4. Lewis Hamilton: A great comeback in the second half of the year, after a testing time (partly of his own making). Could have been right there at the end despite the car's early performance. Needs to stop silly errors such as those in China, Monaco, Germany and Italy.
3. Mark Webber: Had a number of storming drives and fully deserved his first and second F1 victories. Ironically, given his previous history, it was his qualifying that let him down.
2. Sebastian Vettel: After a brilliant breakthrough season last year, we knew Vettel was going to be a contender. If he can cut-out silly errors like the ones he made in Australia, Monaco and Turkey, he will be a champion.
1. Jenson Button: It has to be Jenson. Undoubtedly a deserving champion after his commanding early season performances and that stunning drive in Brazil. Its great to finally see him achieve the potential that was so clear. He has clearly learnt a lot from the 2004 season when he was the only driver to push the Ferraris, and was just waiting for a car deserving of his talent.
Notable mentions: Felipe Massa for regularly beating Raikkonen; Alonso for struggling away; Fisichella (when in the Force India).
Top 5 races:
5. Silverstone: Not an especially interesting race in itself, but it showed that Brawn and Button would not run away with the titles.
4. Belgium: The battles at the front were framed by the story of Force India finally coming to the fore.
3. Germany: A dramatic start and a crushing first victory for Webber - one of the most popular drivers in the championship.
2. Australia: Barrichello's antics, Kubica and Vettel crashing, Lewis-gate controversy and the beginning of the Brawn story.
1. Brazil: A fitting climax to the season. Nothing was going to beat last season's dramatics, but Jenson's stirring drive showed he deserved the championship. It's just a shame that, despite the intrigue of this season, the individual races were not the best.
Notable mentions: Not really... Singapore?
Top 5 stories:
5. Diffuser: Difficult for the layman to understand, but made for plenty of column inches.
4. Lewis-gate: Just the beginning of a bizarre series of scandals.
3. Brawn GP: A fairytale story that would have been unbelievable in Hollywood.
2. Breakaway Threat: It was worrying times for the sport at one stage this season, fortunately the teams' threat was averted as with the GPWC.
1. Race-fixing: Renault and Piquet's actions will no doubt go down in both F1's history and the history of all sport as one of the most blatant attempts to manipulate a result of a sporting event.
Notable mentions: Schumacher's abortive return; McLaren's return to form; Massa's recovery;
Top 5 overtaking moves:
5. Raikkonen on Fisichella in Belgium: I'm struggling to remember any other significant overtakes than the ones here. Bring back Montoya anyone?
4. Button on Hamilton in Bahrain: A great pass on a KERs car early on in the race which was critical to Button's victory.
3. Kovalainen on Fisichella in Japan: Completely took the Italian by surprise on the exit of the pit lane. A brilliantly instinctive move.
2. Any of the moves in Malaysia: Poor conditions = brave
1. Button on Grosjean in Brazil: Perhaps Grojean has not been the best driver on the grid this year, and for this reason you could argue that the pass was easy. But it is because of just that that makes it my number one. Jenson after Spa that Grojean was not to be trusted, and yet when fighting for the championship he dared to drive all around the outside of the Renault driver in one of the quickest corners at Interlagos.
No comments:
Post a Comment