F1 Driver Ratings: How every Formula 1 star rated in the 2021 season

21. Nikita Mazepin (Haas) 4/10

Given Haas’s seat due to his father’s sponsorship, Nikita Mazepin has shown little to prove his talent deserves a place in Formula One. If it’s unfair to compare the Haas drivers to more competitive teams, Mazepin’s results against Mick Schumacher make for a gloomy read as he consistently fared worse than this team-mate.

Points: 0

20. Robert Kubica – Alfa Romeo 6/10

Jumped into the team as a result of Kimi Räikkönen’s positive Covid test, and the former Williams driver took a respectable 14th and 15th place in his two missions. He was ahead of Mazepin in the drivers’ championship, whose two best results were 14th and 17th.

Points: 0

19. Mick Schumacher – Haas 6.5 / 10

Mick Schumacher will be with Haas next year. (Photo: Getty)

Whether Mick Schumacher even comes close to his father’s abilities remains to be seen, as the Haas car was far from competitive this season. His highest result was 12th place in Hungary and he consistently beat his teammate Nikita Mazepin. Schumacher hopes the Haas will be more competitive in 2022, or it will start looking elsewhere for its F1 future.

Points: 0

18. Antonio Giovinazzi – Alfa Romeo 6.5 / 10

In what may be his last season in the sport, Italian Antonio Giovinazzi ended the season with three points. He was a better qualifier than his team-mate Kimi Räikkönen, but was often unable to make any points. Its highest ranking was ninth place in Saudi Arabia.

Points: 3

17. Nicholas Latifi – Williams 6.5 / 10

An unforgettable season for Nicholas Latifi, if only because of the consecutive points races he enjoyed in Hungary and Belgium. For the remainder of the season, however, he often played second fiddle to Mercedes-bound George Russell. With Russell’s departure, Latifi has the opportunity to become number one at Williams in 2022.

Points: 7

16. Kimi Raikkonen – Alfa Romeo 7/10

The 2007 world champion was eliminated with a total of 10 points for the season. Far from the positions he used to call home, Kimi Raikkonen had to fight for rare points at the end of the grid. Even at the age of 42, he showed that he still had something in the tank when he scored the last four points of his career 1,873 in Mexico.

Points: 10

15. George Russell – Williams 7.5 / 10

Russell’s last season was at Williams in 2021, with the Brit moving to Mercedes next year. REUTERS / Johanna Geron / File Photo Photographer: Johanna Geron Provider: REUTERS Source: X07006

The story of George Russell’s season took place mostly off-track as it was confirmed after months of speculation that he would work with Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in 2022. On the track, he took his first career podium at the washed-out Belgian Grand Prix and helped Williams score a respectable 23 points.

Points: 16

14. Yuki Tsunoda – AlphaTauri 5/10

The highly rated rookie was unable to translate that potential into results and is better known for his vulgar chatter than for his driving. AlphaTauri will remain loyal to the 21-year-old through 2022, but when Red Bull boss Christian Horner starts using your name as a verb to describe a dire situation, you can’t help but wonder if your days are numbered are.

Points: 32

13. Lance Stroll – Aston Martin 6/10

Racing Point’s pace faded after being renamed Aston Martin and updated aero rules, which meant Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel lagged behind. The German had made a podium, but the best Stroll could achieve was eighth in Qatar, a season he would soon forget.

Points: 34

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12. Sebastian Vettel – Aston Martin 6.5 / 10

Sebastian Vettel escaped his Ferrari nightmare only to find himself in a car that wasn’t showing the same pace as last season. The German said he joined the team to fight for podiums, but it’s an achievement he has only achieved once this season.

Points: 43

11. Esteban Ocon – Alpin 7/10

Ocon became the 111th race winner in F1 history. (Photo: AFP)

Esteban Ocon became the 111th distinct winner in F1 history when he took an unlikely win in Hungary. It came at a crucial time for the Frenchman, who had survived a series of four races without points. His form has improved since his first win, finishing in the top five in two of the last three races.

