Ratings for 2020: Verstappen and Hamilton are head and shoulders above the rest

20. Alexander Albon: 5.2

We start from the bottom up and there we find Alexander Albon with the lowest number of all. The Thai scores low because of the difference with his teammate. Albon was on the podium twice, but when you see what his teammate is doing with the car, you wonder if Albon is really that good? In 2021 he has to stay on the sidelines for a year because Red Bull Racing also found the Thai's performance insufficient.

19. Sebastian Vettel: 5.6

Sebastian Vettel is a four-time world champion, but he had a poor year in 2020. His last two years at Ferrari are not exactly memorable and the difference with Charles Leclerc was growing. It will be interesting to see what Vettel can do in a new environment at Aston Martin.

18. Romain Grosjean: 5.6

Romain Grosjean was unable to compete in the last races of the year after his massive crash in Bahrain and is not getting the goodbye he deserves. Grosjean has worked hard for years to be active in Formula 1. He played an important role in building Haas, but it was time to leave Formula 1.

17. Nicholas Latifi: 5.6

Nicholas Latifi didn't do much wrong in his first season in Formula 1, but the gap to George Russell is too big and the fact that he didn't consistently beat Jack Aitken says enough. He can also be caught too often making amateurish mistakes. However, his money is badly needed at Williams, so we will see him again in 2021.

16. Antonio Giovinazzi: 5.9

Antonio Giovinazzi seems to be continuously walking along the tightrope, but he does not fall yet. He doesn't impress much, because Kimi Raikkonen does not always seem motivated to really get the most out of it. Antonio is lucky, however, that he is Italian and there is no mega-talent ready in the Ferrari training.

15. Kevin Magnussen: 6.2

Kevin Magnussen has shown himself over the years as an owner and a decent driver, but not much more than that. He talks a lot outside of the track, but on the track, the performance is not of an enormous level. It is great that he can continue his motorsport career in America.

14. Daniil Kvyat: 6.4

Daniil Kvyat drove very consistently in 2020 but was consistently slower than his teammate. With Yuki Tsunoda in Formula 2, it would always be a difficult story for the Russian, but it would not be the first time that he managed to make a surprising comeback.

13. Valtteri Bottas: 6.5

Valtteri Bottas scores a pass in 2020 because he does what he has to do for Mercedes. He is second in the championship. The fact that he was almost defeated by George Russell in Bahrain also goes against him.

12. Lance Stroll: 6.6

Lance Stroll showed again in the rain in Turkey what he can do in one lap, but in 2020 we have also seen too often that Stroll cannot lead this team. Sergio Perez took his team by the hand and almost single-handedly ensured that the team finished fourth among the constructors. Can Stroll still make that step or will it stay at this mediocre level?

10. Kimi Raikkonen: 6.8

Kimi Raikkonen showed this year that he can still do it. At times we saw the old Kimi again. Especially in the rain in Turkey, but also much more often on Sundays. At the end of the year, Kimi let it go because the car was not performing as it should, but who knows, we may see him really shine one more time in 2021.

10. Esteban Ocon: 6.8

It was not an easy return to Formula 1 for Esteban Ocon with Daniel Ricciardo. The Australian is seen as one of the best on the current grid and he showed that in a duel with the young Ocon, who had been sidelined for a year and a half. In 2021, however, Ocon will get Fernando Alonso next to him and things may only get more difficult for him.

9. George Russell: 7.0

George Russell had the race of his life in Sakhir that he would also be able to fill the spot at Mercedes perfectly and if Valtteri Bottas also succumbs to the pressure in 2021, it could just be that we have a 'Red Bull-like' switch 'at Mercedes. Actually, you can't leave Russell at Williams for another year, but the contract with Bottas was unfortunately already signed.

Charles Leclerc: 7.2

Where Leclerc made an excellent debut at Ferrari in 2019, he has also experienced some decline in 2020. The talent of the Monegasque is undeniable and he has a great future ahead, but in 2020 he made several mistakes and alternated that with phenomenal outliers. A changeable year, which we often see with talents. Wondering how that will go in 2021 with his new teammate.

Carlos Sainz: 7.3

That new teammate scores slightly higher at GPblog in 2020. Carlos Sainz also had a very difficult time on Saturday in 2020 with his fast teammate, but on Sunday, Sainz always performs. He may not be the fastest driver on the grid, but he is very complete and almost flawless. An ideal driver for Ferrari to put next to Leclerc.

5. Lando Norris: 7.6

Lando Norris made a huge step compared to his debut year in 2019. Not only was he fast on Saturday, but Norris was much more consistent on Sunday. With a podium in Austria, he crowned his hard work in the winter, but compared to Sainz, Norris still has to take a step to take on his new teammate in 2021.

5. Pierre Gasly: ​​7.6

Pierre Gasly has done what a man has to do who has been demoted. He showed on the track that he is still a fantastic driver. Red Bull may have ignored him now, but anything is possible in the future. Perhaps as a replacement for Esteban Ocon with the team from his own country.

4. Daniel Ricciardo: 7.8

Daniel Ricciardo has again shown his skills in 2020. He sent his Renault to two podium places and thus achieved a result that had not been achieved for years. A unique experience in a year in which he already knew he was going to leave. 

3. Sergio Perez: 7.9

Red Bull Racing could no longer ignore him. Sergio Perez drove a phenomenal 2020. Despite his absence due to the coronavirus, he finished fourth in the standings and drove to a beautiful victory in Bahrain. Perez deserves his step to Red Bull and actually has nothing more to prove there. He should enjoy this opportunity and make the most of it.

2. Max Verstappen: 8.6

2020 was to be the year of the battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, but unfortunately, it did not happen. However, Verstappen and Hamilton showed again in 2020 that they are by far the best drivers at the moment. However, Hamilton is now in a car in which he can convert that just a little more often into a great result.

1. Lewis Hamilton: 8.9

Lewis Hamilton became world champion for the seventh time in 2020 and that is why you cannot ignore the fact that he is the best driver of 2020.

This article was written and originally published by Tim on the Dutch edition of GPblog.com.