With the team power rankings done, it’s now time to rank the drivers once again as Canada moves into the history books.
You know the drill. These are subjective and based purely on opinion mixed with results.
Are these 100 per cent accurate? Inside my mind, yes! Outside of it, no. But it’s a nice way to spark some discussion, showcase some form and allow a conversation that brings F1 fans closer together – and maybe also further apart at the same time.
Fun, right? Always!
Rather than rank all 20 drivers on the grid, I have made it more streamlined and easier by simply bringing the top 10 drivers.
As always this means that some drivers drop out, and a couple have jumped in after my last rankings.
You can also check out my team power rankings too for a similar analysis.
Let’s get to it.
10. Esteban Ocon (-1)
More points for the Frenchman, his fourth consecutive race in scoring them. Having a very solid season.
9. Alex Albon (new)
Kind of hard to fathom this is only the second time this season Albon has scored points. He has been driving so well, and this was solid reward for a solid race.
8. Carlos Sainz Jr (-2)
I say it after ever race but it’s so hard to gauge where Sainz is at this season. He hasn’t been driving badly. He just also hasn’t been driving amazingly either. Still, he’s scored points in every race of the season except for one (which we all know he was robbed of those points in Australia) and is somehow fifth in the Championship. Mr consistently invisible.
(Photo by Motorsport Week)
7. Charles Leclerc (+1)
Held off any challenge from his teammate by stamping his authority on the good strategic call by Ferrari to finish in fourth, his highest finish in four races. Let’s hope it’s the start of something more moving forward.
6. Sergio Perez (-1)
Perez has fallen off a cliff of late and is seemingly nowhere. It’s a worrying sign for the Mexican, who only a few rounds ago I said could win the Championship. Talk about a commentators curse.
5. Lance Stroll (+2)
It baffled me on Sunday that nobody talked up Stroll’s performance at all. Starting 16th on the grid, he made one of his trademark great starts, got hit with the worst of luck by the timing of the safety car, before switching strategies and forcing his way to ninth. This was also bookmarked by his stunning overtake of Bottas on the finish line.
Yet, as is often the case with Stroll, he was completely overlooked and not even apparently in the discussion for driver of the day honours. Sure, his teammate finished second and his qualifying once again let him down on the Saturday. But that came down to a bad tyre call, not his pace.
A great result for the Canadian, particularly compared to the other ‘second driver’ in the other front running team.
4. George Russell (-1)
Was on for some more solid points until his brakes failed on lap four. Clearly getting the bad luck in the Mercedes this year, which is a shame given how well he is driving.
(Photo by PlanetF1)
3. Lewis Hamilton (-1)
Another solid race from Hamilton, who enjoyed a great battle with his former teammate and arch-enemy Fernando Alonso. Very, very lucky to not get a penalty for an unsafe release, but did everything he could to try and get second back before settling for another podium.
2. Fernando Alonso (+2)
One-off weekend for Alonso wasn’t going to stop him from getting back up and back into his solid form. He actually remained closer to Verstappen’s Red Bull than many people thought, and getting second by less than 10 seconds behind the winner will be another win for him. Another great result.
1. Max Verstappen (-)
Won the race with a bird stuck in his car. Also won the race making jokes about nearly knocking himself out over the curbs. If that doesn’t tell you how well he is driving, nothing will.
What do you think of these rankings? Do you agree with the positions? Let me know what you think in the comments below.