"Everyone Knows I'm #1, don't they?"

[Calman]

Just for a bit of fun, I'd be keen to hear fellow F1 fans determine who they think are the No.1 Drivers in any given team.  Of course, we know that 75% of Team Principles inform us "We do not have a No.1 Driver in our Team" ... but we all have our views on this and sometimes, it's painfully obvious where drivers stand on the pecking order, isn't it?

So, here is my assessment >>>

Lewis Hamilton (1)
Valtteri Bottas (2)

Sebastian Vettel (1)
Kimi Raikkonen (2)

Max Verstappen (1)
Daniel Ricciardo (2)

Sergio Perez (1)
Esteban Ocon (2)
* count switch by the end of 2018?

Lance Stroll (1)
Sergey Sirotkin (2)
* count switch by the end of 2018?

Brendon Hartley (1)
Pierre Gasly (2)
* count switch by the end of 2018?

Fernando Alonso (1)
Stoffel Vandoorne (2)

Nico Hulkenberg (1)
Carlos Sainz Jr (2)
* count switch by the end of 2018?

Romain Grosjean (1)
Kevin Magnussen (2)

Marcus Ericsson (1)
Charles Leclerc (2)
* count switch by the end of 2018?

.. that's how I see them right now, how about you?

All the best,
Cal

[John S]

Your list seems mostly right to me, only change I'd make is at F1FI - I'd put Ocon numero uno.
My reasoning, the team have allowed a rookie to inflict way too many awkward and potentially race ending manoeuvres on a supposedly senior teammate.
 Can you imagine Vettel or Nando still being at a team if that level of aggression was allowed against them? 

[Scott]

John, do you think Ocon is really the team's chosen one?  Last year's antics seemed to not go in either drivers favour.  I would give it to Perez just due to his seniority. 

Cal, it might be interesting to see where we place the drivers in our opinions of their talent/skills/maturity - sort of overall who is the 'better' driver from a team standpoint.

They likely aren't much different than the list you provided as the unofficial team ranking, but a few differences.  For example I find DR a much more complete and competent driver than Verstappen.

Lewis Hamilton (1)
Valtteri Bottas (2)

Sebastian Vettel (1)
Kimi Raikkonen (2)

Daniel Ricciardo (1)
Max Verstappen (2)

Sergio Perez (1)
Esteban Ocon (2)

Lance Stroll (1)
Sergey Sirotkin (2)
(unproven - therefore undecided)

Pierre Gasly (1)
Brendon Hartley (2)
(unproven - therefore undecided, though Gasly impressed in training runs last year)

Fernando Alonso (1)
Stoffel Vandoorne (2)

Nico Hulkenberg (1)
Carlos Sainz Jr (2)
(dead heat IMO)

Romain Grosjean (1)
Kevin Magnussen (2)

Marcus Ericsson (1)
Charles Leclerc (2)
(I expect this to change)

[guest3164]

Scott, I reckon Ricciardo is a better driver (indeed he is my favourite driver on the grid since JB retired), but Verstappen is a bigger 'star' in F1 so I think Red Bull will favour him, which is also why they already tied him down. 

I think most No. 1s are pretty clear otherwise,

Hamilton (1), Bottas (2)

Vettel (1), Raikkonen (2)

Verstappen (1), Ricciardo (2)

Perez (1), Ocon (2) - Perez brings more cash so that will hold some sway

Stroll (1), Sirotkin (2) - I feel this will change as Stroll Sr begins to look at other teams for his son, or if Kubica comes in.

Hulkenberg (1), Sainz Jr (2)- Sainz is still on loan afterall

Gasly (1), Hartley (2)- I feel Hartley was very much 'who's left?!' even if I like him.

Grosjean (1), Magnussen (2)

Alonso (1), Vandoorne (2)

Leclerc (1), Ericsson (2)- The Alfa/Ferrari influence will dictate this from the off.

[Scott]

Yes WF, but like I said,this is how I would rank them, not how the team (that idiot Marko) would.

[guest3164]

Oh, I agree with you totally Scott in that regard.  I just end up overthinking and going down the team route.  Ricciardo deserves No. 1 status in my view.  Very consistent, very calm (usually), very fast.  More likely to bring home the points than Max. 

[Calman]

Scott, I reckon Ricciardo is a better driver (indeed he is my favourite driver on the grid since JB retired),

I couldn't agree more, although I had a soft spot for little Felipe, but since most of the old guard have since retired, I would like to see Danny Ric do well in the season ahead!!!

Kind Regards,
Cal

[guest3164]

Even though he used to race for Williams, I never warmed to Massa, in fact some who know me know I positively disliked him for reasons even I am now not fully sure of!  I like Raikkonen due to his enigmatic character but Ricciardo just has the likeable factor going for him as well as just being an outstanding racer. 

[Alianora La Canta]

In fairness, I don't think any of the teams do the explicit 1-2 thing that Renault and Ferrari were doing in the middle of last decade. Nowadays it's more "they're equal in principle but some are more equal than others in specific scenarios". Still 1-2, but much more subtle and less ridiculous.

Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton > Valtteri Bottas (this is the most blatant of them for me)

Ferrari
Sebastian Vettel > Kimi Raikkonen (though this one is not much less so)

Max Verstappen > Daniel Ricciardo (this one would be the most blatant if either of them did anything to test it these days!)

Sergio Perez = Esteban Ocon (please tell me they found a non-metallic shade of pink this year for the car...)

Lance Stroll = Sergey Sirotkin (this may and probably will change after a few races show which of the two is better)

Brendon Hartley = Pierre Gasly (I think they actually are about equal, and they're both rookies...)

Fernando Alonso > Stoffel Vandoorne (maybe we might see it make some sort of difference now the car is a bit faster!)

Nico Hulkenberg > Carlos Sainz Jr (pecking order is quite natural - for now...)

Romain Grosjean > Kevin Magnussen (not in terms of performance, but sheer personality - Romain seems to know exactly how to motivate his crew in a way that Kevin occasionally has difficulties doing)

Marcus Ericsson = Charles Leclerc (it helps that both are strong in quite different areas at this point)