Louis Sharp: My Ultimate Driver

3 October 2025

Louis Sharp’s 2025 season has come to an end, but before he went on a break, we put him to the test one more time this year by asking him to build his Ultimate Racing driver.

A list filled with multiple world champions at the highest level, the New Zealander picks from some of his childhood favourites.

INTELLIGENCE

“Nico Rosberg. I feel like he was very smart and I think when he beat Hamilton it was because he was smart on how he was setting up the car. Hamilton was the better driver, but I think Rosberg used all the other stuff, not just being faster.”

DRIVING IN THE WET

“Max Verstappen. Whenever it rains, he is always really good. I think he has proven himself many times, he has a natural feel for the grip in those conditions.”

QUALIFYING

“I'm going to say Ayrton Senna. I can't remember what year, maybe 1988, but in Monaco, he was on pole by over a second or something stupid. Just for that alone I have to give it to him.”

Sharp picked from several Formula 1 greats when building his ultimate driver

CORNERING

“Lewis Hamilton. He has won seven World Champions, the most wins ever, you would hope he is doing something right to have achieved that much.

TYRE MANAGEMENT

“Good question. It's a tough one but let's go to Hamilton as well. He has won the most races, so he must be good at managing his tyres.”

SMOOTHEST DRIVING STYLE

“I'm going to say Jenson Button. Me personally, I think in previous years I have always been more aggressive, but I think it depends on the car you are driving. I am very adaptable. If the car rewards being smooth and precise, I adapt to that, but if it rewards being aggressive and, on the limit, I do that.

“Whenever you watched he was always on the limit but he was super precise, he is never making corrections, it's always smooth. So that's the reason why I'd choose him.”

Sharp also built his perfect racing team and chose a team of multiple time world champions

OVERTAKING

“Daniel Ricciardo. I can imagine it's a common answer. Maybe Verstappen, as well. For Ricciardo, he is famous for many dive bombs, but I am going to say his move on Vettel, at Monza in 2014 into the second chicane. That move to me is quite cool.”

ANYTHING ELSE?

“I think the aura of Sebastian Vettel from 2010 to 2013, when he was at Red Bull. I think even just as a complete driver, he had a lot of aura, he was aggressive, but he was super-fast, but he was an overall complete driver then.”

BUILD YOUR IDEAL TEAM

TEAM PRINCIPAL: Ross Brawn DRIVERS: Ayrton Senna and Sebastian Vettel CAR: The Mercedes W11 - it's probably the fastest car ever so I am going to say that one.