Driver ratings for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

It was not the Baku thriller of previous years, but that will not worry Red Bull who enjoyed their dream result at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

In total contrast, it was the day from hell for Ferrari as a double retirement in the first half of the race, both resulting from issues with the car, meant they fell much further adrift in the World Championship tables.

Some drivers never got the chance to show all they could do on the Baku City Circuit, but at least they generally kept it clean and nobody crashed out.

Here’s our full set of ratings for round eight of this season’s 22:

Max Verstappen: Five wins out of eight now for the World Champion and this was as dominant as any, once Ferrari and his own team-mate had ended any resistance.

Any suggestions, following events of the last couple of races and also earlier this weekend, that Verstappen was coming under pressure from within at Red Bull were dismissed when he sailed into the lead at Turn 1 on Lap 15 – amid a “no fighting” message to Sergio Perez that was barely required given the pace disparity.

No fastest lap for the Dutchman but a 21-point lead in the standings, and just as importantly 34 back to the first non-Red Bull rival, will more than compensate for that. 9.5.

Sergio Perez: A brilliant start by the Mexican from P2 took him into the lead, but everything appeared to change from the moment the Virtual Safety Car was deployed following Carlos Sainz’s retirement and after Charles Leclerc made a pit-stop, Perez had no buffer between himself and Verstappen.

He was closed down and passed and from then on had no answer to his team-mate’s speed, having a pretty lonely second half of the grand prix with the runner-up’s position assured barring mishaps.

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