The Austrian Grand Prix will definitely be some of the memorable rounds from the 2024 season and will change the tone of the remainder of the yr.
Usually sufficient for a dash spherical, some drivers carried out higher via the dash periods on Friday night and Saturday morning than they did within the grand prix periods that adopted, whereas the alternative was true for others.
However there have been a couple of drivers who had been persistently robust over the weekend. And a handful who had been persistently underwhelming.
Listed here are RaceFans’ driver rankings for the Austrian Grand Prix.
A information to RaceFans’ driver rankings system
RaceFans’ driver rankings system assesses driver efficiency throughout all three days of a grand prix weekend. Naturally, performances throughout aggressive periods – qualifying, dash races and grands prix – will carry probably the most weight to their score.
Nonetheless, follow efficiency can have an effect on a driver’s weekend score within the occasion of a significant mistake, resembling a crash, constant errors all through follow periods or if a driver reveals a notably spectacular pace all through all free follow periods relative to their crew mate.
The system makes an attempt to have in mind the relative efficiency of every driver’s automobile and the anticipated outcomes from that, which means {that a} driver who wins a race in a automobile clearly superior to the remainder of the sector could not essentially rating as extremely as a driver who claims a low factors end in a midfield automobile.
Rankings additionally try to have in mind mitigating elements outdoors of a driver’s management. If a driver is compelled to overlook appreciable observe time attributable to automobile issues, is the sufferer of being blocked in qualifying, finishes far decrease than anticipated due to a closely botched pit cease or suffers another misfortune they can’t be fairly anticipated to manage, their score shouldn’t be penalised.
RaceFans charges every driver’s weekend efficiency on a scale of 0 to 10, the place ‘5’ is taken into account to be a usually common weekend efficiency from a usually common Components 1 driver.
Here’s a tough information to every potential rating:
N/A – Not relevant – No score is given as the driving force didn’t sufficiently take part within the aggressive periods
0 – Disqualified – Solely in probably the most excessive occasion the place a driver’s conduct disqualifies them from participation
1 – Appalling – An appalling show that brings a driver’s competency below rapid query
2 – Terrible – A really, very poor efficiency of repeated errors with virtually no redeeming qualities
3 – Very unhealthy – Way more negatives than positives throughout the weekend which a driver ought to be very disillusioned with
4 – Underperformance – Driver failed to attain the bottom degree anticipated for a Components 1 driver
5 – Acceptable – The usual degree of efficiency that ought to be anticipated from an F1 driver
6 – Good – A good general efficiency throughout the weekend, however not probably the greatest
7 – Superb – A powerful efficiency throughout the weekend that any driver ought to be more than happy with
8 – Sensible – A very nice weekend the place the driving force stood out as one of many highest of the sector
9 – Distinctive – An impressive efficiency that ranks as probably the greatest, if not the perfect, of your entire season
10 – Legendary – One of many few all-time best performances by a driver within the historical past of Components 1
Max Verstappen – 7/10
Dash race begin: Pole
Dash race end: Winner
Certified: Pole (+7 locations forward of crew mate, -0.888s)
Begin: Held place
Technique: Three-stop (M-H-M-S)
Completed: fifth (+2 locations forward of crew mate)
▲ Quickest in follow regardless of stopping on observe, then took dash race pole
▲ Gained dash race from pole after repelling problem from McLarens
▲ Stormed to grand prix pole by over 4 tenths
▲ Held the lead at the beginning and over the primary two stints
▼ Suffered injury in conflict with Norris, incomes a ten second penalty
▼ Ran fifth after pitting for repairs, then misplaced 5 seconds urgent pit limiter below VSC
▶ Completed fifth, holding place even when penalty was utilized
Verstappen was in a few of his greatest type of the season in Austria, topping each session aside from Q1 over the primary two days of the weekend. He gained the dash race regardless of falling behind Norris for one nook however took it again brilliantly and seemed comfy out entrance for the early a part of the race. However when Norris started to position him below intense stress, he failed to go away sufficient area and the ensuing conflict left him broken and crawling again to the pits. He misplaced extra time with a pit limiter error below the Digital Security Automotive, however whereas his penalty was utilized after ending in fifth, he didn’t lose any positions.
Up till the ultimate eight laps of the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, Verstappen was heading in the right direction for a uncommon ‘9’ score attributable to how relentlessly wonderful he had been. However whereas dropping the race to Norris would have nonetheless deserved an ‘eight’, the character of how he misplaced the win means he should lose extra.
