Formula 1: Who is really the best driver?

When looking for the fastest men in the world, you tend to peek at Jamaica. And yet, there are some who go much faster! Except that those, they do not run on the athletics tracks but rather on the circuits. We are of course talking about Formula 1 drivers, the queen category of motorsport. Because when you turn at average speeds close to 260 km/h on the mythical Monza circuit in Italy for example, it's quite fast! As with sprinters, there is a typical morphology of the F1 driver, but unlike athletes often very strong, they are rather puny in comparison, with their 70kg on average on the scale. It must be said that fitness is obviously not the only criterion that determines who is the best behind the wheel. Because if there's one thing motorsport enthusiasts want to know, it's who is the best in racing. And being the best in this environment doesn't just mean the ability to go fast in a car, it's also about being tough, damn brave and consistent and knowing how to adapt to race conditions while having a mental and nerves of steel. So it is true that for someone who does not particularly follow the Grands Prix every Sunday, and who would like to get an idea of who is the boss on the discipline in 2020 by taking a look at the general classification of the drivers, deduces that some Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas are above the lot! Because, indeed, the Briton and the Finn, teammates in the famous Mercedes team, have a significant lead when we look at the scoreboard. After the Eifel  Nürburgring Grand Prix in early October, Hamilton is number 1 with 231 points ahead of Bottas (161 points). So it's true, you have to remember how they give you these points in F1. It's quite simple on the 20 drivers who start the race, the top ten score points corresponding to their position; 25 for the winner, 18 for the second, 15 for the third and for the following until the tenth, they leave with in order: 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1 point(s). Because, to return to the scoreboard, after these two drivers, except the^3rd , a certain Max Verstappen with his 147 points, no one is above 100 points! A considerable gap in the top 10 at mid-season! But are these discrepancies really indicative of the true level of F1 drivers?

Pilots who have already proven themselves.

 To find out, let's first try to get to know them better! Let's start with three names that you may be familiar with. On this 2020 season, there is already Sebastian Vettel. Today at Ferrari, Vettel is 13th^with 17 points. And yet, if we were to rely only on this figure, we would be surprised to know that the German driver is simply 4 times world champion with Red Bull Racing from 2010 to 2013, and that he holds a few records that have never fallen. Indeed, the four-time world champion set in 2013 the record of 9 consecutive victories. He is also co-holder of the record for the most wins in a season with a certain Michael Schumacher. In other words, in the 2013 season, "Seb" finished almost 70% of the time first! Otherwise, what about the career of the gentleman, except that of his 250 Grand Prix contested, he won 53, that he was the ^2nd youngest driver in history to win a race at only 21 years and 73 days, that he qualified 57 times in pole position and that he achieved 120 podiums! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL1CzXmlxVA&ab_channel=FORMULA1 Chances are you know someone named Kimi Raikkonen. In 2020, the latter drives for Alfa Romeo and points to the bottom of the standings in 18th^{place with} just 2 points! And again, this is not indicative of the level of the Finn who is by the way the driver who has taken the most starts in the history of F1. Because indeed, what makes Kimi so popular (apart from his answers which only he has the secret in press conference!) it is that the nicknamed " The Iceman" in reference to his origins and his character of reserved appearance, is a hell of a pilot! Yes, not everyone can boast of having been world champion in F1 in his career. In addition, the Finn was a serious contender for the title (won in 2007 with Ferrari) for many years. That's why he finished^2nd twice in 2003 and 2005, and also twice^3rd in 2008 and 2012, the year of his return to F1. Because "The Iceman" had also tried his hand at the World Rally Championship in 2010 and 2011. In short, the 40-year-old still has 21 victories to his credit and 103 podiums. And when we know that they are only five in the history of this sport to have achieved more than 100 podiums…Well, inevitably, it commands respect! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6Pw7IGoX0w&ab_channel=FORMULA1 And then, as already mentioned in the introduction, there is a certain Lewis Hamilton who imposes his law on the circuits in 2020. The British Mercedes AMG driver is already six-time world champion! And if you are a record lover, again you will be served. Since 2007, Lewis has started 260 Grands Prix consecutively (that leaves you with an idea of the consistency and reliability of the driver)! And then, record number of pole positions (96), podiums (159), career points, "Grand Slam" (starting on pole, doing the whole race in the lead and having the best time in the race) achieved in a season (3), and the record for the number of victories. The British driver has 91, tied with the legendary Michael Schumacher! When you have a C.V. like this one, no wonder Hamilton is the leader of the championship and that at 35 years old, he still breaks the time records on the circuits!

