Have Your Say: Who is Your F1 Driver of the Year?

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.jpg
The 2021 Formula 1 season was a drama and action packed season; we want to hear who your Driver of the Year is.

We're just one week removed from the conclusion of the 2021 Formula 1 season. This was a season filled with moments of awe and controversy, and not one F1 fans are soon to forget. The amazing efforts of all of the drivers kept this season compelling, but certain drivers stood out as exceptional this year, and we want to hear from you who had the best season overall. Here are some ideas:

Max Verstappen / Lewis Hamilton - The obvious choices for Driver of the Year would be Verstappen and Hamilton, who battled week after week, each taking turns leading the drivers' points championship. Verstappen was the more consistent of the two and claimed his first championship, but the late season response of Hamilton was also impressive, so there's a strong case for either being Driver of the Year.

Lando Norris - Red Bull and Mercedes were close in points for most of the season. And while this rivalry was heating up, Lando Norris was quietly running in 3rd place in the drivers' standings, ahead of the highly favoured Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas. The season didn't finish that way, but Norris' first half of the season was well above expectations, and some poorly timed rain was all that stood between Norris and a deserved win in Russia.

Carlos Sainz - Most of us knew that the Ferrari team of Sainz and Charles Leclerc would have a strong showing in 2021 if given a good car, but there was a sense that Leclerc could steal headlines and establish himself as the top driver between the two. Carlos Sainz impressed everyone this year, collecting four podium finishes and finishing outside of the points only twice.

So let us know in the comments below who you think was Driver of the Year in F1. And remember to keep your comments respectful; we hope to end our Formula 1 coverage for the year on a positive note.

Photo credits: Red Bull Content Pool
About author
Mike Smith
I have been obsessed with sim racing and racing games since the 1980's. My first taste of live auto racing was in 1988, and I couldn't get enough ever since. Lead writer for RaceDepartment, and owner of SimRacing604 and its YouTube channel. Favourite sims include Assetto Corsa Competizione, Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2, Automobilista 2, DiRT Rally 2 - On Twitter as @simracing604

Comments

Checo is the best this year. He adapted to his new car very quickly. 4th in the driver standings and helped Red Bull to place 2nd in constructors' championship all in his 1st year with the team.
 
Last edited:
It's no secret that the Mercedes was by far the better package this season. (and has been for 8 years!). So congrats to the Merc factory team for another dominating performance. However, in my view Lewis squandered that advantage through the first half of the season by not driving to the full potential of the car. At the end of the season he "stepped it up" showing the potential the car had the whole time. So he can't get my vote for driver of the year. Max on the other hand was much closer to the potential of his car the whole season. On top of that, RBR often had to compromise the car setup to minimize the straightline advantage of the Merc, making it less than a joy to drive. Nevertheless, he managed incredible performances throughout the season and never showed a hint of pressure on him. Easy vote for me: SuperMax

Gasly and Norris also worthy of consideration.
 
Premium
Assuming that, as already said, anyone who can drive an f1 more than two laps in a row without crashing is a true extraordinary human being, these are my two cents on this question...

My driver of the Year vote goes to Max; thanks for save us from another boooring season. But please, watch out your tantrums...

Lewis; great racer, one of the bests... But a little more of TRUE modesty (and a little more for Toto) would make you bigger. And pleeeease, forget that ridiculous clothes...

Sainz; like says spanish journalist Lobato: The First of The Rest of The World... Stealthily consistent despite his inconsistent car. I hope will be true that next season's cars be more even...

Alonso; alive and kicking... I hope (again) will be true that next season's cars be more even... It will be interesting to see what can do grandpa with (if possible) a little more competitive car.

Lando; don't lose your smile, your gonna do great things, I'm sure.

(By the way; yes, I'm Spanish, in case you haven't noticed.)
 
Last edited:
Max for me. Also if he had not won the championship in the end.

As good as the catch up of Hamilton was, he clearly had the best car the latter half of the season. And if they stopped development early and it mostly setup gains, you could even argue the entire season.

Overall he had the better teammate over the entire season, even if Bottas disappointed yet again.

How unfortunate and inconsistent the implementation of the rules over the season, I don't see any driver being really screwed over overall. Yes the final race was very lucky for Max, but Lewis also had good luck with a safety car making up a lot of points.

Max had more bad luck on track outside of his own doing, Lewis more bad luck with Merc messing up.

Overall Max just was the better performer over the season. They both outclassed the field.



A lot of good drivers this season. Sainz, Lando, Gasly for sure, even Alonso showing up again in form.

I think Ocon had a great result, but an average season.

Tsunoda and Mazepin having their own crash competition. I think Tsunoda won that one actually, as he has more skills and a way better car and still bottled it that many times.
 
Last edited:
Red Bull was the fastest up until austria, and then merc started to catch up. Merc was fastest towards end of season.
Also, the no.2 red bull & merc drivers obviously weren't given the same car as the other this year -- too much of a difference.

Norris : driver of 2021.
 
Lewis. For the simple fact that he handled being robbed of the, in my opinion ,fake championship so well.
he owes that to himself Max was just better in a slower car. including the skysport jokes :whistling:

the rest of Formula 1 has been robbed for years of not changing the FIA engine rules making Merc and LH look like he's the best of all time, bad thing.
and this thread is not about robbing but who is the best driver of season 2021
 
Last edited:
Red Bull was the fastest up until austria, and then merc started to catch up. Merc was fastest towards end of season.
Also, the no.2 red bull & merc drivers obviously weren't given the same car as the other this year -- too much of a difference.

Norris : driver of 2021.
Serious???
 
Well, Botass was quite open that his car was different to LH's towards the end of the year; new upgraded parts going to the no.1 driver this last year or two in particular -- that was probably more apparent in 2021 than ever due to supply shortages etc.

SV said it last year as well, that his car wasn't the same as Leclerk's. Many will see it as an excuse, but it is plausible.
 

Latest News

Article information

Author
Mike Smith
Article read time
2 min read
Views
10,330
Comments
113
Last update

How long have you been simracing

  • < 1 year

    Votes: 365 15.9%
  • < 2 years

    Votes: 255 11.1%
  • < 3 years

    Votes: 245 10.6%
  • < 4 years

    Votes: 181 7.9%
  • < 5 years

    Votes: 303 13.2%
  • < 10 years

    Votes: 260 11.3%
  • < 15 years

    Votes: 166 7.2%
  • < 20 years

    Votes: 129 5.6%
  • < 25 years

    Votes: 100 4.3%
  • Ok, I am a dinosaur

    Votes: 297 12.9%
Back
Top