Formula 1 Driver Ratings 2019: The GPFans Driver Index

GPFans Driver Index Part 3

5. Charles Leclerc

Ave: 6.9
High: 10 (Bahrain, Belgium, Italy)
Low: 4 (Germany)

Any concerns about Leclerc's ability to handle the step-up to Ferrari were extinguished in his second race of the season and he was being crowned as the future face of the sport after stunning back-to-back triumphs in Belgium and Italy – ending the Scuderia's near-decade without a home-turf victory in the process.

There have been errors too, most notably in Azerbaijan and Germany, while the season ended in acrimony between him and Vettel – on-track at least – after the reneging on team orders and a collision in Brazil soured the end of a disappointing enough campaign for Ferrari. If they can produce a good enough car in 2021, the team might be looking to Leclerc, rather than Vettel, to take the fight to Mercedes.

4. Valtteri Bottas

Ave: 6.9
High: 10 (Australia, USA)
Low: 3 (Hungary)

Bottas' year might have ended in the disappointment of defeat in the title race, but the fact that he stayed in it longer than anyone else proves the great steps forward taken by the Finn in by far his most impressive Mercedes campaign to date. Successive poor outings in Germany and Hungary sapped momentum from Bottas' campaign and once again the challenge will be keeping pace with Hamilton when F1 returns to Europe next year.

The qualifying battle between Bottas and Hamilton was tighter than it has ever been, with the Finn matching Hamilton's five poles and averaging just a tenth adrift of F1's greatest one-lap driver in history, although a 14-7 slant to the final result shows Hamilton still holds a crucial edge.

3. Alexander Albon

Ave: 6.9
High: 9 (China, Germany, Belgium, Russia)
Low: 4 (France, Austria)

From fighting to save his career in motorsports to fighting Lewis Hamilton for a podium position at the Brazilian GP in the space of a year proves that the Alexander Albon Movie will be one not to miss a few years down the road. The Thai racer made a solid start to life at Toro Rosso, but was flung into the spotlight just 12 races into his F1 career when Gasly was yanked from the top team.

Albon has certainly earned a full season alongside Max Verstappen in 2020, and certainly seems capable of at least delivering the consistent scores alongside the Dutchman that Red Bull need to take the fight to Ferrari and Mercedes more often.

2. Max Verstappen

Ave: 7.4
High: 10 (Austria, Germany, Hungary, Brazil)
Low: 4 (Belgium)

The Verstappen curve continues to sky-rocket after another season in which he has likely outperformed the car underneath him, finishing ahead of both Ferrari drivers' in the standings, despite the Scuderia enjoying a period with the quickest car by far on the grid and taking more 10/10 scores in our ratings than anyone this year.

Verstappen's maturity has shone out above anything else this season, banking early points when the RB15 was not at its best and then capitalising when it came alive in Austria, holding his nerve in the treacherous German GP and serenely winning in Brazil as utter bedlam unfolded behind him. There is no doubt that Verstappen is one of the very best, maybe even the best, on the grid. We just pray the RB16 gives him the chance to really show it in 2020.

1. Lewis Hamilton

Ave: 8.0
High: 10 (France, Hungary, Abu Dhabi)
Low: 5 (Germany, Brazil)

Hamilton's 2019 seemed to be lacking the standout moments of previous title wins, but crushing consistency was the hallmark of title number six for the Briton, as he scored in all 21 races this year – yes, even in Germany! In reality, the title was his after Silverstone, when he took strategy into his own hands, having come off second-best in wheel-to-wheel combat with Bottas.

Hamilton tied the record he jointly holds with Vettel and Michael Schumacher for podiums in a season, having taken to the rostrum 17 times out of 21 races for the second year in a row. The ultimate Schumacher benchmarks of 91 grand prix wins and seven world championships are now firmly in Hamilton's sight, with just eight more race victories required, and there is little evidence to suggest that Hamilton will not go on the become F1's greatest driver of all time statistically in the years to come.

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