Formula 1 is a sport that rewards talent, skill, and speed. But sometimes, even the most talented and skilled F1 drivers do not get the recognition they deserve, may be overshadowed by their teammates, hampered by unreliable cars, or simply unlucky.
We look at some of the most underrated F1 drivers of all time, who have achieved remarkable feats on the track but have not received enough credit or appreciation from fans and media.
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Sergio Perez
Sergio Perez is one of the current F1 drivers who deserves more respect and praise for his performances. The Mexican driver made his debut in 2011 with Sauber and impressed everyone with his podium finishes in 2012, especially his second place in Malaysia where he challenged Fernando Alonso for the win. He then moved to McLaren in 2013, but had a disappointing season with a car that was not competitive.
He bounced back with Force India in 2014, where he scored five more podiums in six years, including a memorable third place in Baku in 2018. In 2020, he finally achieved his maiden win in Bahrain, after a brilliant recovery from last to first.
He also secured fourth place in the drivers’ championship, his best result so far. In 2021, he joined Red Bull as Max Verstappen’s teammate and has already scored two podiums and a win in Azerbaijan. Perez is known for his tire management, race craft, and consistency.
He is one of the most reliable and versatile drivers on the grid, who can deliver results in most conditions but is a classic example of having a teammate in Max Verstappen who is the benchmark of this era. Heading for a triple F1 world title in three years, he has the Mexican veteran under immense pressure
Juan Pablo Montoya
Juan Pablo Montoya was one of the most exciting and aggressive drivers of his era. The Colombian driver joined F1 in 2001 with Williams, after winning the CART championship and the Indy 500 in 2000. He immediately made an impact with his daring overtakes and fearless attitude. He won his first race in Italy in 2001, after a thrilling duel with Michael Schumacher.
He also set the record for the fastest lap in F1 history, with an average speed of 372.6 km/h at Monza in 2004. He won six more races with Williams and McLaren, and finished third in the championship twice, in 2002 and 2003. He was one of the few drivers who could challenge Schumacher and Ferrari at their peak.
However, his career came to an abrupt end in 2006, when he left McLaren mid-season to join NASCAR. He never returned to F1, leaving many fans wondering what he could have achieved if he had stayed longer.
Gerhard Berger
Gerhard Berger is often overlooked when it comes to the best drivers of the late 80s and early 90s. The Austrian driver raced for Benetton, Ferrari, and McLaren, among other teams, and won 10 races in his career. He was also a close friend and rival of Ayrton Senna, whom he partnered at McLaren in 1990 and 1991.
Berger was one of the few drivers who could match Senna’s speed and skill on occasion, as well as his sense of humor off the track. He also survived a horrific crash at Imola in 1989, where he suffered burns and broken ribs.
He recovered and returned to racing later that year. He retired from F1 in 1997, after finishing third in Germany with Benetton. He later became a team boss for BMW Sauber in 2006-2008.
Giancarlo Fisichella
Giancarlo Fisichella is another one of those F1 drivers who had a long and varied career in F1, but did not get enough recognition for his achievements. The Italian driver raced for eight different teams from 1996 to 2009, including Jordan, Benetton, Renault, Force India, and Ferrari.
He won three races in his career, two with Renault in 2005 and 2006, when he was teammates with Alonso, and one with Force India in 2009, when he took a stunning pole position and second place at Spa-Francorchamps. He also scored 19 podiums and four pole positions in total.
He was known for his smooth driving style, his wet weather skills, and his loyalty to his teams. He ended his F1 career with a brief stint at Ferrari in 2009, replacing the injured Felipe Massa. He then moved to other racing series, such as Le Mans and WEC.
Lando Norris
Lando Norris is one of the rising F1 drivers and turning into a star, who has shown great potential and progress since his debut in 2019. The British driver joined McLaren as a rookie, alongside Carlos Sainz, and impressed everyone with his speed, maturity, and personality.
He scored his first points in his second race in Bahrain, and his first podium in his second season in Austria. He also became the youngest British driver to score a podium in F1 history. In 2021, he has continued to impress with his performances, scoring three more podiums and leading the championship after the second race in Italy.
He has also outperformed his new teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, who is a seven-time race winner and one of the best drivers on the grid. Norris is known for his smooth and precise driving style, his adaptability to different tracks and conditions, and his fun and friendly demeanor off the track.
He is one of the most popular and talented drivers of the new generation, who has a bright future ahead of him.
These are some of the most underrated F1 drivers of all time, who have shown their talent and skill on the track, but have not received enough credit or appreciation from fans and media.
They deserve more respect and recognition for their achievements and contributions to the sport. They are the unsung heroes of F1, who have made the sport more exciting and enjoyable to watch.
With a good car, Norris proved this past weekend at Silverstone how he is among the best F1 drivers with second place at his home race. Muchmore to come from Norris, now deserving of a big team or a winning package.