Wheel2Wheel #4 – by Joe Murphy
In this latest piece, we have a look at all 20 drivers lining up for the 2021 Formula 1 World Championship and rank them in reverse order, from 20 – 1.
Rankings are based on recent form, overall performances in races and qualifying throughout the years, with historical achievements are also being considered. In this edition, we see numbers 20 through to 10.
#20 – Mazepin – The Russian has to be at number 20, highly unproven and yet to show audiences of mainstream motorsport evidence of a good driver. If your nickname is MazeSpin, you can’t be high up on the list.
#19 – Latifi – regardless of being in a poor car in comparison to others, the Canadian has done very little to warrant a place higher up this list to this point.
#18 – Tsunoda – a guarantee to move up this list on the future, but due to the calibre of other drivers cannot be placed higher as of yet. A huge future awaits him, however.
#17 – Schumacher – Mick is a superb driver who has had an incredible past 12 months and has an amazing future ahead of him. With F2 exploits earning him a place at 17th he, like Tsunoda, has the potential to go a lot higher in the future.
#16 – Giovinazzi – the Italian is, in this writer’s opinion, an underrated driver when all said and done. Part of Ferrari’s youth set up, the future could be special for Antonio. That being said, it’s going to take something special to get Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc out of their seat.
#15 – Ocon – with a single podium to his name at the end of last season, Ocon could find his way into a future Mercedes seat if he keeps on with his current trajectory. His consistency in finishing is his strength, but he hasn’t done enough as of yet to warrant a space higher up this list. Should be getting higher points finishes, more often. Has always been a number two driver, it seems.
#14 – Stroll – Lance has more podiums than many on this grid and even has a pole position to his name. The Canadian, however cannot realistically compete with those higher on this list at present.
#13 – Raikkonen – Kimi is the first world champion to appear on this list and if we were going back to pre 2018 for the Finn, he would certainly be higher. However, current form is worse than his team mate at Alfa Romeo and the driver is almost a shadow of his former self. The very definition of past his best, as sad as that is to say.
#12. Russell – in a better car, George could do so much more in showing audiences what he can do. As promising as his career could be, his luck in the Mercedes in Bahrain last year sums his F1 career to date. A serious candidate for a future world champ and a driver who puts that Williams higher than it has any right to be. On current results, however, mainly that unwanted pointless streak, he cannot be any higher in the ranking.
#11. Norris – Lando is a superb driver, with a podium under his name and it is easy to forget he is still in his F1 infancy. A superb career awaits but he cannot realistically get any higher than eleventh due the achievements and longevity of other drivers.
That’s it for part 1, check out this page again very soon for the top 10. Who will claim top spot? Comment with your predictions!
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