Sergio Perez – 3/10
Dash race begin: seventh
Dash race end: eighth
Certified: eighth (-7 locations behind crew mate, +0.888s)
Begin: +2 locations
Technique: Two-stop (M-H-M)
Completed: seventh (-2 locations behind crew mate)
▶ Certified seventh for dash after ultimate SQ3 effort compromised by proximity to Ocon
▼ Dropped behind Leclerc in dash race to complete eighth
▼ Nearly 9 tenths slower than crew mate in Q3 after solely having used softs accessible
▶ Suffered important sidepod injury in conflict with Piastri on lap one, then was handed by him
▼ Ran seventh behind Piastri however hit with 5 second penalty for dashing in pit lane
▶ Handed Ricciardo and Magnussen however unable to get round Hulkenberg, ending seventh
One other weekend, one other poor factors haul for Perez. The Purple Bull driver was compromised in dash qualifying, however by no means managed to make progress within the dash race and truly dropped a place to Leclerc. He had fewer excuses for grand prix qualifying, however he a minimum of the injury on his automobile might assist to elucidate how he ended up behind his crew mate even with a penalty and making an additional pit cease with a broken automobile and likewise failing to go Hulkenberg’s Haas.
Though the injury was important, the very fact is Perez was off the tempo your entire weekend. He was by no means greater than seventh in any session and people first six laps in sixth place had been the best he ran all weekend. His constant sluggish pace given his automobile means he should obtain a decrease grade than only a ‘4’.
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Lewis Hamilton – 5/10
Dash race begin: sixth
Dash race end: sixth
Certified: fifth (-2 locations behind crew mate, +0.063s)
Begin: +1 place
Technique: Two-stop (M-H-M)
Completed: 4th (-3 locations behind crew mate)
▶ Took sixth on grid for dash qualifying however admitted having ‘no good laps’
▶ Held place all through the dash to complete sixth
▶ Cut up the Ferraris to safe fifth on the grid for the grand prix
▶ Handed Sainz at the beginning however misplaced place to the Ferrari in early laps
▶ Suffered injury to ground early on which compromised tempo
▼ Hit with 5 second time penalty for breaching pit entry line
▶ Misplaced place to Piastri serving penalty in second cease, then gained fourth with conflict forward
▶ Completed fourth, over 20 seconds behind crew mate
A troublesome weekend for Hamilton who needed to watch as his crew mate took a shock victory for Mercedes, leaving him as the one driver within the high eight positions within the championship to not have both a grand prix or dash race victory within the floor impact period. He was not fairly on the identical degree as his crew mate over the weekend, however his race tempo was compromised by clear injury to his Mercedes.
Though he was affected by injury and his penalty solely price him a place to Piastri that he possible would have misplaced anyway, probably the most profitable driver in F1’s historical past has no excuse for incomes such a penalty. That drops him from a ‘six’ to a ‘5’ as that may have price him a place in different circumstances.
George Russell – 7/10
Dash race begin: 4th
Dash race end: 4th
Certified: third (+2 locations forward of crew mate, -0.063s)
Begin: Held place
Technique: Two-stop (M-M-H)
Completed: Winner (+3 locations forward of crew mate)
▲ Beat Sainz and crew mate to safe fourth on dash grid
▶ Misplaced place to Sainz early in dash race however reclaimed it to complete fourth
▲ Took third on grand prix grid, a tenth behind Norris
▶ Held place at the beginning, heading off problem from crew mate in early laps
▶ Switched from mediums to hards for ultimate stint, then inherited lead after conflict forward
▲ Saved out of attain of charging Piastri behind to assert second profession victory
A memorable weekend for Russell, who managed to lastly break Mercedes’ win drought with numerous graft and a bit of little bit of luck. Russell was persistently getting one of the best from the Mercedes all weekend, being faster than his teammate and exhibiting stable race tempo and saved drivers on sooner tyres at bay over his ultimate stint.
Ignoring the leaders taking themselves out, third place would have been simply deserving of a ‘seven’. Provided that he inherited the victory relatively than incomes it via on-track prowess, it solely feels truthful to reward him primarily based on what was in all probability going to be a 3rd place end.
