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Ratings | Verstappen shows difference to Leclerc in Imola

25 April 2022 at 08:40
Last update 25 April 2022 at 08:45
  • GPblog.com

The Imola Grand Prix was dominated by Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing. With a one-two, the team couldn't believe its luck and there was a big celebration in Italy. This gives the Red Bull drivers good ratings, but not everyone comes off well after the race in Emilia Romagna. Check out the GPblog figures after the final race here.

Verstappen: 10

With wins in qualifying, the sprint race, the main race and also the fastest lap, Verstappen achieved a unique Grand Slam in Imola. The Dutchman had a great RB18 at his disposal, but really got everything out of it this weekend.

Perez: 8

Sergio Perez is showing what a second driver at Red Bull Racing should do. He had some bad luck in qualifying, but drove to a great second place in the sprint race and the main race. Especially holding off Leclerc is visibly a big improvement for the Mexican.

Norris: 9

Lando Norris achieved a podium with some luck, but you have to be there to take advantage of mistakes. The Brit drove flawlessly and was again a class apart compared to his teammate.

Russell: 8.5

George Russell couldn't work miracles in qualifying on Friday and he didn't make much progress in the sprint race either. Yet in the race he managed to do what his teammate couldn't, and that is pass competitors. The Brit did most of his work at the start, but in the rest of the race Russell drove very strong defensively.

Bottas: 8.5

Despite the fact that Valtteri Bottas seemed to have a better car than Russell, he didn't make it to fourth place in the closing stages. The Finn did show again in Imola why Alfa Romeo brought him in as a frontrunner, because especially in qualifying he can work wonders for the team.

Leclerc: 4.5

Charles Leclerc drove a strong weekend until the last few laps on Sunday. Ferrari was simply not fast enough this weekend and the Monegasque could have resigned himself to that as the championship leader. However, he took too much risk on the slicks and went into the wall. He is lucky that he still got his car running and was able to finish in the points.

Tsunoda: 8.5

Yuki Tsunoda drove a strong weekend. The Japanese driver was faster than his teammate on Friday and, unlike the Frenchman, was able to overtake during both races. This way he steadily climbed through the weekend to a great seventh place and thus six points.

Vettel: 8

Sebastian Vettel showed in Imola that he has not forgotten how to race. In qualifying, he made it to Q3. In the sprint race he fell outside the top ten, but on Sunday he fought his way back into the points.

Magnussen: 7.5

Kevin Magnussen had a good weekend for Haas in Emilia Romagna, qualifying in fourth place on Friday. That didn't turn out to reflect the actual pace of the American car, but the Dane did hold his own handsomely in the top ten.

Stroll: 6.5

Lance Stroll scored his first point of this season after moving up handsomely into the top ten in both races. The difference with his teammate was visible, but was mainly due to bad luck with the red flag in Q2 for the Canadian. It must be said that he himself had ruined his first run in that session.

Albon: 8

On Friday, his car went up in flames, but Alexander Albon is not afraid of a small setback. After the sprint race on Saturday he was already ahead of his teammate and on Sunday he almost climbed into the points.

Gasly: 6

Pierre Gasly drove a weak weekend in Imola, being beaten by his teammate on several levels. Not only was Yuki faster in qualifying, but unlike Pierre, his teammate showed that you could indeed overtake with the AT03.

Hamilton: 3.5

It was also a dramatic weekend for Lewis Hamilton, who didn't move beyond a thirteenth place finish and was stuck behind Gasly for the entire race. He was defended by his team boss Toto Wolff, but Russell showed what was possible with the W13.

Ocon: 3.5

Esteban Ocon had problems in qualifying. His teammate was a lot stronger again in Imola, but again has no points to prove it as he was again knocked out by bad luck.

Zhou: 3.5

Guanyu Zhou experienced his first setback in F1 in Imola. In the sprint race, he made a mistake himself and caused his team a lot of extra work. On Sunday he drove to the finish, but looking at Bottas there was much more in that car.

Latifi: 3.5

Nicholas Latifi stayed on the track this weekend, but that's all there is to it. The Canadian simply lacks the speed to make things really difficult for Albon and is reportedly under a lot of pressure within the team.

Schumacher: 3

Mick Schumacher was again slower than Magnussen this weekend and after a great overtaking race on Saturday, went wrong several times on Sunday. He first caused Alonso's retirement with a spin, only to spin again himself clumsily later in the race. Thus, the German still remains without points in F1.

Ricciardo: 3

Daniel Ricciardo is struggling again in 2022. He was beaten by a long way in qualifying by Norris, came back in the sprint race, but put an end to Sainz's race with a mistake at the first corner on Sunday. The Australian also threw away his own race with this, although he still drove to the finish.

Alonso: 6

Bad luck again for Fernando Alonso, who this time was able to write down a knock from Mick Schumacher in his side pod as the reason for his retirement. The Spaniard's luck has not been good yet this year, but with a fifth place in qualifying he showed a clear difference to his teammate.

Sainz: 1.5

The other Spaniard also had bad luck this weekend. In qualifying, Sainz went horribly wrong himself and ended his session with a crash, but in the sprint race he had already made up the lost ground. After a weak start, he should perhaps have let Ricciardo go at the first corner, but the Ferrari driver was entitled to that spot and was simply tapped off the track by Ricciardo. A second retirement in a row is painful for the Spaniard, however.