Max Verstappen has been voted Formula 1's best driver by his fellow racers – despite being overlooked by Lewis Hamilton and as many as eight other rivals. The Dutchman celebrated his fourth consecutive world championship after winning nine races overall this season. That achievement was all the more impressive considering Red Bull didn't have the fastest car for a large chunk of the year.
Verstappen, 27, has since been crowned the best individual driver of the year – winning a vote conducted by his competitors on the grid. Eight drivers ranked him first, but nine others, including Hamilton, did not. Soon-to-be Ferrari driver Hamilton was one of three racers who abstained from voting, along with the Red Bull duo of Sergio Perez and Verstappen. All participating drivers placed Verstappen within their top four, however, showing the general consensus regarding his on-track ability.
A detailed breakdown of the votes was not disclosed, as each list was submitted under the condition of confidentiality. The Daily Express reported drivers had the option to vote for themselves, but many chose not to. The drivers were asked to rank their top 10 drivers of the year, with scores assigned based on the current points system. The total scores from each list were then amalgamated to form an overall ranking.
