A new season of Formula 1 brings the opportunity for Edd Straw to assess the performances of the drivers. In the season-opening Bahrain GP, Straw ranks the drivers based on their performance in qualifying and the grand prix. The ranking takes into account various factors such as pace, racecraft, consistency, and avoiding key mistakes. It is important to note that the ranking reflects the performance of each driver during a specific weekend and does not consider their overall abilities. The ranking will vary significantly from weekend to weekend due to the different performance potential of each car and external factors that can influence the outcome of the race.
Verstappen had a textbook performance in Bahrain, battling through practice to secure pole position and controlling the race with ease. He demonstrated his quality as a driver and continued his strong form from the previous year.
Russell exceeded expectations in qualifying, securing third place on the grid. Despite car issues and the pace of the Ferraris, he managed to finish in fifth place. It was a strong start to an important season for him.
Alonso’s qualifying performance suggested that the Aston Martin was better than it actually was. As a result, he regressed during the race and finished in a lonely ninth place, which was the best the car’s pace allowed.
Leclerc showed great pace in qualifying, setting the fastest time in Q2. However, small mistakes and brake temperature issues compromised his race, and he ended up in fourth place instead of second.
Despite a disappointing Q3 performance, Sainz had a decent race, losing a place at the start but maintaining a consistent pace. He finished in third place, which was a respectable result considering the car’s disadvantage.
Perez was satisfied with the stability of the car compared to the previous year. Although he could have been closer to Verstappen in qualifying, he utilized the pace of the car well and secured second place in the race.
Zhou narrowly missed out on reaching Q3 but had a strong race, gaining positions through a proactive pitstop strategy. He finished in 11th place, showing good execution in the season opener.
Stroll faced unexpected challenges in qualifying when he was spun by Hulkenberg at Turn 1. However, he recovered well during the race, utilizing the undercut strategy to finish in 10th place.
Norris had the potential to qualify higher but missed out on a stronger lap in Q3. In the race, he lacked the pace to overtake Russell and finished behind him.
Albon was content with his qualifying performance, considering the limitations of the Williams car. However, cooling issues prevented him from making significant progress in the race.
Tsunoda’s performance was impressive, narrowly missing out on reaching Q3. However, strategy decisions hindered his progress, and late-race antics affected his ranking.
Piastri had a solid performance, staying within a tenth of Norris in qualifying. He would have finished seventh if not for a pitstop incident and finished as the second-best McLaren driver.
Ocon had a conventional weekend, performing as expected in qualifying and running a standard strategy in the race. However, the lack of pace in the car limited his chances of achieving a higher result.
Gasly faced misfortune in qualifying, resulting in a gap between him and his teammate. He had a strong race, executing a three-stop strategy and chasing down his teammate in the final stint.
Hulkenberg showed promise in qualifying and had good race pace. However, a misjudgment at the first corner caused damage to his car, preventing him from challenging for points.
Hamilton struggled in qualifying, underachieving due to a setup issue. Cooling concerns affected his race, limiting his chances of making progress.
Ricciardo had a mixed weekend, with his performance in the race overshadowed by a late-race incident with Tsunoda. He struggled to find a comfortable rhythm with the car.
Bottas had a strong start to the race but was involved in a collision that damaged his front wing. A wheelnut problem during a pitstop further hindered his performance.
Magnussen lacked the pace in qualifying but had a solid race, keeping faster cars behind him. His performance highlighted the progress made since last year’s tire issues.
Sargeant struggled with tire temperature in qualifying, resulting in a significant gap to his teammate. An electronics problem during the race forced him to retire early.
Overall, the Bahrain GP provided an opportunity to assess the performances of the drivers, with some exceeding expectations and others facing challenges.