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Charles Leclerc – 6/10
Dash race begin: tenth
Dash race end: seventh
Certified: sixth (-2 locations behind crew mate, +0.193s)
Begin: -12 locations
Technique: 4-stop (M-H-M-M-M)
Completed: eleventh (-8 locations behind crew mate)
▶ Suffered energy unit drawback in SQ3, stopping him from posting lap, leaving him tenth
▲ Gained three locations at begin of dash race to complete seventh
▶ Out-qualified by time mate to line up sixth for grand prix
▶ Pressured to pit with entrance wing injury after contact with Piastri at first nook
▶ Rear in direction of the again however tried to unlap himself from Norris with newer tyres
▲ Made 4 stops however handed six vehicles over ultimate stint to only miss out on level in eleventh
One other irritating weekend for Leclerc the place fortune didn’t favour him. Whereas he in all probability was not the quickest Ferrari driver and his automobile was not quick sufficient to hitch the battle for victory, his beginning place for the dash race and the beginning of the grand prix had been each compromised by issues he might not likely be blamed for. Regardless of an extended, irritating race, he didn’t quit and his restoration to eleventh was stable.
Though Leclerc was clearly unfortunate, he didn’t fairly appear to have the identical tempo as his crew mate across the Purple Bull Ring. As such, he earns a superb score, simply inferior to his crew mate.
Carlos Sainz Jnr – 7/10
Dash race begin: fifth
Dash race end: fifth
Certified: 4th (+2 locations forward of crew mate, -0.193s)
Begin: -1 place
Technique: Two-stop (M-H-M)
Completed: third (+8 locations forward of crew mate)
▲ Secured fifth on the grid in dash qualifying
▶ Handed Russell early in dash however couldn’t hold him behind, ending fifth
▲ Simply overwhelmed to 3rd on grid by Russell however forward of Hamilton and his crew mate
▶ Misplaced a spot to Hamilton at the beginning however regained it laps later
▶ Ran behind Russell via the race till ultimate stint on mediums
▶ Couldn’t maintain Piastri off, falling to 3rd when handed at flip six, however took ultimate podium spot
Ferrari weren’t in rivalry for victory and had been possible the fourth-fastest package deal in Austria – as shut at it was over the weekend. Nonetheless, Sainz was persistently the main Ferrari all weekend and managed to beat Hamilton to the ultimate podium place after the drama forward. Given the pace of the McLarens, there was no disgrace in dropping out to Piastri late on within the method he did.
Given his efficiency throughout the weekend, Sainz deserves to be rewarded with a powerful grade, even when his podium was lucky. For that, he will get a ‘seven’.
Lando Norris – 6/10
Dash race begin: 2nd
Dash race end: third
Certified: 2nd (+5 locations forward of crew mate, -0.33s)
Begin: Held place
Technique: Two-stop (M-H-M)
Completed: Retired (Harm – L64)
▲ Lower than a tenth away from beating Verstappen to dash race pole
▶ Battled with Verstappen for lead of dash however misplaced out to crew mate
▶ Took second on grid in grand prix qualifying however three tenths farther from Verstappen
▶ Held second behind Verstappen over first 60 laps
▼ Acquired 5 second time penalty for 4 observe limits infringements
▼ Suffered race-ending injury battling for win with Verstappen, forcing retirement
Regardless of not main a single racing lap over the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, Norris might genuinely really feel that he missed out on a possible victory on the Purple Bull Ring. In all probability the faster of the 2 McLaren drivers over the weekend, his drawback proved to be racecraft. He misplaced the result in Verstappen within the dash race after taking it a nook earlier by leaving the door open, then made a number of makes an attempt to go Verstappen on the finish of the grand prix earlier than the inevitable collision, then drove too quick again to the pits, which means he couldn’t proceed.
Though retiring from a race is rarely a constructive, a minimum of Norris was combating for a win. Verstappen could have been deemed accountable for the conflict however Norris was pretty wild in a few of his makes an attempt to go too and may need benefitted from trying a extra high-percentage go. That, plus dropping out within the dash race, harms his general grade.
