2024 Mid-Season F1 Driver Ratings: Verstappen Leads the Pack, Norris and Leclerc Shine

Mid-season driver evaluations for 2024: Which F1 driver stands out the most?

Crash.net's mid-season driver evaluations for the 2024 F1 season.

The driver scores have been determined based on evaluations from each race. An average score has been computed.

20) Logan Sargeant – 5.50

It appears that Logan Sargeant's time in Formula 1 may be coming to an end after this season. The signs were evident when Williams decided to give Alex Albon Sargeant’s car for the rest of the Australian weekend after the Thai driver was sidelined during practice. While Sargeant's second year hasn't been a complete failure, he still trails significantly behind his teammate, even though he has had some solid performances before the summer break.

Sergio Perez – 5.68

Perez kicked off the 2024 F1 season strongly, securing several podium finishes. However, as the season progressed into the European races, his performance declined as it typically does. He managed to earn only 28 points over the last eight races, which has threatened Red Bull's leading position in the constructors' championship.

Kevin Magnussen – 5.75

Haas' choice to let go of Magnussen for the 2025 season appears to be well-founded. Hulkenberg has consistently outperformed him in both qualifying sessions and races. Although Magnussen can deliver exceptional performances occasionally, such instances are rare. His aggressive driving style and overall reputation have suffered, resulting in him not securing a seat for the next year.

17) Zhou Guanyu – 5.89

Following two decent seasons at Sauber, Chinese racer Zhou Guanyu has seen a noticeable decline in his performance. He trails his teammate Bottas 13-1 in qualifying duels, with an average time difference of about 0.5 seconds. The C44's handling has posed significant challenges for Zhou, necessitating a chassis change mid-season. Although his race day showings have been comparatively stronger, they still fall short of what Audi expects for 2025.

Lance Stroll – Rating: 6.11

Lance Stroll continues to rank as one of the less successful drivers in Formula 1. However, his performance hasn't been entirely negative. This season, he has managed to out-qualify his teammate Fernando Alonso on five occasions, surpassing his total from the previous season by two instances. While Alonso generally maintains a competitive edge, Stroll has shown some potential to challenge him in the first half of the season.

Daniel Ricciardo – 6.50

Ricciardo had a tough start to the season with VCARB, earning his lowest score of the year after a challenging race in Japan. Despite this, he has gradually improved his performance, making himself a potential candidate to take Perez's spot at Red Bull. However, his inconsistency and Tsunoda's better overall performance place him lower in the rankings.

Valtteri Bottas – 6.57

Although Bottas currently ranks last in the drivers' championship, it's reasonable to argue that 2024 has been his best season with Sauber. He has consistently outperformed Zhou in qualifying sessions, and he could have scored points in several races, such as in China and Japan, if not for operational mistakes. While Bottas still struggles with his positioning during the first lap and his overall race strategy, his speed places him solidly in the middle of the Formula 1 pack.

Pierre Gasly – Score: 6.88

As Alpine gears up for the 2025 season, Pierre Gasly has established himself as the leading driver for the team. However, it’s been Ocon who has generally outperformed Gasly in various aspects throughout the year. Initially, Gasly faced significant challenges when the car's performance was at its lowest, but he began to improve after a vital setup adjustment spearheaded by Ocon. Despite this, Gasly and Ocon continue to be one of the most evenly-matched duos in the racing lineup.

12) Alex Albon – 7.07

Driving an overweight Williams car has limited Albon's chances to shine this season. However, he had a standout performance in Monaco, where he managed to qualify and finish in the top 10, despite the track not being favorable for Williams. The addition of Sainz to the team in 2025 will provide a better measure of Albon's progress since his departure from Red Bull.

Esteban Ocon has a rating of 7.10. Throughout the first half of the season, Ocon has proven to be a dependable driver in the middle tier of Formula 1, maintaining a slight edge over Gasly. Although his exit from Alpine seems unwarranted, it is understandable due to his rapport with his teammate. Ocon's determined performance at Spa, which earned him points, marked his highest rating this year.

10) Fernando Alonso – 7.25

The 2024 season has arguably been one of Alonso's poorest in his Formula 1 career. He has been out-qualified by Stroll five times and has underperformed in several races, a departure from his usual standards. His performance during the European part of the season has been puzzling, as the performance difference between him and Stroll has decreased.

Yuki Tsunoda – Rating: 7.32

Among Red Bull's four drivers, Tsunoda is evidently the second-best this season. Despite this, Christian Horner and Helmut Marko still don't consider him a potential partner for Verstappen. Tsunoda has demonstrated impressive consistency and maturity, securing multiple top 10 finishes for VCARB.

8) Nico Hulkenberg – 7.54

Hulkenberg remains a standout driver in the midfield of F1, consistently delivering impressive performances during qualifying sessions. With the Haas car now managing its tyres better, the German driver has transformed his exceptional qualifying speed into several impressive finishes, especially evident in Austria and Britain.

7) Carlos Sainz – 7.73

Sainz consistently performs on par with Leclerc. His flawless performance during the Australia weekend earned him a perfect score of 10. He excels in variable weather conditions and demonstrates assurance over the team radio when making important strategic decisions.

Oscar Piastri – 7.79

Piastri is gradually closing the gap with Norris, though Norris continues to have a speed edge, especially during races. Piastri earned his first win entirely on his own merit and was unlucky to narrowly miss out at Spa. Over the past eight races, only Verstappen has accumulated more points than Piastri, underscoring his impressive recent performance.

George Russell – 7.82

In the 2024 season, George Russell has outshone his teammate Lewis Hamilton, although he trails behind him in the points standings. Russell faced setbacks with a Did Not Finish (DNF) at Silverstone, where he was close to securing a podium spot, and a Disqualification (DSQ) after winning at Spa, which significantly impacted his points tally. Despite Hamilton narrowing the points gap in recent races, Russell has undoubtedly been the more impressive Mercedes driver in the first 14 races, even if the rankings don't fully reflect this.

4) Lewis Hamilton – 7.92

Hamilton had a challenging beginning to the season, but in the recent four to five races, he has returned to top form. While it's debatable if he's outperformed Russell this year, Hamilton has seized any chance to win that has come his way. His performance has risen in tandem with Mercedes' advancements.

3) Charles Leclerc – 8.14

Despite facing a few challenging weekends due to Ferrari's struggles, Leclerc has generally performed exceptionally well. His performance in Monaco was outstanding, providing a flawless display in front of his enthusiastic supporters.

Lando Norris – 8.36

This season, Norris's performances have come under intense scrutiny. Despite this, his overall performance has been outstanding. His main issues lie in the finer details, such as his starts or the first laps. He still maintains an advantage over Piastri, but eliminating these critical errors will determine if he can challenge Verstappen in the latter part of the year.

1) Max Verstappen – 9.00

Despite Red Bull's shrinking lead in Formula 1, Max Verstappen continues to be the standout driver. His performance was especially remarkable at Imola, where McLaren had the faster car, yet Verstappen secured pole position and the victory. Although he has had weekends where he made errors, such as in Monaco and Hungary, Verstappen remains the key player for Red Bull.

Explore Further

Recent Updates

Recent Updates

Site Map

Crash.Net

©1999-2024 Crash Media Group

It is prohibited to reproduce any part or the entirety of the text, images, or drawings in any manner.