F1i's Driver Ratings for the 2024 Austrian GP

Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing RB20 leads at the start of the race. 30.06.2024. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 11, Austrian Grand Prix, Spielberg, Austria, Race Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Charniaux / XPB Images'
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The third sprint race weekend of the year certainly produced some thrills, spills and a surprise winner after a dramatic climax to the Austrian Grand Prix. Plenty of drivers had their moment in the spotlight - both good and bad - and we've done our best to sum it all up in a definitive F1i Drive Ratings.

Lando Norris, McLaren (SP3, Accident Lap 64, 6 pts): 8/10
It was a bit of an up-and-down weekend for Lando Norris to say the least. For one thing, he was suffering from the snuffles at Spielberg. Even so he was on the front row (but not pole) for both the Sprint race and the Grand Prix, but in both cases a less than ideal start left him unable to attack Max Verstappen. When he did have a go at Verstappen in the Sprint it not only didn't come off, it left the door open for Oscar Piastri to pass him. He didn't make that mistake again on Sunday but it soon looked like any hope of victory was very much out of reach until Red Bull's slow final pit stop brought Norris right back into it. He threw everything into attack, and we know how it ended. We could criticise him for not being more circumspect and for throwing away the points for P2, but actually we were impressed by the way Norris has matured and is no longer willing to let his best mate on the grid get away with pushing him aside. Sorry, make that former best mate.

Logan Sargeant, Williams (SP16, P19): 4.5/10
Another pretty miserable weekend for Williams, and therefore for Logan Sargeant as well. He did out-qualify his team mate Alex Albon for the Sprint and even made it through to SQ2, which Albon failed to achieve. With Albon subsequently starting from pit lane, Sargeant maintained the advantage during the short 23-lap race and ended up with the upper hand at the finish. But he was back on the back row of the grid for the Grand Prix on Sunday and stayed there for the entire race, ending up the only driver to go two laps down on the race winner by the chequered flag. That's pretty poor no matter which way you slice it. Sargeant is at risk of coming back from the summer holidays to find someone else sitting in his seat at this rate.