Top 5 Formula 1 drivers ahead of the 2018 season

#2 Max Verstappen, Red Bull

Championship finish in 2017 - 6th

Since making his debut in 2015 at the age of 17, Max Verstappen has established himself as one of the most promising talents in Formula 1.

Due to the lack of speed and awful reliability, the 20-year-old's Red Bull could not challenge the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel for the title, but, some electrifying starts and fearlessness ensured Verstappen's sixth-place finish in 2017.

The Dutchman was hit by a myriad of race-day technical problems as he ended up with seven DNFs in the 2017 Formula 1 season.

The Red Bull driver, who begins a newly-lucrative three-year term in 2018, secured wins in Malaysia and Mexico, the second and third of his career, ending 90 points behind leader Lewis Hamilton.

Although he was outscored by his teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, Verstappen out-qualified the Australian 13-7, putting down a marker for the future.

All in all, Verstappen proved that he is one of the finest talents to grace Formula 1 in recent years and with the right car underneath him in 2018, he is only going to get better and better.