The verdicts of the 2023 Formula 1 championship are evident to everyone, inside the paddock and beyond. After collecting the opinions of insiders and subsequently also from you, the readers, the drivers themselves have had the opportunity to have their say. They have indeed elected the top ten among the protagonists of the 2023 championship: here is the final Top 10 of the best drivers of the last F1 season chosen by the drivers themselves.
As in every sports season, there were those among the protagonists who maintained a performance up to expectations, those who exceeded them, and those who disappointed. In Abu Dhabi, the official Formula 1 channel called for the vote of each driver who listed their personal Top 10. The combination of these rankings generated the proposed ranking below; however, the rankings of each driver will remain unknown.
The assignment of points that formed the ranking followed the same criteria as the races of the championship – 25 for the first, 18 for the second, and so on. The regulations allowed drivers to vote for themselves; however, not everyone did.
Max Verstappen the best, both Ferrari drivers performed well
For the third consecutive year, the drivers have elected Max Verstappen as the best driver of the year. There were few doubts about this verdict given the record-breaking season of the Dutchman. In second place is Lewis Hamilton, who managed to finish third in the driver’s standings and clearly beat his teammate in the internal comparison (Russell is outside this Top 10). Completing the podium is Fernando Alonso, author of an excellent season with Aston Martin.
Fourth is Lando Norris, the driver with the most second places in the season and the driving force behind McLaren after a difficult start for the English team. Three positions lower than in 2022 (understandable given the difference in the performance of the car available) is Charles Leclerc, who still earned fifth place in this ranking thanks to great qualifying performances and progressive growth in races.
In sixth is the other Ferrari driver, Carlos Sainz, strengthened by the victory in Singapore, ahead of another driver leading a British team: Alexander Albon, capable of bringing Williams to seventh place in the constructors’ championship with an impressive season. Here are the two new entries in this ranking: Oscar Piastri, a rookie who managed to impress in his debut season, and Pierre Gasly, in his first season with Alpine, where he secured two podiums (one in the race at Zandvoort and one in the sprint at Spa). Sergio Perez, winner of two Grand Prix but in huge difficulty in the middle phase of the season, concludes the ranking.
Side note: all the drivers who were titular from the beginning to the end of the season participated in the vote, with the exception of Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton.
Source: f1ingenerale
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