Tag: Grand Prix

Canadian Grand Prix – Driver Rating

Canadian Grand Prix, Sonntag, LAT Images

George Russell fantastically won the Canadian Grand Prix, never being troubled by the chasing pack as he took his and Mercedes’ first win of 2025. He was closely chased by Max Verstappen, but the Dutchman was more focused on watching his mirrors than attacking Russell. Behind the McLarens were recovering after an off-qualifying session which left them 3rd and 7th, but would come together in the closing laps to see their Championship lead reduced for the first time this year. Overall, it was an exciting race, with the strategies creating a nice offset that concertinaed the pack towards the end. I’m running out of time to write this (FP1 of the Austrian Grand Prix is less than 12 hours away) so let’s get into it.

George Russell – 8.8

George took a great pole on Saturday and led the whole way on Sunday, it was a great drive, just as talk is building about his future at Mercedes with the Verstappen link not going away. George has arguably been the driver of the season and this victory was thoroughly deserved.

Max Verstappen – 8.5

A typical Verstappen drive, didn’t have the fastest car but maximised the result. He held off Antonelli around the pit stops to solidify 2nd and ran quite a quiet race to the chequered flag. This level of consistency is what makes Max, Max.

Kimi Antonelli – 8.7

Antonelli became the 3rd youngest podium finisher in F1 history with a fantastic drive. He overtook the championship leader at Turn 1, threatened Verstappen around the pit stops and was holding on well in front of massive pressure from the McLarens in the closing stages. He earned this podium!

Oscar Piastri – 7.6

A slightly off weekend for the whole McLaren team in Montreal. Oscar qualified well to take 3rd but couldn’t hold on at the first corner and couldn’t pressure Antonelli in front to create an overtaking opportunity. His teammate who started 7th was able to catch him by the end of the race and should have passed, but we will get to Lando.

Charles Leclerc – 7.5

Another tricky weekend for Ferrari as the car just isn’t gelling at the moment. The upgrades don’t seem to be having the desired effect either. Charles found himself in no-mans land in fifth, but not as much as his teammate.

Lewis Hamilton – 7.5

Too many times this season have we found Lewis in the middle of nowhere mid-race. This time it was due to damage he picked up on Lap 13 after hitting a groundhog. He was driving well before that, keeping up with the leaders. This damage was costing him 1/4 second a lap which left him on his own for much of the race.

Fernando Alonso – 8.1

Points are like London buses for Fernando this season, wait ages for one and suddenly they come thick and fast. It was a great drive from Fernando to take best of the rest.

Nico Hulkenberg – 8.4

A great drive from Hulkenberg, took advantage of some first lap swabbles to get into position to score points and did well to keep them. Dragging this Sauber into the points is a great achievement and Nico has the experience and skill to do that.

Esteban Ocon – 7.9

A great drive from Ocon and a great strategy from Haas helped get the Frenchman into the points in Montreal. Starting behind his teammate, Ocon was able to move up the field and take his first points since Monaco.

Carlos Sainz – 7.9

Sainz recovered after a horror Spanish Grand Prix to take a point in Montreal. A nice dive down the inside of Bortoleto was a highlight after staring 16th.

Ollie Bearman – 7.3

Ollie just missed out on points in Montreal and would be disappointed to be beaten by his teammate but a solid performance from the team.

Yuki Tsunoda – 6.9

Yuki received a 10-place penalty in practice for overtaking under red flags, so he started from the back. He battled back but wasn’t able to get into the points. His performances are starting to go backwards again.

Franco Colapinto – 7.1

Franco beat his teammate in Canada, which is always a plus for him to maintain a positive reputation within the team. He didn’t trouble the points but the car isn’t really in that fight at the moment.

Gabriel Bortoleto – 7.2

Bortoleto is doing a decent job but being outperformed by his teammate more regularly, or at least Nico is getting the stand out performance from this car. Gabriel is in the fight though and building confidence.

Pierre Gasly – 6.9

An off weekend for Pierre. He was always towards the back and got in a few scuffles, notably with Lance Stroll. Beaten by his teammate that doesn’t happen very often.

Isack Hadjar – 6.1

Isack’s worst race in a long time. The Racing Bull didn’t look quick at all in Montreal and Isack got penalised as well for impeding in qualifying. He made it into Q3 but went backwards from there.

Lance Stroll – 6.5

I think Lance’s 10 second penalty was harsh, he did drift wide and Gasly dipped onto the grass but is that really worth 10 seconds? I think Pierre bought that a bit. Last on the road for his home race isn’t the result he wanted and probably didn’t reflect his actual pace, especially after coming back from wrist surgery.

Lando Norris – 5.5

Lando, Lando, Lando. A dodgy Q3 put him into the pack and he did really well to fight back in the race until a lack of judgement when overtaking his teammate cost him dearly. He looked for a gap that wasn’t going to open in time, when he probably would have got past around the outside of Turn 1. It was clumsy collision with the wall that cost him 10 points. Points that he needs.

Liam Lawson – 4.5

Lawson started in the pit lane after his team made lots of changes to his car post Quali. His race didn’t get much better as he retired early after not making any impression on the field.

Alex Albon – 5.9

Another tricky one for Alex, having qualified in the top ten, he was running well after getting pushed off the track on the first lap, which may have led to the issues that caused his retirement. The weekend started so promisingly but didn’t translate for Albon.

Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings

BARCELONA, SPAIN - JUNE 01: Race winner Oscar Piastri of Australia driving the (81) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes takes the chequered flag to cheers from his team on the pit wall during the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on June 01, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Sam Bagnall/Sutton Images)

The Spanish Grand Prix delivered a thrilling race filled with drama, strategy, and much controversy. Oscar Piastri led a McLaren one-two in the glorious sunshine, while Max Verstappen’s late-race antics stole most of the headlines. The fight at the front was relatively calm, with the two McLaren’s being slightly too quick for Max, while the Mercedes and Ferrari’s battled it out between themselves for the rest of the big points. Behind, there was some great action, in particular into Turn 1 and even some lovely moves around the outside at Turn 3. The safety car caused by Antonelli’s retirement caused even more drama: some good, some bad. Big shout out to Nico Hulkenberg for a fantastic 5th place after Verstappen’s penalty. A lot has already been said about his move, and all I can really add is – Are we really that surprised?

