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Top 10 F1 drivers of the 2024 season: Nico Hulkenberg pushes Hamilton down the rankings

The 2024 season was one of the best F1 seasons in recent years and it was only because of the hard-working drivers who made the season more interesting.

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Venkatakrishnan
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Driver Rankings

Driver Rankings Photograph: (F1)

After many years, we have seen a thrilling Formula 1 season. Surprisingly, many drivers were outstanding this year and earned our respect. It even created confusion among us when ranking those drivers in order. But finally, we came up with our very own Top 10 list and think these F1 pilots deserve your respect too.

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Top 10 Drivers F1 2024

10. Fernando Alonso

Driver Rankings Alonso
Driver Rankings Alonso Photograph: (F1)

The oldest driver on the grid is the lone warrior for the Aston Martin F1 team and the consistent point scorer. Despite the hunger for winning his 3rd world championship, the Spaniard does not have the capable machine he deserves. The team isn't consistent like him and they let him down with their strategy and race settings. But for all his efforts and grit to win, he is part of our top 10 rankings. 

9. Yuki Tsunoda

Driver Rankings Yuki
Driver Rankings Yuki Photograph: (F1)

The Dream of a Red Bull seat is now just an illusion for the Japanese F1 driver as they neglected him for Liam Lawson. Everyone points their fingers at the Honda - Red Bull partnership ending in 2025, but even if you leave them aside and look at him just as a driver, he deserves the seat.

But it won't stop Yuki from coming inside our top 10 list as he is one of the best-performing drivers this season. He scored 30 points for his team which is more than his teammates Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson. Tsunoda even dominated them in every single race.  Honda’s Aston Martin project is one hope left for the energetic Jap and we wish him all the luck. 

8. Pierre Gasly

Driver Rankings Gasly
Driver Rankings Gasly Photograph: (F1)

The French man is the only biggest reason for Alpine’s success this season. After Renault ditched their engine program this year the camp lost their positivity. Gasly is the man who brought them some positive vibes with his consistent performances. He even finished on the podium in Brazil which is considered the toughest race of this season. He also defeated the Haas team single-handedly helping the French brand finish P6 and giving them some additional millions for next year. 

7. Lewis Hamilton

Driver Rankings Lewis
Driver Rankings Lewis Photograph: (F1)

Yes! It's a shocker for us too. But the 7-time world champion looked very much down and we didn't see him driving in confidence the whole season. He won his first race in 2 years at Silverstone and Spa. However, he was dominated by his teammate Russell and was outpaced by him. His Qualifying pace was another shocker because George Russell outqualified him in every race. Lewis Hamilton will move to Ferrari and we hope he will regain his old Prime form with the Maranello team.

Also Read: F1 legend Lewis Hamilton and MotoGP’s Marc Marquez pay huge price for switching to Italian teams in 2025

6. Nico Hulkenberg

Driver Rankings Nico
Driver Rankings Nico Photograph: (F1)

The driver who impressed us the most this season was Haas’s Nico Hulkenberg. Working together with his new team principal Ayao Komatsu, Nico was very impressive in every race. Like Gasly he was the biggest reason for Haas’s resurgence after a disastrous season in 2023.

In the final race, he showed his best version dominating the world champion Max Verstappen by qualifying fourth ahead of him. But a grid penalty pulled him down and even then he tried hard to beat Gasly to finish P6 in the constructors. Next year he will drive for the Sauber F1 team.

5. George Russell

Driver Rankings George
Driver Rankings George Photograph: (F1)

The Brit had a demanding season in 2024 and delivered the best for his team. He surpassed his idol and teammate Lewis Hamilton and scored the most points for the team. He is now the lead driver and will guide his young teammate Kimi Antonelli. Next year we expect Russel to be one of the title contenders.

Also Read: Top 10 driver collisions in the 2024 Formula 1 season: WATCH - Drivers ruining each other's race

4. Oscar Piastri

Driver Rankings Oscar
Driver Rankings Oscar Photograph: (f)

The Aussie showed the fire in him this season for McLaren. He won 2 races this year and was the biggest reason behind his team winning the constructors championship after 26 years. He missed scoring points only once this year. Piastri even helped his teammate Lando Norris fight for the driver's title against Max Verstappen by becoming the best wingman defending his teammate. He has all the potential to become a world champion.

3. Charles Leclerc

Driver Rankings Leclerc
Driver Rankings Leclerc Photograph: (F1)

The Monegasque tried his best to bring back the constructors championship to Ferrari this year. He was the best driver for Ferrari this year even though Carlos Sainz scored the most points in the later part. The Maranello team invested big in Leclerc and he could be their next world champion. Next year he will team up with Lewis Hamilton, making them the strongest pair and will fight for the title.

Also Read: Red Bull Eyes one McLaren driver to replace Max Verstappen

2. Lando Norris

Driver Rankings Lando
Driver Rankings Lando Photograph: (F1)

After two years, Lando Norris is the first driver to give nightmares to the 4-time world champion Max Verstappen. He started his domination at the Miami Grand Prix till the end of the season helping McLaren win the constructors championship. He is the fastest driver of this season ahead of Leclerc and Verstappen. He will be the biggest threat to Red Bull and Verstappen next year.

1. Max Verstappen

Driver Rankings Max
Driver Rankings Max Photograph: (F1)

This year Verstappen became one of the greatest drivers to ever race in Formula 1. It is not because he won his fourth world title and joined the League of Legends like Prost, Hamilton, Schumacher, Vettel, and Fangio. It is because of his pure determination and consistency that he showed that too in the third fastest car while his teammate struggled throughout the year.

As Leclerc said, "Max is the difference and not the Red Bull car he is driving". The 2024 Brazilian Grand prix will be forever remembered as the greatest race in wet conditions and Verstappen was the only driver who showed us when it comes to skills, he is the best of the best. For all that achievements he is our Number 1 pick for this year's F1 driver's power rankings.

Also Read: Explained: Why do Formula 1 drivers live in Monaco?

Formula 1 Lewis Hamilton Max Verstappen F1 Nico Hulkenberg
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