Tuesday, December 24, 2024

F1 Driver Rankings: 2024 Mexican Grand Prix

One other race weekend, one other race winner and one other controversial incident – or two – to spur debate amongst followers all over the week till the subsequent spherical.

The Mexican Grand Prix was actually an eventful one, with drama and incident throughout the three days regardless of observe circumstances that ought to have been comparatively beneficial for drivers.

However whereas there have been some standout showings within the area, only a few drivers might boast of getting fully clear weekends. Listed here are the RaceFans driver scores for the Mexican Grand Prix weekend.

A information to RaceFans’ driver scores system

RaceFans’ driver scores system assesses driver efficiency throughout all three days of a grand prix weekend. Naturally, performances throughout aggressive classes – qualifying, dash races and grands prix – will carry essentially 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, reminiscent of a crash, constant errors all through follow classes or if a driver reveals a notably spectacular pace all through all free follow classes 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 might 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 components exterior of a driver’s management. If a driver is compelled to overlook appreciable observe time because of 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 moderately anticipated to regulate, 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 sometimes common weekend efficiency from a sometimes common Components 1 driver.

Here’s a tough information to every potential rating:

N/ANot relevant – No score is given as the motive force didn’t sufficiently take part within the aggressive classes

0Disqualified – Solely in essentially the most excessive occasion the place a driver’s conduct disqualifies them from participation

1Appalling – An appalling show that brings a driver’s competency underneath fast query

2Terrible – A really, very poor efficiency of repeated errors with virtually no redeeming qualities

3Very unhealthy – Much more negatives than positives throughout the weekend which a driver ought to be very dissatisfied with

4Underperformance – Driver failed to realize the bottom degree anticipated for a Components 1 driver

5Acceptable – The usual degree of efficiency that ought to be anticipated from an F1 driver

6Good – An honest general efficiency throughout the weekend, however not the most effective

7Superb – A robust efficiency throughout the weekend that any driver ought to be very happy with

8Sensible – A really nice weekend the place the motive force stood out as one of many highest of the sector

9Distinctive – An impressive efficiency that ranks as the most effective, if not the easiest, of your complete season

10Legendary – One of many few all-time biggest performances by a driver within the historical past of Components 1

Max Verstappen – 4/10

Certified: 2nd (+16 locations forward of crew mate, -0.808s)
Begin: +1 place
Technique: One-stop (M-H)
Completed: sixth (+11 locations forward of crew mate)

▶ Successfully missed second follow with an influence unit drawback
Beat rival Norris to safe entrance row begin in second
Took the lead at the beginning by beating Sainz off the road
Misplaced the result in Sainz when handed into flip one
Hit with 10s penalty for forcing Norris off at flip 4
Hit with second 10s penalty for forcing Norris off at flip seven
▶ Pitted for hards and handed a number of automobiles to return to sixth
▶ Completed sixth, ten seconds behind Mercedes

Verstappen ought to have completed fourth in Mexico, forward of the 2 Mercedes. He didn’t, nevertheless, and the one individual he has accountable for that’s himself. Whereas the world champion might not care an excessive amount of about shedding fourth within the grand scheme of the championship battle, he must be judged accordingly and his excessive aggression in the end meant he scored fewer factors than he might have carried out.

Sergio Perez – 3/10

Sergio Perez, Red Bull, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, 2024
Perez produced a lamentable efficiency at dwelling

Certified: 18th (-16 locations behind crew mate, +0.808s)
Begin: +5 locations
Technique: Three-stop (H-M-M-S)
Completed: seventeenth (-11 locations behind crew mate)

Eradicated from Q1 in 18th, two tenths away from security
Began on hards however earned a 5s penalty for false begin
▶ Moved as much as thirteenth underneath SC, then handed each Aston Martins
Misplaced 60 factors of downforce after conflict with Lawson, resulting in early cease
▶ Fell to final, unable to make a lot floor on automobiles forward
▶ Made second cease for mediums, then handed Zhou
▶ Made third cease for softs in closing laps however unable to take quickest lap
▶ Completed final automobile working in seventeenth

Poor qualifying, an amateurish mistake at the beginning, an ill-judged transfer on what’s supposedly a slower automobile that left him with harm, all whereas watched on by his adoring dwelling followers. Perez’s performances have grow to be unhappy to see. The one purpose he doesn’t rating even decrease is as a result of he no less than didn’t crash out of any session and his gradual second half of the race might no less than be excused by his harm – even when he ought to have most likely performed it smarter than he did.

