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2011 driver rankings: half-season (40 posts)

Topic tags: F1, F1 2011, F1 Fanatic driver rankings

Viewing post 31 to 40 (40 total posts)

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TommyB said 1 year, 11 months ago:

Not much debate for who should be first.

Vettel has improved massively since winning the title and was become almost unbeatable. He has proved that he can overtake when he needs to and is able to defend his lead well. Two pit stop mistakes from Red Bull and one mistake of his own in Canada has stopped him from winning every single race this season.

1 Vettel – Pretty much perfect.
2 Alonso – Taken the fight to the Red Bull’s in a car that’s not as fast.
3 Hamilton – Close with Button but Hamilton just edges it.
4 Button – Did great in Canada but still lacks pace in normal conditions.
5 Kobayashi – For a driver who’s known as a bit crazy, he’s been amazingly consistent and is driving very well whilst still entertaining us.
6 Rosberg – Still doing a quiet but solid job.
7 Webber – Good race in China but fact is he should have started 18th in the first place.
8 Schumacher – He’s improved but still makes too many silly mistakes in close battles.
9 Massa – Still no where near Alonso. If Ferrari want a WCC, they need to think about someone else.
10 Perez – Doesn’t seem to like pitting often. Probably one of the best on the new tyres.

Others are quiet hard to rate but I’d put Trulli last. When you get thrashed by Kovalainen it’s time to realise you’re terrible.

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electrolite said 1 year, 11 months ago:

Keith I meant to make some amendments straight afterwards however my internet went. For me it’s Webber 4th, Paul Di Resta 5th, Felipe Massa 6th. Just in case that’s important at all.

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Ned Flanders said 1 year, 11 months ago:

Here’s my verdit on a few drivers from the midfield…

Barrichello- Perhaps the most anonymous man on the grid this season. The fact that he’s often comprehensively outpaced by Pastor Maldonado doesn’t bode well for his Formula 1 future.

Petrov- It’s been difficult to judge Petrov’s season. The Melbourne podium was seriously impressive, but since then he’s pretty much fallen off the radar. He really ought to be beating Heidfeld more than he is, and the suspicion remains that if he was still up against Kubica, his performances would seem less impressive

Sutil- Regardless of the glassing incident, 2011 seems to be the year that Adrian Sutil has been ‘found out’. He has generally had the better of his teammates in F1, but then which of his past teammates can be considered top class? Paul di Resta is the toughest driver he’s been up against yet, and he’s proven himself to be incapable of matching his pace. Perhaps after 5 years at Spyker/ Force India he’s due a change of team- but then which other team would take him on his current form?..

Kovalainen- Kovalainen is doing a brilliant job of proving you can impress in a bad car. Jarno Trulli may be a shadow of his former self, but to outqualify him 8 times in 9 races is no mean feat. He may not have been quite good enough for McLaren, but he’s proving himself to be worthy of a much better team than Lotus

Perez- The stand out driver of the 2011 rookies. The inconvenient fact for all of us Kobayashi fans is that Perez has often had the better of him, particularly in race conditions. He may not have many points, but he did of course miss two races (both of which Sauber were competitive in), and lost the 6 points he earned from his fantastic debut performance. With Ferrari contacts and substantial backing from his homeland, I think Perez is going places

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sumedhvidwans said 1 year, 11 months ago:

1. Vettel – Being given a good car is one thing and making full use of it is a completely different thing. His drives have been commanding. Fault-less in Monaco and Spain while under tremendous pressure, made only a precautionary stop in Turkey and has been better at handling the Pirellis than anyone else.

2. Alonso – Slow start to the season where he couldn’t manage the starts. The season reached its nadir at Spain where he went from 1st to being lapped! But showed his true class at Turkey, Valencia, Britain and Canada (partly). Ferrari are doing right by backing the Spainiard and giving him the right strategy.

3. Button – Very consistent. Has surprisingly been bested by Vettel in the tyre management department. But is closer to Hamilton in qualifying this year than last. A very dependable driver to give you points, especially given that Hamilton has only 2 modes this season.

4. Hamilton – He has only 2 modes this season. Awesome (China, Britain) and Awful (Monaco, Canada). The petulance on the radio is also little too much these days. This is not the behavior expected of a driver who is into his 5th season in a front-running team.

5. Serio Pereze – A revelation! Has gone up against none other than Kobayashi and done a fantastic job. He is one of the few drivers to have made a one-stopper work successfully. He will be watched closely in the second half by team bosses!

