British Grand Prix Driver Ratings
The 2021 British Grand Prix will live long in the memory for the dramatic clash between Formula 1's two title protagonists, which opened the door for other drivers to capitalise. One did so in spectacular fashion, while others fluffed their lines
Lewis Hamilton – 9
A travesty the record books won’t record him as the Silverstone pole scorer. After his excellent Friday, Saturday was tough as he couldn’t get a clean sprint race start and then chose the wrong side attacking Verstappen at Copse. Is marked down to eight for being 51% to blame in the Verstappen clash in our view, but earns one back for his eventually winning pace versus Leclerc and Bottas.
Charles Leclerc – 10
Keeps the maximum despite slipping off the road catching an oversteer snap in his late battle for first place. Did better than Ferrari’s ‘maximum’ in qualifying and maintained fourth nicely in the sprint race. In the second, he was exceptional to be so rapid in stint one despite his engine problems, then so nearly pulled off a famous win against a tyre-management master in tricky conditions.
Valtteri Bottas – 6
Paid the price for Mercedes failing to find him a tow in qualifying, where he dutifully gave Hamilton a vital slipstream. Did all he could on the softs in the sprint race but was never making progress once Hamilton bogged down. It’s his two bad starts in the grand prix – where he did well considering he had nothing to drink in the scorching sun – that cost him dearly here.
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL35M
Photo by: Charles Coates / Motorsport Images
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