Lewis Hamilton – 6/10

Certified: sixth (-1 place behind crew mate, +0.295s)
Begin: +1 place
Technique: One-stop (M-H)
Completed: 4th (+1 place forward of crew mate)

▶ Missed first follow to permit Antonelli to drive automobile
▶ Certified one place however three tenths behind crew mate
▶ Obtained forward of crew mate at the beginning however misplaced it after restart
▶ Pitted for arduous tyres and emerged behind crew mate
Handed crew mate after intense, multi-lap battle
▶ Completed forward of crew mate in fourth, 10s behind Leclerc

Hamilton had a stable sufficient weekend in Mexico, hardly essentially the most excellent driver, however he might come away moderately happy with the place he completed. He was successfully in an unique, race-long duel together with his crew mate and whereas he ultimately prevailed, it took him many laps to ultimately overtake Russell regardless of his entrance wing harm. However cross him he did and as soon as he was forward, he confirmed that he had extra tempo.

George Russell – 6/10

Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, Mercedes, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, 2024
The Mercedes drivers principally fought themselves

Certified: fifth (+1 place forward of crew mate, -0.295s)
Begin: -1 place
Technique: One-stop (M-H)
Completed: fifth (-1 place behind crew mate)

▶ Ran with older specification elements throughout the weekend
Crashed closely in second follow
Secured fifth on the grid however comfortably forward of crew mate
▶ Dropped behind crew mate at the beginning to run sixth early
Handed Hamilton on lap 15 to take fifth again earlier than pitting for arduous tyres
▶ Suffered entrance wing harm over bump after pit cease
▶ Held off Hamilton for a number of laps earlier than ultimately being handed
▶ Completed 4 seconds behind crew mate in fifth

Except for his hefty shunt on Friday, Russell might be happy together with his efficiency over the next two days of the weekend as he certified and completed in keeping with the tempo potential of the Mercedes. Though he misplaced out to Hamilton within the race, he might no less than level to the entrance wing harm he sustained as an excuse and he fought his crew mate arduous however truthful for a number of laps.

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Charles Leclerc – 6/10

Certified: 4th (-3 locations behind crew mate, +0.319s)
Begin: Held place
Technique: Two-stop (M-H-S)
Completed: third (-2 locations behind crew mate)

▶ Handed automobile to Bearman for first follow
▶ Couldn’t match crew mate in qualifying, lining up fourth on the grid
▶ Held fourth at the beginning behind Norris
▶ Gained second after Norris and Verstappen clashed forward
▶ Pitted for arduous tyres and began to slowly shut on crew mate
Misplaced second place with error out of ultimate nook
▶ Completed third after pitting to take quickest lap in closing laps

An honest sufficient displaying from Leclerc who simply merely lacked that little additional that his crew mate was capable of finding over the weekend. He confirmed first rate tempo as soon as in second place, though he did little to place himself in that place to start with. Any slim hopes of one way or the other holding off Norris to safe the one-two have been misplaced when he virtually crashed out of the race sliding off observe, which was not his best second of the season.

Carlos Sainz Jnr – 8/10

Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz Jnr, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, 2024
Sainz took full benefit of Verstappen’s preoccupation with Norris

Certified: Pole (+3 locations forward of crew mate, -0.319s)
Begin: -1 place
Technique: One-stop (M-H)
Completed: Winner (+2 locations forward of crew mate)

Set two laps adequate for pole in Q3
▶ Couldn’t maintain lead at begin, working off at first nook
Retook lead from Verstappen in late first nook lunge
▶ Pulled away from crew mate behind till pitting for arduous tyres
Managed tempo to handle tyres and win by slightly below 5s

When Sainz is actually on it, he could be a pleasure to look at. Not that many have been watching him on Sunday, with all of the deal with the battle behind. He was clearly the most effective on observe on Saturday and although he misplaced the lead at the beginning, he no less than had the excuse that it was the longest run to show one on the calendar. However then his transfer to reclaim the lead was an actual instance of find out how to pull off a skilfully judged late braking overtake. As soon as out entrance, he was in full management and delivered a wonderful victory.