Oscar Piastri – 7/10
Dash race begin: third
Dash race end: 2nd
Certified: seventh (-5 locations behind crew mate, +0.33s)
Begin: Held place
Technique: Two-stop (M-H-M)
Completed: 2nd (+18 locations forward of crew mate)
▶ Simply overwhelmed by crew mate in dash qualifying to start out third
▲ Made opportunistic go on crew mate to take second place in dash race
▼ Dropped to seventh on grand prix grid after dropping greatest time for observe limits
▶ Handed Perez early on, then made late first cease for hards
▲ Overtook Hamilton, then rejoined fifth after ultimate cease for mediums
▲ Handed Sainz to take third after leaders clashed to complete lower than two seconds from winner
Possibly the closest Oscar Piastri has come to a maiden grand prix victory – in additional methods than one. After a disappointing Barcelona weekend, he made positive he was an element on the entrance in Austria. Did he exceed observe limits in Q3? We are going to by no means know for positive, however his spirited drive from seventh to second was robust and had been it not for the Digital Security Automotive, a win might have been on the playing cards.
Throughout the weekend, the one destructive of word for Piastri was his deleted Q3 time which impacted his grid place. However second place in each races was a powerful efficiency, all thought of, incomes him a ‘seven’.
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Fernando Alonso – 4/10
Dash race begin: thirteenth
Dash race end: fifteenth
Certified: fifteenth (+2 locations forward of crew mate, -0.163s)
Begin: +2 locations
Technique: Three-stop (M-M-H-S)
Completed: 18th (-5 locations behind crew mate)
▶ Lined up proper behind crew mate on dash race grid, eradicated in SQ2
▶ Handed by Tsunoda, then fell to fifteenth in dash race after Hulkenberg incident
▶ Progressed into Q2 however eradicated slowest in fifteenth
▶ Gained one place from Tsunoda at the beginning however overtaken on lap two
▼ Hit Zhou at flip three to earn ten second penalty
▶ Fell in direction of rear after pitting and serving penalty, then made third cease for softs
▶ Took quickest lap, ending down in 18th
A really un-Alonso like efficiency in Austria the place he by no means appeared comfy at any stage. His penalty for hitting Zhou was one of many sillier acts dedicated at flip three all weekend – which is saying one thing. Add to that, he was persistently slower than Stroll, who confirmed that the Aston Martin was able to higher than what Alonso managed to get out of it.
Given the hole between Alonso and his crew mate within the races, he clearly doesn’t deserve a superb score. However along with his clumsy penalty, he drops to a sub-par grade.
Lance Stroll – 7/10
Dash race begin: twelfth
Dash race end: tenth
Certified: seventeenth (-2 locations behind crew mate, +0.163s)
Begin: Held place
Technique: Two-stop (M-M-H)
Completed: thirteenth (+5 locations forward of crew mate)
▶ Knocked out of SQ2 on Friday however simply forward of crew mate in twelfth
▲ Gained positions from Magnussen and Ocon to complete high ten in dash race
▶ Didn’t observe crew mate into Q2 to line up seventeenth for grand prix
▶ Hit by Sargeant at the beginning however escaped with out injury
▶ Handed Bottas then ran behind Tsunoda in center stint
▲ Overtook Albon, then saved the Williams behind over ultimate laps to complete thirteenth
One other very stable weekend for Stroll the place he confirmed up his world champion crew mate – and never for the primary time in latest months. Stroll was by no means in rivalry for factors given the tempo of the Aston Martin on the Purple Bull Ring, however aside from a disappointing Saturday qualifying, he was the clear faster of the 2 Aston Martin drivers through the weekend.
Though he was out-qualified by Alonso in grand prix qualifying, Stroll made up for that with superior race tempo within the ultimate two stints, pulling off a number of overtakes alongside the way in which. Though he was out of the factors, his race performances nudge him as much as a ‘seven’.
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Pierre Gasly – 6/10
Dash race begin: ninth
Dash race end: twelfth
Certified: thirteenth (-3 locations behind crew mate, +0.085s)
Begin: +2 locations
Technique: Two-stop (M-H-M)
Completed: tenth (+2 locations forward of crew mate)
▶ Reached SQ3 however had ultimate push lap compromised by rush to beat chequered flag
▼ Dropped three locations with poor begin in dash, ending twelfth
▼ Couldn’t observe crew mate into Q3 after set-up modified, eradicated thirteenth
▶ Ran behind Magnussen in opening stint, then fought with crew mate in center stint
▲ Undercut crew mate throughout second cease, then handed Leclerc on outdated tyres
▲ Pulled away from crew mate steadily over ultimate stint, taking ultimate level in tenth
One other race weekend, one other high ten end for Gasly and Alpine. His dash efficiency was not one of the best, overwhelmed in each periods by his crew mate, however he had the sting when it got here to the grand prix periods, even battling side-by-side along with his crew mate at one stage. His earlier ultimate cease allowed him to get forward and he stayed there, taking the ultimate factors place in tenth after Norris retired.
