F1 Fanatic

Yep, Kimi and Jenson are the obvious examples, and of the recent ones, I’d like to add Hamilton – I think he might’ve been better in 2007 and 2010, but of course it’s hard to say and compare.

Schumacher had it tough with Ferrari in the 90s, yet he got very close to winning the championship.

For me, 1997 was just his year, though it’s hard to see how difficult it was for him during the early 2000′s, but he such dominant cars that it looked easy.

Good question.

I’d probably agree with Mansell and probably in both 86 and 87 given the level of competition he faced from teammate Piquet, Prost in McLaren and Senna in the Renault Benetton Caterham Lotus and even the Ferraris on their day

Hamilton’s best season for me is still 2007. That year he looked flawless and was possibly driver of the year in 2007. Since then including his championship year 2008, he has occasionally been very poor. Last year he was poor a bit more often than just occasionally I’d say.

Button for me was better in 2011 than 2009. He was the only driver who could consistently hold on to Vettel for most of the year. Before 2011, for Button to be at his best, his car had to be at its best, that changed last year.

I’d argue that 2007 was Raikkonen’s best year. For much of the season, especially in the final third he was on top form. His performances in Melbourne, Spa and Fuji were prime examples of Raikkonen at his best. His years at McLaren were similar, most of the time he was great, however occasionally he would show his flaws.

@realracer Don’t quite understand your logic… Button had his best YEAR, not by number of wins, but by the standard of his driving.
Also, look at Button this year, he was catching Vettel at 2-3 seconds a LAP in the final few laps in Canada, and would have had him at the DRS zone if Vettel hadn’t slipped (in many ways, Vettel slipping made that race 10/10 rather than 8/10 for me…) Admittedly, Hungary might have been a case of being in the right place at the right time, but Japan and Canada certainly weren’t…

Button in 2011 (obviously)
I’m not as sure about Raikkonen, but I’ll definitely say Alonso in 2010… He drove some brilliant races that year, and only narrowly missed out on the championship..
And although I’m too young to remember this, I’ve done research and often thought Mansell in ’86 was a good year, and Senna in ’93 (the same view shared by one of the ‘talking heads’ in the film I believe..)

@david-a At Montreal, I guess since Vettel went off and Button just so happened to be in second, the race was given to him. Even though the race was like 3 times longer than normal. And he came from the back of the grid. Pretty obvious how it was “gifted”… :D

I would have to go with Button in 2009. Jenson has performed consistently better in 2010 and 2011 than he did in 2009

Hamilton was better in 2007 and 2010 than he was in his championship winning 2008 season

I would also have to say that Vettel was better in 2008 than he was in 2010.