Lewis Hamilton (Fastest Lap, P2, 18 pts): 9/10
There were dark clouds gathering over the paddock on Friday night - and we don't mean the rain that hit practice on Saturday. The mood at Mercedes was as black as it's been all season after a particularly poor time in first and second practice. How to explain the complete turnaround overnight that saw Lewis Hamilton and George Russell top the times in the first round of qualifying less than 24 hours later? As subsequently proven by Russell, Hamilton would almost certainly have been a serious contender for pole position if not for his DRS suddenly developing a fault before his final run in Q3, which left him down in seventh place on the grid for the start of the race on Sunday. Hamilton knew he had a good race car under him and he proved it when he gained two places at the start with passes on the Alpines, and then scooted past Norris using DRS down the straight at the start of lap 12. He pitted on lap 19 for a second set of mediums which lasted until lap 51 by which point he was running in the lead. A switch to the softs for the final stint allowed him to catch and pass Carlos Sainz and then Russell to seize the runners-up spot behind Max Verstappen for the second race in succession. If the rain had come sooner, then there might even have been a twist in the tale and a return to the top spot for the seven time world champion. Like a storm in the air, you feel it can't be far off coming.
Max Verstappen (P1, 25 pts): 9.5/10
Not quite the perfect weekend - hence, not a perfect ten for Max Verstappen - but arguably one of his most impressive race performances. After last week's result, his huge margin over Charles Leclerc in the drivers championship means he doesn't really have to worry about winning races any more this season, but of course Verstappen is still all about being the best and racking up in the victories regardless of the points. Although he was second quickest in FP1 he wasn't happy with the car's handling on Friday, but the Red Bull experts sorted it out in time for qualifying and he was quickest of all in Q2. Unfortunately the final round saw him make a mistake under braking, and then he suffered from power problems leaving him unable to complete a final Q3 run. It forced him to start the race from P10, after the team had carried out an overnight power unit change as a precaution. But the unflappable Verstappen brushed off this minor set-back: starting on soft tyres, he picked up two places when the lights went out on Sunday, then swatted aside the two Alpines moments later. He avoided getting caught up in a direct battle with Lewis Hamilton by undercutting the Mercedes on pit lane instead. After that, things just continued to fall Verstappen's way: almost the only hiccup was his spin on lap 44 having just passed Charles Leclerc for what was effectively the lead of the race. After completing a quick 360, Verstappen got back on it and was in front again moments later. When it's your day, it's your day: and this was most certainly Max Verstappen's day. It was also the perfect way to sign off before going on his summer hols.
