CAT’s Mid Season Awards (so far)
With the mid-season break coming after race 11 it’s an opportune moment to look at some of the top performers of the season far. This is how I’ve placed them, what do the rest of you think?
Team of the season
3rd) Lotus Renault – When the car gets to the end it’s generally been in the points. The surprise package of the season in my eyes and a potential major upset in both drivers and constructors titles.
2nd) Mclaren Mercedes – Wins for both drivers and several podiums show just how good this car should be. Let down by pit stop issues which now seem to be resolved but should be right up their at the end of the season.
1st) Red Bull Renault – Topping the constructors table and second and third in the drivers. While they are not having it their own way as they have in the last couple of years they still look like the best all round performers. Consistency will win the title this year and the constructor’s title is theirs to lose.
Driver of the season
3rd) Kimi Raikkonen – Having finished every race and only been out of the points once, the only thing missing in this come back season is him standing on the top step of the podium and that will surely come. A surprise to some and a relief for others, Kimi has proven he isn’t back in F1 for a quick pay day or to make up the numbers.
2nd) Lewis Hamilton – The big question this year was if he could come back from a less than brilliant season in 2011. He has managed to do that and then some. Having put behind him the issues that plagued last year he has been rewarded with 3 poles and 2 wins plus several other trips to the podium. Now to sort that contract out.
1st) Fernando Alonso – Three wins, two seconds and every single race in the points with no finish lower than 9th. You have to wonder just where Ferrari would be without the Spaniard. This season has shown further proof that he remains the best driver on the grid. Time and again he flatters a car that has not produced a single Fastest Lap of the Race (not exactly a major barometer of car speed but a useful indication all the same). He deserves the title but will Ferrari sustain the challenge with their car?
The “One Off” award for doing it in a single race
3rd) Michael Schumacher, 3rd place,Valencia – Who would have thought that we would consider it a success that into his third year of his second coming in F1, Schumacher finally remembered where the podium was.
2nd) Sergio Perez, 2nd place, Malaysia - Reminded every one why he rightly is regarded as a future champion. But for a small mistake as he was driving the wheels of the car trying to catch Alonso it may have been his first win.
1st) Pastor Maldonado, 1st place, Spain - At long, long last Williams have moved up a notch on the total wins tally. Many thought the team would never see the top step again. The car had genuine pace all weekend and proved it by taking pole. Maldonado divides opinion with a reputation as a one man wrecking ball but he’ll always be on Sir Franks Christmas card list for that win.
The most disappointing team of the season
3rd) Caterham Renault – Come on !!! How long are we going to have to wait for them to catch up and join the mid-table teams. If I see one more article promising that famous “1 second a lap” upgrade I think I’ll scream. There is a very real chance that they will lose Kovalainen to another team and he has consistently out driven the car.
2nd) Force India Mercedes – There were signs that at the back end of last season ForceIndia would be a force to reckon with this season. After a couple of early points finishes the season seems to have fizzled out and they only find themselves in front of the usual suspects and Toro Rosso. Yes, on balance take out Williams’ win and the scores would look different but hey, Williams won.
1st) Mercedes – Almost half the points in the constructors table than that of Lotus and in the case of Schumacher, the most retirements of any driver. Yes they have won one race but other than that, they seem incapable of bringing the challenge to the top four.
The most disappointing driver of the season
3rd) Jenson Button – For some reason, after taking the first win of the season in pretty emphatic fashion the rest of the season so far has seen Jenson move from struggle to struggle. Can he turn it around in the remainder of the year or will he find himself playing a supporting role to his team mate?
2nd) Felipe Massa – It can’t be easy to be under constant pressure from all sides with regards to your place in the team. While the Ferrari is clearly not the best car on the grid, while his illustrious team mates wrings it for all it’s worth Massa finds himself going in the other direction.
1st) Pastor Maldonado – He won a race in only his second season in F1 and took pole as well and yet he still thinks it’s ok to use his car as a battering ram.