Oscar Piastri

Piastri continued his fantastic form this season, leading from pole and building a solid lead in the first stint. Despite a late safety car, he managed the restart perfectly and secured a comfortable victory. His calm and consistent driving under pressure is becoming a hallmark of his season.
Rating: 8.8

Lando Norris

Norris didn’t get the best start but eventually overtook Verstappen to secure second place. While he couldn’t close the gap to Piastri, his performance was solid and crucial for McLaren’s constructor championship lead.
Rating: 8.3

Charles Leclerc

Leclerc made the most of a late safety car to snatch third place. He was stuck behind his teammate early on, but once free, he capitalised on Verstappen and Red Bull’s mistakes to secure a podium finish.
Rating: 8.5

George Russell

Russell had a quiet race until the safety car restart, when he was the other half of Verstappen’s dodge-um attempt. While his initial move at Turn 1 was valid, Verstappen’s retaliation overshadowed Russell’s solid fourth-place finish.
Rating: 8.0

Nico Hulkenberg

Hulkenberg was the driver of the day, climbing from 15th to fifth with a series of impressive overtakes. His two-stop strategy and tire management were flawless, marking one of his best performances in years.
Rating: 9.3

Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton struggled for pace throughout the race, dropping back after a strong start. He was overtaken by Hulkenberg late in the race, highlighting another challenging weekend for the seven-time champion.
Rating: 7.1

Isack Hadjar

Hadjar continued his impressive rookie season with another points finish. His consistency is keeping Racing Bulls in the midfield fight, and he’s quickly becoming rookie of the year.
Rating: 8.5

Pierre Gasly

Gasly had a positive weekend, qualifying in Q3 and finishing eighth. When the Alpine works, Gasly is a force in the midfield, and this race was a much-needed boost for the team.
Rating: 8.5

Fernando Alonso

Alonso finally scored points in 2025 after a series of retirements. His creative overtakes and determination were on full display, earning him a well-deserved ninth place at his home race.
Rating: 8.0

Max Verstappen

Verstappen’s race ended in controversy after a promising start. The three-stop strategy backfired with the late safety car, and his frustration boiled over with a deliberate collision with Russell. A ten-second penalty was lenient for such dangerous driving, I think other drivers get disqualified for that.
Rating: 1.0

Liam Lawson

Lawson had another solid weekend, narrowly missing out on points. He’s showing progress, which is crucial as he battles to establish himself in Racing Bulls and to extend his F1 career, which was faltering.
Rating: 7.8

Gabriel Bortoletto

Bortoletto was unlucky with the late safety car but showed promise throughout the race. He outqualified his teammate and was in the mix for points, marking a step forward.
Rating: 7.6

Yuki Tsunoda

Tsunoda had a weekend to forget, qualifying last and finishing 13th. His struggles highlighted Red Bull’s ongoing issues with their second seat.
Rating: 4.5

Carlos Sainz

Sainz endured a tough weekend, struggling for pace and finishing 15th. Williams’ track-specific issues were evident, and Sainz will be hoping for a better showing next time.
Rating: 5.1

Franco Colapinto

Colapinto had a quiet race, was knocked out in Q1 and finished 15th. It was a weekend to forget for the Argentinian driver.
Rating: 5.1

Esteban Ocon

Ocon was invisible for most of the race, finishing 16th. It was a disappointing weekend for the Frenchman.
Rating: 5.1

Ollie Bearman

Bearman outqualified his teammate but struggled in the race, finishing 17th. It was a tough weekend for Haas overall.
Rating: 5.4

Kimi Antonelli

Antonelli retired with an engine issue but showed promise earlier in the race. His qualifying performance was a highlight, but his season has stalled slightly with a few mistakes and reliability issues.
Rating: 7.4

Alex Albon

Albon had a weekend to forget, retiring after multiple collisions and penalties. His qualifying performance was the only positive.
Rating: 5.5

Lance Stroll

Stroll did not start the race due to wrist pain so I’m not going to score him. It feels harsh if you retire due to injury.
Rating: N/A

The Spanish Grand Prix showcased McLaren’s dominance and the unpredictability of Formula 1. With Piastri extending his championship lead and Verstappen’s antics under scrutiny, the season continues to deliver excitement. Next up, the Canadian Grand Prix promises more thrills and drama.

Emilia Romagna Grand Prix: Driver Ratings

IMOLA, ITALY - MAY 18: Race winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and the Oracle Red Bull Racing team celebrate during the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna at Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari on May 18, 2025 in Imola, Italy. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202505180494 // Usage for editorial use only //

Max Verstappen expertly won an interesting and absorbing Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Sunday. Having started second, Verstappen performed arguably one of his best overtakes of his career, masterfully out-braking Oscar Piastri around the outside into the Tamburello chicane, holding it together with the Australian giving him space to take the lead into the first corner.

From there, Verstappen really had control of the race, which was helped by McLaren’s interesting strategic decisions. The race had the full safety car contingent, virtual and full safety car, which helped Verstappen in the first instance to extend his lead after Oscar Piastri took an early stop which did not work out for him. The full safety car bunched the field back up on lap 46 but still no one could get close to Verstappen as he drove away by six seconds. Behind him, both McLarens were two-three, Lando Norris ahead of Oscar Piastri, which is becoming routine for the McLaren team now. Following that came a fantastic battle between the two Ferraris and Alex Albon towards the end. Lewis Hamilton took fourth, Alex Albon fifth for the second fifth in a row, really cementing his place as best of the rest in the driver’s championship, followed by Leclerc who was caught by the two behind him after staying on old hard tyres with the second safety car.

George Russell took 7th on a quiet day for the Briton, in front of Sainz, Hadjar and Tsunoda who came from a pit lane start to take the last point.

Overall this was quite an exciting edition of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix by recent standards with the split strategy providing lots of opportunities for overtakes but Verstappen really was the class of the field.

Right, on to the ratings!

Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen pulled off a fantastic overtake over Oscar Piastri into turn one and never really looked back. He pulled out a two-second lead before Piastri pitted early for the undercut, but Red Bull held on getting through the graining and Verstappen increased his lead. From there, it was all looking very easy, very rarely seeing the Red Bull driver. The late safety car brought the field back to him but didn’t bother him in the end. He just keeps reminding us why he’s a four-time world champion and in the echelon of one of the best drivers of all time. These types of performances feel routine for him and look routine, but I imagine they’re very much not.

Rating: 8.9

Lando Norris

Lando continues to be hampered by his Saturday performances, qualifying fourth in this Grand Prix and getting stuck behind George Russell in the first twelve laps. By the time he got past, he was seven seconds behind the front two and really that’s quite a big gap in this title fight. He was unlucky with the virtual safety car, pitting thirty seconds before it came out, and then got stuck behind his teammate after the second safety car. Once he was past him, he was six seconds back from Verstappen, which was too far.

Rating: 8.1

Oscar Piastri

Oscar will be kicking himself for breaking a bit too early in the first corner. From there, the team didn’t help him, pitting Piastri early for the undercut, but he got stuck behind traffic and wasn’t able to eat into Verstappen’s lead. If anything, he lost time post pit stop. He was running in a distant third once the virtual safety car and all had rolled out. McLaren decided to keep him out during the second safety car and wasn’t really able to challenge Verstappen on much older tires after the restart. Not a great Sunday for Piastri. It could have been very different if he’d kept the lead into turn one, but unfortunately, he didn’t.

Rating: 7.9

Lewis Hamilton

A much better Sunday after a disappointing Q2 exit on Saturday. Hamilton was much more at ease with the car at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Having been stuck behind Kimi Antonelli for much of the first half of the race, but once able to get past he made good progress. He put mediums on at the second safety car and was able to make up places over his teammate and Alex Albon to claim fourth. Generally, a much better race for Hamilton. He said after the race, it was the most comfortable he’d been, and he looked quick with some decisive overtakes.

