The 2022 F1 season provided us with plenty of drama, excitement and talking points, with Max Verstappen proving the cream of the crop in the end as he sealed a second world title.
Two retirements for the Dutchman in the first three races of the year seems a very long time ago now, with he and the RB18 forming a formidable double act that no-one, in the end, could get near as he waltzed to a second straight crown and broke big records like most wins in a single season along the way.
Time, then, to take a look at the five drivers that perhaps stood out more than anyone else this season and we have to start with the 25-year-old...
Max Verstappen
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - NOVEMBER 20: Race winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium following the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on November 20, 2022 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Is it fair to say we're watching an all-time great in Max Verstappen? Perhaps it's too early to judge but if you look at stats and stats alone then it is a conversation that should be had.
He's inside the top 10 for most race wins, he has two world titles to his name, he ended this season with a margin of over 5 Grand Prix victories in terms of points compared to P2 man Charles Leclerc and his level of consistency and talent made him pretty much untouchable once Red Bull had ironed out the reliability issues of their car.
He goes into next year as a firm favourite for the crown and, at 25, there are plenty more achievements within his grasp in the near future.
Charles Leclerc
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - JULY 28: Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Ferrari talks to the media in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on July 28, 2022 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
Sure, Leclerc finished a distant P2 this year in the end but this was a season that showed he has it in him to win a world championship, make no mistake.
His early duels with Max Verstappen this season had us thinking another epic title duel was on the way, following on from 2021, but Ferrari had reliability issues and some strategic calls left us scratching our heads as well.
Put Leclerc in the Red Bull car and set-up this season instead of Max, though, and he wins the championship - we're talking about a real star here.
If Ferrari can find more race pace and the team learn their lessons from this year's return to the sharp end, Leclerc will be in the title conversation next season.
George Russell
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - OCTOBER 29: George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes walks in the Paddock prior to final practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on October 29, 2022 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Very few teammates outscore Lewis Hamilton so George Russell deserves full credit for doing just that this season.
Of course, Hamilton was a bit more of a guinea pig in the early weeks of the campaign as Mercedes toyed with set-up to try and get their W13 to sing, and the 7-time champion showed his class in pushing the team on and produced some great displays as they gradually understood the car more and more.
Russell, though, also showed great leadership skills, continued to show his supreme pace on a Saturday and, over the course of the Brazilian GP weekend, underlined just why Merc see him as their next champ - he had a golden chance of taking a Grand Prix victory and duly converted like a seasoned pro, rather than someone sealing their first.
Lewis & George could well be the best driver pairing on the grid.
Lando Norris
SUZUKA, JAPAN - OCTOBER 09: Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren waves to the crowd on the drivers parade prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Course on October 09, 2022 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
If there were any doubts about Lando Norris being a genuine star before, there are surely none now.
The young Briton led McLaren from start to finish this season, again comfortably beating team-mate Daniel Ricciardo as the Aussie's struggles within the team refused to go away.
McLaren had the fifth-best car on the grid when push came to shove this year, so the fact they took the fight for P4 with Alpine to the final race deserves huge praise, and Norris really did drag them there in many ways, regularly being the man to come home next after the top three teams.
P7 was the very best he could get this year in the championship all things considered, and that is what he claimed.
Alex Albon
SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE - SEPTEMBER 29: Alexander Albon of Thailand and Williams attends the Drivers Press Conference during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 29, 2022 in Singapore, Singapore. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images,)
Back in F1 after a year away and back to his very best, Alex Albon might not have a big points tally to write home about but don't let that suggest he did anything less than a great job for Williams this season.
The Grove team are currently at the back of the field and so scoring points this year was always going to be tough for them, but Albon picked a handful up when the opportunity arose and regularly got the very best out of the car each race weekend.
You can't ask for more than that and his confidence and conviction grew as the year went on, with him now seemingly putting all that went on at Red Bull behind him as the year went on.
He looks every bit the team leader Williams needs to try and climb the grid in the years ahead, and hopefully they'll be closer to the midfield in 2023.
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