Strongest driver line-up in 2013?

[Forza Bianchi]

The contenders
Vettel and Webber
Alonso and Massa
Button and Perez
Raikkonen and Grosjean
Hamilton and Rosberg
Hulkenburg and Gutierrez
Di Resta and Karthikeyan?
Ricciardo and Vergne
Bottaz and Maldonado
Pic and Who Cares
Glock and Chilton


In my completely unbiased opinion, I think Ferrari have the strongest driver line-up next year based on Massa's form at the end of last year. There's no guarantees he'll keep that form in 2013 but I think he will - he looked noticeably happier and more confident in interviews towards the end of the year, something we hadn't seen since early 2010. Massa at his best in my opinion is superior to the likes of Webber, Rosberg and even Button (just).

The only threat I see is McLaren's line-up. Button and Perez will probably be the most exciting pairing, as there are question marks regarding Perez's speed, consistency and racecraft. If McLaren have a race winning car, Perez could be dominating races like Vettel did in 2011 or conversely he could be the biggest underachiever of the year, like Kovalainen in 2008. If Perez shows the speed I believe he's capable of, and he shows great consistency, McLaren may continue to have the strongest driver line-up...or is that going a bit too far?

 

[di Fredsta!]

If he's like he was last year, Massa will make Ferrari the strongest. I'd say Mclaren are going to be either the best or both underachieve.

 

[Delete Me]

I wouldn't be able to pick between RBR or Ferrari in my opinion, Forza pretty much sums it up for me. If Massa can continue his upwards trend he will make Ferrari the top team. But his consistency is still in doubt for me to put them above the Vettel Webber combo who have together won 3 WCC'S together and that should not be taken likely, dominant, strong, equal cars... They still win whatever is given to them.

 

[Julius Caesar]

Red Bull is the only line up where there aren't any question marks over either of them, so i think they have my voted. In Vettel and Webber they have a triple world champion and a good race winner who ultimately falls short in the long run. so they get my vote.

McLaren- Button will do a good job thats pretty certain, but he'll need to regain his 2011 consistency to have a chance. Perez is almost an unknown, struggled in the last few races, to what extent where his podiums due to team strategy we still cant be sure.

Ferrari - Alonso will be brilliant. Massa wont. Sorry but after three bad years, a handful of good races doesn't right all wrongs for me.

Lotus. Grosjean. No more needs to be said.

Mercedes. Strong candidate. Hamilton will be great of course, but how good is Rosberg. Certainly Schumachers age has flattered him somewhat over the last three seasons, but to what extent is unclear. If nico can get as close to Lewis as Button was then they will overtake Red Bull in these stakes.

 

[EternalMSC]

I think Lotus will be a superpower next year, Kimi with his Quali sorted, and the already fast Grosjean with his spatial awareness improved will be massive.

 

[u408379965]

Tend to agree with what JC's said. Red Bull top, Mercedes a close second and then a comfortable gap to the rest.

 

[SgtBhaji]

Tough call that one... Between RBR, Ferrari and Lotus, there could be 3 extremely strong pairings. Given the the last couple of seasons you would really have to give it to RBR... But if Grosjean can quit making such silly errors, especially at the start, they could really be to best pairing. I'd love to go for Massa and Alonso, but I'm not 100% sure that Massa is back yet.

Realistically... probably RBR, But I'm going to take a punt on Lotus.

 

[Paco Montoya]

I voted Ferrari. To me, Massa looked back at the end of last season added to the genius of Alonso that''s pretty potent.

It also depends on how good the Red Bull, if its not the clear best Vettel and Webber are very equal shown by 2010 and the first half of 2012, if RB produce a magical car, then generally Webber isn't as good.

I can't vote for McLaren as I don't see Button on the top tier, and Perez is an unknown quantity.

Mercedes have the potential to have a very good lineup, Hamilton is brilliant, Rosberg however has only beaten Wurz, Nakajimi and a past-his-best Schumi.

Raikkonen and Grosjean could prove very very good, Kimi is top quality and Grosjean is extremely fast.

