Energy Rankings: Mighty Lewis stays No.1, Gasly plummets to new low
Forward of every race in 2019, ESPN is rating each driver on the grid in our Components One Energy Rankings.
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In compiling these standings, we’ve taken out the automobile issue and targeted solely on the drivers and the way every has been performing. This isn’t a prediction for a way the race will go this weekend. Neither is it a prediction for a way issues will take a look at the tip of the season. As a substitute, learn this as a gauge for who has probably the most affect over all the pieces that lies forward, who’s sizzling and who’s not forward of the Austrian Grand Prix.
Earlier rankings: Australian GP | Bahrain GP | Chinese language GP | Azerbaijan GP | Spanish GP | Monaco GP | Canadian GP | French GP
Observe: Teammate head-to-heads are compiled in qualifying periods during which each drivers set a consultant time and in races during which each drivers had been categorised as ending.
1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
PREV. RANKCHAMP POSITIONQUALI VS. TEAMMATERACE VS. TEAMMATE1  
1st (187 factors)5-36-2
We’re not but midway via the season, however you possibly can already inform that it is going to take one thing outstanding to cease Hamilton successful a sixth world championship. It is arduous to know whether or not the early-season Valtteri Bottas cost has slowed down or Hamilton has merely upped his recreation, however both manner he finds himself 36 factors clear on the high. He heads to Austria on the lookout for a fifth consecutive win, a streak he has achieved solely as soon as earlier than in his profession (2014), and you would be courageous to wager in opposition to him.
2.Max Verstappen (Purple Bull)
PREV. RANKCHAMP POSITIONQUALI VS. TEAMMATERACE VS. TEAMMATE2  4th (100 factors)7-18-Zero
You solely want to take a look at what teammate Pierre Gasly managed in France to understand simply how particular Verstappen is. His unbelievable streak of top-five finishes — which stands at 17 races — continued at Paul Ricard regardless of Purple Bull’s severe lack of tempo, one thing that left the Dutchman relatively ticked off. However the fantastic thing about a back-to-back means he can rapidly flip issues round in Spielberg and will definitely be eyeing a podium end on the workforce’s house race. Do not forget he received this grand prix 12 months in the past…
Three. Carlos Sainz (McLaren)
PREV. RANKCHAMP POSITIONQUALI VS. TEAMMATERACE VS. TEAMMATE5  
seventh (26 factors)Three-54-1
The season simply retains on getting higher for Sainz, who has established himself because the midfield’s most in-form driver, bar none, with 4 top-eight finishes previously 5 outings — three of which noticed him take best-of-the-rest honours. Amazingly, in that stretch of races, he has even outscored Gasly within the Purple Bull! One small criticism could be his qualifying work, however his race craft on Sundays is greater than making up for it.
Four. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
PREV. RANKCHAMP POSITIONQUALI VS. TEAMMATERACE VS. TEAMMATE8  fifth (87 factors)2-62-5
After what he and Ferrari produced in Bahrain, I am going to admit that I am a bit stunned Leclerc has gone eight races and not using a top-two end. Nonetheless, the 21-year-old is beginning to discover type but once more, with back-to-back podiums in Canada and France. As Mercedes streak clear on the entrance, the strain is being ratcheted up on four-time world-championship-winning teammate Sebastian Vettel, which is permitting Leclerc to fly beneath the radar. With somebody of his class and high quality, that is harmful for the remainder of the sphere.
Carlos Sainz has outperformed McLaren teammate Lando Norris this yr when it issues, on Sunday. Octane/Motion Plus through Getty Photos
5. Daniel Ricciardo (Renault)
PREV. RANKCHAMP POSITIONQUALI VS. TEAMMATERACE VS. TEAMMATE4  
ninth (16 factors)7-13-2
The championship standings will not actually replicate it, however there’s completely little doubt who the highest canine is at Renault proper now. Ricciardo is effectively and actually on high of the skilled Nico Hulkenberg, who hasn’t been in a position to out-qualify the Australian because the season-opening race in Melbourne. Postrace time penalties price him useful factors in France, but when there’s one man who will hearth up and reply in Austria, it is Ricciardo.
6. Lando Norris (McLaren)
PREV. RANKCHAMP POSITIONQUALI VS. TEAMMATERACE VS. TEAMMATE10  12th (14 factors)5-31-Four
Watching Norris in qualifying is a factor of magnificence, and it may be arduous to consider he is nonetheless in his rookie season. Confidence does wonders for younger drivers, and Norris’ needs to be at an all-time excessive after taking P5 in qualifying at Le Castellet final weekend. If he can take a slice of that confidence and work on his race craft, he might be in for a mega stretch and I would not rule out him mounting a severe problem to teammate Sainz.
7. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
PREV. RANKCHAMP POSITIONQUALI VS. TEAMMATERACE VS. TEAMMATE3  third (111 factors)6-25-2
Forward of the season, if you happen to had advised Vettel he’d be trailing Hamilton by 76 factors after simply eight rounds, he in all probability would have been sick. 2019 has been a disappointing one for Vettel and Ferrari, and the actual fact there was no response in France after what occurred in Montreal a fortnight earlier is a worrying signal. He is had the sting on Leclerc this yr, however you are not alone if you happen to get the sensation the tables are about to show in favour of the teenager who’s getting an increasing number of comfy within the Ferrari.
Eight. Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso)
PREV. RANKCHAMP POSITIONQUALI VS. TEAMMATERACE VS. TEAMMATE6  14th (10 factors)5-35-Three
All proper, I do know what you are considering. Kvyat did not have a sniff of a top-10 in France, so how does he are available in at eighth on this version of Energy Rankings? Properly, for a man who was dumped from the game after which recalled, his season has been extremely spectacular. He and Sainz are the one two drivers outdoors of the highest three groups to complete within the factors in three of the previous 4 races. Not solely that however he is already managed to determine himself as Toro Rosso’s No. 1, forward of the extremely proficient Alexander Albon.
9. Kimi Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo)
PREV. RANKCHAMP POSITIONQUALI VS. TEAMMATERACE VS. TEAMMATE17  eighth (19 factors)5-37-1
Raikkonen’s season has been just like that of compatriot Bottas: a quick begin after which a extremely disappointing lull. Nonetheless, in contrast to Bottas, Kimi has managed to get issues again on monitor and trails solely Sainz within the race to unofficially be topped better of the remaining. His teammate Antonio Giovinazzi won’t be the largest identify, however I actually appreciated seeing Raikkonen rapidly placing him in his place after the Italian turned in a few stronger than ordinary periods.
10. George Russell (Williams)
PREV. RANKCHAMP POSITIONQUALI VS. TEAMMATERACE VS. TEAMMATE7  19th (Zero factors)Eight-07-1
Final weekend we noticed Robert Kubica lastly edge Russell in a race, however I do not anticipate it to negatively have an effect on the younger Brit an excessive amount of. In spite of everything, he is been driving brilliantly in his rookie season and doing greater than what’s anticipated of him in a Williams that is constantly been behind the grid. Final yr, in Components 2, Russell was lightning fast on the Purple Bull Ring, so he should not have to attend lengthy to get again on high of his teammate.
11. Nico Hulkenberg (Renault)
PREV. RANKCHAMP POSITIONQUALI VS. TEAMMATERACE VS. TEAMMATE9  10th (16 factors)1-72-Three
On paper, Hulkenberg’s season seems to be fairly respectable. He has matched teammate Ricciardo 16-16 in championship factors and completed seventh on two events, all whereas having to cope with Renault’s fragile engine. Nonetheless, the numbers do not fairly inform the total story. The Hulk has probably not been in the identical league as Ricciardo, significantly in qualifying, the place he is been comprehensively outclassed. Austria hasn’t been a contented searching floor for him, both, with no factors finishes since 2015.
12. Alexander Albon (Toro Rosso)
PREV. RANKCHAMP POSITIONQUALI VS. TEAMMATERACE VS. TEAMMATE12  15th (7 factors)Three-53-5
As with Leclerc at Ferrari, I really feel like Albon has been flying beneath the radar a bit of. The entire rookie discuss has been about Norris and his sensational efforts, however Albon’s season stacks up fairly properly regardless of not having as many championship factors to his identify. The very fact he has been in a position to match Kvyat — who after a yr off has returned and is performing effectively — as a rule is a good signal not just for the rest of the yr however for his profession.
13. Romain Grosjean (Haas)
PREV. RANKCHAMP POSITIONQUALI VS. TEAMMATERACE VS. TEAMMATE11  17th (2 factors)2-62-Three
When the Haas is wanting sturdy, Grosjean appears to get unfortunate, and when the automobile efficiency dips, he simply cannot compete. It has been a extremely irritating first eight races for the Frenchman, however this weekend might be the place all of it turns round. Grosjean is on the lookout for a fourth straight top-seven end on the Purple Bull Ring, simply his most profitable circuit since becoming a member of Haas in 2016. Final yr, P4 in Austria ignited a extremely spectacular five-race stretch during which he tallied 27 championship factors.
14. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
PREV. RANKCHAMP POSITIONQUALI VS. TEAMMATERACE VS. TEAMMATE13  2nd (151 factors)Three-52-6
I feel we have gone so far as we are able to with Bottas 2.Zero. Any probability of Bottas Three.Zero? The early-season feeling that Bottas may problem Hamilton for the title has rapidly disappeared with the Finn merely unable to match his teammate in latest rounds. In France he completed over 18 seconds adrift and nearly misplaced out to a slower Ferrari within the dying laps. Because the Spanish Grand Prix, Hamilton has outscored Bottas 101-64, and it is turning into clear the latter would not have the mettle to problem season-long for a title.
15. Sergio Perez (Racing Level)
PREV. RANKCHAMP POSITIONQUALI VS. TEAMMATERACE VS. TEAMMATE14  13th (13 factors)Eight-06-2
I do know the Racing Level hasn’t precisely been lightning across the tarmac in latest instances, however I have been a bit disenchanted with Perez, who joins Giovinazzi and the Williams pair as the one drivers to not have scored a single level previously 4 rounds. Nonetheless, he is given teammate Lance Stroll no probability of taking the No. 1 spot since his arrival and heads into the Austrian Grand Prix weekend because the most certainly of the Racing Level drivers to attain factors.
16. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
PREV. RANKCHAMP POSITIONQUALI VS. TEAMMATERACE VS. TEAMMATE15  11th (14 factors)6-23-2
Gunther Steiner’s radio intervention in Canada was the correct factor to do after Magnussen sounded off about operating thus far off the tempo, but it surely appears to have rocked him greater than anticipated. His struggles continued in France, and he has now basically completed final in back-to-back races — if you happen to take out the uncompetitive Williams vehicles, that’s. Proper now, his heroics in Melbourne and Barcelona look like an eternity in the past.
17. Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo)
PREV. RANKCHAMP POSITIONQUALI VS. TEAMMATERACE VS. TEAMMATE19  18th (Zero factors)Three-51-7
I nonetheless do not like his possibilities of retaining a seat in Components One past 2019, however there is not any doubt Giovinazzi has upped his recreation in latest race weekends. He is now had a few periods when he has managed to edge world-title-winning teammate Raikkonen, however the greatest concern for him is that he nonetheless has but to attain a single championship level. That is one thing you possibly can say solely about Giovinazzi and the Williams drivers.
18. Lance Stroll (Racing Level)
PREV. RANKCHAMP POSITIONQUALI VS. TEAMMATERACE VS. TEAMMATE16  16th (6 factors)Zero-82-6
The truth that Stroll has didn’t progress from Q1 previously 12 races actually says all of it. There is no doubt that on his day he is usually a artful racer and nab a couple of factors, however proper now his horrible Saturdays are killing him. In France’s Q1, he was almost a full second slower than teammate Perez! He severely must spend additional hours within the simulator engaged on this obvious weak spot, or it may find yourself costing him his profession. Ah, however then once more, his father, Lawrence, will possible bail him out.
19. Robert Kubica (Williams)
PREV. RANKCHAMP POSITIONQUALI VS. TEAMMATERACE VS. TEAMMATE20  20th (Zero factors)Zero-81-7
Now breathe! Kubica lastly acquired his identify off the underside of the timesheets, getting the higher of teammate Russell in France for the primary time this season, albeit after the rookie took a grid drop. What does that do for his confidence? Properly, we may see a shift in energy, however I get the sensation that it was extra of a one-off and that enterprise as ordinary will probably be restored this weekend with the pendulum swinging again in favour of the British driver.
20. Pierre Gasly (Purple Bull)
PREV. RANKCHAMP POSITIONQUALI VS. TEAMMATERACE VS. TEAMMATE18  sixth (37 factors)1-70-Eight
That is getting actually harmful now. If I had been assigning a letter grade to Gasly after eight races at Purple Bull, he could be getting an F. No query about it. The Frenchman has been completely smashed by Verstappen, and if it weren’t for an absence of apparent replacements, I do not suppose he’d be in Purple Bull colors for for much longer. If he could not uncover one thing in his house race, I actually fear for him this weekend when he heads to a monitor the place Verstappen received this time final yr.