F1 Driver Ratings: Abu Dhabi 2019

Lewis Hamilton dominated the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to secure his 11th win of the 2019 season and the 84th of his career.

Max Verstappen was a distant second and had nothing to match the pace of Hamilton and the Mercedes.

Charles Leclerc was fortunate to not be disqualified after Ferrari declared the wrong fuel weight before the start of the race. Ferrari were fined 50,000 Euros but Leclerc escaped a big penalty.

Valtteri Bottas recovered from the back of the grid to fourth place, needing just a few more laps to attack Leclerc and perhaps get onto the podium.

2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit

Lewis Hamilton: 10/10

Max Verstappen: 9/10

Charles Leclerc: 8.5/10

Valtteri Bottas: 8.5/10

Sebastian Vettel: 7/10

Alexander Albon: 5.5/10

Sergio Perez: 9/10

Lando Norris: 8.5/10

Daniil Kvyat: 8/10

Carlos Sainz: 7.5/10

Daniel Ricciardo: 7/10

Nico Hulkenberg: 8/10

Kimi Raikkonen: 6.5/10

Kevin Magnussen: 6/10

Romain Grosjean: 6/10

Antonio Giovinazzi: 4.5/10

George Russell: 7.5/10

Pierre Gasly: 6/10

Robert Kubica: 6.5/10

DNF

Lance Stroll: 3.5/10

It is very rare that I give 10/10s but for the second consecutive event, I have done just so.

Lewis Hamilton had a faultless weekend. People will say that all he easily had the best car but anyone who does the grand chelem (pole position, fastest lap, lead every lap and win the race) almost certainly deserves the perfect score.

There is nothing Hamilton could have done better on Sunday. Considering he did the fastest lap of the race on an old set of tyres and a very old engine against a driver in the same car but with fresher tyres and a nearly brand-new engine, Hamilton showed he was on exemplary form.

Sergio Perez had another excellent race, not for the first time this season. Perez has had to fight the McLaren, Renault and Toro Rosso drivers affectively by himself with teammate Lance Stroll unable to help him in the midfield battle.

The Mexican has been very consistent, picking up world championship points in the last six Grand Prix in a car that is without doubt not always certain to score points.

A top 10 finish in the drivers’ standings is outstanding in my opinion because Racing Point have not had a car worthy of a top 10 in the final standings but Perez has dragged his car into the top half of the grid.

Stroll had a clumsy turn one which ruined his and Pierre Gasly’s race, almost causing damage to Perez too. It’s been a poor year for Stroll and he is very lucky to be on the grid in 2020 because he has not performed well at all this year.

That’s the final F1 Driver Ratings article from Nigel Chiu in 2019. He’ll be back next year to rate the drivers and give his view on the best and worst performers.

Stay tuned for plenty of features and opinion in the off-season.