Rating: 8.1

Alex Albon

Another fantastic weekend for Alex Albon and the Williams team. This is the second time in a row Alex has finished fifth and the third time all season. He was also a beneficiary of going long in the first stint. Albon took advantage of the virtual safety to pit, jumped Piastri and was running as high as third for much of the race. Piastri would then overtake him in between the two safety car periods. Albon pitted again at the second safety car and wasn’t quite able to hold on to fourth. So another fifth place for Alex Albon and a fantastic performance. Williams is really looking a very solid car.

Rating: 8.5

Charles Leclerc

A frustrating afternoon for Charles who thought he could probably get more out of the race after qualifying eleventh on Saturday. Made a good start, made a couple of places up, and was running nicely on the mediums in the first stint and triggered the first set of pit stops pitting on lap 11. Initially, this looked like a great decision as he undercut Russell and Piastri to take a net third on the road. But the safety car timings really screwed him with those around him taking a cheap stop. At the safety car, he decided to stay out as he had no fresh tyres available. This gave him track position, but left him vulnerable to Albon and Hamilton behind when he was eventually overtaken by both. So he finished sixth but a promising race for the Ferrari team overall, if not a bit frustrating for Charles.

Rating: 8.1

George Russell

A tricky weekend for Russell and the Mercedes team. Even though he started third on the grid after a great qualifying performance, the pace in the car really wasn’t there on Sunday. He suffered from high degradation in the first stint after being pushed hard by Lando Norris. He pitted early on lap 12, triggering the other two stoppers and was a victim of the safety cars. With the hot conditions causing Mercedes problems, we are going to see more of this.

Rating: 7.6

Carlos Sainz

Again, another solid weekend from Carlos. Argued that he was screwed by his team’s strategy putting on to the two stop when clearly the one stop was the right way to go on Sunday and was further exasperated by the virtual safety car coming out at the right time for the one stoppers. Another point scoring position could arguably have been sixth or seventh on another day.

Rating: 7.8

Isack Hadjar

Another point scoring position for the ever impressive rookie. Started eleventh, was running as high as fourth with Alex Albon during the early stages of the race, but wasn’t able to hang on to that position as the safety car and virtual safety car were not very well timed for him. He lost positions to Sainz and Russell during the safety car period and wasn’t able to make those positions back. More points for the young Frenchman.

Rating: 7.8

Yuki Tsunoda

A great recovery drive from Yuki from the pit lane after a humongous crash on Saturday, where he flipped his Aston Martin and was lucky to climb out of that uninjured. Went long in the first stint, made use of the virtual safety car and safety car to find his way back into the points at the flag.

Rating: 7.7

Fernando Alonso

Fernando was unlucky again, still not having scored a point in 2025. The Aston Martin looked much better after upgrades, and Alonso qualified fifth. However, an early pit stop and poorly timed safety cars left him unable to full recover, finishing eleventh.

Rating: 7.8

Nico Hulkenberg

Nico Hulkenberg had a great performance, running in the low teens for most of the race. He took advantage of the safety car periods and was running in tenth at the restart but couldn’t hold on, finishing twelfth.

Rating: 7.7

Pierre Gasly

Pierre Gasly had a tough race, pitting very early and dropping back after battling with Charles Leclerc. He was running in the mid-teens for most of the race, finishing thirteenth.

Rating: 7.6

Liam Lawson

Liam Lawson had a quiet race, qualifying fourteenth and finishing fourteenth. He was thoroughly outperformed by his younger and more inexperienced teammate.

Rating: 7.1

Lance Stroll

Lance Stroll had an unfortunate race after qualifying in the top ten. He was caught out by the safety cars and finished fifteenth.

Rating: 6.5

Franco Colapinto

Franco Colapinto had a tricky weekend on his second debut, crashing in qualifying and finishing sixteenth. He was tentative at the start and never really recovered.

Rating: 6.1

Ollie Bearman

Ollie Bearman had a quiet race, running towards the back for most of it and finishing seventeenth. He was unlucky in qualifying with his fastest time in Q1 being chalked off due to the red flag coming out just before he finished his lap.

Rating: 5.8

Gabriel Bortoleto

Bortoleto finished last on the road, outperformed by his teammate, Nico Hulkenberg. He had a few good battles towards the back, but couldn’t move forward.

Rating: 5.5

Kimi Antonelli

Kimi Antonelli had a scrappy weekend, retiring on lap 46 while running around fifth to eighth. He had some good battles but ended his race prematurely.

Rating: 7.2

Esteban Ocon

Esteban Ocon retired on lap 28 with an engine failure, impacting the race more than his driving did.

Rating: 5.5

In what could be the last time Formula One arrives in Imola for a while, this iconic circuit produced a decent race with plenty of action into Turn 1. Verstappen takes the honours of four consecutive wins at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, tying off its inclusion in the calendar for now. Next, the second leg of the triple header takes us to Monaco, where a mandated two-stop race could see some crazy strategies. Verstappen leaves Italy very much in the title fight, putting down a marker to McLaren that he isn’t going anywhere.

Miami Grand Prix Driver Ratings

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 04: Race winner Oscar Piastri of Australia and McLaren and the McLaren team celebrate during the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 04, 2025 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Oscar Piastri took the spoils on Sunday as McLaren completed the perfect weekend, winning both the sprint and the main race in Miami. Piastri capitalized on the first-lap drama, which saw Max Verstappen and Lando Norris go wheel-to-wheel into the first couple of corners. Verstappen forced Norris wide at Turn 2, gifting positions to Kimi Antonelli and Piastri. Jack Doohan and Liam Lawson collided at the first corner, causing the first virtual safety car of the race and ending Doohan’s day with a puncture.

Piastri delivered an assured drive in the clearly fastest McLaren. After getting ahead of Antonelli, he pursued Verstappen, made a decisive pass, and drove off into the distance. Norris recovered from the first-corner scuffle, which pushed him down to sixth, and managed to pass the two Mercedes and Verstappen after a great battle. However, Piastri had already built a nine-second lead by that time. Norris closed the gap to just over three seconds by the flag but couldn’t catch his teammate.

George Russell took the final podium position, benefiting from the second virtual safety car to leapfrog Verstappen in the pits. Williams had a much-improved weekend, with Alex Albon finishing fifth and Carlos Sainz ninth. Kimi Antonelli made history by becoming the youngest driver to take pole in any Qualifying format, and still has two years to break Sebastian Vettel’s record for the youngest pole-sitter for a main race.

The race in Miami was full of intrigue, with rain on Saturday spicing up the sprint. However, the threatened rain on Sunday never arrived, leaving the race humid and tense. McLaren’s dominance was clear, and they took full advantage.

