There are questions that Formula 1 drivers love – for example when they are asked about the three best drivers of the season so far. “I have no idea, to be honest. I think we’re all focused on our job,” replies Mercedes driver George Russell, avoiding an answer.
Whereby all respondents agree on one driver: “Max Emilian Verstappen. Those are the three names,” jokes AlphaTauri driver Nyck de Vries. “Max is the one who puts in a solid job every week,” agrees Russell. “He’s number 1 at the moment. And number 2 and number 3? Nobody cares.”
But the press conference was not satisfied with this answer: “George, I’m not convinced that you answered the question,” says head of ceremonies Tom Clarkson.
Russell about Verstappen
“I didn’t, but…” says Russell. “It’s incredibly difficult to assess in the sport. That’s the challenge of Formula 1. As drivers, we want to be in a position where we can drive on an equal footing with everyone week after week. In an ideal world, all cars are the same , and then we really know.”
“Max spent three years at Red Bull and won a few races here and there and now he’s winning 20 a year or so. It’s not because he’s suddenly gone a second a lap faster in three years; he just does it his job if the car gives him the opportunity,” said Russell.
But he also emphasizes: “Many drivers do a good job. Fernando [Alonso] doing a good job, lewis [Hamilton] doing a good job, lando [Norris]Oscar [Piastri] does a good job. Hulk, second place last week, is doing a good job. Who knows? I hope that answers your question.”
Verstappen himself agrees with this view: “To be honest, I don’t know,” he dismisses. “As George said, it’s impossible to really know because you can only compare yourself to your teammates. With the other cars, you don’t know how the performance really is,” says the Red Bull driver. “There are many drivers who deserve to be in those top 3.”
Formula 1 drivers named second and third place
He only really agrees with one thing: “Are you one second per lap faster than three years ago?” Clarkson asks him. Answer: “Absolutely!”
Behind Verstappen, all respondents also agree on a second name: Fernando Alonso is also mentioned by Russell, de Vries, Nico Hülkenberg and Oscar Piastri.
And the third? For de Vries, that’s his teammate Yuki Tsunoda. “I would also agree with Yuki. He’s doing a great job this season,” agrees Piastri, although the Japanese is only 17th in the World Championship with two World Championship points – but with the AlphaTauri he keeps scratching the points.
Nico Hulkenberg has another name on the list: Pierre Gasly (Alpine). However, the German does not provide a reason.