Hamilton and Russell lead F1 Power Rankings Australia, Verstappen P5

Max Verstappen may have clinched victory and Sergio Perez may have been named Driver of the Day, but the F1 Power Rankings panellists hold different ideas about who impressed most at the Australian Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton scored the first podium for Mercedes this season and even briefly led during the race. Combined with his successful defence against Fernando Alonso's attacks, that proved enough for Formula1.com to award the 38-year-old Brit the highest score.

However, he has to share first place in the rankings with none other than his teammate George Russell, who covered only a third of the race distance before dropping out with an engine problem. Nevertheless, he too is awarded 9 for his performance during the Formula 1 weekend at Albert Park. That Russell qualified on the front row and initially managed to take the lead from Verstappen adds to his score.

Those who expected to encounter Verstappen in the list after this, are wrong: first to follow are Lando Norris and Nico Hulkenberg, who both scored their first points of the year. The championship leader has to settle for fifth despite his win, but with a score of 8.6, he is not far behind the men in front of him.

Fernando Alonso follows on P6 despite his third podium finish of the year. Meanwhile, Sergio Perez did not impress the panellists as much as global F1 viewers: the Red Bull Racing driver was named Driver of the Day after his overtaking race, but has to make do with eighth place in the Power Rankings.