So, how would everyone else place the teams / drivers?
With the mid-season break coming after race 11 it’s an opportune moment to look at some of the top performers of the season far. This is how I’ve placed them, what do the rest of you think?
Team of the season
3rd) Lotus Renault – When the car gets to the end it’s generally been in the points. The surprise package of the season in my eyes and a potential major upset in both drivers and constructors titles.
2nd) Mclaren Mercedes – Wins for both drivers and several podiums show just how good this car should be. Let down by pit stop issues which now seem to be resolved but should be right up their at the end of the season.
1st) Red Bull Renault – Topping the constructors table and second and third in the drivers. While they are not having it their own way as they have in the last couple of years they still look like the best all round performers. Consistency will win the title this year and the constructor’s title is theirs to lose.
Driver of the season
3rd) Kimi Raikkonen – Having finished every race and only been out of the points once, the only thing missing in this come back season is him standing on the top step of the podium and that will surely come. A surprise to some and a relief for others, Kimi has proven he isn’t back in F1 for a quick pay day or to make up the numbers.
2nd) Lewis Hamilton – The big question this year was if he could come back from a less than brilliant season in 2011. He has managed to do that and then some. Having put behind him the issues that plagued last year he has been rewarded with 3 poles and 2 wins plus several other trips to the podium. Now to sort that contract out.
1st) Fernando Alonso – Three wins, two seconds and every single race in the points with no finish lower than 9th. You have to wonder just where Ferrari would be without the Spaniard. This season has shown further proof that he remains the best driver on the grid. Time and again he flatters a car that has not produced a single Fastest Lap of the Race (not exactly a major barometer of car speed but a useful indication all the same). He deserves the title but will Ferrari sustain the challenge with their car?
The “One Off” award for doing it in a single race
3rd) Michael Schumacher, 3rd place,Valencia – Who would have thought that we would consider it a success that into his third year of his second coming in F1, Schumacher finally remembered where the podium was.
2nd) Sergio Perez, 2nd place, Malaysia - Reminded every one why he rightly is regarded as a future champion. But for a small mistake as he was driving the wheels of the car trying to catch Alonso it may have been his first win.
1st) Pastor Maldonado, 1st place, Spain - At long, long last Williams have moved up a notch on the total wins tally. Many thought the team would never see the top step again. The car had genuine pace all weekend and proved it by taking pole. Maldonado divides opinion with a reputation as a one man wrecking ball but he’ll always be on Sir Franks Christmas card list for that win.
The most disappointing team of the season
3rd) Caterham Renault – Come on !!! How long are we going to have to wait for them to catch up and join the mid-table teams. If I see one more article promising that famous “1 second a lap” upgrade I think I’ll scream. There is a very real chance that they will lose Kovalainen to another team and he has consistently out driven the car.
2nd) Force India Mercedes – There were signs that at the back end of last season ForceIndia would be a force to reckon with this season. After a couple of early points finishes the season seems to have fizzled out and they only find themselves in front of the usual suspects and Toro Rosso. Yes, on balance take out Williams’ win and the scores would look different but hey, Williams won.
1st) Mercedes – Almost half the points in the constructors table than that of Lotus and in the case of Schumacher, the most retirements of any driver. Yes they have won one race but other than that, they seem incapable of bringing the challenge to the top four.
The most disappointing driver of the season
3rd) Jenson Button – For some reason, after taking the first win of the season in pretty emphatic fashion the rest of the season so far has seen Jenson move from struggle to struggle. Can he turn it around in the remainder of the year or will he find himself playing a supporting role to his team mate?
2nd) Felipe Massa – It can’t be easy to be under constant pressure from all sides with regards to your place in the team. While the Ferrari is clearly not the best car on the grid, while his illustrious team mates wrings it for all it’s worth Massa finds himself going in the other direction.
1st) Pastor Maldonado – He won a race in only his second season in F1 and took pole as well and yet he still thinks it’s ok to use his car as a battering ram.
So, how would everyone else place the teams / drivers?