Express Sport take a look at how a dramatic Belgian Grand Prix has affected our rankings for the F1 season so far.
By MARK WHILEY
11:40, Tue, Jul 30, 2024 | UPDATED: 13:43, Tue, Jul 30, 2024
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Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc produced strong drives at Spa (Image: Getty)
F1 went into its summer break with a Belgian Grand Prix of drama and controversy. George Russell took the chequered flag after sensationally making a one-stop strategy work against all expectations.
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However, Mercedes’ joy was short-lived. Shortly after the podium ceremony, it emerged that Russell’s car was underweight, which led to him being disqualified and handing victory to Lewis Hamilton, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc of Ferrari moving up to second and third respectively.
Meanwhile, it was a difficult day for championship leader Max Verstappen, who posted the fastest time in qualifying knowing he was set for a 10-place grid penalty, could only work his way up to a fifth-place finish on the road before being promoted up a place due to Russell’s DQ. His nearest rival, Lando Norris, didn’t fare much better and had to settle for fifth after a costly mistake at the start of the race. With F1 now set for its mid-season shutdown, here’s how the weekend has impacted Express Sport’s power rankings for the season so far. As always, we’re assessing each driver’s performance relative to the car at their disposal.
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1. Lewis Hamilton (=)
He may not have won on the road, but Hamilton was still a worthy winner at Spa. A tidy qualifying session in difficult conditions was followed by a flawless race performance, which may have even been too strong for Verstappen even if the world champion hadn’t been served with a grid penalty. Ahead of his much-anticipated partnership with Leclerc at Ferrari, Hamilton is proving there’s life in the old dog yet.
2. Max Verstappen (+2)
The world champion was supreme in qualifying, besting the rest of the field by more than half a second in damp conditions. Despite starting down in 11th due to an engine penalty, it was feared he would charge through the field. That never materialised on a day where overtaking was unexpectedly difficult. However, he will be happy with fourth and to have finished ahead of Norris.
3 Oscar Piastri (=)
The Hungarian Grand Prix winner was in fine form again at Spa, deservedly finishing ahead of his McLaren teammate. However, a crucial mistake at his second stop, when he over-shot his mark, cost him a couple of seconds, which could have been crucial as he hunted down the Mercedes in the closing stages.
4. George Russell (+4)
His disqualification doesn’t detract from what was an excellent drive. Having started sixth, the one-stopper, which he lobbied the team to put him on, was worth the punt and he appeared to make it work. This drive proves Russell has what it takes to lead the team following Hamilton’s departure.
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Hamilton fired another warning to Leclerc with his impressive Spa performance (Image: Getty)
5. Charles Leclerc (+2)
After a decent showing in Hungary, Leclerc took an unexpected pole (owing to Verstappen’s engine penalty) in a wet qualifying session. While he couldn’t keep pace with the faster Mercedes, he did well to keep Verstappen and Norris behind him. There are signs he and Ferrari are getting back on track.
6 Lando Norris (-4)
A poor weekend for the McLaren driver, whose victory hopes were all but over once he went wide coming out of La Source on lap one, losing him a couple of places. His pace was good but he wasn’t able to use it. Norris had already admitted after qualifying that he “had not been driving particularly well”. While it’s been a great season overall for the Brit, he needs the break more than most.
7 Carlos Sainz (-2)
For the first time in a while, the Spaniard was completely outclassed by teammate Leclerc. A messy qualifying session was followed by a difficult race and a low-key seventh on the road (sixth after Russell’s disqualification).
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George Russell left Spa point-less following his disqualification (Image: Getty)
8. Fernando Alonso (+7)
After a dire few races, Alonso and Aston Martin appear to be getting their act together. The Spanish legend was one of the few to try a one-stopper. Unlike Russell, he kept his finishing position of eighth, the front of the group behind the ‘big four’ teams. He couldn’t have done any more.
9. Daniel Ricciardo (+3)
While he still isn’t doing enough to earn a promotion to the Red Bull first team, the Aussie’s form is at least going in the right direction. He was promoted into the points after Russell’s disqualification.
10. Nico Hulkenberg (-4)
A rare race to forget for the German, who has outperformed his Haas for much of the season. Not so at Spa, where he came home a lowly 18th, even behind the Williams of Logan Sargeant. The veteran still has plenty of credit in the bank though.
11. Alex Albon (-2)
After starting 10th, the Williams team leader would have been hoping for points but had to make do with 12th. Narrowly missed out in Q3.
12. Esteban Ocon (+2)
A thoroughly deserved ninth place for the Haas-bound Frenchman, who was only beaten in the ‘best of the rest’ race by one-stopping Alonso.
13. Pierre Gasly (-2)
Outclassed by Alpine teammate Ocon as he faded from points contention. A weekend to forget for Gasly, who was classified 13th.
14. Valtteri Bottas (+2)
Flirted with a points finish before having to settle for a lowly 15th. Could have done little more in what appears to be the slowest car on the grid.
15. Kevin Magnussen (+2)
Got the better of his teammate after going for a one-stop strategy but was never in the hunt for points. A decent job overall though.
It was another weekend to forget for Sergio Perez (Image: Getty)
16. Yuki Tsunoda (-6)
Despite starting at the back after being handed a 60-place grid penalty, the Japanese driver would have been hoping for more than 16th.
17. Lance Stroll (-4)
Unlike Alonso, the Canadian didn’t make the most of Aston’s improvements as he finished just outside the points. Was at his moaning worst over the radio, constantly complaining of “too much drag”.
18. Sergio Perez (=)
The under-pressure Mexican will still be a Red Bull driver after the summer following crunch talks between team bosses. He can count himself fortunate though after reversing through the field from a front-row start at Spa, finishing at the back of the leading group.
Zhou Guanyu was left red-faced after retiring from the Belgium Grand Prix as his nightmare season continued (Image: Getty)
19 Logan Sargeant (=)
The inevitable has been confirmed with Sainz to replace the lacklustre American at Williams from next year. His performance at Spa was no different from the norm, although he did finish ahead of Hulkenberg.
20. Zhou Guanyu (=)
Another torrid weekend for the Chinese driver, although it wasn’t entirely his fault. Was hit with a grid penalty for impeding Verstappen in qualifying, with the team also at fault for not telling him the Red Bull driver was on a fast lap.
He lost power during the race, resulting in time lost, and then retired due to another, unrelated issue making him the only driver on the grid to DNF. Like Sargeant, this could well be Zhou’s final F1 campaign.
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