost a V8 with a blown diffuser he wasn't the same driver. Bit like Ricciardo he hasn't got on with the V6 cars.

trackdemon

Original Poster:

12,193 posts

262 months

Wednesday 14th September 2022
quotequote all
Zarco said:
Great poll btw.

Can we change it to list all the drivers and then pick 10? Might make sense then.
That's a good shout actually, I'll see if I can do that...

trackdemon

Original Poster:

12,193 posts

262 months

Wednesday 14th September 2022
quotequote all
StevieBee said:
The problems with polls like this is determining the metrics upon which judgement is made.

Statistically, the list proposed by the OP is spot on. But that doesn't really make for lively debate so by what measures are we considering the rank order? Or is it just case of what we feel?

If the latter, then at the moment i 'feel' that Sainz is a better driver than Leclerc. But I can't clearly articulate why I feel that.
It's a good point, hence thinking a poll over time might give a clear picture. Stats only tell you some of the story, a lot of what I've written is stats mixed with gut feeling - and it's just an opinion so as valid a method as any....

Heathwood

2,546 posts

203 months

Wednesday 14th September 2022
quotequote all
I appreciate Vettal’s gone off the boil but I thought he did well at times with Ferrari as well as RB (until CLC came along at least). I still wouldn’t put him in the top 5 or 6 but I’m not convinced that drivers like Ocon or Sainz have shown enough yet to warrant a notably higher placing than him.

trackdemon

Original Poster:

12,193 posts

262 months

Wednesday 14th September 2022
quotequote all
C70R said:
Performance statistics only work when they are relevent, otherwise Schumacher would be in with a shout of being on this list.

To put Alonso, who hasn't won a GP in almost a decade, in second place made me stop reading properly there. That's nonsense.
Opinions and buttholes eh? Anyway, seeing as you think this is a load of crap I presume you'll toddle off.... wavey

HustleRussell

24,738 posts

161 months

Wednesday 14th September 2022
quotequote all
If we're talking about raw driving talent in isolation then there's a strong case to be made for Alonso or Verstappen.

If we're also considering the whole picture- personal and sporting conduct etc, then it's clearly Hamilton.

mw88

1,457 posts

112 months

Wednesday 14th September 2022
quotequote all
C70R said:
Performance statistics only work when they are relevent, otherwise Schumacher would be in with a shout of being on this list.

To put Alonso, who hasn't won a GP in almost a decade, in second place made me stop reading properly there. That's nonsense.
Considering the thread is "Top 10 drivers CURRENTLY in F1" I don't think see how Schumacher would be in with a shout.

trackdemon

Original Poster:

12,193 posts

262 months

Wednesday 14th September 2022
quotequote all
trackdemon said:
Zarco said:
Great poll btw.

Can we change it to list all the drivers and then pick 10? Might make sense then.
That's a good shout actually, I'll see if I can do that...
Sadly not possible. I can change the existing ones but cannot add more....

HustleRussell

24,738 posts

161 months

Wednesday 14th September 2022
quotequote all
mw88 said:
C70R said:
Performance statistics only work when they are relevent, otherwise Schumacher would be in with a shout of being on this list.

To put Alonso, who hasn't won a GP in almost a decade, in second place made me stop reading properly there. That's nonsense.
Considering the thread is "Top 10 drivers CURRENTLY in F1" I don't think see how Schumacher would be in with a shout.
Mick? tongue out

mw88

1,457 posts

112 months

Wednesday 14th September 2022
quotequote all
HustleRussell said:
mw88 said:
C70R said:
Performance statistics only work when they are relevent, otherwise Schumacher would be in with a shout of being on this list.

To put Alonso, who hasn't won a GP in almost a decade, in second place made me stop reading properly there. That's nonsense.
Considering the thread is "Top 10 drivers CURRENTLY in F1" I don't think see how Schumacher would be in with a shout.
Mick? tongue out
hehe

Don't think he has the performance stats to back it up!

C70R

17,596 posts

105 months

Wednesday 14th September 2022
quotequote all
mw88 said:
C70R said:
Performance statistics only work when they are relevent, otherwise Schumacher would be in with a shout of being on this list.

To put Alonso, who hasn't won a GP in almost a decade, in second place made me stop reading properly there. That's nonsense.
Considering the thread is "Top 10 drivers CURRENTLY in F1" I don't think see how Schumacher would be in with a shout.
If I have to explain the joke, it probably didn't land.

C70R

17,596 posts

105 months

Wednesday 14th September 2022
quotequote all
trackdemon said:
C70R said:
Performance statistics only work when they are relevent, otherwise Schumacher would be in with a shout of being on this list.

To put Alonso, who hasn't won a GP in almost a decade, in second place made me stop reading properly there. That's nonsense.
Opinions and buttholes eh? Anyway, seeing as you think this is a load of crap I presume you'll toddle off.... wavey
"Ooh, I'm going to post something controversial up and tell people to do one if they don't agree with it"

laugh

Zarco

17,907 posts

210 months

Wednesday 14th September 2022
quotequote all
C70R said:
"Ooh, I'm going to post something controversial up and tell people to do one if they don't agree with it"

laugh
Ironic when you're the one who thinks Alonso is just some bloke who hasn't won in a decade.