The Other "aces" of the wheel…

But beware, "Aces of the wheel", there are others. So certainly, not all with this kind of record, but nevertheless, we must not underestimate them! We've already talked a little bit about it, there's Valtteri Bottas, Lewis' teammate. Even if it took him more than 80 races to win F1 in his career, the Finnish driver – despite a difficult start at Mercedes – has proven over the last two years that with a good car, he is able to finish almost every race on the podium and also force his teammate to put the package on the qualifying sessions not to be taken pole position! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpntKkGQ-5k&ab_channel=FORMULA1 On the starting grid, you will also find a certain Daniel Ricciardo who has already finished twice^3rd in the world championship with Red Bull in 2014 and 2016. While the Australian has struggled in recent years to return to the top 5, his driving style and ability to attack make him one of the most appreciated drivers by fans and teams who continue to want to recruit him. You'll also find men like Carlos Sainz Jr. for whom motorsport is already part of the genetic heritage. Because when the dad is world rally champion, it must have left traces in the boy's DNA! And indeed, in recent seasons with McLaren, the 26-year-old Spaniard has scored points regularly.  

… even very young!

Then there are also younger drivers who are just as impressive. How not to start with this sacred Max Verstappen, a regular on the podium despite his 21 years! The gentleman is precocious because he already holds records… youngest driver in history to start a Grand Prix at 17 years and 5 months, youngest driver on a podium, youngest Formula 1 winner at 18 years and 227 days… Suffice to say that behind his air of young man, there is a fearless driver, confident in his abilities to go and rub shoulders with the best. He is also more and more consistent in his performances. A hell of a rival on the starting grid! There are others that should not be underestimated despite their young age. This first name will certainly evoke something since it is that of the first French driver to win a Grand Prix since a certain Olivier Panis in 1996 in Monaco! At the end of an exciting race marked by a series of twists and turns (two accidents, Hamilton receiving a penalty, second start following a stop of the race), Pierre Gasly or " Gasly the Magnificent" as some have nicknamed him after this feat, wins the race at the wheel of his Alpha Tauri, resistant to Carlos Sainz Jr. who used all the engine power of his McLaren to try to overtake Pierre. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpmBNu8NEsk&ab_channel=CANAL%2BSport A symbolic victory for the France. 24 years after the last French victory, it is this 24-year-old boy who comes to win in Italy at Monza with an Italian team. So certainly, not with a Ferrari, but the Italians also had a good reason to carry the young driver in their hearts that day. This race did not reveal Gasly whose potential Toro Rosso had already sensed by recruiting him in 2017, but it reminded us that the Frenchman, even without being at the wheel of a Red Bull, was able to race in the lead and withstand the pressure of his pursuers. A young player with talent to spare there is also one on the side of McLaren. Indeed, the British Lando Norris is currently 6th in the drivers' standings at only 21 years old. Impressive to see so much consistency at this level of performance, when you know how the driving experience can make significant differences in the management of a race. Then, Lance Stroll, the Canadian driver born in 1998 who already has two podiums to his credit. He was under 19 when he started for the first time from the^2nd position of a Grand Prix, the youngest to start at the front of the starting grid. And how to miss the competitor at heart, Charles Leclerc, who even mechanically penalized by the performance of his Ferrari over this season, manages to fight for places that are expensive, at least, during qualifying. Indeed, the Monegasque and it is no secret for anyone in the world of F1, starts with a Ferrari whose engine is less efficient than its rivals this year. And yet, when we know that a certain Sebastien Vettel whose list of winners has already been mentioned above, suffers the same fate and that he sometimes struggles to cross Q1 (1st^{qualifying phase} ) while his teammate Charles regularly manages to take his car to Q3 … It gives you a hell of a clue about the level of steering of the gentleman.

 Who has the best car in Formula 1?

And this is perhaps where the key to analyzing the true level of the 20 drivers lies. Mechanics! And yes, because if in parallel with the drivers' classification, there is a manufacturer's classification, it is because there is a reason. Because in Formula 1, having the best driver to win is not enough! You also need a car made for competition. But at first glance, how can we imagine for a moment that only one of the cars that starts from a Grand Prix is not made to compete with the others at the same level? So yes, with the naked eye and without a stopwatch in your hands you can't see the difference in pace between each of them, but contrary to what you might think, Formula 1 is not only a sport of speed. Because, as it takes endurance to the driver to take the " g" he undergoes in the corners, acceleration, braking while maintaining the best track trajectories at optimal speeds for more than 50 laps, it takes endurance to the car. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsHSZfAMQPA&ab_channel=Automoto Indeed, the parts that compose it, are subjected to physical constraints and extreme temperatures long enough. If the car performs well over one lap but is not able to withstand these shocks over the distance, it is not worth much. It is therefore a real race within the race that automotive engineers engage in this discipline. Indeed, the challenges to be met are daunting! When technological advances around the engine accelerate, everything else must follow for the car to be able to accommodate such great power. Already, aerodynamics must ensure the best track holding for the vehicle. Not easy when these pretty very light ladies, essentially made of carbon, just want to literally fly away by picking up speed. All the leading edges and wings of the car must allow a flow of air that will pin it to the ground in a straight line and in corners at high speed, but without slowing it down! On aerodynamics, nothing is left to chance. The air flows must also cool the engine compartment and the brakes, both of which are subjected to crazy temperatures. Because managing the temperatures on the parts in the race is a headache for engineers who must constantly ensure that the parts that make up their queen of circuits do not exceed in temperature the limits they can handle. So certainly, even if some new racing technologies have been made public, with regard to energy recovery systems, material alloys of certain components or systems for temporary increase in engine performance, the latest discoveries, however small, which make it possible to save even a few thousandths of a second on their rivals, are preciously kept secret by the stables.

