F1 Driver Ratings: Germany 2019

An incredible German Grand Prix saw Max Verstappen claim his second win of the season, despite a spin in the middle of the race.

Sebastian Vettel astonishingly recovered from the back of the grid to finish 2nd with supreme pace at the end of the race whilst Daniil Kvyat gave Toro Rosso a superb podium having become a father the night before the race.

Lance Stroll was an equally mesmerising 4th, having led the race at one point with Robert Kubica taking a point and seven retirements in an extraordinary Grand Prix.

As always, the order below is the finishing order of the Grand Prix.

2019 German Grand Prix – Hockenheim

Max Verstappen: 9/10

Sebastian Vettel: 9/10

Daniil Kvyat: 9/10

Lance Stroll: 8.5/10

Carlos Sainz: 8/10

Alexander Albon: 8.5/10

Romain Grosjean: 7/10

Kevin Magnussen: 6.5/10

Lewis Hamilton: 5/10

Robert Kubica: 8/10

George Russell: 6.5/10

Kimi Raikkonen: 8.5/10

Antonio Giovinazzi: 7/10

RETIRED

Pierre Gasly: 3.5/10

Valtteri Bottas: 2/10

Nico Hulkenberg: 6.5/10

Charles Leclerc: 5/10

Lando Norris: 5.5/10

Daniel Ricciardo: 5.5/10

Sergio Perez: 3.5/10

This is by far the most difficult driver ratings I have had to do.

So many errors were made, and it is very difficult to judge the pace of the drivers. Even Kvyat and Stroll who had incredible results, were pretty average for most of the Grand Prix and were very fortunate to get the amazing results which they deserved.

It was mainly the gamble to go on to the dry tyres as early as they did at the penultimate safety car restart which got them up the field even though other drivers may have had a better race up until then.

In that sense, it was more down to the team rather than the driver but I must say that the driver likely had some input into the strategical decisions and both Kvyat and Stroll did very well to put themselves in the position they did.

But you then have the likes of Kimi Raikkonen and Alexander Albon who were arguably better than Kvyat and Stroll, having better pace and showing great skill in the tricky conditions, who lost out due to the final, pivotal strategical decision which cost them a potential podium. That’s what makes it hard.

Furthermore, the conditions must not be underestimated and part of the reason as to why there were so many incidents is because we have not had a wet race for 37 races (Singapore 2017) and there has been very little, if any wet running this year for most of the grid.

Of course, some coped better than others hence why those who did make a mistake received a very low rating. In the case of Valtteri Bottas, he was outqualified by a big margin by an ill teammate, he was outclassed in the wet weather and made a significant error when under severe pressure.

Bottas looked like he had been crying before he gave interviews to the media, clearly that race might be a game changer as to whether he stays with Mercedes or not after Toto Wolff said a decision would be made next month. Even before he crashed, I was astonished that he could not breeze by Stroll in the Racing Point, his pace was shocking.

It may have been a genuine Mercedes lack of pace issue; the upgrades may not have worked because Hamilton only crossed the line in 11th and made no progress in the final stages of the Grand Prix.

But back to the point, it was a mad race and has made it very difficult to give the right rating to the drivers. It doesn’t make things easier when I factor in qualifying as well. As always, the rating is just my opinion and you can very much make a case to disagree with some of them. 

(Personally, it is great when it is hard to do the driver ratings, because it means it’s been a brilliant race).