I write this column with mixed feelings. The initial feeling is sad and disillusioned! There’s no bloody F1 action till 13th March 2011 (that’s a 100 odd days from you reading this column). I am, nevertheless, excited to see how my brain reacts to this withdrawal. However, for you F1 buffs, autoX will be focusing on lots of winter testing stories, the F1 driver market, and what to expect in the 2011 F1 season.

The second feeling is being absolutely ecstatic! What a climax to the F1 2010 season. The Abu Dhabi GP saw Sebastian Vettel clinch the World Driver’s Championship when the entire world was focusing on Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber’s war. Vettel’s drive was fantastic no doubt, but he was helped majorly by a Ferrari fumble.

So, the Driver’s Championship reads – Sebastian Vettel, followed by Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, and so on. But, does this really reflect the best drivers of the 2010 season? Okay, so here’s my pick!

Fernando Alonso – I must admit, I am somewhat anti-Alonso (despite the professional attempts to stay unbiased). I could almost hate Ferrari for signing him up. However, I think Fernando Alonso, by far, was the best driver of the season. He may have failed to win the championship when he had it within his reach, but Ferrari is squarely to blame for the loss rather than the Spanish driver. My reason to pick him? After winning the season-opener in Bahrain, he had a slump mid-season. He was almost out of contention for the Championship when the Red Bull’s and McLaren’s exchanged victories mid-season. However, hats off to him for overcoming a near 40-point deficit starting Singapore, and for prolonging the title-fight till the very last race of the season. He is known to be a fighter, and that quality stood out most of the second half of this season when he beat his rivals in faster cars! Yes, he never really had to beat another Ferrari, but he did repay Ferrari’s faith in him with some truly mature driving.

Mark Webber – many would be surprised that I’ve rated him ahead of his prodigal teammate, Sebastian Vettel. Mark started off this season as the dark horse, some would say the ‘No. 2 driver.’ We all knew that he had the pace to win, but would he? And if he would, could he win consistently and clinch the World Championship? His mid-season form was brilliant, and to me at least it seemed like he had completely out-psyched the kiddo, Vettel. Webber’s cool approach and ‘Aussie Grit’ (also his twitter handle) were his loyal supporters when the title fight got tough. He might not be as quick as Vettel, and his error in Korea did cost him his title, but this was Mark’s best season till date. Whether he’ll have one more chance for the World Title remains to be seen, but it will largely depend on two factors – Red Bull Racing, and, of course, Sebastian Vettel.

Sebastian Vettel – the 2010 Formula 1 World Champion only makes it to number 3 on my list. Don’t be mistaken, I am a HUGE Sebastian Vettel fan, and I am sure he has multiple championship victories in him. However, he’s made one mistake too many this season. Ferrari’s Stefano Domenicali, in his war of words, was famously quoted as saying that if Ferrari had the performance advantage of Red Bull, they would have wrapped up the title by mid-season – and that’s a statement I completely agree with. Red Bull and Vettel took an awful lot of time in clinching their first title(s). Yes, their equal driver policy was good for a change, but Vettel lost more than 100 points through the course of the season. Many of his points were lost due to mechanical failures, but there were also a string of silly mistakes that the little World Champion committed en route – just ask Jenson about Spa!

Lewis Hamilton – the 2008 World Champion has only himself to blame for a poor show in the second half of the season. Double retirements in Monza and Singapore made the Championship virtually out of his reach. However, one must note that he had no errors leading up to the Italian GP. Mid-season, he briefly led the championship in a car that was clearly slower than the Red Bull’s and Ferrari’s. His qualifying lap in Suzuka (Japan) where he managed to clinch P3 was a true testimony of his talent. And what was so special about that lap you ask? Well, he had crashed in Friday practice and had only done 6 flying laps prior to qualifying!