2016 F1 mid-season driver rankings
- Connor McDonagh
- @ConMcDonaghF1
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The Hungarian Grand Prix marked the midpoint of the 2016 Formula One season.
Already we have had some memorable moments in 2016 from Nico Rosberg’s dominant start to the season winning the first four races to Max Verstappen’s first ever win at the Spanish Grand Prix. Don’t forget Red Bull’s botched pitstop which cost Daniel Ricciardo the win at Monaco and Mercedes duo’s last lap shenanigans in Austria.
The 2016 F1 season has been fantastic so far and with only six points separating Lewis Hamilton and Rosberg at the top of the drivers’ standings, we are in for a great second half of the season.
Here we have ranked each driver’s performances this season out of 10, starting with the lowest ranked drivers eventually ending with the driver which was awarded the highest rating.
Rio Haryanto - 3
Rio Haryanto’s debut season in Formula One has been a baptism of fire. Not only is he up against Mercedes protege Pascal Wehrlein, he has the ‘pay driver’ tag around his neck.
Despite his strong qualifying performances in relation to his teammate this season, Haryanto’s race performances have been underwhelming. If reports are to be believed, the German Grand Prix this coming weekend will be his last race in the sport.
Esteban Gutierrez - 3.5
Esteban Gutierrez returned to the sport after a year out. The Mexican has no points to his name and has been comprehensively beaten by teammate Romain Grosjean.
Yes, Gutierrez has been unlucky, his crash with Fernando Alonso in Australia and various technical issues but not once has he looked like scoring points in 2016.
With Charles Leclerc waiting in the wings, the pressure is firmly on Gutierrez to improve in the second half of 2016.
Felipe Nasr - 3.5
After Felipe Nasr’s impressive debut season in 2015, finishing fifth in Australia. Many people had high hopes for the Brazilian.
Unfortunately for Nasr, 2016 has not gone to plan. More often than not, Sauber is the slowest car, however, teammate Marcus Ericsson has been the better of the two this season.
In recent races, mainly due to Ericsson crashing out, Nasr has improved his performances but ultimately it has been a disappointing season for him.
Marcus Ericsson - 4
There’s only so much one can do when their machinery is currently the slowest on the F1 grid. Points have never been realistic for Sauber but comparing a driver to his teammate is all we can do.
The Swede has had the upper hand in qualifying and has out-raced him. Ericsson will need to stop crashing out in qualifying though.
Jolyon Palmer - 4
Like fellow rookie Rio Haryanto, Jolyon Palmer’s start to his F1 career has been very difficult. An uncompetitive car has meant scoring points has been difficult. He was running as high as 10th in Hungary but spun out, costing himself any chance of scoring his maiden F1 points.
Daniil Kvyat - 4.5
Despite picking up a podium finish in China due to fortuitous circumstances, Daniil Kvyat was dropped in favour of Max Verstappen from Spain onwards.
Since joining Toro Rosso, Carlos Sainz has annihilated him in every department. Kvyat is lacking speed, confidence and luck. His F1 career will probably end at the end of the season.
Kevin Magnussen - 5
Kevin Magnussen is more experienced than teammate Jolyon Palmer so it is no surprise that he has beaten him thus far.
Magnussen has scored Renault’s only points of the season in Russia and often has the upper hand against Palmer.
Pascal Wehrlein - 5.5
Being Mercedes’ young protege, much was expected of Pascal Wehrlein.
His qualifying performances, on the whole, have been underwhelming but scoring points in Austria shows the talent and the potential he has.
Felipe Massa - 5.5
Felipe Massa began 2016 solidly with six consecutive points finish, however, since Monaco, Massa has consistently struggled and has scored only two points.
He is currently losing the qualifying battle 9-2 against teammate Valtteri Bottas and has scored 18 fewer points.
Jenson Button - 6
During their one and half seasons together, Jenson Button has stacked up well against Fernando Alonso – who many see as the best driver on the F1 grid.
Button’s strong qualifying performance at the Austrian Grand Prix followed by a strong drive to sixth showed that he still has the speed to be on the F1 grid. Overall, a solid season for the 2009 F1 Champion.
Nico Hulkenberg - 6
Nico Hulkenberg is still searching for that maiden Formula One podium. Whilst Sergio Perez has finished in the top three on four occasions since 2014, Hulkenberg hasn’t got close.
Perez and Hulkenberg are evenly matched but the former just seems to be able to get those big results on the board.
Valtteri Bottas - 7
A solid but unspectacular season from Valtteri Bottas, mainly due to the lack of speed of the Williams.
Bottas has convincingly beat teammate Felipe Massa and scored the team’s only podium finish of the season in Montreal.
Romain Grosjean - 7
Joining a new Formula One team is always a risk but it appears Romain Grosjean’s move to Haas was the right one in the short-term.
Grosjean scored points for Haas on the team’s debut in Australia and impressed again in Bahrain.
Fernando Alonso - 7.5
Fernando Alonso was ruled out of the Bahrain Grand Prix after sustaining an injury at the race prior in Australia.
Alonso has been magnificent on occasions in 2016, fifth at Monaco, sixth in Russia and seventh in Hungary are his standout results of the season so far.
Carlos Sainz - 8
Mechanical failures hampered Carlos Sainz’ rookie season for Toro Rosso.
In 2016, Sainz has been brilliant and has consistently beaten Daniil Kvyat since the Russian joined the team in Spain.
Sainz now sits on 30 points and is 10th in the drivers’ standings.
Sergio Perez - 8
Two podium finishes for Sergio Perez in 2016 makes him one of F1’s star performers. His form this season even linked him with a potential return to Ferrari.
On the whole, Perez and Nico Hulkenberg are fairly evenly matched but the former can get that standout result on the board.
Kimi Raikkonen - 8
Kimi Raikkonen is enjoying his best season in the sport since 2013. He may not have the pace of his McLaren days but he is a safe pair of hands and has continued to rack up the points which currently puts him ahead of teammate Sebastian Vettel in the drivers’ standings.
Sebastian Vettel - 8
Sebastian Vettel has been on the wrong end of bad luck and bad strategy calls by Ferrari. His engine failed on the formation lap in Bahrain, Daniil Kvyat hit him off in Russia and he suffered a tyre blowout in Austria.
In Australia and Canada, Ferrari made poor strategy calls which cost Vettel a potential victory.
Nico Rosberg - 8.5
Nico Rosberg began the season with four straight victories. One could argue that was mainly due to teammate Lewis Hamilton suffering mechanical problems but ultimately, Rosberg has been driving very well in 2016.
Rosberg is within a serious shot of his maiden drivers’ title but he will need to improve his wheel to wheel combat with Hamilton – as seen in Austria, which cost himself a race win on the final lap.
Lewis Hamilton - 9
After a tough start to the season, Lewis Hamilton has responded with five wins in the last six races.
If he suffers no more mechanical issues from now until the end of the season then Hamilton will be a four-time F1 Champion.
Max Verstappen - 9
Max Verstappen continues to prove the doubters wrong. At only 18, he has already won an F1 race and has proven himself as one of F1’s fastest drivers.
Over one lap, he still has work to do to match teammate Daniel Ricciardo but the young Dutchman’s race craft and tyre management is exemplary.
Daniel Ricciardo - 9.5
Daniel Ricciardo gets our highest rating of 9.5. The Australian may not have a win to his name, but more often than not, Ricciardo has extracted the maximum from the RB12.
His qualifying performances have been outstanding and he has comprehensively beaten Daniil Kvyat and Max Verstappen over one lap this season.
He should have won in Monaco and was unlucky not to win in Spain.