As Gasly improved because the weekend went on, he does deserve credit score for taking a high ten, even when the Alpine seemed able to that throughout the weekend. His latest report of factors suggests this was a ‘good’ exhibiting relatively than a ‘excellent’ one, so a ‘six’ feels about proper.
Esteban Ocon – 6/10
Dash race begin: eighth
Dash race end: eleventh
Certified: tenth (+3 locations forward of crew mate, -0.085s)
Begin: +2 locations
Technique: Two-stop (M-H-M)
Completed: twelfth (-2 locations behind crew mate)
▶ Reached SQ3 and certified eighth for dash, forward of crew mate
▼ Dropped two locations at begin of dash on used tyres, then handed by Stroll
▲ Reached Q3 to line up tenth on grand prix grid
▶ Gained two locations at the beginning however overtaken by Hulkenberg
▶ Battled with Alonso and teammate in center stint
▶ Undercut by crew mate then handed by Leclerc late to complete twelfth
Ocon had one other vigorous weekend the place one thing all the time gave the impression to be occurring round him. He did a superb job on Friday to take eighth on the grid for the dash race and was by no means going to have an incredible likelihood of factors within the dash race on used tyres. His qualifying efficiency was robust, however as soon as he was undercut by his crew mate, he couldn’t get again forward.
Though Gasly managed to safe a degree in tenth, Ocon’s pace all through the weekend was completely first rate. For that, he deserves to be recognised with a constructive grade.
Alexander Albon – 5/10
Dash race begin: twentieth
Dash race end: seventeenth
Certified: sixteenth (+3 locations forward of crew mate, -0.12s)
Begin: +1 place
Technique: Two-stop (M-H-H)
Completed: fifteenth (+4 locations forward of crew mate)
▶ Didn’t observe crew mate via into SQ2
▶ Began dash from pit lane and handed each Saubers to complete seventeenth
▶ Simply missed out on Q2 to line up sixteenth on grand prix grid
▶ Undercut Tsunoda however overtaken earlier than second cease
▼ Hit with 5 second time penalty for crossing white line at pit entry
▶ Handed by Stroll and Leclerc to fall to fifteenth, then gained 14th when Norris retired
▶ Completed 14th however demoted to fifteenth after time penalty utilized
Albon admitted that he didn’t end the place his automobile was able to ending in Austria after a weekend the place he in all probability did not extract one of the best from his automobile barely too typically. He did not observe his crew mate into SQ2 however a minimum of made minor progress within the dash race regardless of ranging from the pit lane. He then did a greater job in grand prix qualifying and had higher race tempo than his crew mate to run forward of an RB, however then misplaced the place with a foolish penalty.
All collectively, Albon manages to only about scrape a 5. Though he did nothing too egregious, he is aware of he’s able to higher than this.
Logan Sargeant – 5/10
Dash race begin: fifteenth
Dash race end: sixteenth
Certified: nineteenth (-3 locations behind crew mate, +0.12s)
Begin: -1 place
Technique: Three-stop (M-M-H-M)
Completed: nineteenth (-4 locations behind crew mate)
▲ Out-qualified crew mate in dash qualifying to take fifteenth on the grid for dash race
▶ Handed by Hulkenberg and Ricciardo to complete forward of crew mate in dash race
▶ Eradicated from Q1 a tenth slower than crew mate to start out nineteenth
▼ Suffered entrance wing injury in conflict with Stroll at flip three on opening lap
▶ Pitted for brand spanking new wing, then ran final for almost all of the race
▼ Unable to maintain tempo with crew mate, finally ending a minute behind in nineteenth
Sargeant’s life in direction of the again of the grid doesn’t appear to be getting any simpler because the season progresses, however a minimum of he had the enjoyment of out-qualifying his crew mate on advantage in dash qualifying and ending forward within the dash race that adopted. Nonetheless, his race was ruined on the third nook when he hit Stroll’s Aston Martin, which triggered him to lose half a minute on the remainder of the sector. By the point he reached the chequered flag, he was an extra 30 seconds additional adrift of his crew mate.
