Driver of the Day 2019

Introduced in 2016, the Driver of the Day award is voted for by fans during each Grand Prix and announced at the end of the race. Here's this year's winners so far...

Nico Hulkenberg, Renault - Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2019

In his very last race for Renault – and quite possibly in Formula 1 – Nico Hulkenberg drove a stormer. It wasn’t quite enough to bag himself some points, but he did at least end up with your seal of approval...

Nico Hulkenberg – 26.4%
Valtteri Bottas – 15.1%
Robert Kubica – 14%
Max Verstappen – 9.5%
Lewis Hamilton – 8.8%

Max Verstappen, Red Bull - Formula 1 Heineken Grande Premio do Brasil 2019

He started from pole, but twice he passed world champion Lewis Hamilton - on track - in order to secure the win. Plus he had to keep his cool on a restart just two laps from the chequered flag. No wonder Max Verstappen got your nod...

Max Verstappen – 22.2%
Alex Albon – 13.8%
Charles Leclerc - 12.8%
Carlos Sainz - 11.7%
Pierre Gasly – 7.1%

Alex Albon, Red Bull - Formula 1 Emirates United States Grand Prix 2019

He started sixth, but contact with Carlos Sainz in Turn 1 dropped Alex Albon to the back of the back. However, the Red Bull man never gave up, clawing his way back to fifth, despite three pit visits in what should have been a one- or two-stop race...

Alex Albon – 17%
Lewis Hamilton - 16.2%
Valtteri Bottas - 14.9%
Max Verstappen - 13.9%
Daniel Ricciardo – 10.1%

Max Verstappen, Red Bull - Formula 1 Gran Premio de Mexico 2019

A disastrous start saw Verstappen going rapidly backwards after contact with Hamilton through the opening turns. Then came a puncture that dropped him to last place. But from there on in it was a classic comeback drive from the Dutchman…

Max Verstappen – 20.2%
Lewis Hamilton - 17.6%
Sebastian Vettel - 12.2%
Daniel Ricciardo - 9.4%
Alex Albon – 8.5%

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes - Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix 2019

He leapt past Sebastian Vettel with an incredible start and became the only driver ever to win a Grand Prix at Suzuka from the second row having controlled the 2019 Japanese Grand Prix. Your Driver of the Day is Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas...

Valtteri Bottas – 21%
Charles Leclerc - 15%
Carlos Sainz - 14%
Sebastian Vettel - 10%
Daniel Ricciardo – 8%

Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari - Formula 1 VTB Russian Grand Prix 2019

He may have retired with technical problems mid-race, but Sebastian Vettel's blinding start - passing his pole-sitting Ferrari team mate and seizing the lead from P3 on the grid - helped him get your vote…

Sebastian Vettel – 22%
Alexander Albon - 15.5%
Lewis Hamilton - 15%
Charles Leclerc -11.3%
Carlos Sainz – 9.3%

Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari - Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2019

A perfect performance from the four-time champion put Sebastian Vettel back on top of the podium and gave him a record fifth Singapore win. No wonder he got your vote…

Sebastian Vettel – 21.2%
Charles Leclerc - 14.3%
Max Verstappen - 11%
Daniel Ricciardo - 8.3%
Lando Norris – 8%

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari - Formula 1 Gran Premio Heineken d'Italia 2019

His second win on the bounce and Ferrari's first at Monza since 2010 - no wonder Charles Leclerc was celebrating. And the way he held off both Mercedes got your vote too…

Charles Leclerc – 34.9%
Max Verstappen - 15.3%
Daniel Ricciardo - 11.2%
Valtteri Bottas - 7%
Lewis Hamilton – 6.1%

Lando Norris, McLaren - Formula 1 Johnnie Walker Belgian Grand Prix 2019

He started 11th on the grid and battled all his way up to fifth for McLaren - only for a car failure a lap from home to rob him of 10 points. Despite the heartbreak, at least Lando Norris's efforts were enough to get your vote…

Lando Norris – 21.2%
Charles Leclerc - 21.0%
Alexander Albon - 19.6%
Lewis Hamilton - 8.8%
Sebastian Vettel – 6.6%

Max Verstappen, Red Bull - Formula 1 Rolex Magyar Nagydij 2019

He didn't quite have enough left in his tyres to hold off a charging Lewis Hamilton for the win, but his pole position, mature racing and strong, clean defense of his lead over the world champion was enough for Max Verstappen to get your vote…

Max Verstappen – 26.2%
Lewis Hamilton - 24.8%
Carlos Sainz - 9.8%
Kimi Raikkonen - 5.3%
Sebastian Vettel – 5.2%

Max Verstappen, Red Bull - Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz Grosser Preis von Deutschland 2019

He had said on the Saturday that anything could happen in the race – and Max Verstappen was proved right on Sunday as he rode the Hockenheim storm to come through an epic, safety-car filled, wet-dry race for victory – no surprise, then, that you gave him the nod…

Max Verstappen – 20.9%
Sebastian Vettel - 17.4%
Daniil Kvyat - 14.1%
Kimi Raikkonen - 6.9%
Alexander Albon – 6.8%

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari - Formula 1 Rolex British Grand Prix 2019

