Driver Ratings: Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Image: Reuters

Charles Leclerc (DNF)
Leclerc had a slight upper hand over Sainz in qualifying but faced cooling issues. His promising start for the race ended prematurely due to an engine problem during the formation lap, leading to a DNS. Rating: 7/10 

Kevin Magnussen (DNF)
Magnussen, starting 12th, was involved in an initial crash, which concluded his race early. Despite a fair qualifying performance, his race day ended before he could show his competitive pace. Rating: 2/10 

Alex Albon (DNF)
Albon made it to Q2 but faced a challenging race, finishing out of the points. The Williams' lack of pace made for a tough weekend, culminating in a midfield finish. Rating: 5/10 

Zhou Guanyu (DNF)
Zhou struggled in a less competitive car, finishing behind Bottas in the sprint and retiring with engine issues in the race. His weekend was a fight from the back with limited impact. Rating: 5/10 

Valtteri Bottas (DNF)
Despite a slow car, Bottas outperformed his teammate and managed to reach SQ2. Cooling issues forced his retirement, but his drive had the makings of a point-scoring finish. Rating: 7/10 

George Russell (DNF)
Russell grappled with the car's limitations and a grid penalty, resulting in a DNF. He had a better Saturday compared to Hamilton but couldn't translate it into Sunday success. Rating: 5/10 

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Oscar Piastri (P14)
Piastri’s race was affected by an ambitious move and a first-corner hit, resulting in a lap-down finish. His evident speed was overshadowed by execution errors throughout the weekend. Rating: 5/10 

Daniel Ricciardo (P13)
Close to Tsunoda's pace, Ricciardo finished 13th after debris from a start crash damaged his car. Starting a lap down, he managed to finish ahead of a few competitors but missed out on points. Rating: 5/10 

Nico Hulkenberg (P12)
Hulkenberg, slightly edging his teammate in the Haas, survived an opening lap melee to finish 12th. His race was a struggle for pace, yet he managed to stay clear of any further incidents. Rating: 4/10 

Logan Sargeant (P11)
Sargeant, still acclimating to F1, couldn’t advance from 19th, finishing 11th after a mistake in qualifying. His performance during the race showed glimpses of potential despite a challenging weekend. Rating: 4/10 

Esteban Ocon (P10)
Ocon's weekend was compromised by a crash in the sprint and tyre degradation in the race, finishing 10th. Despite pacing close to Gasly early on, he couldn't match his teammate's result. Rating: 6/10 

Yuki Tsunoda (P9)
A solid qualifying was marred by an off-track excursion, relegating Tsunoda to 9th. Aggressive moves showed spirit but ultimately limited his finishing position. Rating: 7/10 

Lewis Hamilton (P8)
Despite starting 5th and gaining an early advantage on Sunday, Hamilton faced tyre degradation, finishing 8th. His performance outdid his teammate Russell, yet Mercedes' challenges capped his potential. Rating: 6/10 

Pierre Gasly (P7)
Gasly ascended from 15th to 7th, marking it as one of his best races this year. He managed his tyres well, keeping competitive pace and finishing strong against Mercedes. Rating: 8/10 

Carlos Sainz (P6)
Despite clutch issues, Sainz managed to finish 6th, overtaking both Mercedes. He was consistently slower than Leclerc but capitalized on strategy and tyre management. Rating: 6/10 

Lance Stroll (P5)
Stroll rebounded from recent difficulties, out-qualifying Alonso and driving a clean race to finish 5th. His strong qualifying in tricky conditions set him up for a weekend that would restore some much-needed confidence. Rating: 8/10 

Sergio Perez (P4)
Perez showed significant improvement, driving from 9th to 4th, just shy of the podium. Qualifying setbacks didn’t deter him as he delivered a strong sprint and race performance. Rating: 6/10 

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Fernando Alonso (P3)
Alonso showcased a strategic mastery to move up from 4th to clinch 3rd place, barely outpacing Perez. His resourceful driving on Sunday compensated for the sprint’s mishaps, securing a well-deserved podium. Rating: 10/10 

Lando Norris (P2)
Norris overcame qualifying frustrations to leap from 6th to 2nd, showcasing his racecraft. Although he couldn’t surpass Verstappen, his dual second-place finishes underscored a strong performance. Rating: 9/10 

Max Verstappen (P1)
Starting at the front, Verstappen led a near-perfect race, with only minor issues during the sprint. He maintained control throughout the weekend, staving off Norris’s challenge to take the win. Rating: 9/10