Kevin Magnussen, Haas (P18): 5.5/10
Kevin Magnussen actually had a strong build-up to the Dutch Grand Prix, finishing in the top ten in all three practice sessions (and second quickest overall with an opportune lap in the red-flagged FP3). In the circumstances, not making the final round of qualifying would have been a disappointment - but then, it would have only made it more painful if he had, given the team's decision to change his battery overnight before the race forcing him to start from pit lane from which there was no chance of a comeback. To counter this, the team tried starting him on hard tyres and a long first stint, but running straight into the gravel at the start and a lack of incidents and safety cars meant there was never a real chance for a meaningful recovery.
Yuki Tsunoda, RB (P17): 5/10
The VCARB 01 clearly didn't take to Zandvoort, and Yuki Tsunoda seemed particularly ill-suited to beachwear this week. Although he finished second practice in the top ten, he didn't set a time in the curtailed final practice and it was no surprise to see him miss the final cut in qualifying, although penalties for Alex Albon and Lewis Hamilton promoted him to P11 on the grid; from which he was able to do absolutely nothing in the race. He soon slipped back to 13th and his ill-advised two-stop strategy ended up dumping him to the back where he toiled to stay ahead of Zhou Guanyu but did at least pick off Valtteri Bottas and Kevin Magnussen. Even so, this wasn't the sort of performance Red Bull are looking for in potential candidates to take over from Sergio Perez at the senior team.
