Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes (P6) 6/10
Antonelli performed so well in the season opener that we have perhaps given him a slightly harsh rating this time round in China. It was a quieter weekend for the Italian teenager, he stayed out of trouble and made no mistakes but was fundamentally lacking pace compared to Russell in the other Mercedes. That Mercedes is one of the quickest cars on the grid, but Antonelli was overtaken by the likes of Ocon and fell behind Tsunoda nonetheless. He somehow managed to get Driver of the Day, though we can’t say how or why, although it later came to light that he had suffered extensive floor damage on his Mercedes car, but soldiered on at an impressive pace, according to his team.
Esteban Ocon, Haas (P5) 09/10
10 points for Ocon and a double points finish for Haas was certainly not on our bingo cards for the Chinese Grand Prix. And it wasn’t luck that saw Ocon manage double figures around Shanghai either, he was just really fast. He was holding down the final points-scoring position in the opening phases of the Grand Prix after qualifying in an impressive P11, and after an early pitstop for hards he made the overtake of the day by overtaking Antonelli with two wheels on the grass before the Turn 14 hairpin. F1i’s Driver of the Day.