Points: 74

10. Fernando Alonso – Alpin 7.5 / 10

The driver, who some say is the natural talent on the track, returned to the sport and showed a glimpse of his ability. A prime example of this was Hungary, where he skilfully fended off Hamilton so that his teammate Ocon could take the win. He took his first podium in seven years in Qatar, crowning his return to the track.

Points: 81

9. Pierre Gasly – AlphaTauri 7/10

One of the highest compliments an AlphaTauri driver can get is being associated with a move to Red Bull, and while that bridge may be burned for Pierre Gasly, his accomplishments this season deserve the speculation. A podium finish in Azerbaijan was the culmination of a campaign that scored points in more than half of the races.

Points: 110

8. Daniel Ricciardo – McLaren 6/10

Despite his Monza win, Ricciardo struggles at McLaren. (Photo: Getty)

The highest climax for Daniel Ricciardo with a win in Monzo, but otherwise the season was a struggle for the Honeybadger. He was having a hard time adapting his driving style to the McLaren, and even with a full campaign behind him, it’s unclear whether he really masters it. There is no doubt about his talent, but at 32, Ricciardo is running out of time to achieve his stated goal of fighting for a world title.

Points: 115

7. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari 9/10

Aside from a heartbreak at his home race in Monaco that failed to take pole, Charles Leclerc was quietly enjoying a strong season. He scored points in all but four races and this consistent performance means that Ferrari was third in the constructors’ championship, ahead of McLaren.

Points: 159

6. Lando Norris – McLaren 9/10

Lando Norris overshadowed his team-mate Daniel Ricciardo. (Photo: Getty)

If it is possible to have a season to grow up in Formula 1, it was Lando Norris’. The Bristol-born racing driver is no longer the fresh rookie on the grid, but a driver who is constantly pushing for podium places. With Daniel Ricciardo’s talent at his side in the paddock, Norris has put his experienced counterpart in the shade. With the exception of two races, he finished in the points in all points and even made it onto the podium four times. Norris is a special talent, McLaren now only has to crack the 2022 regulations and Norris could be a consistent podium.

Points: 160

5. Carlos Sainz – Ferrari 8.5 / 10

Any driver who has driven for Ferrari will know it’s an experience like no other, but Carlos Sainz handled the increased pressure with no problems. Perhaps the greatest compliment he can be given is that he has kept up with his team-mate Leclerc, who has two seasons more experience in the car. One thing that Sainz would like to change in 2022 is to get his first win as he has become the driver who accumulated the most career points without a win.

Points: 164.5

4. Sergio Perez – Red Bull 7/10

A season up and down for the newest candidate in second place at Red Bull. Sergio Perez came with high expectations after a strong season for Racing Point in 2020, but he seemed to suffer a similar fate as so many at Red Bull Mexikaner was struggling to get a grip on a car that apparently only Max Verstappen could really do. After driving the first five races without a podium, he won in Azerbaijan, but it wasn’t until the end of the season that he looked like he finally had the car under control.

Points: 190

3. Valtteri Bottas – Mercedes 6/10

The 2021 season for Valtteri Bottas was a perfect example of his Mercedes career. Never done enough to put pressure on the champions, but enough to ensure that the constructors’ championship goes to Mercedes. He only won one race that season, and considering that Hamilton won eight in the same car, it says how far behind his teammate Bottas was.

Points: 226

2. Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes 9.5 / 10

Losing a championship isn’t a feeling Lewis Hamilton has seen many times in his career, but looking back on this season will pinpoint the midsection where it slipped from him. The seven-time champion started the season electrically and won three of the first four races, but then only one of the next nine races. It took some of the most dominant drivers of his career to get him back into the race, but even that didn’t prove quite enough in the end.

Points: 387.5

1. Max Verstappen – Red Bull 10/10

Verstappen had an unforgettable season in 2021 (Photo: Getty)

It always took some talent to knock Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes off their feet for good, but a near-flawless season for Max Verstappen has done just that.

Had he been lucky enough he could have won the title much sooner, but a Hamilton accident at Silverstone and a flat tire in Azerbaijan made him wait until the final race to claim his first title.

With Red Bull sticking to the new regulations there is no reason we couldn’t see a Hamilton-like era of Verstappen dominance, he certainly has the knack for doing just that.

Points: 395.5