Sergio Pérez, Sauber C31-Ferrari
An F1Zone.net analysis has shown that, in terms of points percentage, Sergio Perez is the most improved driver when compared to the mid-point of 2011.
Twelve drivers have scored points in 2011 and 2012 and the Sauber driver has come out on top, with a 588% increase on last season. Perez has benefited from an improved package this season, as well as putting in some outstanding drives in Malaysia and Canada. It should also be noted that the Mexican missed two of the opening eleven races in 2011 through injury and then spent much of the summer recovering, thus hurting his driving ability.
Joining Perez with an improvement is Paul di Resta, Nico Rosberg, Kamui Kobayashi and Fernando Alonso. Despite F1 2012 being one of the most competitive in the history of the sport, Alonso is the only driver from the top three teams to improve compared to 2011, demonstrating the improvement of the midfield teams.
Michael Schumacher has scored a few less points compared to 2011, but much of that is down to the unreliability of his Mercedes W03 rather than his own driving ability. Lewis Hamilton has also been a victim of unreliability and should arguably be nearer to his 2011 total through no fault of his own. Jenson Button's woes have been well documented and his relative performance statistics show this; Sebastian Vettel's dominant 2011 season was always going to be difficult to match, although he would have been hoping for a better return than 52%. Propping up the table is Felipe Massa, with just 36% of his 2011 tally.
1. Sergio Perez
Points after 11 races in 2011: 8
Points after 11 races in 2012: 47
Relative Performance: 588%
2. Paul Di Resta
Points after 11 races in 2011: 8
Points after 11 races in 2012: 27
Relative Performance: 338%
3. Nico Rosberg
Points after 11 races in 2011: 48
Points after 11 races in 2012: 77
Relative Performance: 160%
4. Kamui Kobayashi
Points after 11 races in 2011: 27
Points after 11 races in 2012: 33
Relative Performance: 122%
5. Fernando Alonso
Points after 11 races in 2011: 145
Points after 11 races in 2012: 164
Relative Performance: 113%
6. Michael Schumacher
Points after 11 races in 2011: 32
Points after 11 races in 2012: 29
Relative Performance: 91%
7. Mark Webber:
Points after 11 races in 2011: 149
Points after 11 races in 2012 124
Relative Performance: 83%
8. Lewis Hamilton
Points after 11 races in 2011: 146
Points after 11 races in 2012: 117
Relative Performance: 80%
9. Jenson Button
Points after 11 races in 2011: 134
Points after 11 races in 2012: 76
Relative Performance: 57%
10. Sebastian Vettel
Points after 11 races in 2011: 234
Points after 11 races in 2012: 122
Relative performance: 52%
11. Felipe Massa
Points after 11 races in 2011: 70
Points after 11 races in 2012: 25
Relative Performance: 36%
*NB - Pastor Maldonado and Bruno Senna have scored points in both the 2011 and 2012 season, but did not do so until after Round 11 last year. Figures rounded to the nearest percent
