Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League
The rain that fell during the Canadian Grand Prix made it the most exciting race of the 2024 Formula 1 season so far. It also provided the most difficult challenge for the drivers. Who did well and who struggled in Montreal? Here is Edd Straw’s assessment.
The rankings are based on the performance of the 20 drivers throughout the weekend. Factors such as speed, racecraft, consistency, and avoiding errors are taken into account. It is also important to note that these rankings only reflect each driver’s performance in a specific weekend and can vary significantly from one race to another.
Verstappen: Started 2nd, Finished 1st
Verstappen had an exceptional performance, aside from a brief off-track moment. He handled the challenging conditions well in both qualifying and the race. Although the timing of the first safety car helped him take the lead, he was also the cleanest among the leaders.
Verdict: Made a significant difference once again.
Hamilton: Started 3rd, Finished 2nd
Hamilton had a good lead early on, but the first safety car ruined his chances of victory, pushing him back to third place. He recovered to second place but was frustrated at not being able to win. His only major mistake was a brief off-track excursion during his second stint.
Verdict: Could have easily won.
Albon: Started 10th, Did not finish
Albon struggled with the performance of the Williams car over the curbs but managed to qualify for Q3 with an exceptional lap. He was fighting for eighth place when he was hit by Carlos Sainz. He deserved points but was denied due to the incident.
Verdict: Deserved points, but was unlucky.
Alonso: Started 6th, Finished 6th
After two disappointing weekends, Alonso returned to form in Canada. He was among the leaders, chasing the top three teams. His performance in qualifying and in the race was strong, resulting in a sixth place finish.
Verdict: Maximized his result.
Piastri: Started 4th, Finished 5th
Piastri finished fifth in a race where his teammate at McLaren had the chance to win. He drove well, but was pushed off the podium due to dry conditions and the tire strategy of the Mercedes drivers under the safety car.
Verdict: Followed Norris closely throughout the race.
Russell: Started 1st, Finished 3rd
Russell showed both his talent and his mistakes during the weekend in Canada. He secured an exceptional pole position and led the race in the first 20 laps. However, he made many mistakes and struggled with tire management. Despite this, he still managed to finish third.
Verdict: Fast, but inconsistent in the race.
Ricciardo: Started 5th, Finished 8th
Ricciardo had a challenging weekend, starting with a penalty for a false start caused by a clutch issue. Despite feeling like the race was slipping away, he made small mistakes and fought for minor points. He finished eighth, gaining a position when his teammate Tsunoda spun out.
Verdict: His best performance of the season.
Gasly: Started 15th, Finished 9th
Gasly did a good job reaching Q2 and could have finished in a better position if not for limited opportunities. He had a spin early in the race, but continued to show good pace in intermediate conditions. He managed to score points after being allowed to pass his teammate Ocon.
Verdict: Made the most of his car’s limitations.
Leclerc: Started in 11th, Did not finish
Leclerc had a difficult weekend, struggling with grip issues in qualifying and losing power early in the race. Despite these setbacks, he fought for points in wet conditions but lost performance as the track dried. An early switch to slick tires further hampered his chances, leading to his retirement.
Verdict: Showed determination in the early stages.
Stroll: Started in 9th, Finished in 8th
Stroll’s qualifying was affected by a minor alignment issue caused by a collision with the wall. However, he had a clean race and finished just one position behind his teammate Alonso, helping Aston Martin achieve their best score of the season.
Verdict: A solid weekend with no mistakes.
Ocon: Started in 18th, Finished in 10th
Ocon struggled to qualify for Q2 and had a wastegate issue before the race. Despite these setbacks, he had a good race and was frustrated at not being able to recover his position after being overtaken by his teammate Gasly in an attempt to pass Ricciardo.
Verdict: Showed anger but had a strong race.
Hamilton: Started in 7th, Finished in 4th
Hamilton qualified behind his teammate Russell and had a challenging race, making several mistakes. Despite this, he had the opportunity for a better result and performed better than he himself thought.
Verdict: Better than he thought.
Magnussen: Started in 14th, Finished in 12th
Magnussen did not extract the maximum performance from his car in qualifying, but made up for it by starting on wet tires and moving up to fourth place. However, a slow pit stop and an early switch to slick tires allowed his teammate Hulkenberg to overtake him.
Verdict: Highlighted by a good start.
Bottas: Started 19th, Finished 13th
Bottas qualified decently considering the limitations of the Sauber car. He did his best to fight for a point, but did not have enough pace to make significant progress.
Verdict: Fought a futile battle.
Hulkenberg: Started 17th, Finished 11th
Hulkenberg faced aerodynamic issues that affected his car’s performance in qualifying. Nevertheless, he did a good job staying close to scoring a point, considering the pace of the Haas and the challenging conditions.
Verdict: Fought despite aerodynamic problems.
Tsunoda: Started 8th, Finished 14th
Tsunoda showed promising pace in qualifying, but a mistake cost him a better position. He made a tactical error during the race, spinning and losing ninth place.
Verdict: Unusual mistake.
Sainz: Started 12th, Did not finish
Sainz faced similar qualifying problems as his teammate Leclerc, but had a healthier car in the race. However, he made contact with Bottas, damaging his front wing. He was unable to climb above 13th place before crashing into the wall at Turn 6.
Verdict: Errors added to Ferrari’s difficulties.
Sargeant: Started 13th, Did not finish
Sargeant’s pace was decent, but he made mistakes early in the race, dropping to last place. He eventually crashed, ruining what could have been a promising weekend.
Verdict: Disastrous race after a promising start.
Zhou: Started in 20th, Finished in 15th
Zhou struggled with accidents during practice, which affected his confidence and performance in qualifying. He finished at the back of the pack but managed to avoid problems and reach the end.
Verdict: Lacked confidence in the car.
Perez: Started in 16th, Did not finish
Perez had a tough weekend, struggling to get the rear tires to work in qualifying and suffering front wing damage in a collision. He was unable to make significant progress in the race and ended up hitting the wall.
Verdict: A disappointing weekend.
© 2024
Football has always been a sport that arouses passions and intense emotions in fans. Recently, a fierce rivalry between two teams has caught everyone’s attention. Team A and Team B faced each other in an electrifying game last Saturday, which ended in a draw. The players showed a lot of determination on the field, leaving the fans eager for the next match.
The highlight of the game was player X, who scored a spectacular goal at the 30th minute of the second half. His skill and precision impressed everyone, and he became the hero of the fans. However, player Y from Team B also had a brilliant performance, defending several dangerous plays and securing the tie on the scoreboard.
In addition, the coach of Team A made some tactical changes during the game, surprising everyone. His strategies paid off and contributed to the team’s good performance. On the other hand, the coach of Team B kept the same formation throughout the match, showing confidence in the ability of his players.
Fans showed up in force at the stadium, creating a vibrant and contagious atmosphere. The rivalry between the two fan bases was evident, but there were no serious incidents. Security was reinforced and fans were able to enjoy the game peacefully.
Now, all eyes turn to the next match between the two teams. The expectations are high and the rivalry only grows with each game. Fans are eager to see who will come out victorious in this intense competition. It will be an unmissable match!
There is no doubt that soccer is a passionate sport, capable of uniting and moving people. The game between team A and team B was just another proof of that. Now, we eagerly await the next showdown and cheer for our beloved team. May the best team win!
