'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYH/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQP/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAALPdip//xAAgEAABAgUFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAwUAAQIHEhETIiMy/9oACAEBAAE/ABbsAv16mkIZRwFbxiF23gtV3rbmFM6k/OEax//EABgRAAIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAERAAID/9oACAECAQE/ANKAJT//xAAVEQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEv/aAAgBAwEBPwCn/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
We're at the halfway mark of the 2024 F1 season and this is a good time to look back at how the drivers have fared this season. The season was never expected to be as competitive as it has turned out to be. After the pre-season test, there was an expectation that we might see Red Bull run away with the title once again.
Well, that didn't happen, as McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes have challenged Red Bull at different points in time this season. In all of this, who are the five drivers that have stood out compared to the rest? Let's take a look.
To evaluate, we've used the average of the driver ratings after every race and then ranked the drivers accordingly.
#5 George Russell (Avg: 7.63) (Mercedes F1)
At No. 5, we have George Russell from Mercedes. The driver has been the benchmark for the team for the entirety of the season. Lewis Hamilton did win the race in Silverstone, and that was a brilliant performance from him, but if we look back at the 12 races, George stands out.
Trending
There were questions about how Mercedes would tackle life beyond Lewis Hamilton in 2025. Even if the team doesn't get a big signing, they already have a driver who can get the best results from the car.
#4 Charles Leclerc (Avg: 7.75) (Ferrari)
At number four, we have Charles Leclerc. The driver has lost a few slots in the rankings in the last four races, as Ferrari appears to have lost the plot. The 2024 F1 season has been one of two parts for Charles. The first was when the Ferrari driver was a consistent podium threat and won the race in Monaco.
The second phase was after Monaco, where the wheels fell off the Ferrari campaign. The driver has had a disastrous run since then, and from competing for the lead after Monaco, he has fallen down the ladder significantly.
#3 Nico Hulkenberg (Avg: 7.92) (Haas F1)
Nico Hulkenberg has been the surprise of the season, not because anyone didn't think he was capable of these results. It's a surprise because, finally, everything seems to be falling into place for him. The German driver has been a brilliant addition to Haas and has helped the team climb up the F1 championship standings in a manner that it hasn't done in a while.
#2 Lando Norris (Avg: 8.38) (McLaren)
Lando Norris is at number two at the midway stage, and one of the biggest reasons behind it has been his consistent run of form. The driver hasn't had many weekends where he's not outperformed his teammate.
The battles with Max Verstappen show that Norris still has that final hurdle to cross before he reaches the top of the F1 pecking order. Having said that, he's as close to the top as he has ever been.
#1 Max Verstappen (Avg: 8.63) (Red Bull)
Max Verstappen continues to reign supreme at the top of the F1 pecking order and arguably has seen his stock rise while battling drivers in a Red Bull that is no longer a dominant machine.
There's something extra that Max Verstappen brings to the table every time, and the Dutch driver has used that to separate himself from the pack this season as well.