Lando Norris – 6/10

Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, 2024
Verstappen tactically blocked Norris’ path to victory

Certified: third (+14 locations forward of crew mate, -1.092s)
Begin: Held place
Technique: One-stop (M-H)
Completed: 2nd (+6 locations forward of crew mate)

▶ Had crew’s solely main ground improve for weekend
▶ Sat out first follow with O’Ward working in his automobile
▶ Certified third on the grid simply behind rival Verstappen
▶ Ran third after the beginning, then pushed off twice by Verstappen
▶ Continued behind Verstappen till pitting for arduous tyres, rejoining in third
▶ Caught as much as Leclerc till Ferrari driver’s mistake handed him second
▶ Completed second, slightly below 5s behind Sainz

Norris would have come away from Mexico comfortable together with his end result, however this was not his greatest weekend efficiency of the second half of the season. Though he was pleased with third on the grid, it’s arduous to not really feel like he ought to be beating Verstappen together with his automobile over a single lap. Though he didn’t acquire any positions within the race by passing different automobiles, that’s arduous to carry towards him within the case of Verstappen with the ‘artistic’ defensive ways the championship chief was deploying. He would have doubtless handed Leclerc ultimately late on, however didn’t need to. We’ll by no means know if he might have received the race had he not been shoved apart by Verstappen and fallen behind Leclerc.

Oscar Piastri – 5/10

Certified: seventeenth (-14 locations behind crew mate, +1.092s)
Begin: Held place
Technique: One-stop (M-H)
Completed: eighth (-6 locations behind crew mate)

▶ Ran with out ground improve supplied to crew mate
Did not progress out of Q1 for first time this season, knocked out seventeenth
▶ Ran seventeenth in early laps earlier than passing each Saubers
▶ Overtook Colapinto, Stroll and Lawson earlier than pitting for arduous tyres
▶ Rejoined thirteenth, then handed Ocon, Bottas and Gasly to sit down ninth
Handed Hulkenberg for eighth then reeled in Magnussen
▶ Unable to catch Magnussen earlier than ending eighth

Like in Austin every week prior or Zandvoort after the summer time break, Piastri was not round to issue into Norris’s combat towards Verstappen, as McLaren would have wished him to. Though his Q1 elimination was all all the way down to a single missed braking level, that’s all it takes in trendy Components 1. He managed to climb again into the factors, no less than, incomes again some credit score, nevertheless it’s arduous to not assume that Norris would have completed larger had he began in Piastri’s automobile on Sunday.

Fernando Alonso – 6/10

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, 2024
Nothing for Alonso to have a good time in his four-hundredth grand prix weekend

Certified: thirteenth (+1 place forward of crew mate, -0.126s)
Begin: +1 place
Completed: Retired (Brakes – L15)

▶ Missed media day for sickness, then sat out of FP1
▶ Eradicated from Q2 after purple flag stopping him from enhancing
▶ Misplaced a spot to crew mate at the beginning, then handed by Perez early
▶ Referred to as in to retire by crew on lap 15 because of brake issues

Alonso would have virtually actually reached Q3 had it not been for the purple flag on the finish of Q2 and we’ll by no means understand how shut he might have come to factors had he not been compelled out of the race early on. However Alonso gave the impression to be having a stable weekend, even when he had dropped behind his crew mate at the beginning of the race. Would he have stayed there? Given current type, it’s arduous to doubt him.

Lance Stroll – 6/10

Certified: 14th (-1 place behind crew mate, +0.126s)
Begin: +3 locations
Technique: One-stop (M-H)
Completed: eleventh

▶ Knocked out in Q2 after purple flag ended his last push lap
▶ Moved forward of crew mate at begin, then handed by Perez and Piastri
▶ Pitted for arduous tyres, falling to seventeenth
▶ Handed a broken Perez, then stored Lawson at bay
▶ Completed simply exterior the factors in eleventh, six seconds behind Gasly

A good displaying from Stroll, who might not have scored factors however had proven comparative tempo to his crew mate over Saturday and Sunday. In comparison with some current rounds the place Stroll has been considerably behind Alonso, he was left to combat his crew’s nook when Alonso retired and put in a good efficiency, ending inside six seconds of the factors.

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Pierre Gasly – 7/10

Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, 2024
Gasly scored Alpine’s first level since Zandvoort

Certified: eighth (+11 locations forward of crew mate, -0.468s)

Begin: -1 place
Technique: One-stop (M-H)
Completed: tenth (+3 locations forward of crew mate)

Simply reached Q3 to line up eighth on the grid
▶ Concerned in dramatic begin accident, shedding one place
▶ Ran ninth earlier than pitting for arduous tyres
▶ Handed Zhou, Ocon and Bottas however overtaken by Piastri
▶ Overcut by Hulkenberg, then ran behind him over the ultimate stint
Claimed last level in tenth

A reasonably first rate displaying from Gasly as he took the ultimate level in tenth. Though he might be argued to have inadvertently triggered the crash at the beginning, it will be harsh to penalise him for it. He had a robust qualifying and given the automobiles that completed forward of him, it will have been powerful for Alpine to have requested for way more from him on Sunday.