The good thing is that we're having a proper debate it, recently (last 2 years) McLaren had strongly the best line-up, sometimes challenged by Red Bull, now at least 4 teams have a credible claim

 

[TomTom94]

I think that it bears pointing out that for the first time in ages each of the top teams* clearly has a no.1 and no.2 driver. Arguably the last time that happened was 2006 with Schumacher/Massa, Alonso/Fisichella, and Raikkonen/de la Rosa.

*Mclaren, Ferrari, Red Bull and Lotus. You could also include Sauber if you're being charitable; I don't know whether to include Mercedes or not because A) they are slow and B) they are determined that Hamilton has no preferential treatment... just a hugely larger salary. So believe what you will.

The splitting up of the Button/Hamilton combination means that there is no definitive "both these drivers are amazing" combination. With Ferrari and Mclaren you're waiting to see which Perez and which Massa turns up, the one from the first half of last season or the one from the second half. With Lotus you've got Grosjean who outraced Kimi at times last season but also spent an inordinately large amount of time in the wall. And with Red Bull you've got Webber, who'll win races one week and trundle around in midfield the next.

I think this is a question we'll need to revisit after a couple of races. Based on form from the end of last season it should, by rights, be Ferrari; Massa was excellent at the tail end of last season and Alonso was superb. But if Mclaren or Lotus can get the best out of both their drivers then we know both of those pairings have huge potential as well.

 

[Kyle?]

Probably Lotus, Kimi was on fire last season, and as we now know, Grosjean is the greatest driver ever, better than even PDR. Grosjean on his own makes Lotus strongest.

OK, being serious now, it's probably Red Bull. They have an insanely gifted driver, and a very strong and consistent driver. The only team which gets close is Mercedes, but as others have said, the jury is still out on Rosberg.

1. Red Bull
2. Mercedes
3. Ferrari (for now, unless Massa can recreate his end of season form, in which case they'd be second)

 

[Smithers]

I voted Red Bull. If every driver is on form I view the driver parings as follows:

Red Bull
Ferrari
Lotus
Merc
McLaren

Looking at it from a car performance/driver combo arguably Kimi and Jenson could be in with a shout if they get off the mark early doors, whilst Vettle and Alonso may take a few races to get their team mates in check. I have excluded Lewis from this on the basis that the car may not be as quick out of the blocks.

 

[Big Ern]

Hard to say, probably Ferrari or Mercedes.

 

[nh-f1]

I'd say Red Bull. 3 Constructors championships to their name in the 4 years they've been together. Quite a good record, considering their differences.

Toro Rosso didnt have a good season, so I dont expect them to do that much better. I think Massa's return to form at the end of the season will continue to 2013, but it will slow the team down, cause we all know Ferrari will favour Alonso. Cant really judge many of the other teams as they've all been shuffled.

Mercedes could be good with the friendship Lewis and Nico have, but that could turn into quite a rivalry. I not sure on how Mclaren will do; Jenson and Sergio seem similar drivers, but I expect at least one of them to underachieve.

Lotus could do well with Raikonnen and Grosjean staying on, as long as Grosjean sorts himself out

 

[WestCoastBoogaloo]

Until drivers such as Massa, Perez and Grosjean can prove they can keep their performances consistently at a high level, this is surely a 'no-brainer' in terms of the best line up being Red Bull?

 

[El_Bando]

Torro rosso's line up is pretty strong considering they have no #1 driver

 

[Di Resta is faster than u]

In my honest opinion Hamilton was the best driver of 2012 bar none.

There are the obvious question marks about Massa, Grosjean and Perez.

So for me it comes down to Rosberg V Webber. And I have never rated Webber so Rosberg takes it.

So Mercedes for me.

Then again, Force India is 100% Di Resta so........................

 

[Delete Me]

Now I'm going to laugh if Button and Perez dominate this season and nobody voted for them.

 

[Kyle?]

Now I'm going to laugh if Button and Perez dominate this season and nobody voted for them.

Not going to happen.

 

[Di Resta is faster than u]

Not going to happen.

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