Open, honest debate is vital for any society to function at its best. In the sporting arena, one of the most enjoyable debates should be - if done properly, avoiding the pitfalls of tribalism and the general cesspools of Twitter replies and YouTube comments - the question of 'who is the best?'
As is regularly acknowledged, trying to argue the case for the best Formula 1 driver ever is fraught with peril given the championship's long history and ever-changing nature. But declaring one driver to be the best over a season or a year is much more achievable.
It's not for nothing that top 10 rankings are popular across all sports, and Autosport's Top 50 Drivers of the Year feature resonates with fans and competitors alike - more than a few contributors to our annual list have tales of drivers expressing their gratitude or frustration at their ranking (or lack of it!).