Beyond the vagaries of a race or even a season, some drivers stand out for their exceptional class that places them above the rest and ensures them a great career. Here are five.
Posted yesterday at 4:18 p.m.
Lando Norris, the prodigy
Arrived in F1 at the age of 19, after exploits in karting when he was still only a teenager, Lando Norris quickly showed that he was not a choirboy on the track. Very active in social media, immensely popular among young people, Norris is coveted by all teams, but he is linked to McLaren for several seasons. A formidable finisher, he has often won several places in the last laps, sometimes to the detriment of his teammate, and does not hide his ambitions to be world champion one day. This weekend, he still hopes to shine: “We will have to improve a little compared to Baku on our race pace, but I really like this track [le circuit Gilles-Villeneuve] and we should have a good weekend, he said Friday morning at a press conference. If we find the right balance, we’ll be in for the points. »
George Russell, the heir
Photo Olivier Jean, THE PRESS
British driver George Russell, of the Mercedes team
The Briton established himself at all levels en route to F1 and Mercedes soon made him the designated successor to Lewis Hamilton. Champion in GP3 in 2017, in Formula 2 in 2018, he then spent three seasons of apprenticeship at Williams, with a small freelance at Mercedes in Bahrain in 2020 which allowed him to lead a Grand Prix for the first time. And Russell also took advantage of the pandemic to show that he was also dominant in the virtual races of the eGrandPrix series. Formalized this season alongside Hamilton, Russell is showing great consistency, despite the major flaws of the Mercedes. With points in each race and three podiums, he occupies fourth place in the championship, clearly ahead of his prestigious teammate. And he assumes his place without complex within a top team. On Friday, at a press conference, he did not hesitate to challenge the FIA: “The measures announced [pour limiter le marsouinage] are more of a bandage than a real solution. We will have to broaden the discussion and find a way to solve this problem. »
Charles Leclerc, the gifted
Photo Olivier Jean, THE PRESS
Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc, from the Ferrari team
One of Charles Leclerc’s first names is Perceval and the Monegasque driver is certainly one of the most chivalrous in the peloton. He too has established himself in all respects and it seemed natural that he would drive for Ferrari one day. Extremely fast, he already has six leading positions this season, but he suffers from the lack of consistency of the Scuderia against other top teams. Again this season, mechanical troubles and erratic race management prevented him from seriously competing with Max Verstappen at the championship lead. At a press conference on Friday, Leclerc felt that nothing was lost, even if his mechanical problems could cost him places on the starting grid. “We are working very hard after several problems in a row, the rhythm is there and we are at Red Bull’s level. Unfortunately we are not in the best situation [pour ce qui est des remplacements des éléments du groupe propulseur] and we try to make the best decisions in order to remain competitive race after race. »
Lewis Hamilton, the legend
Photo Olivier Jean, THE PRESS
British driver Lewis Hamilton, of the Mercedes team
Now 37, with a track record unmatched in history, the seven-time world champion really has nothing left to prove in F1. The outcome of last season, when a controversial decision by the race director deprived him of victory – and a record eighth title – at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, moreover came close to pushing him to the retirement. But Hamilton came back and he’s still fighting, even if the faults of the Mercedes prevent him from competing at the front. Seven times winner in Montreal, like Michael Schumacher, the Briton is not among the favorites this year. But true to form, he spearheaded the movement demanding action to curb porpoising after suffering severe back pain at the end of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and the FIA only took days to ‘to intervene. As beloved as he can be hated, Lewis Hamilton is F1’s only truly global star. He knows this and uses this notoriety to promote both social causes, the interests of his team and his own business interests.
Max Verstappen, the champ
Photo Olivier Jean, THE PRESS
Dutch driver Max Verstappen, of the Red Bull team
Youngest driver in F1 history, at 17 years and 166 days, youngest winner the following season at 18, Max Verstappen has always been precocious. Trained by his father Jos, himself a former F1 driver, Verstappen has always been brimming with confidence and, despite being won in controversial circumstances last season, his maiden world title came as no surprise. If some consider him arrogant, in particular in his way of demanding all the attention of the Red Bull team, everyone recognizes his talent and the Dutchman is on track this season to confirm, on a regular basis, his status as world champion. “The season is still very long, anything can happen and there may still be several reversals,” he said at a press conference on Friday. But we are in a good position with still a good margin for improvement, on a single lap in qualifying in particular, where Ferrari has done better than us so far this season. “Even if he has never won in Montreal, Verstappen assures:” I have always liked coming to race here, the track is unique in its layout and we hope to have a good weekend. »