F1i's Driver Ratings for the 2020 Italian GP

Lando Norris (P4, 12 pts): 8.5/10
After those bravura final lap flourishes earlier in the season, Lando Norris has been rather quiet in recent outings. But at Monza, he sparkled on Friday with the third quickest time behind the Mercedes duo, and he was in the top three again in final practice as well. In the end he was a little unhappy to be 'only' sixth in qualifying and several places behind his McLaren team mate Carlos Sainz on the grid. Starts have not historically been Lando's forté, but Monza proved the definite exception to the rule and he flew past Valtteri Bottas, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez on the first lap which allowed him to take up formation flying behind second-placed Sainz in the opening stint of the race. The pair were slightly unfortunate with the timing of the safety car which enabled a number of cars that had pitted earlier to gain track position. But what really stuck in Norris' craw was the 'free' change of tyres that Lance Stroll got under the subsequent red flag that deprived Norris of third place, and what would have been a thoroughly deserved double podium for McLaren.

Lance Stroll (P3, 15 pts): 8/10
It might have been a clever exploitation of a loophole in the sporting regulations that put him over the top, but let's not downplay the performance of Lance Stroll in Monza. He was faster than his Racing Point team mate in two out of the three practice sessions, and comfortably made it through to the final round of qualifying to pick up eighth on the grid for the start of the race. He didn't make much progress in the opening laps, so the team tried to find a strategic advantage by keeping him out when the rest of the field pitted under the safety car for Kevin Magnussen's retirement. How that could possibly have worked if it hadn't been followed shortly after by a red flag for Charles Leclerc's huge accident is anyone's guess: it's possible that without it, Stroll would have ended up at the back rather than on the podium. Instead, the stoppage allowed him a 'free' change of tyres before the restart, which initially saw him struggle and lose places before locking up at turn 4. However he was able to hold his nerve and was one of the first to pass the ailing Kimi Raikkonen to put him into a podium position that he clasped firmly to his bosom all the way to the finish line.