In the exciting Australian Grand Prix, which was full of drama and excitement, Ferrari secured a one-two finish while Red Bull struggled. The race also saw a Mercedes car spin out on the final lap and a penalty for a two-time champion due to dangerous driving. This race has been the most eventful of the 2024 Formula 1 season so far.
Now, let’s evaluate the drivers’ performances and rank them from best to worst based on various criteria such as pace, racing ability, consistency, and avoiding crucial errors. It is important to note that this ranking reflects their performance throughout the entire weekend, including qualifying, which sets the foundation for the race. It is not a comprehensive ranking of their overall skills as drivers. The ranking will vary significantly from weekend to weekend due to each car’s different performance potential and external factors beyond the drivers’ control.
Carlos Sainz showed exceptional skill and composure in Australia, especially considering he had just recovered from an appendectomy. He outperformed his Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc, in qualifying, demonstrating better adaptability to the challenging C5 Pirelli tires. Although a small mistake in turns 9/10 during qualifying cost him pole position, his performance in the race was flawless.
Yuki Tsunoda showcased his talent by outperforming his Red Bull teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, throughout the weekend. Tsunoda efficiently qualified, reaching Q3 for the second time this season with impressive pace. He then had a clean and consistent race, although he couldn’t catch Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin.
Lando Norris had a weekend of growth, overcoming balance issues during practice to secure a place on the second row in qualifying. He had a solid race, briefly losing third position to his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, but ultimately regaining it without team orders. This resulted in Norris achieving his first podium of the 2024 season.
Max Verstappen faced potential challenges due to Red Bull’s difficulty in warming up the front tires and the unpredictable soft compound. However, he managed to secure pole position in Q3, which was unexpected. Unfortunately, his race was interrupted by a brake issue that was beyond his control.
Valtteri Bottas initially struggled with confidence in the rear of the Sauber after a high-speed spin during FP1. However, he regained his form in qualifying and had the edge over his teammate. Bottas was on course to score points, but encountered a wheel nut issue during his first pit stop, costing him valuable time.
Charles Leclerc’s weekend started to unravel during final practice, as he struggled to get the tires to work on a single lap. He faced a quarter-second deficit to his Ferrari teammate, Sainz, in qualifying and also had difficulties with the tires during the race. As a result, he couldn’t match Sainz’s mastery with the tires and had to settle for second place.
Oscar Piastri showed good pace but made too many mistakes during qualifying when it mattered most. Although he managed to overtake Norris with a well-timed pit stop, even without team orders he would have fallen back again. Overall, it was a decent race for Piastri.
Nico Hulkenberg had a disappointing Saturday due to issues during qualifying. However, he took advantage of the Virtual Safety Car period during the race to gain positions and finished ninth with the help of his Haas teammate, Kevin Magnussen.
Esteban Ocon celebrated making it to Q2 as the slowest car on the grid, but his race was compromised by a brake duct issue that forced an early pit stop. Despite the limited potential of his car, he did his best to gain positions.
Kevin Magnussen had a solid performance in qualifying, surpassing Ocon’s Alpine to secure a spot in Q2. During the race, he drove well and finished in 10th place, benefiting from George Russell’s crash and also playing as a team player by allowing Hulkenberg to overtake him.
Sergio Perez was unable to capitalize on Verstappen’s retirement, partly due to a grid penalty for impeding Hulkenberg during qualifying. Red Bull did not have the same race pace advantage as in previous races, making this a challenging weekend for Perez.
Lance Stroll had a consistent and efficient weekend in Australia, although he lost a better position in qualifying due to a moment at turn 9/10. He had a clean race and finished in a solid sixth place, which became fifth after Fernando Alonso’s penalty.
George Russell coped better than his Mercedes teammate, Lewis Hamilton, with the car’s limitations. He struggled with the soft tires during qualifying, but his race was going well until a collision with Alonso on the penultimate lap, resulting in a serious crash.
Lewis Hamilton had difficulties with the Mercedes car, describing it as unstable in windy conditions. He almost made it to Q3 and retired from the race due to an oil pressure issue.
Fernando Alonso had a weekend full of small errors, including floor damage during practice, a trip through the gravel during qualifying, and a penalty for obstructing Russell during the race. It was an unusually confusing weekend for Alonso.
Pierre Gasly struggled to find pace throughout the weekend, battling the lack of pace from the Alpine. He couldn’t make it to Q2 and received a five-second penalty for crossing the white line at the pit exit.
Zhou Guanyu’s weekend was marred by a small error during qualifying that resulted in damage to his front wing. He started from the back of the grid and faced more challenges during the race, including a long pit stop due to a gearbox issue.
Daniel Ricciardo was puzzled by the lack of pace compared to his Red Bull teammate, Tsunoda. He couldn’t make it to Q2 and couldn’t make up positions during the race due to the car’s performance limitations.
Alex Albon did his best to extract performance from the Williams car, but didn’t have enough pace to secure a points finish. His crash in FP1 had significant consequences, leading his teammate, Logan Sargeant, to be unable to race.
Logan Sargeant gave up his car for Albon, resulting in him being classified as a non-starter for this race. He showed promising pace during practice, but damaged his tires during FP2, which limited his performance.
Overall, the Australian Grand Prix provided an exciting and unpredictable race, with drivers showcasing their skills and facing various challenges.
© 2024
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