1. Oscar Piastri

Piastri completed the hat-trick of wins in Miami, to overtake his teammate in the F1 wins list. He took advantage of the squabbling in front at the start, made decisive passes, and drove off in the fastest car. He extends his championship lead to 16 points and is starting to look like THE title contender.
Rating: 8.6

2. Lando Norris

The safety car helped Norris in the sprint, but there was no such luck on Sunday. After a better start than Verstappen, he was pushed wide at Turn 2 and dropped to sixth. He made some nice passes to recover to second but couldn’t catch Piastri in the end.
Rating: 8.3

3. George Russell

A great result for Russell, who took advantage of the virtual safety car to leapfrog Verstappen in the pits and secure third, despite not being fully on the pace all weekend. He held off the Dutchman to the end and even a Red Bull appeal post-race.
Rating: 7.9

4. Max Verstappen

Not Max’s finest race. Despite holding off Norris from pole at the first corner, he couldn’t keep the McLarens back once they found their groove and was unlucky to lose third during the virtual safety car. Max knows he needs to be aggressive against the McLarens as his car simply doesn’t have the pace to challenge in the long term.
Rating: 7.7

5. Alex Albon

A great result for Williams. Albon qualified seventh, had a nice battle with his teammate early on before pulling away and securing a comfortable fifth place at the flag. He was working around a water pressure issue all race, so this result is even more impressive. My driver of the day.
Rating: 8.7

6. Kimi Antonelli

A fantastic sprint qualifying saw Antonelli take pole, but he couldn’t hold the lead in the damp conditions. In the race, he started third but couldn’t keep pace with the frontrunners. He lost time in the pits, trying an undercut just at the wrong time, with the virtual safety car coming out the next lap. Helped his teammate jump Verstappen, though, so good inadvertent teamwork from the rookie.
Rating: 8.1

7. Charles Leclerc

A tricky weekend for Ferrari. Leclerc crashed in the sprint reconnaissance lap and ran in the lower points throughout the race. The most excitement seemed to come on the radio as the Ferrari drivers scabbled over who should lead their attack but neither was able to make an impression.
Rating: 7.3

8. Lewis Hamilton

A podium in the sprint was Lewis’ weekend highlight, but he cut a frustrated figure during the main race. He got stuck behind Ocon for the first half but showed great pace once on the mediums, but got stuck again, this time behind his teammate and Sainz. Once released, he wasn’t able to pull away and had to let Leclerc back through. Bit of a mess from Ferrari there.
Rating: 7.4

9. Carlos Sainz

A solid weekend with double points for Williams. He wasn’t able to keep his teammate behind and then got stuck behind the Ferraris to pick up ninth place. He is showing more consistent pace though, which is encouraging for him and the team as they secure best of the rest status.
Rating: 7.9

10. Yuki Tsunoda

A relatively under-the-radar weekend for Tsunoda, who qualified and finished tenth but is definitely heading in the right direction. They should have given him the second Red Bull seat from the start.
Rating: 7.5

11. Isack Hadjar

Another decent performance from Hadjar, who is battling Antonelli for rookie of the year honours. He was unlucky to miss out on points, finishing just 0.2 seconds behind Tsunoda.
Rating: 7.6

12. Esteban Ocon

Ocon qualified ninth but finished twelfth, unable to hold onto a points-paying position as some faster cars came past. A better weekend after being thoroughly outperformed by his teammate in Jeddah.
Rating: 7.4

13. Pierre Gasly

A solid recovery drive from eighteenth to thirteenth, but Gasly never troubled the points. This alpine is proving quite inconsistent.
Rating: 7.2

14. Nico Hulkenberg

Not much to say for Hulkenberg, who started sixteenth and finished fourteenth.
Rating: 6.9

15. Fernando Alonso

Another tough weekend for Alonso, who crashed in the sprint and finished fifteenth after a lazy spin in the early stages. Still no points in 2025 for the Spaniard.
Rating: 6.2

16. Lance Stroll

Stroll finished last on the road, continuing a season where he is becoming increasingly irrelevant.
Rating: 6.1

Retirees

17. Liam Lawson

Liam was involved in the first corner collision with Doohan, which put him to the back and the Aussie out of the race. He wasn’t able to recover before retiring on lap 37.

Rating: 5.5

18. Gabriel Bortoleto

Gabriel retired on lap 30 with engine issues after running towards the back until then. Did outqualify his teammate and got into Q2 but that’s where his weekend peaked.

Rating: 5.8

19. Ollie Bearman

A tricky weekend for Ollie, he qualified last and wasn’t able to finish the race, retiring on lap 27 with an engine failure. Never good when your biggest moment is the novelty of seeing an engine failure, which is rare nowadays.

Rating: 5.2

20. Jack Doohan

Another race for Jack that ended before it could get going. He did well to outqualify his teammate but collided with Lawson at Turn 1 as they tussled over the same piece of tarmac. Their contact caused a puncture, and he retired before he could complete one circuit.

Rating: 5.2

The Formula One circus now moves to Italy for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola. Expect McLaren to be quick on this fast, flowing, old school circuit. See you next time!

Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Driver Ratings

Oscar Piastri claimed victory at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, and the lead in the world championship after a dramatic Turn 1, which was really the peak of the excitement in Jeddah. Max Verstappen effectively shot himself in the foot, handed Piastri the advantage, and the Australian driver never looked back. Oscar got a great start from second on the grid, drawing alongside Verstappen, and took the high ground at the apex. Instead of conceding, the Red Bull driver ran wide and cut the corner to hold onto the lead, and more importantly, the clean air. Verstappen was handed a five-second penalty for the incident, and Piastri dutifully stayed within that window during the first stint. After leapfrogging the Red Bull during the pit stops, Piastri maintained a steady gap, managing the race well to secure his third win of the season.

Behind Piastri, Lando Norris delivered a strong recovery drive, climbing from tenth on the grid to finish fourth after a crash in Q3. Charles Leclerc secured Ferrari’s first podium of the year with a solid third-place finish, while George Russell and Kimi Antonelli rounded out the top six for Mercedes. There was some action behind, particularly on the main straight into Turn 1, but overall, it was a relatively straightforward affair with a one-stop strategy dominating the field. Now to the ratings.

Driver Ratings

Oscar Piastri – 8.3

Piastri’s commanding drive from second on the grid was a beautifully managed race, if not a tad boring. He capitalized on Verstappen’s indiscretion at Turn 1, stayed within the five-second penalty window, and executed a crucial overtake on Lewis Hamilton at Turn 22 to secure a comfortable lead while performing the undercut. With this win, Piastri has now won a tenth of all the races he’s ever competed in. Decent.

Max Verstappen – 7.9

Verstappen doesn’t really want to learn his lesson with these new overtaking rules. He basically replicated his situation with Norris in Austin last year and expected a difference result with the roles swapped around in Jeddah. The stewards didn’t agree with him this time and he earned himself a five-second penalty. Despite a fantastic qualifying performance, he couldn’t close the gap to Piastri in the second stint after losing the lead in the pits. While he showed good pace, the penalty ultimately cost him a shot at victory. However, is me having to write that show actually how good a job Verstappen is doing in that Red Bull?

Charles Leclerc – 8.4

Leclerc delivered Ferrari’s first podium of the year with a composed drive from 4th on the grid. He managed his mediums really well, pitting late on Lap 29 to create a nice tyre advantage and overtook George Russell to secure third place at the flag. This was Leclerc’s best performance of the year.

Lando Norris – 7.4

Norris recovered well from an eventful qualifying session to finish fourth. Starting tenth after crashing in Q3, he worked his way through the field methodically and was only 1.1 seconds behind a podium at the flag. These mistakes continue to cost him valuable points in the championship, mistakes which his rivals just aren’t making. Long way to go though.

George Russell – 7.5

Russell struggled with tyre overheating throughout the race, limiting his ability to challenge for the podium, despite running in 3rd for the first stint. While he finished fifth, it was a difficult performance by Mercedes’ standards in 2025 and a potential problem on the horizon as track temps will continue to rise as we get into the season.

