After the COVID-19 outbreak last year, many sports – including Formula 1 – mulled suspending their entire seasons.
However, Formula 1 strove to be innovative by setting stringent COVID-19 protocols for drivers and races to ensure the successful completion of the 2020 season.
It meant there were a few unpredictable results, and some lesser-known drivers emerged in the limelight.
Top ten Formula 1 drivers in 2020
With a few regular drivers getting quarantined after contracting the COVID-19 virus, reserve drivers stepped in and belied expectations.
George Russell almost won the Sakhir Formula 1 race after filling in for 7-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. Nico Hulkenberg stepped in for COVID-19 hit Lance Stroll just a day before a Formula 1 race.
On that note, let’s take a look at the Top ten Formula 1 drivers in 2020.
#10 Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri)
Formula 1 Grand Prix of Italy
Everyone remembers that magnificent drive by Pierre Gasly at the Italian Formula 1 Grand Prix, where he put his AlphaTauri on the poll after capitalising on the misfortunes of others. The Frenchmen celebrated his first win in Formula 1 after seeing off a late challenge from Carlos Sainz in the final lap.
That wasn’t the only highlight of the Formula 1 season for Gasly, as kept his pace throughout the season to garner points race after race.
There was a time when there was conversation about getting him back to RedBull Racing to replace the struggling Alex Albon. However, the management decided against that, something that played in Gasly’s favour, as the AlphaTauri car suited his style of driving much better. That allowed him to keep adding championship points to his tally and secure a seat for the 2021 Formula 1 season with AlphaTauri.
It will be intriguing to see Pierre pairing up with young Yuki Tsunoda, who was promoted to Formula One from Formula Two, and build on a promising 2020 campaign.
#9 Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
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positive COVID-19 test. He did everything right in the race till the Mercedes pit crew messed up, putting Valtteri Bottas’ tires on Russell’s car, a gaffe that cost Russel his first ever win in Formula 1.
Before that race, Russell had performed exceptionally with an underperforming Williams car, which he put in contention to score points. He did everything in his power to make Williams team earn their first points of the Formula 1 season.
When his 10th-placed Williams crashed, Russell lost out on scoring points for the first time in his Formula 1 career. He was able to take that monkey off his back when he raced his Mercedes back into the top 10 of the Bahrain Grand Prix even after the blunder by the crew.
After scoring his first points in Formula 1, Russell will look to cook up something special for the upcoming season for Williams Racing under a new management and team ownership.
#7 Lando Norris (McLaren)
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Published 15 Jan 2021, 18:38 IST
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