Money, the sinews of war!

And it must be said that in this " automotive arms race" not everyone is playing on equal terms. Is it because of the level of competence of the engineers? It's hard to say when you imagine the C.V that you must already have to work on such projects, even if as with pilots, some must be formidable "Aces". In fact, you have to look more simply at the budgets of the 10 teams. Because improvements require research and development that necessarily requires money! And here, the differences in terms of financial capabilities are very clear. We can literally talk about " small", "medium " and " large" stables! The richest are Mercedes and Ferrari, it is estimated that each spends half a billion dollars a year (unprecedented) and also each employs nearly 1000 people , half of whom work on the engine department. Not to mention Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, which spends nearly 450 million to run the machine composed of nearly 900 people! Then there are the " intermediate" teams with budgets already halved, with Renault and Mclaren, about 270 million each. And then, the other 5 teams have estimated average budgets that are still twice as thin as these. 188 million for Racing Point. Haas, 173 million. Alfa Romeo, 141 million. Toro Rosso, with 138 million and Williams, 132 million. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwZjCZDYYTc&ab_channel=ESTACAEcoled%27ing%C3%A9nieurs No need to comment on these figures except that of Haas team principal Günter Steiner "the number of people who work in our team is the number of people currently on leave at Mercedes! ». Indeed, you really have to be a motorsport enthusiast. Finally, no, it is not enough a Lover, to invest like President Gene Haas these sums knowing that you will not even have the weapons to go for a podium. So, is it madness to keep wanting to run when the race is a foregone conclusion? Maybe, but certainly not bad madness! Because, if there is something wrong in F1 it is not with these "little guys"! How can the "Legislator", the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) tolerate such budgetary gaps (even if geologically speaking, the term "canyon" seems more appropriate) between F1 teams? It's like literally killing this sport! No, it's not an exaggeration to say so! The discipline has everything to be one of the most exciting to follow every week. It has in its ranks the best engineers who redouble their efforts every year to push the limits of mechanics. And also, the best pilots on the planet.

A sporting injustice in Formula 1!

And that's where perhaps the biggest mess in Sport right now lies! Because that's what every amateur or enthusiast wants to know at the end of the season… Who was really the best? But how is this possible if drivers start in single-seaters that do not compete in the same category? It just isn't! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dpov98H-CcE&ab_channel=CANAL%2BSport After that, we can always make assumptions. Hamilton is certainly first with a Mercedes that is impregnable this year but the Briton does not demerit when we see the track records he breaks down and the perfection of his trajectories in qualifying and in the race. But, like the smiling Daniel Ricciardo , the Renault driver who when asked if he could beat Lewis with the same car said without hesitation, they are many to have the same level of confidence if not all. And when we remember the performances that Leclerc, Norris, Gasly, Verstappen are able to achieve, Stroll, Sainz, Perez and former world champions like Vettel and Raikkonen; It's a safe bet that we would be entitled to much more exciting races with overtaking in all directions and podiums that would change more often and therefore a highly contested championship, if a certain mechanical equality existed in F1! So can we expect F1 to exploit its full potential to become one of the most exciting championships to watch? The FIA will impose in 2021 a budget cap of around $ 150 million . A coherent measure but it would also have been necessary to impose on the teams to build their 2021 single-seaters with the same budget! Indeed, the wealthiest have taken the opportunity to release even more funds now to fill those they will not be able to inject the following year. A half-effective measure, therefore, because the 2021 budgets will not be respected by the "big guys" unless a new rule emerges. On the other hand, let us hope that sooner or later it will force the latter, accustomed to managing their workforce with insane sums, to put themselves at the same financial level as the others to compete. Because when you know the raw talent of the 20 rivals who take the start of a Grand Prix, it would promise us breathtaking race Sundays! So in your opinion, will Formula 1 one day be able to regain all the interest it deserves with more mechanical equity so that the real differentiators are the drivers? And in that case, who would be better? Ps: Copyright Cover photo Chris Peeters on Pexels