6. Felipe Massa – Fantastic starts. Has bridged the gap to Alonso in qualifying. And showed in the first three races that if given the right strategy he can do good. But too little, too late. The Ferrari team is now Alonso’s. Last 2 races showed that Ferrari are getting his strategy wrong. He has had more than his share of bad pitstops. Nevertheless, he has done enough to justify being a no.2 driver to Alonso.

24. Mark Webber – Yes, you read it right. Biggest letdown of the season. Has been beaten by Vettel both on the track and in his mind. Had a great drive in China which was flattered by having more sets of fresh tyres available. He is the sole reason because of which the drivers championship standings are boring to look at. No wonder he is treated as a number two driver, he IS a number two driver!

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Keith Collantine said 1 year, 11 months ago:

Thanks everyone who supplied their views!

The articles are now written up and will be on the site from Friday.

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Bradley Downton said 1 year, 11 months ago:

I know it’s closed but i felt like adding anyway.
24.Narain Karthikeyan – Poor, consistenly outpaced by Liuzzi, did he even deserve the second chance?
23.Pastor Maldonado – Despite a few decent Qualifying performances he has been consistently poor in the races and is just not impressive.
22.Jarno Trulli – Hammered by Heikki, retiring come the end of 2011?
21.Vitantonio Liuzzi – Good for a HRT, but still, its only a HRT. Great performance in Canada.
20.Timo Glock – He’s been beaten at times by d’Ambrosio, I like him but he’s underperforming in the depressing Virgin.
19.Jerome d’Ambrosio – Been good for a rookie in a Virgin.
18.Rubens Barrichello – He’s been poor this year in an underperforming Williams. I think finally, retirement beckons.
17.Adrian Sutil – Been poor and outclassed by a rookie. Again, another F1 leaver?
16.Nick Heidfeld – Been equal to Petrov but after been chosen over Bruno Senna, i was hoping Renault had finally found out Nick could win.
15.Paul di Resta – He’s been good, but not good enough.
14.Felipe Massa – In a decent car, not done well. I think his career is ending.
13.Sebastien Buemi – Consistent.
12.Michael Schumacher – Been better, some good races, others not.
11.Vitaly Petrov – Great podium, but has slowly fallen down.
10.Nico Rosberg – Good, Consistent. Deserves a better car.
9.Mark Webber – Dissapointing for me, in the best car, been outclassed by his teammate and generally the other top guys.
8.Jaime Alguersuari – From last year, he’s really matured. Got better and recently beaten Buemi. I’m hoping this is a turn around and he’s proving himself worthy to pilot the Red Bull next year.
7.Heikki Kovalainen – For a Lotus, brilliant. Got into Q2 twice, (albeit in varying condidtions) but still, taking this team to places it shouldnt be yet. I think he’s been unlucky.
6.Kamui Kobayashi – Consistent and quick, but i feel Perez can match if not beat him.
5.Sergio Perez – Has deserved more than he’s got, a great rookie, a great future star and a fantastic avoider of the pitlane! Hoping for a Podium.
4.Jenson Button – Some good drives.
3.Lewis Hamilton – Been entertaining to watch, although on occasions a bit silly.
2.Fernando Alonso – Some stunning drives in a car thats not been good (so far).
1.Sebastian Vettel – Was there any doubt?

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ed24f1 said 1 year, 11 months ago:

1. Vettel – Peerless
2. Alonso – Outdriven his car, but made a few mistakes along the way
3. Button – Good use of alternative strategies, but still lacks raw pace
4. Hamilton – Very erratic, but when he’s on game, difficult to beat
5. Massa – Doing a solid job, just needs some luck and good strategy
6. Kobayashi – Very consistent, but needs to watch out for Perez
7. Webber – His lack of results exaggerated by Vettel’s excellence
8. Rosberg – Not a bad year, but hasn’t really lifted over 2010. Poor race starts
9. Kovalainen – Always there to pick up the pieces
10. Perez – Great potential, with good qualifying pace and saves the tyres
11. Heidfeld – Qualifying is poor, but there or thereabouts in the races
12. Petrov – Started so well, but hasn’t backed it up
13. Di Resta – Great start, but more mistakes coming into his driving recently
14. Alguersuari – Not consistent enough
15. Buemi – See Alguersuari
16. Sutil – Seems to have hit the glass ceiling, in terms of his career potential
17. Schumacher – Showed good pace, but made mistakes at crucial times
18. Barrichello – Under-delivered, and threw away good chances in Melbourne
19. Maldonado – A few promising signs, but race pace isn’t great and many mistakes
20. Glock – Lost motivation for a while, but’s bounced back
21. D’Ambrosio – Strong start, but fell backwards
22. Liuzzi – Hard to evaluate
23. Trulli – No motivation
24. Karthikeyan – Goodbye

