No Verstappen or Norris, but this was the best driver in Melbourne according to F1

In the first power ranking of the season, it is neither Lando Norris nor Max Verstappen - the two driver who pushed to claim victory in Australia - who got the highest mark by F1 journalist. The lead on that leaderboard now belongs to Williams' driver Alexander Albon.

Albon, who finished in P5 after Mercedes' successful 'Right to Review' on Andrea Kimi Antonelli's penalty, received a 9.4 after his performance at the rainy Albert Park. The judges wrote: "Alex Albon was a man on a mission throughout the Albert Park weekend, charging his way to sixth on the grid in a seemingly much-improved Williams, before navigating the mixed weather, multiple incidents and Safety Car periods to take a remarkable fifth on race day."

Winner Lando Norris finished in second plance, and nothing separates the Briton from Antonelli. Both drivers were awarded a 9.0. Antonelli is also therefore the best-performing rookie, as he was the only one who avoided crashing into the barriers over the three days, and also claimed great points starting from P16 on the grid.

Max Verstappen finishes therefore in fourth position on the leaderboard, with an 8.8. "Third on the grid and second at the end of the race – on Norris’ tail – marked a very solid start in the circumstances," the judges add, possibly referring to the gap in performance between Red Bull and McLaren.

It is the final podium sitter George Russell who completes the top five, with an 8.4. Despite his spin that lost him a place on the podium, Oscar Piastri finished seventh. However, the two Ferrari drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are both missing from the Top 10.

The top ten of F1's Power Rankings

This article was written in collaboration with Ludo van Denderen

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