Zhou Guanyu, Sauber (P8): 9/10
Naysayers will point out that Zhou Guanyu only owes his four championship points in Qatar to the litany of penalties and retirements that preceded his entry into the top-ten. But that would be telling only half the story. First of all, the Chinese driver qualified a productive P12 on Saturday at the wheel of Sauber’s reinvigorated C44. On Sunday, he drove a consistent and solid race, despite losing three positions at the start, to end up a creditable eighth and release his team from the humiliation of having to hand in a scoring card void of a single point. Well done, Zhou!
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin (P7): 8.5/10
Fernando Alonso’s Qatar Grand Prix was a tale of grit and guile. Early on, he was more noticeable for being overtaken or venting his frustration on the radio than for making any real progress. Yet, by the checkered flag, the Aston Martin veteran had wrestled his way to a respectable seventh place. Dragging a car lacking straight-line speed into points contention showcased once again the Spaniard’s brilliance, with a smart strategy call during a Safety Car restart also proving pivotal. While Aston now battles midfield rivals like Alpine and Haas rather than frontrunners, Alonso’s performance offered a glimmer of late-season hope for the struggling team.
