2024 F1 Brazilian Grand Prix driver ratings

A wet-and-wild São Paulo Grand Prix had an action-packed Sunday with both qualifying and the race after a Saturday afternoon washout. 

It was just the sixth time in F1 history that qualifying has been specifically run on a Sunday, as some struggled in the Interlagos rain. 

Others shone, including one perfect 10 for one of the greatest performances in grand prix history – and when you consider there have now been 1,122 races – that’s quite a statement…

The top five

Max Verstappen – 10

Peerless. The drive of a champion that, even then, only the very greatest pull out once or twice in a career. His greatest grand prix win by a distance. 

Esteban Ocon – 9 

A stunning fourth in qualifying was backed up by looking rather comfortable whilst out in the lead after getting fortunate with the red-flag timing. Has struggled against Gasly recently, and did so in the sprint but bounced back with an outstanding drive. 

Pierre Gasly – 9 

HIs weekend was somewhat inverse to Ocon’s in that he performed well in the sprint before dipping in grand prix qualifying, but made his race by staying out. Did exceptionally well to hold off the faster Russell to bank a deserved podium, having put in some strong under-the-radar performances recently.

George Russell – 9

Battered Lewis Hamilton throughout the weekend to take a par sixth in the sprint and then second on the grand prix grid. Led the opening laps until he got unlucky with the red-flag timing to ultimately finish less than a second behind Gasly.

Yuki Tsunoda – 8

Nothing to shout about in the sprint, but third on the grid for the race was a strong effort to out-qualify other midfield runners, including Ocon and team-mate Liam Lawson. Strategy went against him in the race but he did well to get within 10 seconds of Oscar Piastri to inherit seventh at the flag.

The bottom five

Carlos Sainz – 3.5 

From domination in Mexico to a Q2 crash and pit-lane start. Thoroughly out-performed by Charles Leclerc – and crashed to take himself out. One to forget.

Lewis Hamilton – 3 

By his own admission, it was a “crap” weekend in which he only ever operated on the fringes of the points. Out in Q1, he was passed easily by the likes of Ollie Bearman and Franco Colapinto in inferior machinery in the race. Was barged aside by Lawson – and then never could get past again, although he did do well to climb through the field.

Zhou Guanyu – 2.5

Last in practice, qualifying and the race. The only upside was that he didn’t crash and made the start.

Franco Colapinto – 2 

By far his worst weekend in F1. Felt under pressure from the expectation of the Argentine faithful who trekked to São Paulo, but suffered two costly crashes in qualifying and the race. For a Williams team on the edge, a second destroyed chassis – after Alex Albon’s qualifying shunt – was far from helpful. Made a nice move on Hamilton.

Lance Stroll – 2 

Hours after the team had worked hard to get two cars repaired, the last thing you want is to beach it in the gravel on the formation lap. The rear-locking was not his fault, but driving a Formula 1 car in a wet gravel trap very much is.