The top 3 drivers of 2011

[Ralf's Girl]

Prompted by a discussion with the other half at the weekend, I'm curious to know who everybody sees as being the cream of the crop in the next few years, particularly with all the talk of Raikkonen's retirement at the end of next year (or possibly even this year).

Last year there were 3 drivers who were obviously a class above the rest, and I would say that even though Alonso is no longer in a competitive car, the same 3 guys (obviously I'm talking about Raikkonen, Alonso and Hamilton) still have an edge over their competition, with the likes of Kubica hovering just below them.

What I'm interested to know is, how do you see it panning out over the next 2-3 years? If Raikkonen, Alonso and Hamilton are the best drivers right now (and doubtless some would disagree with me on that ), who will be the men to beat in 3 years' time?

(Incidentally, my boyfriend had a rather different view on this to mine - I fully expect Raikkonen to retire at the end of next year, leaving the way clear for Alonso to replace him. That, for me, would cement the top 3 drivers as being Alonso, Hamilton and Kubica. He thinks Raikkonen will retire, Alonso will quit in a fit of pique at not getting the Ferrari drive, and Hamilton will get so caught up in being a celebrity that he'll never quite achieve what he should. His top 3 was Kubica, Massa and Kovalainen. So I'm interested to see how many different drivers are named in this thread!)

[mattt]

Hamilton, Vettel, Kubica

Alonso will join Red Bull to get his final pay cheque then retire
Massa will leave Ferrari at the end of 2010 being replaced by Kubica, who will join Vettel
Hamilton and Kovalienen will still be Mclaren team mates

[Super Hans]

I'll be boring and say the same. Hamilton, Alonso and Kubica. However, much depends on which cars are quicker in 2011.

[Ralf's Girl]

Originally Posted by mattt

Alonso will join Red Bull to get his final pay cheque then retire

Now that's interesting - I always saw Alonso as being much more motivated by being successful than necessarily making a huge amount of money (because the money comes with the success, I suppose). Is there any particular reason behind your thinking?

[steve_r]

Barichello, Coulthard and Fisichella!

It is very hard to predict, but Hamilton will likely be up there.

A few mistakes seem to have crept into Alonso's driving this season, but assuming he gets back into a race winning car he will show his stuff.

I find it hard to come up with the 3rd one. Maybe Kubica? Although there is no doubt he is a good driver, can he step up to become one of the best out there?

[mattt]

Originally Posted by Ralf's Girl

Now that's interesting - I always saw Alonso as being much more motivated by being successful than necessarily making a huge amount of money (because the money comes with the success, I suppose). Is there any particular reason behind your thinking?

Not really, but he'll get sick with not having a car that can win. He'll also have a rookie teammate who challenges him, causing him to upset the last team on the grid with a big enough wallet to take him.(after going to honda and toyota in the previous seasons)

Wait maybe this belongs in the 2010 silly season thread

[Glen]

Alonso is here for a good few more years yet - I reckon Kimi is going and Fernando will be a Ferrari v soon.

Hamilton is clearly the real thing, and has recovered so well from the Canada idiocy that I think his attitude is improving all the time too.

Vettel will be a major star also.

[BootsOntheSide]

I'm thinking that guys like Bruno Senna or Jaime Algesuari (sp?) might be up there by then. But Hamilton almost certainly will, and Kubica and Vettel look like good bets. I can't see Raikkonen continuing for much longer, and Alonso may never get a chance to lead a truly top team ahgain.

[strider]

Apart from Hamilton, Kubica and Vettel are the obvious ones for me. Rosberg is a mystery at the moment. It's as though he's switched off.

I can see Senna coming through. It's amazing how much he improves year-on-year. He's beginning to get a little more demanding, too, which is all part of the process, but I hope it doesn't change him too much. I heard the other day that his motorhome is now parked with the F1 drivers' ones at Grand Prix, so he's obviously got one foot in the paddock!

It's early days yet for Alguersuari (sic), although I see that he's having a one-off F3 EuroSeries drive this weekend, possibly with more to come.

