Top 5 Drivers : 2015 Formula 1 Season

The 2015 Formula 1 season ended with Lewis Hamilton being crowned the world driver’s champion and Mercedes having a record breaking season, scoring 704 total points and winning the constructor’s championship. However, the highlight of the season was Ferrari’s comeback from a dismal 2014 season. The addition of Vettel to the Italian team worked wonders, with the German winning 3 races and being the only one to challenge the dominant Mercedes. But there were a few drivers who really came out of their element to drive brilliantly and impress everyone.

Here, we take a look at the Top 5 drivers of the 2015 Formula 1 season.

5. Sergio Perez

Sergio Perez had another impressive season in a midfield car. After the Hungarian Grand Prix, Force India released the B-spec car and Perez had amazing results after the upgrade, which eventually led to Force India having their best season ever, finishing 5th in the constructor’s standings. Perez finished 9th in the drivers standings having scored 78 points. His improvement was quite visible from 2014 when he only scored 59 points and came 10th in the drivers standings. In 2015, Perez had 4 top five finishes and even grabbed a podium after finishing 3rd in Russia. He had good tyre management throughout the year which meant Force India could run risky strategies and of which Perez reaped the benefits. His best qualifying position was 4th which is impressive compared to how far behind Force India was compared to Ferrari. All in all, Perez and Force India had a great season compared to 2014 and things can only get better in the future.

4. Nico Rosberg

Nico Rosberg failed for a second consecutive time to challenge teammate Lewis Hamilton for the drivers title. Nevertheless, Rosberg had a good year where he beat the two Ferrari drivers to take 2nd spot. He especially came alive in the latter stages of the season winning the last 3 races and securing pole in the last 6 races. He converted the last 3 poles into victories, something he failed to do especially in 2014. In total, Rosberg secured 7 poles and 6 race wins and 15 podium finishes compared to 5 wins in the 2014 season. Rosberg’s improvement was overshadowed by Hamilton’s performances race after race. The positive side for Rosberg this season were the last few races where he brought the fight to Hamilton and he should be building on that the next season to fight for the championship.

3. Max Verstappen

In a season where rookies took the center stage, Max Verstappen came out on top. He received the Rookie of the Year award at the FIA Gala and impressed everyone by his performances. The flying dutchman drove fearlessly and took the fight to everyone in this path. He had many good performances, including the two in which he came back from the last place to finish in the points. He had the best finish of 4th in Hungary and finished 14th in the drivers championship after scoring 49 points. He became the youngest driver to drive a Formula 1 car at the age of 17 and talk about him moving to a more competitive team has already begun in the paddock. Whatever the future may hold, everyone tips him to be a future World Champion after his wonderful rookie season.

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2. Sebastian Vettel

Having made the emotional decision to leave Red Bull with whom he won his four world titles, Sebastian Vettel came to Ferrari and took the fight to the dominant Mercedes. After having a dismal season in 2014 in which he finished 5th in the drivers standings, Vettel came back to his usual form and finished 3rd in the drivers standings with 3 race wins and even a pole position. He became the only driver to win a race or take pole position except the Mercedes duo. He took 13 podiums in 2015 compared to only 4 in 2014. With an engine that seems the equal to the Mercedes engine in terms of power, it seems anyone’s game for the next season and all eyes will be on the German to take the fight for the world drivers title to Hamilton and Rosberg.

1. Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton took his 3rd World Drivers title this season to equal Senna’s record. He drove brilliantly to take 11 pole positions and 10 race wins. But after winning the title in Austin, Lewis’ performance dropped and could not win any of the remaining 3 races. Even though there were many first corner collisions between the two Mercedes drivers, Hamilton took the title in a dominant fashion with 3 races to spare compared to how last year, the drivers title was decided on the final race day. All in all, it was a great year for Lewis where he showed some of the best drives we have ever seen from him. All Lewis has to do for next season is analyse why he struggled in the last few races and not many would put it past him to take home another drivers title.

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