With just one race remaining in 2015, it’s time to grade each of the 20 drivers based on how they have performed over the course of the season. Who gets a top mark, and who “could do better” in the 2015 F1 grades?
2015 F1 Grades – Rating the drivers
Lewis Hamilton — A+
Hamilton may have been defeated by team-mate Nico Rosberg in the last two races, but his objective for the season — and perhaps his whole career — has already been achieved. The British driver built up a healthy championship lead with victories in three of the first four races and never relinquished it; sealing glory with three Grands Prix to spare in Austin. Aside from an error-strewn display in Hungary, Hamilton has been on top of his game all year, and is fully deserving of his elevation to the status of a true great.
Nico Rosberg — B+
It’s easy to be swayed by the pair of commanding victories Rosberg has claimed recently, but the fact that the German has largely been off-colour in 2015 means his performance warrants no more than a B+. The qualifying advantage which allowed him to take the 2014 title fight all the way to Abu Dhabi evaporated, and there were no real gains on Sunday. He was still in with a sniff heading into the summer break, but an engine failure in Monza all but extinguished his waning title hopes. Rather than challenging his team-mate, Rosberg has been sucked into a battle for second in the drivers’ standings and although he now looks to have rediscovered his best form, it’s all a bit ‘too little, too late’.
Sebastian Vettel — A+
The fact that Vettel was, prior to the season finale in Abu Dhabi, ahead of Rosberg in the drivers’ standings is testament to how impressive the four-time world champion has been this year. His reputation was tarnished by a drubbing at the hands of Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull in 2014, but he has more than recovered it with a series of superb performances in scarlet red. A shock victory in Malaysia represented a near-perfect start, and further triumphs in Hungary and Singapore kept him in title contention — mathematically at least — until Austin. He has finished on the podium 13 times in 18 races, but he’ll be eyeing the top step far more frequently next year.
Kimi Raikkonen — C
On the face of it, a “C” might seem a little harsh, but the statistics suggest otherwise. The Iceman has managed just two podium finishes, and has seen team-mate Vettel score almost double his points — handing the Finn a battering akin to his comprehensive defeat to Fernando Alonso last year. It seemed as if he would be replaced by compatriot Valtteri Bottas, but the Scuderia opted to retain his services for the 2016 season — a decision he has since failed to justify, suffering from a general lack of consistency. Next year may well be his last in the sport, and he’ll hope to bow out on a much more positive note.
Valtteri Bottas — B+
Whilst Bottas has failed to earn the plaudits he received for his 2014 heroics, he leads Raikkonen by a single point heading to Abu Dhabi: a considerable achievement given the speed difference between the Ferrari and the Williams. The Finn only has two rostrums to his name, and has faced a much sterner test from more-experienced counterpart Felipe Massa, but certainly has the potential to win a world championship in a car capable of doing so. Indeed, it could be argued that Bottas has got the most (or close to it) out of his car at each and every race weekend, but may not have the results to show for it.
Felipe Massa — B+
Seeing as just 19 points separate the two Williams in the standings, it seems only fair to attribute them the same grade. Massa and Bottas have been difficult to separate all year, and the F1 veteran also has two podiums under his belt which came in Austria and Italy. The Brazilian’s challenge for fourth place in the drivers’ standings has suffered from a pair of retirements and a disqualification in the last six races, but he will likely look back on 2015 as a solid, if unspectacular year.
Daniel Ricciardo — B
Ricciardo’s stock soared through the roof after a hat-trick of superb victories in the last year, and expectations were always going to be high heading into 2015. Hampered by his under-performing Renault engine, the Aussie has failed to reproduce his 2014 magic and has been beaten by team-mate Daniil Kvyat more often than he would have liked. He showed his best form in Hungary, taking third after a notoriously punchy display, and then again in Singapore, where he finished second to Sebastian Vettel. Other than that, it’s been a largely frustrating year, but he’s already shown what he can do in a top car, which this year’s Red Bull, to the detriment of fans’ entertainment, has not been.
Daniil Kvyat — B+
Kvyat initially struggled under the pressure of his graduation from Toro Rosso, but turned his fortunes around — identifying the Monaco Grand Prix, where he finished fourth, as the turning point. It was suggested that Kvyat could lose his seat to one of Toro Rosso’s exciting youngsters, but he has dismissed any such speculation with his improved performances. He notched his maiden podium in Budapest, and we could well see him up there more and more often in the coming years.