Though the ultimate outcome didn’t look nice for Sargeant, it was unlucky that he suffered extra from contact on the opening lap than a lot of his rivals forward who additionally clashed at the beginning. When he was on comparable tyres to Albon, his tempo was comparable, he simply misplaced numerous time when Albon had recent tyres and couldn’t make that again on his personal. He would in all probability have earned a ‘4’ for his race tempo, however his efficiency within the dash periods saved him.
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Yuki Tsunoda – 5/10
Dash race begin: 14th
Dash race end: thirteenth
Certified: 14th (-3 locations behind crew mate, +0.123s)
Begin: Held place
Technique: Two-stop (M-H-H)
Completed: 14th (-5 locations behind crew mate)
▲ Reached SQ2 to safe 14th on the grid for dash
▶ Handed Alonso at the beginning then held thirteenth in dash to complete simply forward of crew mate
▶ Progressed into Q2 however certified three locations decrease than crew mate
▶ Misplaced contact with crew mate after being requested to increase opening stint
▶ Emerged sixteenth after second cease for hards however couldn’t match crew mate forward
▶ Completed fifteenth however promoted to 14th after Albon’s penalty, 5 locations behind crew mate
Tsunoda’s spectacular kind to the 2024 season seems to have began to fade barely, though he didn’t make any main errors or become involved in mishaps past an unlucky incident over the radio in qualifying. His grand prix technique was not as efficient as his crew mate’s proved to be and he discovered himself with a number of vehicles between him and his crew mate, however that was maybe a mirrored image on how aggressive the midfield is.
Though Tsunoda had a clear weekend and was the lead RB driver within the dash periods, he misplaced out to his crew mate within the grand prix periods. He did go Alonso and Albon on observe within the early stints, however in all probability ought to have been in a position to overtake a Williams with more energizing tyres within the closing laps, even when he did transfer forward within the outcomes due to Albon’s penalty.
Daniel Ricciardo – 6/10
Dash race begin: sixteenth
Dash race end: 14th
Certified: eleventh (+3 locations forward of crew mate, -0.123s)
Begin: -1 place
Technique: Two-stop (M-H-H)
Completed: ninth (+5 locations forward of crew mate)
▶ Knocked out of SQ1 by milliseconds by crew mate
▶ Handed by Hulkenberg however overtook Sargeant, then gained fifteenth from Alonso in dash race
▲ Solely simply missed out on Q3 to line up eleventh for grand prix
▼ Misplaced two locations at the beginning however gained one again from Leclerc pitting
▶ Took benefit of early change to hards to undercut Alpines
▲ Dealt with sustained stress from Gasly behind over ultimate stint, gaining ninth from Norris
Ricciardo headed into his 250th grand prix weekend seeking to show he deserves to achieve many extra sooner or later and he did an honest job of that on the Purple Bull Ring along with his second high ten end within the final three rounds. He didn’t appear totally proud of the automobile on Friday and within the dash, however the adjustments made to his set-up for the grand prix periods labored a deal with. He made probably the most of issues for Leclerc and Norris forward to safe an honest ninth place end.
Though factors in ninth in an RB automobile feels prefer it ought to warrant the next rating, his dash periods weren’t superb and he surrendered a few locations at the beginning of the grand prix. For that, he simply misses out on the next grade.
Valtteri Bottas – 6/10
Dash race begin: 18th
Dash race end: 18th
Certified: 18th (+2 locations forward of crew mate, -0.214s)
Begin: +2 locations
Technique: Two-stop (M-H-H)
Completed: sixteenth (+1 place forward of crew mate)
▶ Eradicated from SQ1 in 18th
▶ Ran in 18th for many of dash race till handed by Albon late
▶ Knocked out of Q1 in 18th however virtually a second faster than SQ1
▶ Ran back-to-back stints on hards over second and ultimate stints
▲ Ran comparable tempo to Tsunoda forward ending sixteenth, six seconds behind the RB
Bottas endured a fruitless weekend in Austria, however it was apparent as soon as once more that the Sauber will not be a automobile that provides its drivers a lot in comparison with the crew’s rivals. Nonetheless, Bottas was the sooner of the crew’s drivers at each level of the weekend and managed to maintain inside cheap contact with Tsunoda forward within the RB, which is perhaps pretty much as good as he might have hoped for.