Esteban Ocon – 5/10

Certified: nineteenth (-11 locations behind crew mate, +0.468s)
Grid: twentieth (-12 locations behind crew mate)
Begin: +2 locations
Technique: One-stop (H-M)
Completed: thirteenth (-3 locations behind crew mate)

Couldn’t comply with crew mate into Q2, eradicated in nineteenth
▶ Began from the pit lane after altering energy unit elements
▶ Fitted arduous tyres and ran in 18th and final till Perez pitted
Handed Zhou on observe, then pitted for mediums
Caught and handed Bottas on last lap to say thirteenth

After a disappointing Saturday, Ocon managed to make up for his underwhelming qualifying with a race efficiency that was way more stable. When in free air, his race tempo was comparable together with his crew mate, who he began to catch forward after switching to mediums. By catching and passing Bottas, he no less than saved face by not ending behind a Sauber.

Alexander Albon – 5/10

Certified: ninth (+7 locations forward of crew mate, -0.369s)
Begin: + locations
Completed: Retired (Injury – L1)

Crashed in first follow after spinning into Bearman, lacking second follow because of this
Comfortably progressed into Q3 to take ninth on the grid
▶ Retired on opening lap after clashing with Tsunoda into first nook

A tough efficiency to evaluate as Albon went from a poor Friday – crashing out in follow – to a stable Saturday – qualifying ninth – to being caught up in a squeeze into the primary nook which ended his race after 1.5km. Though he deserves to lose credit score for his crash on Friday, it’s arduous to argue he didn’t make up for it in qualifying. The crash on Sunday was simply a kind of issues and so it solely feels truthful to provide him a mean grade.

Franco Colapinto – 5/10

Franco Colapinto, Williams, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, 2024
Colapinto’s penalty for Lawson conflict was harsh

Certified: sixteenth (-7 locations behind crew mate, +0.369s)
Begin: +2 locations
Technique: One-stop (H-M)
Completed: twelfth (+7 locations forward of crew mate)

Knocked out of Q1 in sixteenth
▶ Began on arduous tyres and ran in 14th in early laps
▶ Prolonged opening stint all the way in which to lap 47 earlier than pitting for mediums
Rejoined behind Lawson however earned 10s penalty for collision
▶ Completed twelfth however remained there even after penalty

Not Colapinto’s greatest weekend of his quick F1 profession to this point. Along with his crew mate reaching Q3, sixteenth was an underperformance to say the least. He confirmed first rate sufficient race tempo on a hard-medium technique, which helped earn him credit score again. Though the stewards penalised him for the Lawson conflict, it was a contentious name given how far alongside he was on the apex of flip one. The penalty didn’t have an effect on his place and it doesn’t have an effect on his rating.

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Yuki Tsunoda – 5/10

Yuki Tsunoda, RB, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, 2024
Tsunoda was much less accountable for his second crash

Certified: eleventh (+1 place forward of crew mate, -0.033s)
Begin: + locations
Completed: Retired (Crashed – L1)

▶ Acquired ‘small’ ground improve for weekend
Crashed out of Q2 on his last push lap, ending his session in eleventh
▶ Eradicated earlier than the primary nook in high-speed conflict with Albon

A troublesome weekend to gauge for Tsunoda after he lasted lower than ten seconds earlier than he was out of the race. Though he couldn’t moderately be blamed for being caught up within the accident, he might be blamed for crashing out of Q2, which can have helped safe him eleventh, paradoxically. Scoring him decrease than a ‘5’ only for crashing in Q2 feels overly harsh when he by no means acquired the chance to make up for it on Sunday.

Liam Lawson – 6/10

Certified: twelfth (-1 place behind crew mate, +0.033s)
Begin: +2 locations
Technique: Two-stop (H-M-S)
Completed: sixteenth (+4 locations forward of crew mate)

▶ Ran with out ground improve supplied to crew mate
▶ Knocked out twelfth in Q2 however compromised by purple flag
▶ Began on arduous tyres and ran tenth early on earlier than being caught by Perez
▶ Clashed with Perez at flip 4 however held place
▶ Pitted for mediums on lap 39 and rejoined seventeenth
▶ Caught as much as Stroll however then suffered entrance wing harm in conflict with Colapinto
▶ Pitted for brand new entrance wing and softs however fell to final
▶ Gained sixteenth place when Perez pitted forward the place he would end

Lawson had an eventful weekend in Mexico. It began off with lacking out on a possible Q3 look because of a purple flag attributable to his crew mate, earlier than he then clashed with Perez and Colapinto over the remainder of the race. The stewards selected to not penalise him for the Perez incident, which was truthful, however the Colapinto conflict was extra contentious. Lawson is gaining a repute for aggression, however he must be good in addition to scrappy.

