Carlos Sainz (P3, 15 pts): 9.5/10
It all looked a bit bleak for Carlos Sainz on Saturday, who wasn't able to set a timed lap in qualifying due to an issue with his engine which meant he lined up for the race on the back row of the grid. Certainly no one watching his 101st F1 start would have thought he could possibly end Sunday with a maiden podium, but that's exactly what happened - and it was by no means all down to the chaos at the end, either. Long before that happened, Sainz had made good progress though the field and was up to seventh place by lap 28 when he ended his extended first stint on soft tyres. After that he dropped back to 15th and was put a lap down by the race leaders on two occasions, but he was saved by the first safety car for Valtteri Bottas' retirement which put him back in the game. He didn't waste the opportunity and was soon surging forward again with some great on-track passes. Together with two positions handed to him on a plate by the Ferrari debacle, Sainz crossed the line in fourth place and that alone would have constituted one of the comeback drives of the season. To then find himself promoted onto the podium (alas, after the official ceremony had taken place) by Lewis Hamilton's post-race penalty was a bumper serving of icing with cherries on top - and thoroughly deserved, as it delivered McLaren's first podium success in an astonishing five years.