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shadow13 said 1 year, 11 months ago:

1. Vettel – Obviously
2. Alonso – Has done his best in a poor car
3. Hamilton – Cannot fault his effort
4. Webber – Poor start but getting there now
5. Rosberg – Quietly outperforming his car and a seven time world champion
6. Kobayashi – The best driver to watch and is doing well in a poor car
7. Kovalainen – Why is he driving a Lotus?
8. Petrov – Biggest improvement from last year
9. Di Resta – Very impressed, one to watch for the future
10. Perez – Very impressed and could teach other drivers about tyre preservation.
11. Button – He can definitely pick tyres
12. Heidfeld – I expected better
13. Schumacher – He WAS the best driver in F1
14. Buemi – Very average
15. Massa – Why is he driving a Ferrari?
16. Alguesuari – Poor but has recently started to improve
17. Glock – Performed well considering he’s in a Virgin
18. Sutil – Underperformed massively, I thought he was a star for the future. Now?
19. Maldonado – Awful start to the season but has started to improve
20. Luizzi – Hard to judge in a HRT but has at least beaten his team-mate
21. Barrichello – Has underperformed all season
22. Trulli – I’m sorry to say but my favourite driver in F1 looks past his best
23. D’Ambrosio – The fact that I had to check how to spell his name says it all
24. Karthikeyan – The less said the better

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Ell said 1 year, 11 months ago:

1 Vettel – Pretty much perfect. What else can you say? A slight blip in Canada the only fault all season. He could win 10 WDCs if he carries on like this.
2 Alonso – A car not as fast as red bull. His fantastic win in Sliverstone shows how much talent he has, and how he will wring the neck of his car.
3 Hamilton – More mistakes then in previous years, but still (when he didn’t crash) manage to take the fight to Vettel.
4 Kobayashi – Aggresive, fun and very fast. What more can you say of this great driver?
5 Perez – What a job he is doing for Sauber. The best manager of the tyres, but quick at the same time.
6 Rosberg – Doesn’t seem to take much part in races,but does a very solid job in a car not up to standard.
7 Webber – Shows great pace in some parts but seriously struggles on the new Pirellis.
8 Schumacher – Good, the best since his comeback but can’t make as many mistakes in a battle as he does.
9 Button – Can’t match Hamilton in the dry.
10 Massa – Seems to have completely lost his form since his accident 2 years ago.

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Deleted User said 1 year, 8 months ago:

Here is my method of working out who has been the best (and not so good) drivers in the top teams this year.

Based on the constructors’ championship order, the workings out are based on the points the teams should have obtained this year. For example, Red Bull, with the best car, should finish 1st and 2nd in each race, for 25 and 18 points. This gives a total of 43; an average per driver of 21.5. Multiplying this by the races so far (14), you calculate how many points they ‘should’ have. I have then shown their +/- actual points relative to their ‘potential’ points.

Red Bull 25 + 18 = 43 / 2 = 21.5

21.5 x 14 = 301

Vettel 309 +8
Webber 182 -119

McLaren 15 + 12 = 27 / 2 = 13.5

13.5 x 14 = 189

Hamilton 168 -21
Button 185 -4

Ferrari 10 + 8 = 18 / 2 = 9

9 x 14 = 126

Alonso 184 +58
Massa 84 -42

Mercedes 6 + 4 = 10 / 2 = 5

5 x 14 = 70

Schumacher 52 -18
Rosberg 62 -8

Renault 2 + 1 = 3 / 2 = 1.5

1.5 x 14 = 21

Heidfeld 34 +16.5 (11 races)
Petrov 34 +13
Senna 2 -2.5 (3 races)

DRIVER RANKINGS
1 Alonso +58
2 Vettel +8
3 Button -4
4 Rosberg -8
5 Schumacher -16
6 Hamilton -21
7 Massa -42
8 Webber -119

I have left Renault out of the last list; I think they are too far back relative to the other teams to make a fair comparison.

Obviously it doesn’t take into account races where McLaren have been quicker, or things like team error (ie Button at Silverstone), but I think it does give a fair overall reflection of the season so far. It back my thoughts up that Alonso has been the best driver (nigh on second in the championship in the fifth (and sixth) best car on the grid. It also sadly shows how Webber has under performed; no wins only two second places. I know Vettel has been superb, but the five races he hasn’t won, Webber has been unable to pounce.

Maybe, looking at the workings out, Heidfeld and Petrov have both done very well this year :O

Oh by the way, I love this website, and all things F1 :-)

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