Kimi Antonelli – 8.1

The Italian rookie impressed once again, finishing sixth after starting fifth. Despite a late brush with the wall, Antonelli showed pace and consistency, further cementing his reputation as one of the season’s standout drivers. You can argue against such a high score compared to Russell, but context is key here, he’s performancing beyond his experience.

Lewis Hamilton – 6.9

Lewis had a quiet race after a promising start, finishing seventh. He struggled with the Ferrari’s balance which has been a theme of 2025, finishing 30 seconds behind his teammate. The seven-time champion appears to be at odds with himself.

Carlos Sainz – 8.4

Sainz had a much-needed strong weekend, qualifying sixth and finishing eighth. He was the lead Williams driver throughout the weekend and played a key role in helping the team secure double points replicating his DRS tactic from Singapore 2023 to keep his teammate ahead of Hadjar.

Alex Albon – 7.9

Albon was outperformed by his teammate but still managed to score decent points for Williams as they took the best-of-the-rest honours. His ninth-place finish helped the team take fifth in the constructors’ championship.

Isaac Hadjar – 8.1

The French rookie continued to impress, finishing in the points again. He took advantage of the first lap crash to move up into the points and was threatening the Williams for more. Hadjar is staking a strong claim for Rookie of the Year, consistently delivering solid performances.

Fernando Alonso – 7.6

Alonso had a better race but still missed out on points. He narrowly avoided a collision with Gabriel Bortoleto, showed glimpses of pace, and took advantage of Lawson’s penalty but didn’t threaten the top ten.

Liam Lawson – 7.5

Lawson was unlucky to receive a ten-second penalty for running ever-so-slightly wide at Turn 1 overtaking Doohan which dropped him from 11th to 12th. Despite that setback, he showed better race pace.

Ollie Bearman – 7.8

Baerman was the leading Haas driver once again, finishing 13th. The young Englishman continues to impress in his rookie season against a solid F1 teammate.

Esteban Ocon – 6.2

Ocon was outperformed by his rookie teammate and failed to make an impact in the race. It was a quiet weekend for the French driver.

Nico Hulkenberg – 7.1

Hulkenberg finished 15th in what is arguably the slowest car on the grid. He did well to finish ahead of several drivers despite starting 18th.

Lance Stroll – 5.2

Stroll had another forgettable weekend, qualifying 16th and failing to make progress in the race. His lack of impact in Formula 1 continues.

Jack Doohan – 5.1

Doohan overtook Bortoleto on the final lap to hand over the wooden spoon to the Brazilian. That’s about it.

Gabriel Bortoleto – 5.1

Same as Doohan really, Bortoleto ran at the back all race, moved off the bottom during the pits but couldn’t hold on.

Pierre Gasly – 5.0

Pierre’s race ended on Lap 1 after a race incident with Yuki Tsunoda. As Martin Brundle says “2 into 1 doesn’t go” at Turn 4 with both ending in the barriers.

Yuki Tsunoda – 5.0

See above with a better qualifying performance from Yuki, getting into the Top 10 again.

Championship Standings

With this win, Piastri becomes the first Australian to lead the championship since Mark Webber in 2010. Verstappen and Norris remain close behind, while Mercedes and Ferrari continue to chase McLaren in the constructors’ standings. The season now heads to Miami in two weeks, where the battle for supremacy is sure to intensify.

Bahrain Grand Prix Driver Ratings

There we go, that’s much better! The Bahrain Grand Prix extinguished any memories of last weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix to put on a show in the desert; showcasing the best of Formula One.

Oscar Piastri made it look easy at the front with a commanding victory from pole position, however, behind him was pure entertainment. Several competing strategies meant a mixed up order throughout with overtaking all over the track, and a safety car to bunch the field, giving us action all the way to the end. Lando Norris managed to climb back up to third after a poor qualifying session. The Ferraris looked quick, and Lewis Hamilton appeared to be getting on top of his car, while the Red Bulls still seemed a step behind.

A shout-out to the rookies, in particular Ollie Bearman, who came from last to earn points—a great drive from the young Brit. There were solid performances all around; Antonelli had a great race even though he didn’t score any points, and so did Jack Doohan, but strategy decisions derailed their races.

Overall, it was a great race, exactly what we needed and a timely reinforcement for my next article on why Formula One should enforce each car to use all three dry tyre compounds per race. Look out for that shortly.

Right, into the ratings.

Oscar Piastri

Oscar dominated the weekend, securing a commanding victory from pole position. He led from start to finish, easing into the race during the first stint before pulling away in the second and third. The safety car briefly brought the pack closer, but Piastri remained untroubled, showing great speed and consistency.

8.8/10

George Russell

George Russell had another strong weekend, qualifying second but starting third due to a strange team penalty for instructing their drivers to leave the garage before the pit lane opened in Q2 after Ocon’s crash. He made a great start, taking second in the opening laps and holding his position throughout the race. His strategy of soft-medium-soft worked perfectly, and he held off Lando Norris in the closing stages to secure second place.

8.8/10

Lando Norris

Lando had a scruffy weekend in Bahrain which started in qualifying, leaving him sixth on the grid, and then a five-second penalty for being out of his grid box at the start cost him valuable time in the race. Despite this, he fought back to finish third, but more points dropped. In a tight title battle, he needs to be more consistent.

7.8/10

Charles Leclerc

The Monegasque driver outperformed his car, qualifying third and starting second after Russell’s penalty. Ferrari’s alternate strategy of starting on mediums saw him lose positions early, but he fought back with strong overtakes when he had the tyre advantage later on. A late switch to hards cost him some pace, but he held off Norris for a long time before finishing fourth.

8.2/10

Lewis Hamilton

The seven-time champ had a better weekend, though qualifying remains an area he must improve upon, which is crazy to write. Starting ninth, he delivered a solid recovery drive, running medium-medium-hard, like his teammate. He showed strong pace in the middle stint, briefly climbing to fourth before settling for fifth. Progress with the car is evident, and he’ll look to build on this in Jeddah.


7.8/10

Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen struggled with a twitchy Red Bull, qualifying seventh and finishing sixth. Brake issues hampered his ability to attack, and team operational problems in the pits cost him time. Despite these challenges, you’ve got to expect he extracted the most from his car, and did show great speed in bursts.


7.8/10

Pierre Gasly

Pierre was a standout performer in Bahrain, qualifying fifth and finishing seventh. He showed great pace throughout the weekend, battling with the top teams and narrowly losing out to Verstappen on the final lap. His consistency and aggression were impressive, making him my driver of the weekend.


9.1/10

Esteban Ocon

Ocon delivered a strong race, starting 14th after his Q2 shunt but finished seventh. An aggressive strategy of pitting early for fresh tires gave him a great undercut, and he maximized his pace in the Haas. This continues the team’s strong turnaround after a worrying start to the season in Australia.

8.5/10

Yuki Tsunoda

Yuki Tsunoda had a better weekend, qualifying tenth and finishing ninth. He was involved in battles throughout the race, including a collision with Carlos Sainz that ended the Ferrari driver’s race. Despite some setbacks, Tsunoda showed improved pace and consistency.

