Formula 1 Power Rankings: Verstappen Tops the Chart after Sao Paulo Masterclass
After a thrilling Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Formula 1 fans are still reeling from the action-packed weekend. But who else impressed our judges apart from the masterful Max Verstappen, who topped the Formula 1 standings with his win? Let’s dive into the latest Power Rankings leaderboard.
How it Works
Our five-judge panel assesses each driver after every Grand Prix and scores them out of 10 according to their performance across the weekend, taking into account their machinery. The scores are then averaged to produce a race score, which is tallied up across the season on our overall Power Rankings Leaderboard.
Verstappen’s Masterclass
Verstappen’s win at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix marked a stunning recovery from 17th on the grid, cementing his position at the top of the Formula 1 standings. The Dutch driver’s performance in the relentless rain was nothing short of phenomenal, and our judges were impressed.
Ocon’s Impressive Showing
Esteban Ocon’s weekend started on a difficult note, but the Frenchman came alive when the rain arrived. He qualified an impressive fourth and briefly led the Grand Prix, ultimately finishing second. Ocon’s performance was a remarkable return for him and Alpine, given their on and off-track challenges this season.
Lawson’s Strong Start
Liam Lawson underlined Red Bull’s strong pace in the wet conditions, qualifying fifth and building on his strong start to his F1 return. Although he slipped back in the race, Lawson still managed to add points to the board.
Bottas’ Determined Display
Valtteri Bottas did everything in his power to try and score Kick Sauber’s first point of the season. The Finn’s determined display in the main qualifying session put him in contention for the race, but he ultimately finished 13th.
Piastri’s Up-and-Down Weekend
Oscar Piastri’s weekend in Sao Paulo started strong, with a stunning effort to grab pole position for the Sprint race. However, things got more challenging for the Australian as the rain fell, and he could only manage eighth in qualifying.
Bearman’s Impressive Stand-in Performance
Ollie Bearman, standing in for the unwell Kevin Magnussen at Haas, impressed in the dry but struggled in the wet. After confidently out-pacing experienced team mate Nico Hulkenberg en route to Q3 in Sprint Qualifying, he was knocked out in Q1 on Sunday morning and then had an incident-filled race.
Missing Out
Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso just missed out on a top 10 Power Rankings spot, despite showing flashes of pace in the wet conditions.
Formula 1 Schedule: What’s Next?
The Formula 1 calendar moves on to the next race, with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix set to take place on November 20. Stay tuned for the latest Formula 1 news and updates on the Formula 1 schedule and standings.
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