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After the events of the Austrian GP on Sunday with Max Verstappen taking victory at the Red Bull ring, four drivers have now won a race or more in nine rounds of the F1 2018 season so far. But who has come out on top? Who has excelled since the first race in Melbourne, the Australian Grand Prix
In this article, we will be looking at the top 5 best drivers of the season so far, from the guys at the top of the championship to the drivers exceeding expectations in the mid pack of the grid.
Here are my picks from the drivers on the grid in 2018 who I feel have been the best on track so far this season.
#5 Kevin Magnussen
At number five is Kevin Magnussen, The Haas driver has impressed so far this year. Before the Austrian GP, he was the only driver in the team to score points in the campaign. (Magnussen-27 / Grosjean – 0)
The 25-year-old has been more than impressive this year, people still talk about his time at McLaren where it did not really go to plan for the driver and also his average time at Renault but this season he has shown why Haas brought him in. Some drivers may not like his driving style on track but he has carried the team this year with Grosjean struggling to find his form. His highest finishes of the season being a fifth place in Bahrain and Austria.
Haas has certainly grown since their debut to Formula One in 2016, with them scoring 47 points in the championship in 2017, which was 18 more than the year before.
He has certainly impressed so far this year and Haas will be hoping for more with them now sitting fifth in the constructors, higher than McLaren and Force India.
#4 Pierre Gasly
In fourth place is the Toro Rosso Honda driver Pierre Gasly. The Frenchman is in his first full season in formula one has shown great potential and determination to get that Toro Rosso so frequently in the points.
He has scored 18 points so far this season and his highest finish came in Bahrain where he finished fourth, an amazing moment for the driver and the team. He has outperformed his teammate Brendon Hartley in the first nine races, with the New Zealand driver only achieving 1 point thus far in the championship.
Pierre Gasly has shown his talent in 2018 and with Red Bull racing always looking for the best up and coming drivers they surely cannot let Gasly slip through their fingers.
#3 Sebastian Vettel
In third place is a four-time world champion, Sebastian Vettel. The Ferrari driver is seeking his 5th world championship this season and his first for Ferrari, with him wanting to emulate his hero Michael Schumacher.
Ferrari themselves look to have closed the gap to Mercedes over the winter and since the first race of the season in Australia, they look even stronger. Vettel is level on wins with Hamilton in the 2018 season so far, showing just how tight this season between the two is and will hopefully continue to be.
Vettel capitalized on the double retirement for Mercedes last weekend in Austria and now leads the drivers’ championship by one point. He looks more determined to win this year and with this being Ferrari’s best chance in years, this is the year to show everyone why you’re a four-time champion.
#2 Lewis Hamilton
At number two is Lewis Hamilton. Like Sebastian Vettel he is a four-time world champion and he is also the most successful British F1 driver to date.
He has once again this season shown the desire to win and of course, beat his title rival Vettel to a fifth world championship. He has won three times this season so far but could have had more, mistakes from the Mercedes team have cost Hamilton in at least two races this season. Had he claimed victory the championship might be a different story at this stage of the season.
We of course know how good Lewis Hamilton is, on his good weekends he looks unstoppable like at Paul Ricard this season. Mercedes have had some blips this year but they are still the team to beat even with Ferrari closing the gap. Mercedes and Hamilton are a deadly combination and will still be a major contender going into the final stages of the 2018 season.
#1 Charles Leclerc
At the number one spot is Saubers Charles Leclerc. This guy has been phenomenal so far this season and with the rumors around the paddock that he has already signed for Ferrari next season, it just shows how highly people in F1 are rating him.
He only joined Sauber this season but has already made an impact in the team, on the grid and on the fans in the grandstands and watching around the world. The Monaco born driver has achieved 13 points so far this year, with the highest race finish of 6th in Azerbaijan and an amazing 8th place in qualifying in France. Getting that Sauber into Q3 was immense and surely that’s when Ferrari decided they needed to sign him.
It will be exciting if he does join Ferrari next year but he needs to keep this momentum going this season. You can tell he is growing in confidence and with Sauber now above Williams in the constructors in 2018 it is a good time for the Alfa Romeo Sauber team and for their hugely talented 20-year-old driver.
