Carlos Sainz, Williams (DNF) – 6.5/10
The Spaniard was driving the wheels off his uncompetitive Williams before an electrical gremlin pulled the plug on his afternoon on lap 23 of 71. Despite a compromised qualifying session, Sainz was executing a gritty recovery drive that showcased his elite racecraft, comfortably outperforming his baseline machinery. It was a deeply cruel end to a weekend where he deserved far more than a DNF.
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin (DNF) – 5.5/10
Stroll’s race might have ended early, but he provided a few bright sparks before his retirement. Navigating an aggressively uncompetitive Aston Martin package, he managed to clear his teammate Fernando Alonso in the opening phases. It showed he had the sharp edge required to extract performance from a difficult car, making it a shame he couldn't see out the full distance.
