Who is the Driver of the Season? 2021 End of Season Awards
General
2022 might not have quite lived up to the drama of 2021 but it’s certainly provided thrills, spills and a whole lot of action. A new era, but the same champion this time in dominant fashion. However, we’ll be celebrating every dramatic overtake, every heartbreak and of course the performances of the 22 drivers to have taken to the track this year. We'll be listing the nominees here but you'll have to watch our full video to see who was crowned the winners.
Underrated driver of the season
Valtteri Bottas – Bottas’ early season form was impressive after the disappointing but inevitable exit from Mercedes and it proved vital as it helped Alfa secure P6 in the Constructors.
Sergio Perez – In a world dominated by Max it’s often easy to forget he exists but wins in Monaco and Singapore as well calling out his teammate sees him make our list.
Esteban Ocon – The Frenchman will have a new teammate to beat next year in Pierre Gasly but he dispatched Fernando Alonso in the inter team battle albeit with a bit of luck.
Individual performance of the season
George Russell at Interlagos – A challenging season for the Silver Arrows but George Russell made sure they didn’t go without with an unusually emphatic performance in Brazil. His teammate won this award last year, can he repeat it?
Sergio Perez in Monaco – There have been questions around his crash in quali but he led from pole and won for Red Bull in the principality. We won’t listen to his teammate.
And last but not least is Charles Leclerc in Austria – On away turf at a Red Bull stronghold? No problem for Leclerc, simply dominant around the Red Bull Ring.
Race of the season
The Bahrain Grand Prix – A bizarre and incredible way to open the season, double retirement for the Red Bull’s and a Ferrari one-two. We all thought it was the start of a revolution and Formula 1 was back, what a feeling.
The British Grand Prix – Well is it a surprise that Silverstone delivered? Sainz’s maiden F1 victory, Hamilton, Leclerc and Perez going at in an incredible finale, all after a dramatic crash off the line!
The Brazilian Grand Prix – Mercedes were back and at their brilliant best, Verstappen and Red Bull were bickering and who doesn’t love Interlagos.
Heartbreak of the season
Lewis Hamilton at the US Grand Prix - On course for his first F1 victory of the season,, cruelly but comfortably snatched away by the flying Dutchman in the closing stages.
The fans at the Mexican Grand Prix all seemed to love it at the Mexico City Grand Prix but it truly was the worst race of the season.
Max Verstappen in Monaco qualifying – On for a truly ridiculous lap, only for his teammate to bin it and spoil the party. Our heart bleeds for you Mr Verstappen.
Moment of the season
The three way battle for victory at Silverstone - A stunning battle and one made all the more special by the fact it was at Silverstone, the three drivers going hammer and tong for P2, not even the race win!
Red Bull’s reliability in Bahrain - An incredible moment in the closing stages of the opening race. Red Bull probably won’t agree but seeing their hopes go up in smoke provided great drama and for a while they were bottom of the standings!
And our third nominee is Sebastian Vettel’s fareweell in Abu Dhabi – For the second year in a row Abu Dhabi makes the list but this time for completely different reasons. If you say you didn’t shed a tear when Vettel was doing donuts and giving his final words as an F1 driver you’re lying.
The Michael Masi Award
Max Verstappen for his behaviour in Brazil
Everyone at the Japanese Grand Prix trying to work out if Max had won the title
Nicholas Latifi all season
The 2021 GP Blog Driver of the Season
Max Verstappen - Drivers’ Champion for the second year in a row and this time in ridiculously dominant fashion. His attitude may not have won many fans but his performances on track won him the biggest prize of them all, even if it took a while for him to do the maths.
Sebastian Vettel – Sebastian Vettel has enjoyed an illustrious career and it’s fitting he bows out on his own terms. By no means was he bad this year, outperforming his teammate consistently and securing P6 in Baku.
Lando Norris – The second year in a row Lando has made our list, whilst his teammate stunk out almost every track we raced at in a below par McLaren, Norris ensured McLaren did enough to finish fifth in the Constructors’ Championship