Pierre Gasly (P18): 5.5/10
Unlike Logan Sargeant and Valtteri Bottas, Pierre Gasly avoided any race-wrecking incidents or problems during the race. But in many ways that makes it even worse for the Frenchman, as it means he was effectively the slowest driver in the race purely on merit. Even a late extra stop to switch from hard tyres back to softs proved a waste of time. A lot of that blame has to go to the Alpine A524 itself, which was a dog in testing last week and lived down to every worst expectation over the Grand Prix weekend as well. Even allowing for an underpowered Renault engine, it's clear that the team is in crisis on multiple levels and an early hot favourite for the wooden spoon in the constructors championship.
Esteban Ocon (P17): 6/10
Like his team mate Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon is hostage to the painfully clear inadequacies of the Alpine A524. At least Ocon was over two tenths quicker than Gasly in qualifying, and ran consistently ahead of him in the race itself save for a brief overlap during the pit stops. Ocon was leading Gasly even before the latter made a late decision to stop again for soft tyres. For that reason alone we give Ocon half a point more in the ratings for being the best of the Alpine pair, but the fact remains that this is a bleak start indeed for the team. Ocon is said to be in the running for next year's vacant Mercedes seat and this sort of weekend will do his case no good at all in that bid.
