F1i's Driver Ratings for the 2024 Abu Dhabi GP

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Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes (P4): 9.5/10
After Saturday's bizarre qualifying in which his Mercedes team sent him out too late in Q1 only for him to clobber an errant bollard, Lewis Hamilton could only chuckle in disbelief. But come Sunday, he reminded everyone why he's a seven-time world champion. This was a determined and skillful charge through the field by Lewis, proving once again that in the chaos of competition, he's a master at turning lemons into podium-worthy lemonade – or at least a stellar fourth-place finish. All weekend, he looked like the stronger Mercedes driver- a rare statement in a season where he often played second fiddle to George Russell. He drove a superb race, showing patience and guile, helped by a hard-to-medium tire strategy. Vintage Hamilton: composed under pressure, strategic in execution, and fiercely competitive. Force!

 

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari (P3): 10/10
Ahead of Sunday's Abu Dhabi GP – alluding to Ferrari's paper-thin chances of overhauling McLaren in the Constructors' – Charles Leclerc said that he believed in miracles. But it was sheer brilliance, skill and instinct rather than divine intervention that carried the Monegasque from P19 to P8 during its stunning opening lap. From there, the Scuderia charger steadily carved his way up to third, running a fair distance behind teammate Carlos Sainz but holding a valuable haul of points – enough to potentially reverse his team's title fortunes should anything untoward happen to McLaren leader Lando Norris. Nothing did in the end. But Charles was 'Majestic'!