Sergio Perez — A
Perez has, since his move to Force India, successfully rebuilt the reputation which his McLaren misery damaged. His podium in Sochi, albeit gifted to him by a clash between Bottas and Raikkonen in the dying stages, was one of his finest results and his fifth place in the following race in Austin moved him into the top 10 in the drivers’ standings, where he remains with one race to go. The Mexican has proven too hot for his highly-rated team-mate Nico Hulkenberg too handle on occasion, and it seems he can only improve from here.
Nico Hulkenberg — B
Victory in Le Mans made many believe Hulkenberg would finally be offered the top seat he inarguably deserves, but Ferrari’s decision to retain Raikkonen leaves one wondering whether he will get his opportunity at all. Hulkenberg’s reputation has been in no way damaged this year, but a podium finish still evades him with Perez claiming Force India’s two rostrums whilst the pair have been team-mates. There have been a number of impressive performances, including Austria and Brazil (where he finished sixth), which ensure that the German still receives a solid grade.
Romain Grosjean — B
Grosjean has once again comprehensively out-performed erratic team-mate Pastor Maldonado this year, but he has often been limited to fighting for the lower points places in his Lotus. A superb podium at Spa will almost certainly prove the highlight of his season — his last in black and gold, and you can’t help but feel the Enstone outfit will suffer from the loss of the Hass-bound Frenchman next year.
Pastor Maldonado — D
Perhaps the media are too harsh on Maldonado, but it is difficult to award him a passing grade for his 2015 performances. He has failed to finish eight races and, whilst he has four points finishes to his name in the last five races, the rising fame of ‘hasmaldonadocrashedtoday.com‘ is evidence that he has failed to quash the substantial criticism often directed at him.
Max Verstappen — A
“He’s too young,” they said. How wrong they were. Verstappen has proven himself to be an old head on young shoulders, cancelling out some rare errors with a series of mightily impressive performances. The Dutchman has salvaged many a processional race with his ambitious, but often spectacular overtaking and has stolen the spotlight from his team-mate Carlos Sainz. Many young drivers have been touted as a future world champion, but it seems multiple titles await Verstappen if he continues to progress at the current rate.
Carlos Sainz — B
It’s been a solid rookie year for Sainz who has done enough to retain his seat at Toro Rosso and keep his hopes of a future Red Bull drive very much alive. There have been no headline-grabbing results, with his best finish only seventh, but his points tally (which currently stands at 18) is far from representative, given that he has suffered seven retirements over the course of the season. With better reliability, Sainz would likely be far higher than 15th in the standings.
Felipe Nasr — B
Nasr’s expectations must have increased considerably when he finished fifth amid a sparse field in Melbourne, but he has only managed five points finishes since. The Brazilian has been operating nicely under the radar, and will only improve at Sauber next year with a bright future ahead given he is only 23. He lies 13th in the standings with 27 points, and one would argue that he could have done no better in a Sauber which has fallen behind its midfield rivals.
Marcus Ericsson — C
Ericsson’s rookie year at Caterham wasn’t particularly encouraging, but he has managed to eliminate many of the errors which plagued him in 2014. He may sit below the two McLarens in the drivers’ standings, but has finished in the points on five occasions — just one fewer than his team-mate Nasr. It could be said that there were better options for Sauber with regard to their 2016 line-up, but the Swiss outfit should benefit from the stability of retaining their solid driver line-up.
Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso — N/A
It would be foolish to grade the performances of the two McLaren drivers, as their cars’ almost frightening pace deficit has masked the pace of the world champion duo.
Will Stevens — C
Stevens largely got the better of Roberto Merhi in the Manor pair’s private battle, but has faced a much tougher test from Alexander Rossi despite his comparatively minimal time behind the wheel. The British driver is bottom of the standings despite completing the most races of the three that have raced for the backmarkers, and it remains to be seen whether he will be on the grid next year.
Roberto Merhi — C-
Merhi scrapes a passing grade on the basis of finishing 12th at Silverstone — enough to keep him above Stevens in the championship. He was, however, sidelined when Rossi arrived on the scene and his chances of a 2016 seat look minimal.
Alexander Rossi — B+
Having consistently performed well in GP2, it seemed only a matter of time before the American youngster would be given an F1 opportunity. Rossi’s finish of 12th on home soil last month epitomised his hugely impressive start to life in F1, and his performances since being handed his long-awaited debut may well be enough to secure a full-time drive for next year.
