Nail-Biting F1 2024 Emilia Romagna GP Driver Ratings: Who Thrived and Who Struggled at Imola?
The F1 2024 season made its European debut at the storied Imola Circuit for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. While the race may not have produced an instant classic, it certainly put every driver on the grid to the test.
Ultimately, Max Verstappen showcased his brilliance by claiming his 59th career win, narrowly beating McLaren's Lando Norris, who was on the cusp of back-to-back victories. Meanwhile, experienced drivers like Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez struggled, unable to master the tricky weekend.
Max Verstappen: 9.5
Qualified: P1, Race: P1
Verstappen and Red Bull appeared vulnerable throughout practice, struggling to find the right setup for the RB20. However, the Dutchman’s sheer skill prevailed. He secured pole by the tightest of margins, led early in the race, and expertly managed his tires to fend off Norris, securing victory by just seven-tenths of a second.
Sergio Perez: 5
Qualified: P11, Race: P8
Perez's weekend was a stark contrast to Verstappen’s. A crash in FP3 and a Q2 exit after using two sets of soft tires set him back. Mistakes in the race, including a trip through the gravel, resulted in an uninspiring eighth place.
Lando Norris: 9.5
Qualified: P3 (Started P2), Race: P2
Fresh from his maiden Grand Prix victory in Miami, Norris was in top form. Despite not matching Verstappen early on, his relentless pace in the race’s closing stages brought him tantalizingly close to a consecutive win.
Oscar Piastri: 9
Qualified: P2 (Started P5), Race: P4
Piastri showcased great potential, challenging for pole but ultimately hindered by a grid drop. His race strategy was solid, undercutting Carlos Sainz before getting stuck behind Charles Leclerc. A commendable performance that deserved more than a fourth-place finish.
Charles Leclerc: 9
Qualified: P4 (Started P3), Race: P3
Leclerc capitalized on Piastri’s penalty to start third. Despite lacking the outright pace of the McLarens and Red Bulls, the Monegasque driver maximized his Ferrari’s performance, securing a podium and trailing Verstappen by just seven seconds.
Carlos Sainz: 7
Qualified: P5 (Started P4), Race: P5
Sainz’s early season form seemed to have waned. Struggling to keep up with Leclerc, he fell into Piastri’s clutches, losing out in the pits. A fifth-place finish reflected a weekend focused on damage control.
Lewis Hamilton: 7
Qualified: P8, Race: P6
Hamilton once again trailed George Russell in qualifying but surpassed him in the race. An aggressive start and a strategic first stint allowed him to leapfrog Russell, finishing sixth despite an off-track moment at Acqua Minerale.
George Russell: 7.5
Qualified: P6, Race: P7
Russell was consistently ahead of Hamilton until race strategy intervened. While frustrated to finish behind his teammate, his second pit stop was pivotal in securing valuable points for Mercedes.
Lance Stroll: 7.5
Qualified: P13, Race: P9
Stroll’s performance was one of bright spots for Aston Martin. Despite qualifying struggles, an inverse race strategy and diligent drive helped him secure points, showcasing resilience and racecraft.
Fernando Alonso: 4
Qualified: P19 (Started: Pits), Race: P19
Imola was a weekend to forget for Alonso. Multiple incidents in practice and qualifying left him starting from the pits. With no significant gains during the race and ultimately retiring, it was a disastrous outing for the veteran.
Yuki Tsunoda: 8
Qualified: P7, Race: P10
Tsunoda’s weekend was strong yet tinged with disappointment. Qualified well but a poor start saw him drop back. His strategy allowed for some recovery, finishing with a valuable point for RB at their home race.
Daniel Ricciardo: 6.5
Qualified: P9, Race: P13
Ricciardo had a solid qualifying but couldn’t translate it into race success. Losing positions off the line and struggling to regain them, he finished 13th, not quite matching his teammate's form.
Nico Hulkenberg: 8
Qualified: P10, Race: P11
Hulkenberg’s impressive qualifying saw him advance to Q3, an unexpected result for Haas. Running near the front pack initially, he maintained position well, concluding a strong weekend just outside the points.
Kevin Magnussen: 7
Qualified: P18, Race: P12
Magnussen faced a compromised weekend, being impeded in qualifying. Despite this, he fought from a low grid spot to finish 12th, an impressive recovery by the Dane.
Esteban Ocon: 6.5
Qualified: P12, Race: P14
Ocon had a promising qualifying but faced limitations on race day. He managed a commendable race, finishing 14th and besting teammate Gasly.
Pierre Gasly: 6
Qualified: P15, Race: P16
Gasly exhibited strong pace yet failed to capitalize, ending up 16th after a challenging race with a bold, yet unfruitful, strategy.
Guanyu Zhou: 6
Qualified: P17, Race: P15
Stuck at the back in qualifying, Zhou managed to claw back some positions on race day, improving to 15th amid struggles for pace for Sauber.
Valtteri Bottas: 6
Qualified: P16, Race: P18
Bottas’ quiet weekend saw him finish 18th. An early pit stop strategy backfired, dropping him down the order.
Logan Sargeant: 5
Qualified: P20 (Started P19), Race: P17
Under scrutiny at Williams, Sargeant’s lack of valid qualifying time and a lackluster race didn't help his case. Finishing ahead of only Bottas and Alonso added to his woes.
Alex Albon: 6
Qualified: P14, Race: DNF
Albon’s extended stay at Williams started with a tough weekend. An issue in FP1 was compounded by a botched pit stop, leading to retirement and a week to forget.