Instead of simply reading the end-of-year points standings to determine who the top five Formula One drivers of the year were, allow Graham Caygill to tell you who the real top five F1 stars of 2016 were.
1. Lewis Hamilton
He did not win the championship, but he was unfortunate with 10 wins and 12 pole positions, yet still coming up short. Apart from two poor weekends in Baku and Singapore he was usually unbeatable as long as his car held together and he made a good start. Will expect his fourth drivers’ title to come in 2017.
2. Daniel Ricciardo
Edges ahead of his Red Bull Racing teammate Max Verstappen by being the stronger driver earlier in the season. Lost out on wins in Spain and Monaco to strategy mistakes by his team, but fully deserved the element of fortune that was his Malaysia victory. Challenge now is to remain the fastest driver within Red Bull over the coming 12 months.
3. Max Verstappen
The Dutch teenager made an instant impact on his promotion to Red Bull by winning in Spain. Got quicker as the year went on and became one of the most consistent threats to Mercedes-GP in the final rounds. Will look to become a consistent race-winner next season and try and become the sport’s youngest world champion.
4. Nico Rosberg
He was not the fastest man in 2016, but the only thing that ultimately mattered was points scored and Rosberg had five more than Mercedes-GP teammate Hamilton. He handled the pressure of the title being his to lose in the final four races with great dignity. It is a shame he has retired as his presence on the grid next year will be missed.
5. Fernando Alonso
October was the 10-year anniversary of the Spaniard winning the second of his two championships. It is a shocking statistic that he has gone a decade without a title, and he again highlighted his excellence by scoring 54 points and seven top-eight finishes in a painfully average McLaren car that lacked horsepower with its Honda engine. Hopefully better will come for him next year.
gcaygill@thenational.ae
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