Lewis Hamilton voted ‘best of the best’ by F1 rivals

Lewis Hamilton won the 2019 F1 Drivers’ Championship title so it is no wonder that his rivals as well as the team bosses believe he’s the best of the best.

Hamilton tops the drivers’ vote

It is one thing to win a World title, it’s another to do so in such incredible form that even your rivals are impressed with your performances.

That’s how Hamilton wrapped it up this season.

The Mercedes driver claimed his sixth Drivers’ Championship title at the Mexican Grand Prix, securing the crown with 11 grand prix wins and a margin of 87 points over his team-mate Valtteri Bottas.

In doing so the Brit became only the second driver in F1 history to bag six or more titles. Only Michael Schumacher has more with seven.

But while Hamilton missed out on his country’s popular vote at the BBC Sports Awards, his rival F1 drivers have recognised his brilliance, voting him the best of 2019.

Max Verstappen, who was third in the championship with three wins, was second ahead of Ferrari youngster Charles Leclerc.

Best of the rest Carlos Sainz was fourth while four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel was down in eighth place.

Interestingly he lost out to Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo as well as rookie driver Lando Norris, the latter of which didn’t even feature inside the top ten on the official drivers’ standings for the season.

The drivers’ top ten

1 Lewis Hamilton
2 Max Verstappen
3 Charles Leclerc
4 Carlos Sainz
5 Valtteri Bottas
6 Daniel Ricciardo
7 Lando Norris
8 Sebastian Vettel
9 George Russell
10 Pierre Gasly

Team principals have their way

Hamilton didn’t only top the drivers’ vote this season, he was also named number one by the team principals.

The bosses all got a vote after which the numbers were tallied up.

Nine of the 10 bosses weighed with Ferrari’s Mattia Binotto opting not to take part. Perhaps that’s why Vettel was only fifth on the list.

Hamilton topped it ahead of Verstappen with Leclerc and Bottas third and fourth.

Alexander Albon in his debut campaign was voted the sixth best of the 20 drivers while his rival rookies, George Russell and Norris, were ninth and tenth.

The bosses’ top ten

1 Lewis Hamilton
2 Max Verstappen
3 Charles Leclerc
4 Valtteri Bottas
5 Sebastian Vettel
6 Alexander Albon
7 Carlos Sainz
8 Daniel Ricciardo
9 George Russell
10 Lando Norris