Zhou Guanyu, Sauber (P18): 5/10
You could paint this week's result as progress for the sickly Sauber squad, given that they weren't running last on track at the chequered flag and claimed a significant scalp in the form of Lance Stroll. But that's at best an illusion if not an outright Pyrrhic for the team, and mainly the result of peculiar decisions made by Aston Martin rather than any real improvement for Zhou Guanyu, with Sauber frankly as lifeless as ever. Earlier in the day, Audi CTO Mattia Binotto had commented on the team's pointless performance this year and gave the impression that the powers that be at Hinwil had only just realised they were even running a team at the moment before Audi takes over in 2026. It's about time someone took notice and did something rather than trying their best to ignore the unfolding disaster on their doorstep and pretend it's nothing to do with them.
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas (P17): 4.5/10
It was certainly an eventful race for Nico Hulkenberg. He'd been up and down in practice but had been hopeful of making one of his trademark spurts in qualifying only to end up in the no mans land of 13th place on the grid. The crowded start saw him swept into the gravel by Daniel Ricciardo at turn 8 on the opening lap of the race, forcing him to make a premature pit stop on lap 5 which set him firmly at the back of the grid. Then there was a penalty for causing a collision with Yuki Tsunoda. From there, a two stop strategy did him little favours but he edged ahead of Zhou Guanyu with five laps remaining and gained another spot thanks to Lance Stroll's odd decision to make an additional pit stop, but really there was little for Hulkenberg to take home from Monza while his Haas team mate Kevin Magnussen was battling for a place in the points.
