Driver Ratings: Austin GP

At the Austin Grand Prix, a chess match of strategy unfolded on the tarmac, highlighting teams' tactical skills alongside the drivers. Max Verstappen, Red Bull's ace, clinched his 50th career victory in a race that demanded as much mental agility as driving precision. While Verstappen's triumph marked a personal milestone, the Grand Prix itself was a testament to the growing importance of strategy in modern Formula 1 racing. 

Mercedes, in particular, displayed a noteworthy upturn in performance. Although they faced a setback with Lewis Hamilton's disqualification, the team's overall pace and strategic decisions have noticeably sharpened, narrowing the gap with their perennial rivals, Red Bull. This intensifying competition underscores the blend of driver skill and team strategy, setting the stage for an electrifying season climax.    

As the dust settles in Austin, we delve into individual performances with our driver ratings, examining not just the raw speed, but also the strategic play and resilience each racer demonstrated on this demanding circuit. 

Image: AP

Max Verstappen – 9 

Verstappen showcased unusual patience starting from P6, strategically overtaking and managing brake issues to secure victory despite difficulties with his car. 

Lando Norris – 9 

Norris led for 21 laps after an excellent start but couldn't match Verstappen's pace. His choice of hard tyres late in the race allowed Hamilton to overtake. However, he clinched another podium and was promoted to P2 after Hamilton's disqualification. 

Carlos Sainz – 8 

Sainz achieved a surprisingly high finish thanks to Ferrari's successful tyre strategy, although he couldn't catch Norris. He later secured a podium due to Hamilton’s disqualification. 

Sergio Perez – 5 

Perez had another disappointing race, questioning why he's not as fast as Verstappen in the same car. His P4 finish, aided by Hamilton’s disqualification, was considered subpar for a Red Bull driver. 

George Russell – 6 

Russell struggled with track limits during his 100th race, resulting in a forgettable performance compared to his teammate's pace. 

Pierre Gasly – 7 

Gasly had a solid race, starting seventh and finishing eighth, which was deemed the best outcome for him. He seeks to continue his competitive performance against Stroll. 

Lance Stroll – 8 

Despite starting from the pit lane, Stroll secured a commendable P9 finish, although he needs to improve his pit lane starts. His performance wasn't enough to prevent McLaren from overtaking Aston Martin in the standings. 

Yuki Tsunoda – 9 

Tsunoda broke his streak by finishing in the points and earning his first career fastest lap extra point. 

Alex Albon – 7 

Albon received a penalty for track limits violations but still managed to score points after disqualifications ahead of him. 

Image: AFP

Logan Sargeant – 7 

Sargeant scored his first F1 point in a peculiar way, finishing P12 before moving up due to disqualifications. 

Nico Hulkenberg – 6 

Hulkenberg had a decent race, finishing P13 from a pit start, but Haas hopes for better results with new upgrades. 

Valtteri Bottas – 4 

Bottas struggled with a lack of car pace, resulting in a disappointing 14th place finish. 

Zhou Guanyu – 4 

Zhou, like his teammate, had a poor performance, starting 12th and finishing 15th before disqualifications, marking Alfa’s 12th race without points. 

Kevin Magnussen – 3 

Magnussen languished at the back throughout the race, his highlight being a duel with Sargeant for the last position. 

Daniel Ricciardo – 4 

Ricciardo's race was hindered by debris damaging his car, leading to a last-place finish among runners. 

Lewis Hamilton – 9 

Hamilton delivered a stellar performance, undone only by his team's strategic hesitation. He nearly caught Verstappen but was later disqualified for excessive plank wear, a team error. 

Charles Leclerc – 6 

Leclerc lost positions early and a one-stop strategy proved costly, leading to his instruction to let Sainz pass and eventual disqualification for excessive plank wear. 

Fernando Alonso – 7 

Alonso, comfortable with his car's setup, was set for a top-10 finish until floor damage led to his first DNF of the season. 

Image: Getty Images

Oscar Piastri – 6 

Piastri’s promising race ended early due to a collision with Ocon after an impressive overtake, leading to his retirement. 

Esteban Ocon – 3 

After being overtaken, Ocon collided with Piastri, causing significant damage and ending his race prematurely.