Franco Colapinto, Williams (P8, 4 pts): 9/10
This is slightly embarrassing for Williams. All those races they stuck by Logan Sargeant, giving him every chance in the absence of anyone better, and they got a single solitary point from the American over the course of 36 races. Finally forced to resort to desperate measures, they ditch Sargeant and call up a little known 21-year-old Argentinian from the ranks of F2 - and on his second outing with the team he hands them four points as part of Williams' second double points finish in the last three seasons. He's the first Argentine to score points since Carlos Reutemann at the 1982 South African GP, also for Williams. We'd already been impressed when he was quicker than Alex Albon in FP1 and made the top ten in FP3; and positively stupefied when he cruised into the final round of qualifying in P6, while Albon just squeaked in. Inevitably there was little chance of both Williams finishing in the points on Sunday so it was no surprise when - checks notes - both Williams duly finished in the points on Sunday. No tricks, no luck, just some damn impressive driving from the drivers and a car that had unexpectedly found its happy place in Baku. Our ratings compiler had to be talked down from going all Spinal Tap on Colapinto this week.
Alexander Albon, Williams (P7, 6 pts): 8.5/10
These are interesting times for Alex Albon. On the one hand he committed his long term future to Williams on the promise that things could only get better with James Vowles' exciting plans ahead. Up to now Albon has had it relatively easy at Grove - just getting the car through to the final round of qualifying has been hailed as a triumph for a team still struggling for that next step up the ladder. He was certainly under no pressure from Logan Sargeant in the garage next door. But now Sargeant has gone, a new team mate has been installed in the form of Franco Colapinto, and suddenly the balance of power had swung wildly. The Argentine was getting all the attention and the plaudits just as the FW46 inexplicably found its spiritual home and went berserk in Baku, exhibiting the sort of form that the likes of Aston and Alpine would offer up a rear suspension strut to possess. Class act as he is, Albon matched Colapinto blow-for-blow throughout the weekend and the pair were remarkably evenly matched. It's too early to say if this is a one-off, but Albon won't have been the only one in the paddock feeling like they'd been given a punch in the head and a wake up call this weekend.