After their clash at the previous round in Austria, Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen took up where they'd left off at Silverstone with some heart-stopping racing. Leclerc had the upper hand this time, as the Ferrari star sped to a superb podium - and top honours from you…

Charles Leclerc – 20.6%
Max Verstappen - 18.8%
Lewis Hamilton - 10.2%
Carlos Sainz - 9.5%
Sebastian Vettel - 8%

Max Verstappen, Red Bull - Formula 1 myWorld Grosser Preis von Osterreich 2019

It looked like it was going to be a hard Austrian Grand Prix for Max Verstappen when he fell from second on the grid to seventh by the end of Lap 1. But his tremendous fightback through the field, capped off by a forceful overtake on Charles Leclerc for the lead with two laps to go, meant that Verstappen scooped the Driver of the Day plaudits at the Red Bull Ring, as he secured his second victory there in as many years.

Max Verstappen – 74%
Charles Leclerc – 11%
Carlos Sainz – 7%
Lando Norris – 4%
Sebastian Vettel – 2%

Lando Norris, McLaren - Formula 1 Pirelli Grand Prix de France 2019

It had looked set to be one of his best races of the season, but then hydraulic problems began to hamper Lando Norris and in a heart-breaking final lap he dropped from seventh to 10th. Nevertheless, his valiant efforts earned your vote…

Lando Norris – 26.4%
Lewis Hamilton - 15.1%
Charles Leclerc - 10.2%
Sebastian Vettel - 7.4%
Kimi Raikkonen - 7.2%

Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari - Formula 1 Pirelli Grand Prix du Canada 2019

Sebastian Vettel started first, crossed the finish line first, but was then demoted to second thanks to a post-race time penalty – but that didn't stop him being crowned Driver of the Day by the fans. Here’s how the votes were cast…

Sebastian Vettel – 24.6%
Daniel Ricciardo - 18.2%
Lewis Hamilton - 13.5%
Max Verstappen - 12.5%
Charles Leclerc - 8.2%

Max Verstappen, Red Bull - Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco 2019

He started third, crossed the line second and was classified fourth – and he even had a go at overtaking the race leader. Max Verstappen’s race was a busy one in Monaco – and it ended with him being crowned Driver of the Day by the fans. Here’s how the votes were cast…

Max Verstappen – 23.3%
Lewis Hamilton - 19.9%
Charles Leclerc -12.4%
Sebastian Vettel - 8%
Carlos Sainz - 6.7%

Max Verstappen, Red Bull - Formula 1 Emirates Gran Premio de Espana 2019

He’s been a thorn in Ferrari's side all season, and for the second time in five races Max Verstappen beat the scarlet cars to the final podium spot, courtesy of a typically punchy drive in Barcelona. But that wasn’t all – he also netted the fan-voted Driver Of The Day award...

Max Verstappen - 19.9%
Lewis Hamilton - 16.5%
Charles Leclerc - 8.4%
Daniil Kvyat - 8.3%
Carlos Sainz - 7.4%

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari - Formula 1 Socar Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2019

Charles Leclerc looked to be favourite for pole position in Baku on Saturday – that was until he stacked his Ferrari into the barriers in Q2. He made amends on Sunday, though, coming from eighth on the grid to finish a fighting fifth – even bolting on a fresh set of tyres at the end to secure the fastest lap. It was a drive that impressed you – here’s how the Driver of the Day results broke down…

Charles Leclerc - 17.6%
Valtteri Bottas – 16%
Max Verstappen – 15.4%
Kimi Raikkonen – 8.3%
Lewis Hamilton – 7%

Alexander Albon, Toro Rosso - Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix 2019

On Saturday in China, both Alexander Albon's confidence and his Toro Rosso STR14 took a big hit as the Thai driver suffered a huge crash in FP3. He got back on the horse though, and after missing qualifying as the team built him up a new car, Albon started from the pit lane, made a one-stop strategy work and secured 10th place on Toro Rosso's 250th Grand Prix appearance. Albon was duly crowned Driver Of The Day - here's how the voting results were broken down...

Alexander Albon - 17.7%
Kimi Raikkonen – 15.7%
Lewis Hamilton – 15.4%
Charles Leclerc – 13.4%
Sebastian Vettel – 7.7%

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari - Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2019

He may have suffered a heart-breaking blow in the race, when what looked to be certain victory was snatched away from him through unreliability, but by then Charles Leclerc had done more than enough to earn the votes of thousands of fans around the world for Driver Of The Day. Here’s how the voting broke down…

Charles Leclerc - 50.23%
Lewis Hamilton -10.98%
Lando Norris - 8.01%
Nico Hulkenberg - 6.8%
Kimi Räikkönen - 6.17%

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes - Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2019

He blasted into the lead from second on the grid and was never headed in the race, taking the point for fastest lap for good measure. And there was a third honour in store for Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas too, with the Finn picking up victory in the fan-voted Driver of the Day after a closely fought contest with Red Bull podium finisher Max Verstappen. Here’s how the voting broke down…

Valtteri Bottas - 28.5%
Max Verstappen - 22.9%
Charles Leclerc - 7.5%
Daniil Kvyat - 6%
Kimi Räikkönen - 5.2%