Carlos Sainz (P6, 8 pts): 7.5/10
After his victory last week - the first non-Red Bull driver to take the top step of the podium this season - Carlos Sainz was hoping to roll that momentum into Japan. But that didn't really happen. Although he was second quickest in FP1, after that it was Charles Leclerc who had the upper hand and led Ferrari's campaign at Suzuka, with Sainz always one or two places behind the Monegasque. He was still in the top six on the grid, and in the race he was the last of the leaders to pit meaning be briefly inherited the lead on lap 18. But in truth he didn't have the pace to do anything about challenging Leclerc or the two McLarens, let alone out-of-sight race leader Max Verstappen. The final round of pit stops dropped him behind the two Mercedes drivers: George Russell's one-stop strategy made him easy to pick off in the closing laps despite their attempting a 'DRS tow' move that Sainz himself had devised in Singapore, which left the Spaniard chuckling in his cockpit. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right Carlos?$
Lewis Hamilton (P5, 10 pts): 8/10
Now that his contract for next year is sorted, it seems that Lewis Hamilton is feeling free to heavily criticised and complain about the current Mercedes car concept, in a bid to do as much as possible to influence next year's design. That might have possibly distracted him a little on Friday, but it got his blood pumping and on Saturday he was faster than his team mate George Russell in qualifying. He was just as fired up on Sunday and attempted a bold move on Sergio Perez only to end up making contact with the Red Bull as he was nudged onto the grass. He survived that with minimal damage, and also another skirmish with Russell, before pitting on lap 16 to exchange mediums for hards. He managed to undercut Carlos Sainz at the final round of pit stops, and then dealt with the one-stopping Russell on lap 48. He was pulling away when he received orders to slow down and give Russell a 'DRS tow' in his battle to stay ahead of Sainz; Hamilton did so, somewhat gracelessly, but he was right in his estimation that it was a lost cause. It meant there was no chance for him to make up the six second gap to Charles Leclerc in the time remaining.
