Driver Rankings Australian Grand Prix 2019

20. Carlos Sainz  DNF                McLaren

Carlos Sainz qualified eighteenth, not the best Qualifying from him. But he said that he couldn't complete his fastest lap because Robert Kubica went off. And he had to slow down. In the race, he made up a few places, but at lap 11 his engine failed. And he had to retire the car. It wasn't a good weekend but he had much bad luck.

Rate: 6/10

19. Daniel Ricciardo  DNF                  Renault

Daniel Ricciardo qualified twelfth, not a very good start-position, but also not bad. At the start, Ricciardo went on the outside of Sergio Pérez, but he came on to the grass and it was too bumpy and he lost his front wing. He came into the pits for a new front wing. But at lap 31 they retired the car because there was too much damage. Not a good weekend for Daniel Ricciardo at his home Grand Prix.

Rate: 6/10

18. Romain Grosjean  DNF                         Haas  

Romain Grosjean had a very good Qualifying, he qualified sixth, he was best of the rest. His start was also good, he lost 1 position to his team-mate. But a good start. Then at lap 32, he had to stop the car because the wheel came off. A shame for Haas, because last year it also went wrong at pit-stop, but then also with his team-mate Kevin Magnussen. A good drive from Romain but unfortunately he didn't finish the race because his wheel came off.  

Rate: 7.5/10

17. Robert Kubica                           Williams 

Robert Kubica had a bad return to Formula 1, he qualified last. With a gap of 1.7 seconds to the nineteenth place, where George Russel started. This was also because he got off the track, and got a puncture. His start was okay, but Williams just didn't have the pace. And he finished 3 laps behind the winner. It was a bad weekend for Williams. 

Rate: 5.5/10

16. George Russell                             Williams 

George Russell his debut wasn't what he had hoped for, but that's not his fault because Williams just didn't have the pace all weekend. He qualified nineteenth, with a gap of 1.3 seconds to Carlos Sainz, who qualified eighteenth. This is, of course, a big gap. His start was okay but he finished sixteenth, 2 laps behind the winner. He didn't make any mistakes at his debut, so he did a good job. 

Rate: 6/10

15. Antonio Giovinazzi      Alfa Romeo 

Alfa Romeo had an impressive start to the 2019 season. Their pace was good. Giovinazzi qualified fourteenth, which is good on his debut. In the race, he had a fight with other cars in the midfield, but he came out last. He finished fifteenth, which is not bad. I think he can improve during the season, and I think that Alfa Romeo has the pace. 

Rate: 7/10

14. Alexander Albon                    Toro Rosso 

His first race ever in a Formula 1 car, and he did a great job. He qualified thirteenth, which is pretty good for a first Qualifying. He had a great battle with Giovinazzi and he finished fourteenth. A good debut for Alexander Albon. 

Rate: 7/10

13. Sergio Pérez                                 Racing Point 

Sergio Pérez had a good Qualifying, he qualified tenth. In the race, he was also in a battle in the midfield. He lost a few places in the race and finished thirteenth. Not the best weekend for Pérez, but I think Racing Point has a good pace, so he can improve in the upcoming races. 

Rate: 6.5/10

12. Lando Norris                                McLaren 

Lando Norris had a very good debut in Australia. He had an amazing Qualifying, he qualified eighth which is very good on his debut at McLaren. His start was also good and he made a nice move on Giovinazzi. He finished at the twelfth place, and that's really good for the first race in a McLaren. 

Rate: 7.5/10

11. Pierre Gasly                              Red Bull Racing 

Pierre Gasly didn't have the best weekend in Australia at his debut for Red Bull. His Qualifying was very bad. He had set a time and came into the pits. But then the track improved and everyone was faster, but he was in the pits. So he dropped to the seventeenth place. His start was okay and after the start, he overtook a few people, but not many. He was stuck behind Kvyat the whole race so he finished eleventh.  

Rate: 5.5/10

10. Daniil Kvyat                                   Toro Rosso 

Daniil Kvyat made his comeback for the third time, but he was impressive at his comeback. His Qualifying wasn't very impressive, he qualified fifteenth and was out-qualified by rookie Albon. But in the race, he did a great job and overtook a few people. He also kept Gasly behind him the whole race. A good race for him. 

Rate: 7.5/10

9. Lance Stroll                                 Racing Point 

Lance Stroll had a good first weekend with Racing Point. His Qualifying wasn't very good, he qualified sixteenth. But in the race, he did a very good job. He overtook some people and he finished in ninth place. It was a good weekend for Lance Stroll with Racing Point. 

Rate: 7.5/10

8. Kimi Räikkönen                      Alfa Romeo 

Alfa Romeo impressed in the winter-test. And also in Australia Kimi did a very good job at his return at Sauber (now Alfa Romeo Racing). He qualified ninth and in the race, he was even better and he finished at the eighth place. I'm looking forward to seeing what Kimi will do in the rest of the races, with the Alfa Romeo. 

Rate: 8/10

7. Nico Hülkenberg                                Renault 

Nico Hülkenberg had an okay Qualification, he qualified eleventh. But he had a great start and overtook a few people. He drove a good race and didn't make mistakes. He finished in seventh place. So a good first weekend for Hülkenberg. 

Rate:7.5/10 

6. Kevin Magnussen                                         Haas 

5. Charles Leclerc                                     Ferrari 

Charles Leclerc his debut at Ferrari was good, but in contrast to the winter-test Ferrari disappointed a bit. He qualified at the fifth place but wasn't happy. In the race, he almost hit Vettel in the beginning but he managed to avoid a crash. At the end of the race, Leclerc was faster than Vettel but he had to stay behind Vettel. An middling debut for Leclerc at Ferrari. 

Rate: 7/10

4. Sebastian Vettel                                       Ferrari 

Ferrari was the favorite for the win in Australia, but they disappointed a bit. Sebastian Vettel qualified third behind the Mercedes cars. In the race he lost a place to Verstappen, so he finished at the fourth place, with a gap of 57 seconds to the winner. Ferrari didn't have the pace this weekend. 

Rate: 7/10

3. Max Verstappen                         Red Bull Racing 

Max Verstappen had a good start of the 2019 season. With the new Honda engine, he qualified fourth. And in the race, he made a nice move on Vettel at lap 31. He finished in third place in Melbourne. A very strong weekend for Max and Red Bull. The pace of the Red Bull also looks good. 

Rate: 8.5/10

2. Lewis Hamilton                                                Mercedes 

Mercedes surprised in Melbourne after the winter-tests in Barcelona. Lewis Hamilton took pole on Saturday, with a good lap. At the start of the race, he was overtaken by his team-mate Valtteri Bottas. He also had a little bit of damage at his floor. He finished second, with a gap of 20 seconds to the race winner. A good weekend for Hamilton and Mercedes. 

Rate: 8/10

1. Valtteri Bottas                                           Mercedes