2021 Bahrain GP - Drivers Ranked

LEWIS HAMILTON - MERCEDES AMG

QUALI: 2nd

RACE: 1st

A

Fantastic drive to match the superb strategy Mercedes had him on showcasing his tyre saving skill once again. Only reason for not getting an A+ is due to the result of his drive being effect by the stewards failure to clearly monitor track limits.

VALTTERI BOTTAS - MERCEDES AMG

QUALI: 3rd

RACE: 3rd

C

A poor start to the race once again but showed solid pace afterwards. Any chance of fighting for the win was removed when he had a very slow pitstop. Podium was a solid result but expected with Perez out of the picture.

MAX VERSTAPPEN - RED BULL RACING

QUALI: 1st

RACE: 2nd

A

A perfect race week up until the actual race. The car was good and Max was on form. However, costly mistakes in the race from the team and the strategists made Max's job of winning far more difficult than it should've been. Then the biggest error of all was where Verstappen let Hamilton back through after passing him off track. This ruined the tyres by going over the marbles and threw away the chance of getting back at Lewis. This was a real missed opportunity for Max and Red Bull, but the overall weekend still warrants an 'A'.

SERGIO PEREZ - RED BULL RACING

QUALI: 11th

RACE: 5th

A

After a terrible qualifying and breaking down on the way to the grid resulting in a pitlane start. Sergio made a superb recovery to 5th in the race pulling off multiple superb moves however was this all because of how good the Red Bull was? As it's the first race, I shall be nice. A solid 'A'.

LANDO NORRIS - MCLAREN

QUALI: 7th

RACE: 4th

A+

Driver of the Day for me. Nobody expected Lando to beat Ricciardo in Bahrain even though it was Daniels first race. He had a solid qualifying and then got the overtakes done early on at the start clinically. He then had good pace throughout and got the best possible result for McLaren on the day. A new look Norris with less joking around is one for drivers to fear.

DANIEL RICCIARDO - MCLAREN

QUALI: 6th

RACE: 7th

C+

Difficult one to judge as we don't know how long it will take him to settle in the team. Solid points on his debut but quite a distance behind Norris at the end.

LANCE STROLL - ASTON MARTIN

QUALI: 10th

RACE: 10th

B

I gave Lance a C on the TFR podcast, but thinking about it now, that was very harsh. It was an impressive unnoticed drive from Stroll who actually looked more like a team leader for Aston Martin. Finishing in the top 10 could be difficult this season for Aston looking at their pace but time will tell.

SEBASTAIN VETTEL - ASTON MARTIN

QUALI: 20th

RACE: DNF

E

An awful start to Vettel's career at Aston Martin. Caught out in qualifying by speeding under yellow flags picking up a grid penalty for himself to compound being knocked out in Q1. Then in the race he was solid and put up a good fight with Alonso and Sainz and showed good consistency, however Germany 2018 onwards Seb Vettel resumed when he pummeled into to the back of Ocon going into T1. This meant even more penalty points picked for the x4 Champ and a terrible start to the season as he only managed to beat Mick Schumacher of those who finished. He needs to perform in the next race, Big Time.

ESTEBAN OCON - ALPINE

QUALI: 16th

RACE: 13th

E

You would almost think he wasn't in the race apart from when Vettel drove into him. Resoundingly beaten by Alonso, almost embarrassingly. Really bad from the Frenchman when you consider this is his make or break season.

FERNANDO ALONSO - ALPINE

QUALI: 9th

RACE: DNF

B+

A very impressive return to F1 for Alonso. I will admit myself I thought he was finished, but if this type of Alonso rocks up each week and gets points for Alpine, he can stay for a good few more years. He very much out performed the car and somehow made it into Q3 in Quali. He was denied points in the race after retiring in the pits due to a lodged sandwich wrapper in the airbox. Very good stuff from Fernando, can he keep it up?

CHARLES LECLERC - FERRARI

QUALI: 4th

RACE: 6th

B+

Amazing qualifying, outperforming the car to start in 4th. Once again showing how good he really is at 1 lap pace. He had a brilliant start and was ahead of Bottas and challenged Max and Lewis at the safety car restart, but that was as good as it got for Charles as he slipped back down to where the Ferrari belongs, in the battle with McLaren, which he lost to Norris. But easily beat Sainz and was a solid performance overall.

CARLOS SAINZ - FERRARI

QUALI: 8th

RACE: 8th

C+

A solid drive with an interesting approach of taking it more 'easy' on his Ferrari debut. Way off Leclerc but like Ricciardo, hard to judge as he is probably still settling in.

PIERRE GASLY - ALPHA TAURI

QUALI: 5th

RACE: DNF

D+

Brilliant qualifying from the Frenchman however a silly mistake at the start taking off his front wing destroyed his race. Definitely a 'What if' GP for Pierre as his pace was very strong in quali. But that's not where the points are scored.

YUKI TSUNODA - ALPHA TAURI

QUALI: 13th

RACE: 9th

B

An impressive start to Yuki's F1 career. He showed pace in quali however got knocked in Q2 but made up for it after an aggressive attacking display of overtaking in the race.

KIMI RAIKKONEN - ALFA ROMEO

QUALI: 14th

RACE: 11th

C

Most likely the best possible result for Alfa Romeo and Kimi, the car looks quicker than last season, but it will require dnfs or problems for drivers above for them to score points this season.

ANTONIO GIOVINAZZI - ALFA ROMEO

QUALI: 12th

RACE: 12th

C

Very similar to Kimi. Job done but no points to show for it.

MICK SCHUMACHER - HAAS

QUALI: 18th

RACE: 16th

D+

An early spin in the race was the only bad moment for Mick on his debut. The car clearly is a nightmare to drive and also has no pace. It'll be a season for learning.

NIKITA MAZEPIN - HAAS

QUALI: 19th

RACE: DNF

Z

I'll keep this short. The worst debut in F1 that I can remember. Many spins and for your debut to only last 3 corners because of your own mistake. Just terrible, he has a lot of work to do on track to deserve a place on the grid.

GEORGE RUSSELL - WILLIAMS

QUALI: 15th

RACE: 14th

C

Similar to the Alfa's, it was the best he could do today. The Williams is in a fight with Haas and it already looks like they will win.

NICHOLAS LATIFI - WILLIAMS

QUALI: 17th

RACE: DNF

D

Like Ocon, disappeared in the race and once again being out-qualified by his teammate.

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By Cameron Hall