The Editorial Team’s Top 5 of 2020

1. Hamilton continues to write his legend

How to quote someone else instead of number 1? This season, Lewis Hamilton has broken or matched one by one the most prestigious records held for years by the Red Baron, Michael Schumacher.

At the wheel of an untouchable Mercedes, he once again outclassed his only real “rival” this year: his teammate Valtteri Bottas. He also dominated each of the “new” circuits that made up the altered calendar due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

High-flying performances that led him to win his 7th title in Turkey, after another flawless race by the Englishman.

This seventh title, which makes him equal to Schumacher at the top of the list, allowed him to obtain the rank of Knight of the British Empire, one of the highest distinctions in Great Britain.

Congratulations Sir Hamilton !

2. The Unprecedented Calendar: The Silver Lining of the Health Crisis

Last March, at the dawn of FP1 of the Australian Grand Prix, F1 halted all activity like the rest of the world population and went into lockdown mode.

Uncertainty about whether the 2020 World Championship would take place was present, but on July 5, 2020, Formula 1 was the first sport to resume activity in Austria with strict health regulations.

Travel in certain countries proves impossible and therefore, F1 officials devise a completely new schedule: Two races in Austria, two races in Great Britain, the rescheduling of the Spanish and Bahrain Grand Prix, but most notably a total of 6 new circuits!

This 2020 season has thus allowed us to see F1 cars hit the tarmac of Portimão, Mugello, and the Outer Track of the Sakhir circuit for the first time. But also to return to iconic circuits such as the Nürburgring, Imola, and Istanbul Park.

And most importantly: all these new rounds brought their share of spectacle for everyone’s enjoyment.

The wish is quite unanimous: people are asking to see it again!

3. Gasly, the revival

A story worthy of the greatest science fiction films. Such is the story of Pierre Gasly with Formula 1.

From his GP2 title to his stint in Super Formula, including his mid-year arrival and brief stint at Red Bull, there would be enough to talk about him for hours.

Returned to Toro Rosso, now known as AlphaTauri, Pierre is thriving in a team where he is the leader, relegating Daniil Kvyat to the status of a subordinate.

The Frenchman has been consistently delivering notable performances in the points, with the highlight being the Belgian Grand Prix where his overtake on Pérez at Eau Rouge is still memorable.

But it was obviously on September 6, 2020, that the Norman made history. Starting 10th in the Italian Grand Prix, Pierre overcame the hurdles of the first lap, pitted at the right moment before getting a stroke of luck with the red flag and Lewis Hamilton’s penalty.

Resistant to the strong comeback of Carlos Sainz, Gasly ends 24 years of victory drought for a Frenchman.

We wish him just as much success for his 2021 season!

4. The Fight for 3rd Place: What Intensity!

With Ferrari falling behind this season, a spot on the podium in the Constructors’ standings was up for grabs behind the untouchable Mercedes and Red Bull.

If everyone thought that Racing Point and its pink Mercedes would be far ahead of its rivals, it was not the case.

Indeed, in turn, Racing Point, McLaren, and Renault exchanged the place of “Best of the rest” with podiums and strong performances.

In the end, it’s McLaren who clinches the Holy Grail right under the noses of its rivals. But there is no great winner without worthy opponents. Racing Point and Renault, finishing 4th and 5th respectively, haven’t disgraced themselves this season.

Moreover, in the drivers’ standings, Sergio Perez (4th) and Daniel Ricciardo (5th) both finish ahead of Sainz (6th) which demonstrates their great season but also the better consistency of the English team.

With the anticipated return of Ferrari next season, we are already eager to see if these three teams will continue their progress.

5. The Halo, symbol of increasing safety

To conclude this Top 5, the editorial team wanted to commend the FIA for its work on safety.

Everyone still remembers the horrific images of Romain Grosjean in the blaze at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Although he is still recovering, the French driver is, most importantly, still with us, and this is largely thanks to a major technical evolution: the Halo.

The safety halo, initially criticized especially for aesthetic reasons, is now praised by all participants and spectators of F1.

If it wasn’t the only factor that contributed to Romain Grosjean’s survival (fireproof suits, Hans system, etc.), it was the main savior because without the Halo, the former Haas driver would have hit the barrier head-on with his helmet at 270 km/h, which would undoubtedly have been fatal.

Even though zero risk does not exist and will never exist, the increasing safety in motorsport is a real positive point in favor of the FIA. This was especially true in the 2020 season, which saw its share of spectacular crashes (Leclerc in Monza, pile-up in Mugello, apart from Grosjean), fortunately without any dramatic consequences.

Thank you!

Cited to make the top 5 but not retained: Verstappen, Pérez, the general organization