2024 F1 Mid-Season Driver Ratings: Verstappen Leads the Pack as Sargeant Struggles

Mid-2024 F1 driver evaluations: Identifying the season's standout racer

Crash.net presents its assessment of drivers at the halfway mark of the 2024 Formula One campaign.

Driver ratings were determined based on the scores from each race, with an average rating being computed.

20) Logan Sargeant – 5.50

Sargeant appears to be on his way out of Formula 1 as the current season concludes. The signs were clear for the American racer when Williams allowed Alex Albon to take over his vehicle for the rest of the weekend in Australia, after Albon's incident during a practice session. While Sargeant's second year in the series hasn't been shameful, he continues to fall significantly short of his teammate's achievements, despite showing some promising results before the summer hiatus.

19) Sergio Perez – 5.68

Kicking off the 2024 Formula 1 season with a commendable string of podium finishes, Perez experienced his customary slump in performance throughout the European stretch of the season. Accumulating only 28 points across the most recent eight races, his performance has risked Red Bull's leading position in the constructors' championship.

18) Kevin Magnussen – 5.75

Haas' choice to part ways with Magnussen for the 2025 season appears to be well-founded. Hulkenberg consistently outperforms him in both qualifying rounds and races. Although Magnussen can deliver exceptional performances occasionally, such instances are rare. The Danish driver's aggressive style and standing have suffered, resulting in him not securing a seat for the upcoming season.

17) Zhou Guanyu – Rating: 5.89

Following two commendable seasons with Sauber, Zhou Guanyu's performance has notably declined. In qualifying matchups, Zhou trails Bottas 13-1, with an average time difference of approximately 0.5 seconds between them. Challenges with the C44's performance have adversely affected Zhou, leading to a chassis swap mid-season. While his performances during races are relatively better, they haven't reached a standard that would catch Audi's attention for the 2025 season.

16) Lance Stroll – Rating: 6.11

Despite consistently ranking low among Formula 1 drivers, Lance Stroll has shown some positive signs this season. The Canadian driver has managed to outperform his teammate Alonso in qualifying sessions on five occasions so far, surpassing his last year's total by two. While Alonso generally has the advantage, Stroll has proven to be a competitive presence in the first half of the season.

15) Daniel Ricciardo – 6.50

Ricciardo faced a challenging start to his season with VCARB, experiencing his lowest performance of the year after a difficult Japanese Grand Prix. Despite this, he has gradually improved, positioning himself as a potential candidate to take over Perez's spot at Red Bull. However, his inconsistent performance and Tsunoda's superior performance overall relegate him to a lower position in the rankings.

14) Valtteri Bottas – 6.57

Although he's at the tail end of the championship standings, there's a strong case to be made that 2024 is Bottas' best year with Sauber. He has consistently outperformed Zhou in the qualifying rounds, and he could have scored points in several races (like in China and Japan) if not for some team mistakes. While Bottas still struggles with his initial race positioning and race strategy, his speed remains competitive within the F1 midfield.

13) Pierre Gasly – Rating: 6.88

Positioned as Alpine’s main driver as we approach 2025, Gasly has, nonetheless, been slightly outperformed by his teammate Ocon over the course of this season. Despite his challenges, particularly during the car's low points, Gasly managed to improve significantly after a vital adjustment in setup initiated by Ocon. They continue to be among the most closely competitive duos in the series.

12) Alex Albon – Score: 7.07

Albon has faced challenges this season due to the Williams car being significantly heavier than its competitors, limiting his chances to shine. His standout performance came during the Monaco Grand Prix, where he managed to qualify and end the race in the top 10, a surprising feat at a circuit thought to disadvantage Williams. The team's acquisition of Sainz in 2025 will serve as a true test of Albon's progress since his departure from Red Bull.

11) Esteban Ocon – 7.10

Ocon remains a dependable force within Formula 1's middle pack, holding a slight edge over Gasly during the season's earlier stages. His exit from Alpine, though unfair, is understandable considering the dynamics with his teammate. Ocon's determined push for points at Spa earned him the highest score of the season.

10) Fernando Alonso – 7.25

The 2024 season has proven to be one of Alonso’s less impressive outings in Formula 1. Surprisingly, Stroll has managed to out-qualify him five times, and there have been moments where Alonso seemed to disappear from contention, a departure from his usual competitive nature. His performance dip throughout the European races has been perplexing, with Stroll closing the gap unexpectedly.

9) Yuki Tsunoda – 7.32

Among the quartet of Red Bull racers, Tsunoda distinctly stands out as the second most impressive this season. Despite his achievements, he remains unnoticed by Christian Horner and Helmut Marko for a potential pairing with Verstappen. His performance has been marked by steady progress and wisdom, securing several finishes within the top 10 for VCARB.

8) Nico Hulkenberg – 7.54

Hulkenberg remains a standout talent in Formula 1's midfield, impressing with his exceptional performance in qualifying sessions. Thanks to the Haas team solving its tyre wear issues, the German driver has managed to turn his remarkable speed during qualifiers into several impressive finishes, particularly in the races in Austria and Britain.

7) Carlos Sainz – 7.73

Sainz continues to be a strong competitor to Leclerc, with his performance in Australia being flawless, meriting a score of 10. He excels when weather conditions are unpredictable and demonstrates a clear sense of assurance through the team radio during important strategic decisions.

6) Oscar Piastri – 7.79

Piastri is gradually reducing the gap with Norris, although Norris continues to outperform in terms of speed, especially during races. Piastri earned his first win based on pure skill and narrowly missed a victory at Spa. Over the past eight races, Piastri has been outscored by only Verstappen, showcasing his impressive performance lately.

5) George Russell – 7.82

In 2024, Russell has managed to surpass Hamilton in terms of performance, yet finds himself trailing in the overall points. His chances were significantly dampened by a failure to finish at Silverstone while vying for a top-three position, and a disqualification after crossing the finish line first at Spa has greatly affected his points tally. Although Hamilton has made up some ground in the latest races, it's clear that Russell has been the more dominant force among the Mercedes duo across the first 14 events, even if our ratings suggest a different story.

4) Lewis Hamilton – 7.92

Following a challenging beginning of the season, Hamilton has returned to top form in the recent four to five events. Is he outperforming Russell this season? Likely not, yet he's seized the chances to clinch victories when they've presented themselves. Alongside Mercedes' enhancements, Hamilton has also stepped up his performance.

3) Charles Leclerc – 8.14

Despite facing several challenges during Ferrari's downturn, Leclerc has largely shone bright this season. His performance in Monaco was particularly outstanding, where he flawlessly dominated the weekend, much to the delight of his home crowd.

2) Lando Norris – 8.36

This season, Norris has faced close examination regarding his racing form, yet he has largely excelled. His primary issues lie in the finer points, such as initial starts or the first lap performance. Despite these challenges, Norris has maintained superiority over Piastri. However, eliminating these significant errors will determine if he can surpass Verstappen in the latter part of the season.

Max Verstappen – 9.00

Verstappen continues to shine as Formula 1's leading driver, even as Red Bull's dominance in the sport wanes. His exceptional skill was on full display at Imola, where, despite McLaren having a faster vehicle, Verstappen secured both pole position and the victory. Although Verstappen has experienced some off moments and errors, notably in Monaco and Hungary, he remains the key component to Red Bull's success.

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