F1 driver power rankings: Lewis Hamilton keeps title hopes alive as Fernando Alonso soars up table
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByEurosport
Updated 25/10/2016 at 18:11 GMT
Lewis Hamilton kept his hopes of a fourth world championship crown alive with his fourth victory at the Circuit of the Americas.
Fernando Alonso of Spain and McLaren Honda walks in the Pitlane during qualifying for the United States Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas on October 22, 2016 in Austin, United States.
Image credit: AFP
It's a track where Hamilton has often excelled. But there were a few drivers who stood out even more during last weekend's United States Grand Prix.
F1 Fanatic editor Keith Collantine passes judgement on the full field:
1. Fernando Alonso
This was Alonso at his dogged, relentless best. The McLaren wasn't up to qualifying inside the top ten but one of his trademark opportunistic starts got him up into the points positions right away. He got a little lucky with the Virtual Safety Car, but Alonso went on the attack late in the race and brilliantly muscled Massa aside for sixth. The coup de grace came when he took fifth from Sainz.
2. Daniel Ricciardo
We'll never know whether Ricciardo could have beaten Rosberg using his alternative strategy, as the VSC allowed the Mercedes driver to make his final pit stop and emerge ahead of him. We were robbed of a great fight and Ricciardo was denied a possible second place.
3. Carlos Sainz Jnr
He was thrilled with his result and he deserved to be. Produced one of the best qualifying laps of the season to get his underpowered Toro Rosso up to tenth on the grid. The VSC handed him a position ahead of Massa, but he resisted the Williams, though was probably never going to be able to keep Alonso behind.
4. Lewis Hamilton
It was hard to fault Hamilton's performance, especially given the pressure of the championship situation. Rosberg couldn't touch him in the demanding first sector and Hamilton finally nailed his start. After that it was plain sailing.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2016/10/25/1955938-41114245-2560-1440.jpg)
Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates his win with tennis superstar Venus Williams and his team during the United States Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas on October 23, 2016 in Austin, United States
Image credit: AFP
5. Kimi Raikkonen
There wasn't much between the Ferrari drivers again though Raikkonen prevailed in qualifying. Raikkonen was on an aggressive strategy when an error by his team forced him into retirement.
6. Sebastian Vettel
Used a more conventional strategy and probably would have been in a stronger position at the end of the race than his team mate had both Ferraris still been running.
7. Jenson Button
Qualified far lower than he should have done after getting stuck in traffic on his only lap on the quickest tyres in Q1. But from there he tore through the field at the start and ensured both McLarens scored points.
8. Romain Grosjean
Another driver who reached the top ten despite dropping out in Q1, bringing some cheer for Haas at their first home race.
9. Marcus Ericsson
He made a game effort by a trying single-stop strategy but it ultimately yielded no points.
10. Pascal Wehrlein
Comfortably out-paced his team mate once again on a circuit which was unfamiliar to both of them.
The rest of the grid
- 11. Nico Rosberg
- 12. Sergio Perez
- 13. Max Verstappen
- 14. Nico Hulkenberg
- 15. Kevin Magnussen
- 16. Valtteri Bottas
- 17. Jolyon Palmer
- 18. Esteban Ocon
- 19. Esteban Gutierrez
- 20. Felipe Nasr
- 21. Felipe Massa
- 22. Daniil Kvyat
Keith Collantine is the editor of Formula One blog F1 Fanatic
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement