Who is Formula 1's most underrated driver?

#5 Valtteri Bottas

Bottas' first season at Mercedes was impressive

Admit it, you didn't see this one coming when you started reading this article.

Valtteri Bottas may have had a horrible 2018 season, (so much so that we ranked him as one of the worst drivers of last year) but the Finn was very unlucky and has proved his speed numerous times in the past.

Since joining F1 with the Williams team in 2013, he consistently out-performed his car. In Canada during his rookie season, he qualified an incredible P3 in the Williams, a car that only finished in the points twice that year.

When the switch to V6-turbo engines came in 2014, Bottas had the chance to show his quality, out-scoring Vettel, Alonso and his experienced teammate Felipe Massa. Consistent podium finishes through to 2016 earned Valtteri the Mercedes drive for 2017, and he performed well, winning three times.

Of course, Hamilton has won 20 races and two driver's titles in the time he's been teammates with Bottas, but we are talking about one of the fastest drivers ever in the form of his life.

One bad season, does not make a poor driver, if Bottas re-centres himself for 2019, he'll be back to winning ways.

Overall, if we had to pick one, it would be Sergio Perez, of the four drivers on this list who aren't a part of a top 3 team, the Mexican deserves the promotion more than the rest.

Who is Formula 1's most underrated driver? is it one of the five that we listed or someone else? let us know in the comments below!