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Formula One: 2018 preseason driver power rankings

By Asher Fair

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - OCTOBER 29: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Red Bull Racing Red Bull-TAG Heuer RB13 TAG Heuer, Sebastian Vettel of Germany driving the (5) Scuderia Ferrari SF70H and Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving the (44) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes F1 WO8 battle for position into turn one at the start during the Formula One Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on October 29, 2017 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - OCTOBER 29: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Red Bull Racing Red Bull-TAG Heuer RB13 TAG Heuer, Sebastian Vettel of Germany driving the (5) Scuderia Ferrari SF70H and Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving the (44) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes F1 WO8 battle for position into turn one at the start during the Formula One Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on October 29, 2017 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /
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AUSTIN, TX – OCTOBER 20: Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving the (37) Sauber F1 Team Sauber C36 Ferrari (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX – OCTOBER 20: Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving the (37) Sauber F1 Team Sauber C36 Ferrari (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) /

#20 through #17

Marcus Ericsson went the whole 2017 season without scoring a single point, and this was largely due to the fact that Sauber’s cars were well off the pace. With Sauber expected to improve but still be the slowest team in the sport this season and Ericsson having not scored a single point in any of his last 48 Formula One races dating back to the 2015 season, expect him to bring up the rear in the drivers standings once again in 2018.. No. 9. Alfa Romeo Sauber, Ferrari. MARCUS ERICSSON. #20

#19. Brendon Hartley only finished two of the four races he started in the 2017 season driving for Toro Rosso as a result of two retirements. However, in the two races he finished, he did not show tons of speed, as his better result was a 13th place effort. With Toro Rosso set to switch from Renault engines to Honda engines, which have been extremely unreliable in recent years, in the 2018 season, points could be at a premium for Hartley this year.. No. 28. Scuderia Toro Rosso, Honda. BRENDON HARTLEY

In Pierre Gasly’s first five career Formula One starts last season driving for Toro Rosso, he was consistent. However, his top finish was only a 12th place effort. With Toro Rosso set to replace their Renault engines with Honda engines, which have been extremely unreliable in recent years, in the 2018 season, expect Gasly to struggle to earn points throughout the year if he is even able to earn any at all.. No. 10. Scuderia Toro Rosso, Honda. PIERRE GASLY. #18

Alfa Romeo Sauber, Ferrari. CHARLES LECLERC. #17. Charles Leclerc is set to make his Formula One debut as a rookie in the 2018 season driving for Sauber. He is widely considered one of the sport’s future superstars, so while he may not have the best equipment driving for Sauber, expect him to score some points every once in a while to show the sport’s top teams that he can make the most out of a situation that isn’t exactly optimal and that he may be worth taking a chance on in the near future.. No. 16

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