Top 5 Formula 1 drivers ahead of the 2018 season

#1 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

Championship finish in 2017 - 1st

Gunning for his fifth world title in 2018, Lewis Hamilton, the 2017 champion, is now in the annals of Formula 1 history as one of its all-time greats.

Hamilton, who won nine races last season, collected an impressive 233 points from a possible maximum of 250 to retain the top spot.

With his fourth world championship, one more than Sir Jackie Stewart, the 33-year-old became the most successful British driver and surpassed Michael Schumacher’s record of 68 pole positions.

Heading into the summer break, Sebastian Vettel’s championship lead stood at 14 points and then, Hamilton produced a scintillating form through the final flyaways to put himself on the brink of glory, wrapping up his hardest-fought title to date in Mexico.

At the peak of his powers in 2017, the Mercedes driver saw off a resurgent Vettel in an equally strong Ferrari, winning his third title in four years with two races to spare.