Formula 1: 2020 Power Rankings

Formula 1: Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing, Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes, and Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari (Photo by LLUIS GENE/AFP via Getty Images)
Formula 1: Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing, Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes, and Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari (Photo by LLUIS GENE/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, and Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Formula 1 (Photo by Douglas Magno / AFP) (Photo by DOUGLAS MAGNO/AFP via Getty Images) /

Formula 1 Power Rankings: #2 and #1

Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, Honda. MAX VERSTAPPEN. #2. . No. 33

2019 finish: 3rd place (278 points)

Max Verstappen is the man who many see becoming the first new world champion since Nico Rosberg in 2016, and his commitment to Red Bull Racing and Honda, which saw him sign a massive contract extension this offseason, has led many to believe that this could be the year the Milton Keynes-based team finally challenge Mercedes and potentially put an end to their six-year reign of pure dominance in Formula 1. Verstappen’s skillset and execution style have proven to be Lewis Hamilton’s kryptonite in the past, specifically in the latter stages of 2018 and throughout 2019, just not often enough to make a dent in the six-time world champion’s plans to continue that dominance of the Silver Arrows. Will that finally change in 2020?

Mercedes-AMG Petronas, Mercedes. LEWIS HAMILTON. #1. . No. 44

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2019 finish: World champion (413 points)

It’s not rocket science. The road still runs through Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton is the only active driver who has won a world championship since the 2013 season, and he was won five of the last six and each of the last three.

He has won 31 races over the last three seasons, nearly three times as many as second place Sebastian Vettel with 11. Until somebody can prove otherwise, and not just simply by beating him on one or two weekends, the six-time world champion is the top driver in Formula 1. He is the clear favorite to win yet another title to become just the second driver to win seven world championships and the first since Michael Schumacher won his seventh in 2004.

Next. Top 10 Formula 1 drivers of all-time. dark

The 2020 Formula 1 season is scheduled to get started on Sunday, July 5 at the Red Bull Ring with the Austrian Grand Prix. The race is set to be broadcast live on ESPN beginning at 9:10 a.m. ET.