7.5/10

Ollie Bearman

Ollie Bearman was another star of the race, starting last after a poor qualifying but finishing tenth to score points. His overtakes and tyre management were exceptional, showcasing his potential as a rookie. This performance will boost his confidence moving forward.


8.9/10

Kimi Antonelli

Kimi Antonelli was another standout rookie, qualifying fifth and showing great pace throughout the race. Mercedes’ strategy cost him track position, but he fought back from 14th to finish 11th. His aggression and precision were impressive, even if he missed out on points.


8.1/10

Alex Albon

Alex Albon was unlucky to finish 12th after a strong race. He was on course for eighth before the safety car came out just after he pitted, dropping him down the order. Despite the setback, he showed good pace and made significant progress from 15th on the grid.


7.6/10

Nico Hulkenberg

Nico Hulkenberg finished 13th in what is likely the slowest car on the grid. He took advantage of the chaos and safety car to move up the order, but there’s little more he could have done given the car’s limitations.


8.2/10

Isack Hadjar

Hadjar had a tougher weekend, qualifying 12th and finishing 14th. A slow start and aggressive strategy didn’t pay off, and he struggled to keep up with the pack after the safety car. It was a decent performance but not up to his recent standard.


7.3/10

Jack Doohan

Jack was unfortunate to finish 15th after running in the points for much of the race. A poorly timed pit stop before the safety car cost him track position, but he showed good pace and progress after a slow and, accident heavy, start to his F1 career.


7.4/10

Fernando Alonso

Alonso had a quiet race, qualifying 13th and finishing 16th. Aston Martin’s struggles continued, and there was little Alonso could do to make an impact. They are quickly becoming the forgotten team in 2025.


7.1/10

Liam Lawson

Lawson finished 17th after a race filled with battles and penalties. A ten-second penalty for a collision with Bortoleto summed up a difficult weekend for the man from Auckland. He is being shown up by the other rookies and needs to put in a performance quickly, before Helmut Marko gets another bout of itchy fingers.

6.2/10

Lance Stroll

Lance Stroll qualified 19th and finished 18th, reflecting Aston Martin’s struggles. He was largely invisible during the race, and there’s little to say about his performance. Again, sums Aston Martin up at the moment.


3.5/10

Gabriel Bortoleto

Gabriel Bortoleto finished 19th after being involved in a collision with Lawson. He struggled to make an impression really and made up the backmarkers throughout the race.


5.5/10

Carlos Sainz

Carlos Sainz was unfortunate to retire after a collision with Tsunoda damaged his sidepod. He had a strong weekend, outqualifying his teammate and running in the points before the incident.


7.6/10

P.S.

Nico Hulkenberg was disqualified post-race for excessive plank wear, but his performance remains unchanged in the ratings.

Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings

Max Verstappen led home the two McLarens at Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix, securing his first victory of the season. While this keeps my early bold predictions alive, the race itself was far from thrilling. Reminiscent of Monaco last year, there was very little action, as summed up by Oscar Piastri in the post-race debrief. The highlights were sparse, with only one change in the top 10 from grid to finish: Lewis Hamilton overtook Isaac Hadjar early on to claim seventh. Beyond that, there was minimal movement, making for a rather uneventful race.

The sweeping turns of Suzuka made it difficult for drivers to follow closely, and the lack of overtaking opportunities contributed to a race that was, frankly, a bit boring. One notable performance came from Kimi Antonelli, who led the race for the first time and became the youngest driver to do so. This was his last chance to beat Max Verstappen’s record as the youngest F1 winner, but he fell short.

Now, let’s dive into the driver ratings

Max Verstappen

Max won the race in qualifying, securing pole with a lap that edged out the McLarens by less than a tenth of a second. The damp conditions on race day helped mitigate overheating issues, a particular strength of the McLarens. Verstappen took a strong start, held off Lando Norris into the first corner, and maintained a measured pace throughout, keeping the McLarens in his dirty air. A slightly slower pit stop didn’t cost him, as he emerged just ahead of Norris and controlled the race to the finish. A consistent, mature drive.


8.5/10

Lando Norris

It was a case of “so close, yet so far” for Lando. The McLaren looked the fastest car all weekend, but Max got the better of them when it mattered. He got a great start, matching Verstappen, but couldn’t get alongside into the first corner. From there, he was stuck behind Max, unable to get close enough for DRS. McLaren’s decision to pit him on the same lap as Verstappen was questionable, and a faster stop might have changed the outcome. Still, a solid performance.


7.3/10

Oscar Piastri

Oscar’s fate was sealed in qualifying, where he couldn’t quite challenge for pole. Starting third, he was unable to make progress up the field. He looked quicker than Norris at times, threatening with DRS, but couldn’t capitalize. Pitting one lap earlier than the leaders didn’t help, and he came home third. A strong drive, but overshadowed slightly by his teammate.


7.2/10

Charles Leclerc

A lonely race for Charles, who qualified fourth and finished fourth. He outperformed the car slightly in qualifying, which set him up for a solid race. He finished 16 seconds behind Verstappen and 1.5 seconds ahead of George Russell. A decent drive, especially with his teammate down in seventh.


7.6/10

George Russell

The leading Mercedes driver all weekend, George qualified fifth and finished fifth. He was slightly disappointed not to be on the second row, as the Mercedes seems to be the second-fastest car at the moment. He followed Leclerc home, finishing 2.5 seconds behind. A solid but unspectacular performance.


6.9/10

Kimi Antonelli

Another strong weekend for Kimi, who qualified sixth and finished sixth. He led the race for the first time, becoming the youngest driver to do so, and finished just 1.3 seconds behind Russell. His consistent performances are proving Mercedes right for promoting him.


7.9/10

Lewis Hamilton

Another off weekend for Lewis. He started eighth on hards, hoping for a safety car, and overtook Hadjar early on as one of few on track overtakes. However, he struggled on fresher tyres after pitting out of sequence, finishing nearly 20 seconds behind Antonelli. Something isn’t quite clicking for Lewis this season.

6.5/10

Isack Hadjar

Hadjar scored his first F1 points after qualifying seventh and finishing eighth, solidifying his position as the best of the rest. He’s been consistently quick and easily outperformed his new teammate. A really strong start to his F1 career.


7.8/10

Alex Albon

Albon has been the standout performer for Williams this year. He qualified ninth and finished ninth, continuing his run of Q3 appearances. A solid, consistent drive, despite some angry radio messages.
Rating: 7.8/10

Ollie Bearman

Bearman continues to impress in his rookie season. He qualified tenth and finished tenth, outperforming his teammate Ocon, who finished eighteenth. A great performance to leave his Australian nightmare in the past.


8.1/10

Fernando Alonso

Alonso started thirteenth and finished eleventh, gaining two positions. He had a nice duel with Pierre Gasly on the opening lap but otherwise had a quiet race.
Rating: 7.3/10

Yuki Tsunoda

Tsunoda didn’t have his dream Red Bull debut, starting fourteenth and finished twelfth, at least he outperformed Liam Lawson in the Racing Bull. A decent performance at his home race, but not enough to challenge for points.
Rating: 6.9/10

Pierre Gasly

Gasly started eleventh and finished thirteenth. He’s been consistently around the points but hasn’t been able to break into the top ten. A solid drive, but the Alpine lacks pace.
Rating: 7.2/10

Carlos Sainz

A tricky weekend for Sainz. He qualified twelfth but received a three-place grid penalty for impeding Hamilton in Quali. He finished fourteenth, struggling with braking issues, especially into the final chicane.


