'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAb/2gAIAQEAAAAADIf/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAE/9oACAECEAAAACf/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAE/9oACAEDEAAAAH//xAAgEAACAgEEAwEAAAAAAAAAAAACAwEEBQAREhQGUYGC/9oACAEBAAE/AKOBwfnVKrmenFWnu4zYlYotcBL2O4lPIZn9afjrD3scvqwDCkxglxvET81//8QAGBEAAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAzH/2gAIAQIBAT8Aubjh/8QAFxEBAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQACIf/aAAgBAwEBPwCxpP/Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
In recent weeks we have looked at drivers who have the possibility to be a future world champion and the drivers that have already shown their talent to win the biggest trophy in motorsport. Now we are going to discuss the drivers who are on the opposite end of the scale, the drivers who are struggling in 2018. Whether that is struggling for form or just to perform in the cauldron that is Formula One.
With the 2018 season bringing more close-knit battles compared to last year, the pressure for teams to succeed and not finish last in the constructors' standings matters more than ever. If there is a chance that one driver is letting them down they will not hesitate to replace them, just look at Daniil Kyvat at Red Bull in 2016 when he was demoted to Toro Rosso and replaced by Max Verstappen, and Jolyon Palmer at Renault last season when he was forced out of the team before the end of the season.
With that in mind here are my picks for the top five drivers in F1 who really need to up their game if they plan on staying in the sport next year:
#5 Romain Grosjean
At number five is Haas driver Romain Grosjean. While Kevin Magnussen looks to have improved this year his French counterpart does not, with Grosjean very much having a stop/start season. Before the German GP on the weekend his only top ten finish came in Austria where he finished fourth.
Team boss Guenther Steiner has already had to answer questions on Grosjean's future this season which can disrupt a team who are at this moment level with Force India on 59 points in the Constructors.
He did, however, help his case in Hockenheim with a sixth-place finish but with him only sitting 13th in the drivers’ standings and making some questionable decisions and manoeuvres this year, will he be at Haas next season?
#4 Brendon Hartley
Brendon Hartley is at number four on the list and one of the only drivers I feel sorry for on the grid. He has had a tough time this season with bad luck during races and reliability issues costing him points, hampering his chances of a seat next year.
Joining the team in the last few races in 2017, he impressed with his performances and was given a contract to race this year, but he has found that his season has not quite gone to plan.
He did, however, grab a point in Germany last weekend which saw him double his points in the standings. 2 points might not be a lot so far into the season but the confidence from Hockenheim might leave him in good stead heading into Hungary.
#3 Sergey Sirotkin
At number three is Williams’s Sergey Sirotkin. He is probably the only driver on this list that will actually struggle to add points to his name this season, currently sitting on zero. Sirotkin doesn’t exactly have the car for the job either. Williams have been awful this season and his teammate Lance Stroll only has four points.
This is Sirotkin’s first full season with the team and with the great financial backing by the driver, I think it would be a strange decision to let him go.
Let's not forget he impressed the team enough to keep out F1 favourite Robert Kubica so there must be some talent hidden behind that poor Williams car.
#2 Marcus Ericsson
At number two is Marcus Ericsson. The Sauber driver has very much been in the shadow of his teammate Charles Leclerc so far this season, with the Monaco-born driver looking for Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari seat next year.
Ericsson is in his fourth season with the Swiss team, but failed to deliver a point the last two seasons. This year, a much stronger Sauber team have emerged but it is his rookie teammate Charles Leclerc who has scored more points that Ericsson, with the former sitting on 13 points so far and Ericsson on just 5.
#1 Stoffel Vandoorne
At number one is McLaren’s Stoffel Vandoorne. What a disappointing year he has had, out-qualified by his teammate Fernando Alonso 10-1 this season and scoring considerably fewer points than his Spanish teammate - 8 compared to Alonso’s 40 points.
McLaren have once again underperformed and you could say that someone as good as Alonso will always get the best out of any car no matter how bad, but Vandoorne should still be doing better. He had the worst Friday of his career in Germany last weekend, finishing last in both first and second practice. McLaren are looking into an issue which has plagued Vandoorne's car despite being fitted with the same specs as Alonso's. The data has shown a clear lack of downforce with no explanation. This is of course hurting Vandoorne this season and his possible F1 future.
If Alonso decides to leave this season then I think McLaren would be unwise to let Vandoorne go as well, but if Alonso stays I think there is a chance that the Belgian driver might be out the door. Lando Norris anyone?
It will be interesting to see how the second half of the F1 season shapes up.
