Charles Leclerc (P4, 12 pts): 8.5/10
It's been long understood that while Ferrari drivers are nominally equal, in reality Charles Leclerc is really the Scuderia's blue-eyed boy. Except time and again, his team mate Carlos Sainz is proving a match or more for him on the track. Leclerc drew first blood in first practice on Friday but after that it was Sainz all the way. He simply looked better adapted to the sweltering conditions and twisting turns of Singapore. The Spaniard swept the rest of practice and took pole in qualifying, leaving Leclerc with a difficult call for the race. He opted to start on soft tyres with the aim of jumping George Russell for second (which he did) but insisted it was never the plan to then challenge Sainz for the lead (which he duly didn't). It's a strange strategy though - we can't see the Monegasque meekly settling for wingman status for long. The lack of ambition perhaps cost him a podium as he lost out to Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton.
Lewis Hamilton (P3, Fastest lap, 16 pts): 9/10
Everytime we're tempted to speculate whether Lewis Hamilton is being eclipsed by his Mercedes team mate George Russell, something like this comes along. Russell was ahead of Hamilton at the end of Friday practice and was the main challenge to Carlos Sainz on Saturday and in qualifying, earning himself a front row spot while Hamilton was clearly disappointed to end up in fifth place. When Russell was distracted by Charles Leclerc at the start, Hamilton pounced on Russell - but had to hand the place back as he had gone off the track in the process. After that, Russell was clearly in charge and Hamilton playing second fiddle. The pair both opted to pit for fresh tyres under the Virtual Safety Car with the focus of getting them both on the podium, if not a win for Russell. When Russell crashed on the last lap leaving Hamilton in third place it was a disappointment for all at Mercedes, making a big difference to the constructors standings, but testament to how Hamilton delivers in the clinch while others falter.