6.2/10

Jack Doohan

Doohan had a tough weekend, qualifying nineteenth after a big crash in FP2. He made some progress in the race but finished fifteenth, 20 seconds behind his teammate.
Rating: 6.3/10

Nico Hülkenberg

Hülkenberg qualified sixteenth and finished sixteenth in the slowest car on the grid. A solid but unremarkable performance.
Rating: 6.8/10

Liam Lawson

Lawson was demoted back to Racing Bulls after just two races and struggled in Japan. He started thirteenth and finished seventeenth, going backwards throughout the race. He was thoroughly outperformed by his teammate, which can’t keep happening anymore.


5.5/10

Esteban Ocon

A poor weekend for Ocon, who qualified nineteenth and finished eighteenth. He was thoroughly outperformed by his rookie teammate Bearman.
Rating: 4.5/10

Lance Stroll

Stroll started last after a gust of wind ruined his qualifying lap and made little progress in the race, finishing nineteenth.
Rating: 4.5/10

Gabriel Bortoleto

Bortoleto had a tough weekend, qualifying seventeenth and finishing twentieth. He struggled with the slow Sauber and couldn’t recover after a poor start.
Rating: 5.1/10

Final Thoughts

The Japanese Grand Prix was a largely uneventful race, with minimal overtaking and little drama. The weather conditions didn’t help, making the race more predictable rather than spicing things up. While there were some standout performances, the lack of action left fans wanting more. Perhaps a two-tire rule, requiring drivers to use all three dry compounds, could inject some excitement into future races. Until then, we’ll have to hope for more thrilling weekends ahead.

1968 Part 2 – Wings, Sponsors and Helmets

1968 was a big year for turning points in F1 history – so big it needs two articles. Three innovations from 1968 would change the face (quite literally) of F1. Two were on-track and one off-track. Let’s start off-track.

Sponsors

Heading into the 1968 season, the oil companies BP and Shell decided to pull out of F1 at the same time as tyre supplier Firestone withdrew their free supply to F1 teams. This left F1 in serious financial trouble, so it decided to allow sponsorship for the first time. Previously the cars would run with no badging and would be in the national colours of the manufacturer, but sponsorship instantly changed the way F1 looked and was financed. The first team to run sponsors was the privately run Gunston team, who adorned the livery of their title sponsor – Gunston cigarettes – at the opening Grand Prix in South Africa. This was the only F1 race they would enter that year to promote their product to their largest market – showing instantly that F1 had already become more than a sport. The cigarette sponsorship would not stop there. 11 other cigarette companies would sponsor 22 F1 teams until they were banned in the mid-2000s. It wasn’t just tobacco that jumped in to sponsor F1 teams; fuel, oil, alcohol, tyre and even condom companies moved in as they saw the commercial value of these cars as moving billboards. The range of high-end brands that adorn the cars, race suits and team merch today help fund one of the most expensive sports in the world. Whatever you think of the corporate world that sponsors has created, without them, it’s very likely F1 wouldn’t be around today.

This introduction of sponsors immediately created one of the most iconic F1 liveries – the Gold Leaf Team Lotus car. In the wake of Jim Clarke’s death in April, Lotus and Colin Chapman turned up to the second race of the season in Spain with their car glistening in the famous red and gold. It was reported that this sponsorship raised £1.2 million for the team. This money was clearly well spent as at Monaco, they introduced the single most important development in the sport’s history: wings.

Wings

Before Monaco 1968, F1 cars relied solely on mechanical grip from the tyres to get around corners but this was about to change. Colin Chapman had been plotting this innovation for some time after being convinced that the effect an aeroplane wing has on a plane – to lift it into the air – could work in the opposite direction for an F1 car – to push it into the ground. He described its effect with my favourite F1 term – negative lift. The unique characteristics of the Monaco street circuit, being extremely tight and twisty meant it was the perfect place to try his new toy.

The Lotus 49B would have two small wings poking out each side of the front chassis with an aerofoil rear wing which was basically a large dinner tray attached to the rear engine structure. While they didn’t look like much, their unseen effect was massive. They worked by manipulating the air as they passed through it, creating a speed differentiation between the air passing over and under them, which in turn created a low-pressure area underneath the car. This low-pressure area produced a suction effect that pushed the car into the ground. This meant the tyres experienced a much higher load and a larger contact patch with the ground, producing much more grip. While these wings were very rudimentary by today’s standards, in 1968 they were revolutionary and very effective. Graham Hill took pole position and the win in the Lotus 49B’s first outing, and once again, F1 would never be the same.

By the time of the next race in Belgium, Ferrari and Brabham had gone one better, installing rear wings on struts high above the car, while Matra had installed a full-length front wing. They even added a high front wing on struts but that was only used in practice as it was quite hard to control. The teams would go back and forth throughout the year producing more and more sophisticated set ups and by the end of the year, most teams had installed wings on their cars. Wings have been used as the primary producer of downforce in F1 for decades, except for the ground effect years of the 1980s and now, from 2022 onwards. Negative lift, or downforce as we now know it (but I prefer negative lift), lay the foundations for F1 to separate itself from other engine-powered series in terms of performance.

The final innovation of 1968 was the introduction of full-face helmets for drivers. While it was essentially a safety measure it did drastically change the driver’s look. Going from looking like they were about to jump into a World War 2 bomber, to slick, futuristic astronauts. It symbolised F1’s continued technological evolution.

Dan Gurney was the instigator of this particular evolution, being the first driver to wear a full-faced helmet at the German Grand Prix. He had helped to invent it with the Bell Helmet Company, who still supply half of the F1 grid. Once Gurney wore one at the Nürburgring, other drivers followed suit and they became mandatory from 1970 onwards.

While some drivers had used their helmets to distinguish themselves while in the car before full face became the norm – Graham Hill and Jackie Stewart come to mind – this full face change gave drivers more freedom to show their individuality and they became a symbol of the driver. My favourite of this era was James Hunt’s, which had his name written in big letters on the side – just to leave no room for doubt.

Looking back at this, 1968 has an argument to be one of the most influential years in F1 history – if you think you know a year that tops this, let me know in the comments.

Until next time.

1968 – Ford, Clarke and The Flying Scotsmen

1968 was a transition year for Formula 1 in many senses, and not always for good reason.

The Ford DFV

The year started with the wider implementation of arguably the greatest racing engine of all time – the Ford Double-Four Valve V8 – this iconic engine was conceived by Colin Chapman and Lotus F1, who had convinced Ford to develop it when 3-litre engines were introduced for 1966. It won on the first attempt at Zandvoort 1967 as Graham Hill stuck his Lotus 49 on pole, but when he retired with clutch issues, his teammate Jim Clarke came through the field to take the chequered flag in his stead.

