Valtteri Bottas (P2, 18 pts): 8.5/10
Given how dominant Mercedes had been at the Red Bull Ring just a week ago, it was strange to see both drivers struggling to match the pace of their rivals in Friday's practice. Whatever troubles were ailing them, the Silver Arrows were emphatically back on top of things for Saturday's wet qualifying, although a glazed brake disc left Bottas unable to match Lewis Hamilton's pole position for pace, and left him slightly deflated with fourth place on the grid. Second place was always the realistic goal after that, and he soon made headway by passing Carlos Sainz on lap 6. When Max Verstappen pitted on lap 24, and Hamilton followed suit shortly after, Bottas stayed out and inherited the lead until lap 35, and that put him on fresher tyres than the Red Bull for the second stint that played a crucial role in the final laps where the Finn hunted down his prey and successfully wrested the runners-up spot for himself. It was another cool, composed and confident display from Bottas, who remains ahead of Hamilton in the world championship after the first two rounds of 2020.
Lewis Hamilton (P1, Pole position, 25 pts): 9.5/10
Were Mercedes sandbagging on Friday? They certainly seemed strangely off-colour, just days after dominating the Austrian GP - even if that weekend ultimately hadn't been a happy outcome for Lewis Hamilton. Even now he still seemed to be struggling to find his best form. He was slower that both Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas in both Friday practice sessions, and even trailing the Racing Points by the end of the day. Mercedes subsequently hinted at a 'problem' that was quickly addressed, and when the rain came down on Saturday it was like a switch had been flicked and now no one could come within touching distance of Hamilton. That 1.2s advantage he had over the field at the end of Q3 was simply outrageous, whatever the adverse conditions. After that the race was Hamilton's to lose, and he didn't put a foot wrong from start to finish, washing away all memories of a week ago and atoning for any and all of his previous mistakes with a frankly flawless race performance.
