United States GP driver ratings

Kimi Raikkonen had to wait 2,044 days to stand on top of the F1 podium again, and though he was characteristically blasé about his record-breaking victory ("life goes on, it's just a number") - surely that champagne must have tasted oh so sweet for a driver many had written off.

Raikkonen was certainly helped by starting on the front row of the grid after his team-mate's penalty, but he was only one-hundredth of a second slower than Sebastian Vettel in qualifying. The Iceman then proved he had the pace on Sunday; his start and move up the inside of Hamilton was perfect, and he later kept the Englishman and Verstappen at bay after getting the most out of his ageing tyres.

A first victory since rejoining Ferrari in 2014, and possibly the last victory before leaving the team in three races' time. This is just what Kimi needed for his legacy.
Rating out of ten: 9.5

Maybe Max Verstappen should think about starting towards the back of the grid every weekend? Eighteenth to second represents the flying Dutchman's best ever recovery in an F1 race, and it's difficult to think that any driver on the grid could dispatch the midfield quicker than Verstappen has done in recent weeks.

After that, Verstappen impressively kept pace with the leaders, and even looked to be in with a shout of an incredible victory late on - instead showing his wheel-to-wheel combat in a defensive manner by expertly blocking out a charging Hamilton.

Verstappen has been absolutely superb in the second half of the season. Just give him the tools to compete regularly, please!
Rating out of ten: 9.5

Lewis Hamilton has been made to wait another week for a fifth crown, and third place is his worst finish since retiring in Austria nine races ago. But that is not to say there were not any flashes of brilliance from Lewis. His pole lap, four tenths up on Valtteri Bottas, was sublime, while he was keeping up with Raikkonen on 'harder' tyres at the start of the race. Rather than Hamilton being off-colour or feeling the pressure, more questions should be asked of Mercedes strategy.

Would Hamilton have won the race on a one-stop? He certainly would have had a better chance. Would Hamilton have finished ahead of Verstappen? Surely.

Hamilton's only real blemish was the fact he could not find the grip to pass Verstappen at the end, but here's hoping to more of those battles in the future.
Rating out of ten: 8.5

Sebastian Vettel's recent wheel-to-wheel record with his rivals does not look pretty.

Clashed with Hamilton in Italy. Spun. Shunted into Verstappen in Japan. Spun. Nudged into Ricciardo in Austin. Spun.

"Vettel's forgotten how to do it," noted Sky F1's Martin Brundle. "Those kind of moments have made the difference in this year's championship."

Vettel had the pace to win here, and was probably the quickest man on track on Sunday. But once again he pays the price for two costly mistakes - his red-flag infringement in practice, and his failed manoeuvre on Lap One.
Rating out of ten: 7

This final stretch of the season must be demoralising for Valtteri Bottas, who was rather anonymous in his supporting role. But there can be no doubts about Mercedes team orders on this occasion.

Bottas could not get close to Hamilton or the Ferraris in qualifying and was nine seconds behind his team-mate once his pitted after just 11 laps.

The fact that Vettel passed him late on added insult to injury.
Rating out of ten: 6

A much-needed return to form for Nico Hulkenberg. You have to look back to the German GP for the last time Hulkenberg qualified or finished a race so high, and converting seventh place to sixth is what we came to expect from a man who was as consistent as any other driver earlier this season.

The start was always going to be crucial for Hulkenberg as he lined up behind Esteban Ocon, and an overtake into Turn One was just what was required. From there, Hulkenberg did what he does best; quietly and efficiently getting on with the job at hand. And he's now 'best of the rest' in the championship again. Nice work.
Rating out of ten: 9

If Hulkenberg's start was good, Carlos Sainz's was exceptional. Do not pay much attention to the fact he was penalised for running wide at Turn One, Sainz did not gain any of his four positions out there.

Sainz then followed his team-mate closely on a perfect afternoon for Renault, and is enjoying a fine finish to the season as he prepares for McLaren. That's four points finishes in five for the Spaniard.
Rating out of ten: 8

The final timesheet does not lie - Sergio Perez is ahead of Esteban Ocon and lengthens his points advantage after his team-mate's disqualification. But in truth, Perez, who signed a new Force India contract this weekend, was once again out-paced by Ocon. His qualifying run is particularly worrying, that's 15-3 to Ocon for the season and Perez has only beaten the Frenchman once in the last seven sessions.