It’s all the time troublesome to inform whether or not or not a driver is having a ‘good’ weekend in a ‘unhealthy’ automobile, however on condition that Bottas was sooner than his crew mate throughout the weekend and was inside ten seconds of an Aston Martin and RB on the end, that means his efficiency was in all probability higher than it seemed on paper.
Zhou Guanyu – 5/10
Dash race begin: nineteenth
Dash race end: twentieth
Certified: twentieth (-2 locations behind crew mate, +0.214s)
Begin: +1 place
Technique: Two-stop (H-M-H)
Completed: seventeenth (-1 place behind crew mate)
▼ One place however half a second slower than crew mate in dash qualifying
▶ Completed final in dash after being handed by Albon late on
▶ Eradicated slowest of all from Q1
▶ Began grand prix from pit lane after making set-up adjustments below parc ferme
▶ Ran on the rear for many of the race however inside cheap attain of crew mate
▶ Hit by Alonso however appeared to not endure important injury
▶ Completed seventeenth, final on the street, 25 seconds behind crew mate
Zhou struggled once more to seek out tempo from his automobile that was once more the slowest within the area on the Purple Bull Ring. He didn’t make any main errors and though he was nicely off from his crew mate by the chequered flag, his lap instances in clear air on the identical compound as his crew mate had been really comparable and even sooner within the closing laps. However as soon as he was within the blue flag cycle, he wanted a Security Automotive to catch as much as the remainder of the sector.
It’s all the time onerous to precisely assess a driver’s efficiency once they run within the slowest package deal, however aside from being a bit of an excessive amount of slower than his crew mate in dash qualifying, Zhou was not egregiously off the tempo as Bottas within the race, helped little. For that, he simply scrapes a low 5.
Nico Hulkenberg – 6/10
Dash race begin: seventeenth
Dash race end: nineteenth
Certified: ninth (+3 locations forward of crew mate, -0.085s)
Begin: Held place
Technique: Two-stop (M-H-H)
Completed: sixth (+2 locations forward of crew mate)
▼ Knocked out of SQ1 to line up six locations decrease than crew mate for dash
▼ Rose as much as 14th in dash however dropped to nineteenth after penalty for forcing Alonso off
▲ Reached Q3, in contrast to crew mate, to safe ninth on grand prix grid
▶ Ran as ‘better of the remainder’ via bulk of the race
▲ Confirmed nice poise and consciousness to beat a broken Perez to sixth after intense battle
Hulkenberg had a Jekyll and Hyde weekend on the Purple Bull Ring. He underperformed within the dash periods and earned a penalty for his therapy of Alonso at flip three. However from Saturday qualifying onwards, he was the superior Haas driver – simply. His race tempo was stable, however his racecraft and ways to carry off Perez within the broken Purple Bull over the ultimate laps had been precisely the sorts of abilities that Haas will miss when he departs the crew.
Though Hulkenberg was one of many stand outs on Sunday, Magnussen’s proximity to him and efficiency within the dash settings suggests the Haas had high ten potential throughout the weekend. As he did not make use of that within the dash settings, he doesn’t earn the next grade this time round.
Kevin Magnussen – 7/10
Dash race begin: eleventh
Dash race end: ninth
Certified: twelfth (-3 locations behind crew mate, +0.085s)
Begin: +2 locations
Technique: Two-stop (M-H-H)
Completed: eighth (-2 locations behind crew mate)
▲ Simply missed out on SQ3 to start out eleventh in dash race
▲ Gained two locations to only miss out on factors in dash
▶ Couldn’t observe crew mate via into Q3, eradicated in twelfth
▲ Gained two positions at the beginning earlier than pitting early
▲ Absorbed stress from Ricciardo over ultimate laps to safe greatest end of season in eighth
Generally, Magnussen toils away over a weekend however by no means appears to be comfy, ending nicely out of rivalry with out ever standing out. And generally, like in Austria, Magnussen can ship a persistently stable efficiency over a complete race weekend. He had an excellent dash qualifying and race, however whereas he couldn’t fairly match his crew mate within the grand prix periods, he helped ship a race double factors end for his crew.
Having delivered good outcomes throughout all three days and conserving issues clear, Magnussen earns extra credit score past a easy ‘good’ grade. For that, he’s elevated to a ‘seven’, even when he was behind his crew mate within the grand prix.
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