Charles Leclerc, Ferrari (Pole, P2, 18 pts): 9/10
It's strange how drivers have circuits where they always seem to do well, and others which are bogey tracks. Even stranger is when a driver find both outcomes at the same venue. Charles Leclerc's affinity for Baku has produced four superlative pole positions in a row - honestly, the others needn't even bother showing up for qualifying here for the next decade. But when it comes to the race on Sunday, something always thwarts him. This time that something was Oliver Piastri. It looked like Leclerc had the measure of him over the first 20 laps but then Piastri sprang a surprise and took the lead. Ferrari seemed confident that this would only be a temporary state of affairs, but Piastri rebuffed Leclerc's attacks time and again. By the end the McLaren jumped away leaving Leclerc dealing with attacks from Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz. If not for their crash he might even have missed out on the podium. And yet for all that, Leclerc did very little wrong this weekend. He just wasn't the best driver on Sunday.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren (P1, 25 pts): 10/10
There is a core of ice at the heart of the affable Oscar Piastri. He never seems to get unsettled or worried by what's going on around him, never afraid to take risks that many others (even other F1 drivers) would consider a gamble too far. He does it, deals with it, pulls it off, and then acts mildly surprised when he crosses the finish line in first place. At best he admits to having had a stressful day before flashing that look that says "but I had it all under control anyway". Without the talent to back it up he might appear smug and arrogant; but he does have the talent and so instead it looks like he's actually being bashful and modest. He was the faster McLaren driver all weekend, although we were denied a qualifying duel between the pair because of a malicious yellow flag causing Lando Norris to miss the first cut. Without a playmate to tow him around in Q3, Piastri stuck it on the front row anyway. He tried but failed to pass Charles Leclerc at the start but crucially did fend off Carlos Sainz. When the undercut failed to pay off, it seemed like he'd settled for P2 - and then cruised past Leclerc for the lead in a way that caught everyone by surprise, Leclerc included. But surely he couldn't resist the Ferrari's continual attacks for the next 30 laps? Yes he could. Just when it looked like his tyres were failing he changed up a gear and left Leclerc playing with Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz, and we know how that ended. For Piastri it was his second F1 Grand Prix, but unquestionably his best to date. In fact it's going to take a lot of beating even if his career in the sport is as long as that of Fernando Alonso.