Chapman had worked hard to get exclusivity of this engine for his Lotus team but Ford was worried their brand could be tarnished as the competition around them wasn’t strong enough; Ferrari’s engine was underpowered, the BRM was too complex, the Maserati unreliable and the Honda overweight. They wanted to instead supply to anyone who wanted one and dominate the whole of F1 rather than just one team.

They wanted to create a cheap engine – £7,500 in 1967 – competitive, light, compact and easy to run so that any team, big or small could screw it in and go racing.

So, they did. And Chapman wasn’t happy.

But Ford had made their decision and the Double-Four Valve V8 would go on to win 155 of the next 262 races from 1967 – 1985. The Ferrari was the only other engine that even made a dent. The Ford DFV would win every single race in 1969 and 1973. It became THE engine of F1 and gave Formula 1 teams the financial freedom to innovate and push the sport into the global player it is today. Without the DFV, F1 would look very different, despite Colin Chapman’s anger.

Jim Clark

While one F1 icon was just getting started, tragically the sport would lose another in 1968. Jim Clark was arguably the driver of the 1960s. Starting in 1960, he spent his whole F1 career with Lotus and won championships in ’63 & ’65 but it could have been so much more if his cars had been more reliable. Oil leaks in crucial races in 1962 & 1964 robbed Clark of two more titles but they weren’t isolated instances. There was a feeling in F1 at the time that if Clarke finished a race, he was winning it.

Clarke produced performances that even for F1, were extraordinary. In 1963, he won a rainy and foggy Belgian Grand Prix at Spa by over 5 minutes and lapped the whole field apart from Bruce McLaren in 2nd. Clarke holds the record for most grand slams in F1 history – taking pole, fastest lap, victory and leading every lap – doing it 8 times.

He would led 71.47% of the laps raced in 1963, which is another record. At the Italian Grand Prix of 1967, he started from pole and led the way until a puncture derailed his progress. He lost a lap while the wheel was changed and re-joined the race in 16th place. However, he would go on to drive back through the field, breaking the lap record on multiple occasions and even equalled his qualifying lap of 1.28.5. He regained the lap AND THE LEAD. Heading into the lap last he was narrowly leading John Surtees and Jack Brabham when his car started fluttering. It hadn’t been filled up with enough fuel. He would coast over the line in 3rd but that performance speaks for itself. He was the class of the field, even against F1 legends.

Clarke didn’t just race in F1 during his career either. He was the first non-American Indianapolis winner in 50 years when he conquered the brickyard in 1965 as the first mid-engined victor, becoming the only driver to win the F1 title and the 500 in the same year. He also raced in British saloon cars, Le Mans, American open-wheel, the Australasian Tasman series (winning it in 1965, 1967 and 1968) and F2, which would be his tragic downfall.

On 7th April 1968, Jim Clarke took part in an F2 event at Hockenheim, Germany during the 4-month gap between the first and second F1 races of the season. On the fifth lap of the race, Clarke’s Lotus veered off the track and smashed into the trees that lined the track. He suffered horrific injuries and died before he reached hospital. The exact reason for the crash has never been determined but it’s thought that it was caused by a punctured rear tyre.

His fellow drivers refused to believe that the crash was caused by driver error because they didn’t believe Clarke was capable of making a mistake like that. Clarke’s driving style was so smooth that he took care of the cars he drove – Jackie Stewart remembers “He was so smooth, he was so clean, he drove with such finesse. He never bullied a racing car, he caressed it into doing things he wanted it to do” Clarke’s tyres would last 4 races and his brake pads would last 3 times longer than other drivers. This made it even harder for people to accept that his cars didn’t take care of him.

In the wake of Jim Clarke’s death, the F1 community was devastated – it had lost its talisman, its best driver and more importantly, a friend. Colin Chapman said he lost his best friend that day – many F1 drivers were in his close circle, including his compatriot Jackie Stewart. In a tragic turn of fate on that afternoon in Germany, F1 lost its talisman, but his successor was waiting in the wings.

The Flying Scotsman

Stewart had been following in Clarke’s footsteps throughout his junior career and reached F1 in 1964 as Clarke was taking over. He had some success during his early years, winning 2 races in his first 2 years in F1. However, things changed in 1968. Stewart had been driving for Ken Tyrell’s racing outfit in the lower formula but switched to Owen Racing to gain an F1 seat. He would reunite with Tyrell, joining the Ken Tyrell-run Matra team. This partnership would turn out to be one of the most successful in F1 history. He would win his first title in 1969 for Matra International and made the switch to the full Tyrell team in 1970 for its inaugural season. He would win two championships in the French Racing Blue of The Elf Tyrell team in 1971 and 1973. He retired immediately before taking part in his 100th F1 race after the death of his teammate and friend Francois Cevert in practise at Watkins Glen. This was the last straw in a career where he lost too many friends to sub-standard safety in the sport. These losses, including his great friend Jim, would motivate Stewart to campaign for improved safety during and after his career, changing the way the sport is run forever. He retired with the record for most wins at 27.

“I would have been a much more popular World Champion if I had always said what people wanted to hear. I might have been dead, but definitely more popular”

Sir Jackie Stewart

The Horse Starts Pushing the Cart

For as long as cars had been racing each other, be it up hills, around airfields or streets, their engines had been in front of the driver. That was just how it worked. Enzo Ferrari summed it up beautifully when he said “The horse shouldn’t push the cart with its nose, it pulls it” but this all changed in 1958. Formula 1 is all about innovation and before long someone had come up with a better solution. This solution would change not just F1, but all of motorsport.

This great innovation wasn’t thought up by one of the big boys in a factory but by father-son duo Charles and John Cooper. They had started making racing cars from their garage in Surbiton, Surrey in 1946, entered F1 in 1950 at the Monaco Grand Prix and by the mid 1950s, they had built up a considerable reputation for building fast cars.

So when Jack Brabham turned up to the 1957 Monaco Grand Prix and finished 6th in a Cooper T43 Climax with the engine positioned behind him, the F1 community took note. However, it wasn’t until the first two races of 1958 when they would realise that they had a revolution on their hands. Sterling Moss would win the Argentinian Grand Prix in a privately run rear-engined Cooper T43 on a controversial no strategy but when Maurice Trintignant won the next race in Monaco at a canter in the exact same car, the cat was out of the bag and F1 would never be the same.

What the Coopers realised was rear-engined cars pushed the majority of weight to the middle so the cars were less susceptible to spinning, easier to control and more effective at transferring traction into the road. They found time by giving the driver more confidence to push, and rewarded them with more grip when they did.

Despite Enzo Ferrari’s stubbornness, over the next couple years the rest of the grid would transition to rear-engined cars and the final victory for a front-engined car would come at the Italian Grand Prix of 1959 at Monza. It was won by Ferrari, but not by coincidence, after the race organisers changed the track layout to include the famous banking, the bumpy surface suiting the rear-engined car much more favourably.

Jack Brabham would go on to win the Driver’s Championship in 1959 and 1960 for Cooper, becoming the first rear-engined Champion. Since then, every other driver and constructor to win the F1 championship has won with the horse pushing them by its nose.

P.S. – An extra fun fact to leave you with – John Cooper is the naming inspiration for one of the most famous cars in history – The Mini Cooper, which he helped to conceive.