Double world champion Mika Hakkinen has praised the quality of drivers coming through in Formula 1 for the next generation believing it could be the best ever.
Though obtaining a seat on the grid is proving very difficult for some, the standard of those behind the wheel is among the strongest seen in some time with new names making their mark against established veterans.
Next year will see more promising talent join in Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly but naturally, the ‘Flying Finn’ began with the optimism surrounding his fellow countryman now at Mercedes.
“I was really delighted to see Valtteri [Bottas] win two Grands Prix,” he wrote on his blog for Unibet. “He is a strong, balanced guy, and the wins in Russia and Austria showed he is fully capable.
“He had some tough times in the middle part of the season, but I know how hard he has worked to get to where he is, and you can be sure he will use the off-season to build on everything he has learned.”
Hakkinen also couldn’t overlook the potential of the driver many expect to lead the way in F1 for the next decade and beyond.
“Max Verstappen was the standout driver of the season because he is so exciting to watch,” he claimed. “The two wins in Malaysia and Mexico showed that both he and the team have been getting stronger, and with Daniel Ricciardo winning in Baku, it means Ferrari and Mercedes could never relax.”
But his attention was also on those further down the grid and could well be expected to move up and fill the shoes of the likes of Hamilton, Vettel and Alonso in the future.
“Stoffel Vandoorne, Esteban Ocon and Carlos Sainz Jr. are exciting to watch,” Mika claimed. “When you consider that their team-mates Fernando Alonso, Sergio Pérez and Nico Hülkenberg are very quick, the driving talent in F1 today is probably among the best it has ever been.”
As a legend of McLaren, Hakkinen is also keen to see his former team rise from their recent slump with a renewed optimism created by their switch to Renault engine for 2018.
“I know just how excited everyone at McLaren is to start a new chapter in its history, and there is huge determination to win again after a difficult few seasons,” he said. “Everyone in the McLaren organisation is working hard to make sure that much better times lie ahead.”