Valtteri Bottas – 6/10

Valtteri Bottas, Sauber, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, 2024
A greater weekend for Bottas, however nonetheless no poiints

Certified: fifteenth (+5 locations forward of crew mate, -0.679s)
Begin: Held place
Technique: One-stop (H-M)
Completed: 14th (+1 place forward of crew mate)

Reached Q2 however knocked out slowest due to purple flag
▶ Began on hards and held place however handed by Piastri early on
▶ Ran forward of Ocon, working longest opening stint of race
▶ Pitted for mediums and rejoined nonetheless forward of Ocon
▶ Unable to maintain Ocon behind on last lap, falling to 14th at end

Bottas might be moderately glad with 14th, which speaks volumes in regards to the degree of expectations at Sauber. He might have completed one place larger if he had been in a position to maintain off Ocon on the end, nevertheless it’s arduous to be too essential of him for it. A disgrace that the purple flag in Q2 denied him a greater beginning place.

Zhou Guanyu – 5/10

Certified: twentieth (-5 locations behind crew mate, +0.679s)
Grid: nineteenth (-4 locations behind crew mate)
Begin: +3 locations
Technique: One-stop (H-M)
Completed: fifteenth (-1 place behind crew mate)

▶ Didn’t take part in first follow to permit Shwartzman to drive
Knocked out slowest in Q1 after complaining of engine reducing
▶ Began on hards and gained three locations with contact forward to sit down sixteenth at begin
▶ Handed by Piastri, then misplaced one other place to Ocon
▶ Pitted for mediums and fell to final, coping with excessive brake temperatures
▶ Moved forward of Lawson and Perez once they pitted late to complete fifteenth

One other weekend of Zhou failing to face out, nevertheless it was additionally not his worst efficiency by any means. As soon as once more he was simply gradual in qualifying in comparison with his crew mate, however his race efficiency was compromised by repeatedly excessive brake temperatures. For that, it’s arduous to be overly essential of him, particularly when the Sauber remains to be on the backside of the sector.

Nico Hulkenberg – 6/10

Certified: tenth (-3 locations behind crew mate, +0.479s)
Begin: +2 locations
Technique: One-stop (M-H)
Completed: ninth (-2 locations behind crew mate)

▶ Reached Q3 however took tenth on the grid, slower than crew mate
▶ Gained two locations at the beginning passing Gasly and Albon
▶ Ran behind crew mate earlier than pitting earlier than arduous tyres a lap earlier than him
Handed Zhou, Ocon, Bottas and Colapinto to maneuver again to eighth
Overtaken by Piastri however completed within the factors in ninth

One other factors end for Hulkenberg as he continues to assist his crew rack up factors at this significant stage of the season. Nonetheless, he was slower than his crew mate throughout the weekend and didn’t profit from his Q3 alternative. Within the race, nevertheless, he was stable. Though as soon as extra, not as fast as his crew mate.

Kevin Magnussen – 7/10

Kevin Magnussen, Haas, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, 2024
Magnussen out-ran recovering Piastri

Certified: seventh (+3 locations forward of crew mate, -0.479s)
Begin: Held place
Technique: One-stop (M-H)
Completed: seventh (+2 locations forward of crew mate)

Reached Q3, then out-qualified crew mate by half a second in seventh
▶ Held seventh and ran forward of crew mate and behind Hamilton
▶ Pitted for arduous tyres and emerged forward of crew mate
Handed Ocon, Bottas and Colapinto to maneuver again to seventh
Saved tempo with Verstappen and remained out of attain of Piastri to complete seventh

On one hand, might Magnussen realistically have carried out any higher this weekend than he achieved in Mexico? ‘Better of the remainder’ in qualifying, ‘better of the remainder’ within the grand prix. He by no means misplaced a place within the race and executed his crew’s technique effectively, passing automobiles when he needed to. He even stored an honest tempo relative to Verstappen forward of him and was the sooner of the 2 Haas drivers all weekend. He appeared to maximise his automobile’s efficiency throughout the weekend, however his place was doubtless flattered by the likes of Perez and Piastri beginning up to now down.

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Excluding drivers with fewer than 5 begins

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