Sakhir Grand Prix - Driver ratings

The inaugural Sakhir Grand Prix produced a first-time winner at the 190th attempt, as one driver stole the show but was only rewarded with a ninth place finish.

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There’s a case to be made for losing the maximum given he was outqualified by Leclerc’s slower Ferrari, but this is overcome by his superb race recovery to take a shock win. Might have also shouldered some responsibility for the lap one contact, but the stewards blamed Leclerc. Soldiered on with his badly vibrating left front after his early stop and was generally brilliant as the race came to him. 

 We’re being generous and giving back a mark as Ocon’s race was strong, but his qualifying was a disappointment, eliminated in Q2 in 11th. This at least allowed a medium-shod start, which was the key to his race (other than the chunk of fortune Mercedes gave away). Drove well to make the one-stopper work and claim his maiden F1 podium in what has been a trying year at times. 

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Author Alex Kalinauckas

Alex Kalinauckas is Autosport's Grand Prix Editor, covering every Formula 1 race since the start of 2020. After completing a master's degree in journalism at Goldsmiths College University of London in 2014, he worked for a range of motorsport and technology publications while covering national racing as an Autosport freelancer.

A lifelong motorsport fan - no one in his family can explain quite how or why such a development first occurred - Alex joined the Autosport staff in April 2017 as the magazine’s Assistant Editor covering Formula 2 and GP3, before being made Formula E correspondent and Autosport.com’s Plus Editor in March 2018. He lives in north-east London and is constantly frustrated by the Central Line.