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Average driver ratings after Zandvoort | Verstappen class apart
The Dutch Grand Prix, like many Grands Prix this year, was won by Max Verstappen. The Dutchman managed to win despite two heavy showers and a red flag and was therefore awarded the grade 10. According to GPblog, how are the drivers doing over the whole season?
Verstappen class apart
Verstappen is in a class of his own in Formula 1 this season. The Dutchman won 11 out of 13 races and is heading for his third world title. The Red Bull Racing driver tops the list with an average of 9.5. In 2023, Verstappen received as many as eight 10s and three 9s. The lowest mark the Dutchman received was a 7, after a 'disappointing' weekend in Azerbaijan.
Alonso and Albon closest to Verstappen
Following Verstappen are Fernando Alonso and Alexander Albon. The Spaniard switched from Alpine to Aston Martin this season, and that switch is working out great. Alonso regularly misses out on the podium. The Aston Martin driver scored his best result of the season at Zandvoort last weekend, with a second place as well as the fastest lap. Alonso, therefore, received a 10 after the race in the Netherlands, making his average now 8.2.
Albon comes third with an average of 7.8. The British-Thai driver often manages to get the most out of his Williams car every weekend, which certainly does not belong at the front of the field. At Circuit Zandvoort, Albon was again impressive with a fourth place in qualifying. After a strategic error, the Williams driver dropped back to P8 in the race. Albon also received a 10 for his performance at Zandvoort.
Who disappointed?
The drivers who have disappointed the most this season include Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez. The former is having a shaky season with Ferrari and is still making too many mistakes, again at Zandvoort. The Monegasque crashed in the latter part of qualifying, and things did not go much better in the race. Due to some bad luck, Leclerc had damage to his floor, reducing speed so much that it was better to stop. The Ferrari driver got a 3 for they performance at Circuit Zandvoort, dropping his average to a 6.2.
Perez still seems unable to get the most out of the RB19, something teammate Verstappen is capable of. The Mexican was 1.3 seconds slower than his teammate in qualifying and made mistakes in the race, including entering the pit lane. Despite everything, the Mexican did finish fourth, and Perez received a 5 for the race weekend at Zandvoort. The Red Bull driver's average is now just a 5.8.