[ralf fan]

Vettel, Kubica and Hamilton I'd say based on current potential. Nico will be in there also. Although these things never work out the way they are supposed to.

[Robin_D]

Suprises me that Sutil isn't up there!

[strider]

Originally Posted by strider

It's early days yet for Alguersuari (sic), although I see that he's having a one-off F3 EuroSeries drive this weekend, possibly with more to come.

My mistake, it's Brendon Hartley who is having this opportunity. Story here. Although Alguersuari is ahead of him in BF3 this year, Hartley seems to be the more favoured one of the two.

Back on topic, Sutil seems to have dropped off the radar since Monaco, but I seem to remember he was good at Spa last year.

I don't know much of a seminal moment the last race was for young Piquet, but it was a nice touch that when he walked down the pit lane after the podium the entire Renault team came out of the garage to applaud him. We could do with more of that in F1.

[ralf fan]

Originally Posted by Robin_D

Suprises me that Sutil isn't up there!

He would be if in 2011 all races would be held in Monaco and it rained in every one of them.

[Bononi]

I think Hamilton will dominate, the other two can be anyone...


Like TGF, they just came and went.

[Marbot]

Lewis Hamilton,Sebastian Vettel,Bernd Maylander...in no particular order.

[TilkeWannabe]

Hamilton, Kubica, Vettel, surprise drivers for me would be Alguesuari and Sutil if he had a really good car.

[Born Racer]

Sutil if he had a really good car

I'm not yet convinced that Sutil is anything better than a good F1 driver. Monaco apart, Fisichella appears to have ever so slightly had the measure of him. And that doesn't make him a hopeful for one of the top drivers.

[chunterer]

Vettel, Hamilton and Kubica if they're still around,

If not, then Vettel, I suspect will be facing the challenge of a new Finn like Maki, Mustonen or Bottas and maybe the Aussie Daniel Ricciardo.......

I don't think there's anyone else in F1 currently (other than Kimi, Alonso and Massa) who regardless of how good they are, will end up as regular top liners in 3 years time.

[Fiorentina 1]

Lewis Hamilton, Niko Hulkenberg & Sebastian Vettel.

[BeeJ]

Hulkenburg has gone down a lot in my opinion of him this season. I see it being Hamilton, Vettel and Kubica.

[Mekola]

It could be hilarious, but I suspect it could be:
Hamilton (McLaren), Piquet Jr. (Renault), Kubica (Ferrari)

[Graz]

Originally Posted by ralf fan

He would be if in 2011 all races would be held in Monaco and it rained in every one of them.

...assuming Kamakaze Kimi has retired by then of course...

[Airhead]

Originally Posted by Ralf's Girl

Prompted by a discussion with the other half at the weekend, I'm curious to know who everybody sees as being the cream of the crop in the next few years, particularly with all the talk of Raikkonen's retirement at the end of next year (or possibly even this year).

Last year there were 3 drivers who were obviously a class above the rest, and I would say that even though Alonso is no longer in a competitive car, the same 3 guys (obviously I'm talking about Raikkonen, Alonso and Hamilton) still have an edge over their competition, with the likes of Kubica hovering just below them.

What I'm interested to know is, how do you see it panning out over the next 2-3 years? If Raikkonen, Alonso and Hamilton are the best drivers right now (and doubtless some would disagree with me on that ), who will be the men to beat in 3 years' time?

(Incidentally, my boyfriend had a rather different view on this to mine - I fully expect Raikkonen to retire at the end of next year, leaving the way clear for Alonso to replace him. That, for me, would cement the top 3 drivers as being Alonso, Hamilton and Kubica. He thinks Raikkonen will retire, Alonso will quit in a fit of pique at not getting the Ferrari drive, and Hamilton will get so caught up in being a celebrity that he'll never quite achieve what he should. His top 3 was Kubica, Massa and Kovalainen. So I'm interested to see how many different drivers are named in this thread!)

Now Steph you know better than that.

Surely Webber (he is after all an Australian), Kubica and Rosburg will - cars allowing - be the force of the future.

[Ralf's Girl]

You think Webber will still be around in 2011?

[Alfa Fan]

Well we'll find out soon I guess!