Verstappen moves to the top - F1 Power Rankings
F1 News
Max Verstappen pulled off a stunning victory at the Austrian Grand Prix to move himself up to third in the Drivers' Championship. But what do the official F1 Power Ranking panel have to say about Max's performance at the Red Bull Ring?
After his stunning display in Austria, Verstappen has indeed jumped up one place to the top of the Power Rankings leaderboard with a season average of 45.1, boosted by his 50 point display at the weekend. The Dutchman recovered magnificently from dropping to seventh on the opening lap, to take the chequered flag thanks to a series of overtakes on Sebastian Vettel, Valtteri Bottas and a gutsy move on Charles Leclerc. His first win since Mexico in 2018 and the first man to beat Mercedes this season. Max Verstappen is top!
It wasn't such a good weekend for Lewis Hamilton, as the World Championship leader drops to second place in the Power Rankings. His fifth-place finish wasn't enough to hold on to the top spot, as his weekend score of 37, way below his season average of 44.1. It was always going to be a tough weekend as the Brit managed overheating issues, nonetheless, he's down one place.
McLaren's good form of late, sees Carlos Sainz split the two Mercedes with the Spaniard third after his P8, followed by Valtteri Bottas in fourth, one place down as the two drivers swapped positions.
Lando Norris comes in fifth but it is the Ferrari pair who are the big movers this week, with Charles Leclerc (sixth) and Sebastian Vettel (seventh) both up two places from the French Grand Prix. Leclerc was so cruelly denied again in Austria, whilst Vettel worked his way from ninth to finish in fourth, a very respectable result for the German.
Alex Albon is down two places to eighth, level on season average with George Russell (37.9), who is up one place. Kimi Raikkonen is a new entry into the top ten as the Finn re-enters for the first time since Spain. His average of 27.8 sees him displace Daniil Kvyat!