1. Lewis Hamilton 2. Jenson Button 3. Sebastian Vettel 4. Mark Webber 5. Robert Kubica 6. Fernando Alonso 7. Felipe Massa 8. Kimi Raikkonen 9. Rubens Barrichello 10. Nico Rosberg http://www.manipef1.com/news/articles/10344/ Hamilton named best 2009 driver by Autosport Lewis Hamilton has been voted the driver of the season by British magazine Autosport in their prestigous end-of-season review, despite the Briton finishing only fifth in this year's world championship standings. Although the MP4-24 was well off the pace at the beginning of the season, an upgrade package introduced at the German Grand Prix propelled Hamilton to the front of the field, before he took two victories and a further three podium finishes in the final eight races. Autosport's grand prix editor Mark Hughes credited Hamilton with taking full advantage of McLaren's upturn in performance, as he consistently outshone team-mate Kovalainen, and scored more points than any other driver in the latter part of the year. The moment the car's performance window widened, Hamilton was consistently brilliant, wrote Hughes. His spectacular skill-set was on display from the moment the MP4-24 was given the Nurburgring update that lent it credibility. Hamilton beat 2010 team-mate and 2009 world champion Jenson Button in Autosport's rankings, while world championship runner-up Sebastian Vettel I completely agree.
-1, Button's car was #1(for the start of the season at least, not him). Hamilton showed that with the proper package that he can take it to front runners while Button showed he can only perform with an obvious advantage over the field. Vettel should be second, if he didn't make so many mistakes he could've been first in this list as well as the WDC.
+2 What a useless idea to give such awards. What else are the *real* championship results for? Don't make up an alternative ranking, Autosport. Completely useless.
Not to mention the slap in the face to the reigning WDC, a Brit no less. Give the award to Kobayashi...
I'd go with this if Lewis had not lost it and crashed on his own, pushing to hard I forget what race he had a chance to come 3rd I think. Button on the other hand did not do this even under immense press/media pressure ect.
-2 Many sports have an MVP award in addition to the actual championship. It's not an "alternative ranking". It's Autosport's view of the best drivers of the year, nothing more.
+1 I don't really care about these useless awards or reviews of races by most (online) magazines... They're pretty much all biased as f***. Read just about any car related (or sports) magazine from the UK since beginning of 2007 and watch the bias commence. I have my personal views on Hamilton but his drive in Monza was awesome. My other 2 favourite drives of the year where both by Kobayashi, in both races he drove well above what trulli did with the car.
I wholeheartly disagree. It is easy to put Jenson's succes down to the car. Sure, the Brawn was ahead of the field in the beginning of the season, but still you have to give Jenson credit for getting the best out of the car with his series of faultless wins. And of course Hamilton showed us what he can do with a lacking car, which is, well, not that much actually. Sometimes not even getting out of Q1 and trailing the field in the race.
I thought the best drivers of the year are ranked in the championshipstandings. I don't really see the point in making an alternative ranking (because that IS what it is). Drivers dont get better or worse every season. They just get different results based on countless factors.
I've done my own ranking and in my list Reubens Barrichello comes out on top... difference is my list is the top F1 Driver's Dance moves...
Therefore it's useless. I might understand handing out awards for the best pass of the year, the smoothest pitstop etc. But even those are pointless (literally). And if you would ask the drivers themselves what they think about such awards I bet they could care less. Except Lewis maybe
Its true that Autosports opinion really does not matter in the real world of F1. Rarther in the same way fchat posters also have opinions of F1, that to does not matter in the real world of F1
You were mistaken, then... It has been shown that, more than ever before, you need a good car as well as a good driver. A good driver in a crappy car may put on the best performance, but be unable to win anything. Kobayashi did very well... Hamilton did too... as did Vettel. Any of those three could have been a contender for best driver of the year. Kobi is so new it's hard to toss it his way, and I'd say Vettel or Hamilton would be more than qualified to be called the best driver. Again, in many sports they rate an "MVP" that is unrelated to the team that won the season.
Well, it is only Autosports view of things - it doesn't count towards anything. In the article, they say the Autosport's rankings are well respected... maybe that's true or not? I dunno... I certainly think their list is pretty good.