Perez was frustrated by Ocon and Kevin Magnussen throughout this race, and certainly will not be complaining about eighth place.
Rating out of ten: 6.5

They fell into his lap, but how Brendon Hartley needed those two points. This is a man under pressure, and a driver who is showing signs he already knows his Toro Rosso fate is sealed.

"l have to answer questions about my future every week which is getting increasingly annoying," he said. "I've read in the media that l have to beat my team-mate. I was ahead of him in Singapore before team orders, l was ahead in Russia before the car broke down, I was ahead at Suzuka in qualifying and l was ahead today."

He did indeed finish three places ahead of Pierre Gasly here, but that was mostly down to his team-mate getting caught up in the first-lap melee.
Rating out of ten: 7

Marcus Ericsson was knocked out in Q1 in qualifying. His team-mate comfortably made it through to Q3. Hmm.

It was Ericsson who scored Sauber's sole point this weekend, but again, it came in fortunate circumstances after his team-mate's exit, and the post-race disqualifications.
Rating out of ten: 6

That's seven Q1 eliminations in a row for Stoffel Vandoorne, and we make it 14 races since he last scored a single point. Oh, and time is running out for him to avoid a qualifying whitewash at the hands of Fernando Alonso.

At least his motorsport future is sorted for 2019 - as his F1 reputation is not growing.
Rating out of ten: 6

Pierre Gasly must be chomping at the bit to get into his Red Bull. It cannot be easy consistently fighting at the back due to engine penalties, and Gasly's afternoon was made even harder after collecting debris on the first lap, with Toro Rosso then selecting the wrong strategy under the VSC.

Gasly is not really being able to show what he, or the Honda engine, can do at the moment.
Rating out of ten: 6

We have said this plenty of times before, but Williams' 2018 package is so inadequate in comparison to their rivals that Sergey Sirotkin's performances can only really be judged next to his team-mate. By out-pacing Lance Stroll on Saturday here, Sirotkin has won the qualifying battle for the season.

But will he get another shot next year?
Rating out of ten: 7

Lance Stroll was beaten by his team-mate in qualifying and the race, finished dead last, and earned a drive-through penalty after colliding with Fernando Alonso on the first lap.

After which, Alonso said: "There are more amateurs here than in other series."

But how was your weekend?
Rating out of ten: 5

Disqualified...

Finishing eighth would have already been a disappointment for Esteban Ocon after qualifying as 'best of the rest' in Austin. Then he had his four points taken away for a fuel infringement.

Not much is going his way at the moment, but Ocon is still delivering week after week.
Rating out of ten: 8

Kevin Magnussen's recent qualifying form is a worry - he has only beaten Romain Grosjean on a Saturday once since the summer break - but he continues to deliver in the races.

He challenged the Force Indias throughout and impressively finished ninth.

And then it was all taken away.
Rating out of ten: 7

Did not finish...

You have got to feel for Daniel Ricciardo. After the collision with Vettel, the smiling Aussie with a questionable Texas accent looked well placed to challenge for victory here - he was well ahead of team-mate Verstappen - before his Renault engine energy store failed.

Christian Horner admitted Ricciardo punched a wall in his motorhome room after another frustrating race, while the soon-to-be Renault driver said: "I want to be able to celebrate with the team at least one more time, but we're running out of races which is pretty tough to take."
Rating out of ten: N/A

Fernando Alonso looked good in qualifying before being knocked out in Q1, but once again the Spaniard earned more attention on a Sunday for what he said off the track rather than what he did on it.

After being knocked out of the race by Stroll through the esses, Alonso said there were many "amateurs" in F1 and added: "Here we need bumpers, like rental go-karts, so we can all crash into each other."

Let's hope he gets to celebrate scoring a point before leaving at the sport at the end of the season.
Rating out of ten: N/A

Romain Grosjean has 11 Q3 appearances in a row and really seems to have Magnussen's number on a Saturday. But he is now 22 points behind his team-mate in the standings, and races like this prove why. Grosjean clumsily shunted into Charles Leclerc on Lap One, and is now just two penalty points away from a race ban.

Be careful in Mexico, Romain.
Rating out of ten: N/A

Charles Leclerc is another driver who must be looking forward to getting in a car further up the grid, just so he can avoid this midfield mayhem. Leclerc was superb in qualifying and overtook Grosjean early on. Ocon was next in his sights.

But after Grosjean's error, Leclerc's race was effectively over in a matter of seconds - even though he trudged around the circuit for another 29 laps.
Rating out of ten: N/A

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