2024 Dutch Grand Prix: Driver Ratings and Performance Analysis
Following a well-deserved summer break, Formula 1 teams returned to action with a challenging weekend at Zandvoort. The Dutch Grand Prix, held under characteristically wet and windy conditions, provided a stern test for drivers and machinery alike, pushing everyone to their limits as they settled back into the relentless pace of a Grand Prix weekend. While the race itself might not be remembered for an abundance of wheel-to-wheel action, it certainly delivered strategic depth and a captivating battle for the lead during its crucial early stages. Ultimately, one driver claimed a comfortable victory, but a closer look at the performances throughout the field reveals that some of the most impressive drives came from those battling further down the order. Here, we present RaceFans’ comprehensive driver ratings for the Dutch Grand Prix, evaluating each competitor’s performance across all three days of this demanding event.
Understanding RaceFans’ Driver Ratings System
At RaceFans, our driver ratings system is designed to provide a thorough and nuanced assessment of each driver’s performance throughout a Grand Prix weekend. This isn’t merely about who finished where on Sunday; it’s a holistic evaluation that considers every session, every decision, and every challenge faced from Friday’s practice to the checkered flag on Sunday.
Naturally, performances during the competitive sessions – qualifying, any sprint races (though not applicable here), and the Grand Prix itself – carry the most significant weight in determining a driver’s final rating. These are the moments when drivers are truly pushing the limits and directly competing for positions and points.
However, practice performance can also influence a driver’s overall weekend rating. A major mistake, such as a significant crash resulting in lost track time or car damage, or a pattern of consistent errors throughout the free practice sessions, will negatively impact a driver’s score. Conversely, a driver who demonstrates exceptionally impressive speed and consistency across all practice sessions, especially when compared to their teammate, may see their rating boosted, highlighting their early mastery of the circuit and conditions.
A crucial aspect of our system is its attempt to account for the relative performance of each driver’s car. We understand that not all machinery is equal. Therefore, a driver who wins a race in a car that is clearly superior to the rest of the field might not necessarily achieve a higher rating than a driver who manages to secure a low points finish in a less competitive midfield car. The system strives to recognize overachievement and mitigate the impact of inherent car advantages or disadvantages, focusing on how effectively a driver maximizes the potential of their package.
Furthermore, our ratings also take into account mitigating factors that are beyond a driver’s control. If a driver is forced to miss considerable track time due to unforeseen car problems, becomes an innocent victim of being blocked in a critical qualifying session, finishes significantly lower than expected because of a heavily botched pit stop, or suffers any other misfortune they cannot reasonably be expected to control, their rating will not be unfairly penalized. We aim for fairness, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of Formula 1.
RaceFans rates each driver’s weekend performance on a scale of 0 to 10. A score of ‘5’ is considered to be a typically average weekend performance from a typically average Formula 1 driver. This baseline helps contextualize all other scores, allowing for a clear understanding of whether a performance exceeded, met, or fell short of expectations.
Here is a detailed guide to each possible score within our system:
N/A – Not applicable – No rating is given if the driver did not sufficiently participate in the competitive sessions, for example, due to injury or a major technical issue preventing them from starting.
0 – Disqualified – This score is reserved for the most extreme instances where a driver’s conduct, actions, or a severe breach of regulations disqualifies them from active participation or nullifies their performance in a way that goes beyond mere on-track mistakes.
1 – Appalling – An appalling display that immediately brings a driver’s fundamental competency and suitability for Formula 1 under serious question. This implies significant, repeated, and impactful errors.
2 – Awful – A very, very poor performance characterized by frequent and costly errors with almost no redeeming qualities or moments of proficiency throughout the weekend.
3 – Very bad – A weekend dominated by far more negatives than positives across all sessions. A driver receiving this score should be profoundly disappointed with their output.
4 – Underperformance – The driver failed to achieve the basic level of performance and consistency that would be expected from a Formula 1 driver, considering their car’s potential and their own usual standards.
5 – Acceptable – This represents the standard level of performance that should be expected from an F1 driver. They performed competently, avoided major errors, and delivered what was generally anticipated.
6 – Good – A decent overall performance across the weekend. While solid and commendable, it wasn’t one of the standout drives or a particularly remarkable achievement compared to the best performances.
7 – Very good – A strong performance across the weekend that any driver should be very pleased with. It indicates consistent pace, effective racecraft, and minimal errors, often maximizing the car’s potential.
8 – Brilliant – A truly great weekend where the driver stood out as one of the very best in the field. This score signifies exceptional skill, intelligent decision-making, and often an ability to extract more from the car than expected.
9 – Exceptional – An outstanding performance that ranks as one of the best, if not the very best, of the entire season. This is for truly remarkable drives that transcend typical expectations and demonstrate mastery.
10 – Legendary – One of the few all-time greatest performances by a driver in the history of Formula 1. This score is reserved for truly iconic, flawless, and unforgettable drives that define a career or a season.
2024 Dutch Grand Prix Driver Analysis
Max Verstappen – 8/10
Qualified: 2nd (+3 places ahead of team mate, -0.387s)
Start: +1 place
Strategy: One-stop (M-H)
Finished: 2nd (+4 places ahead of team mate)
▲ Secured a front row start in second, splitting the McLarens
▲ Beat Norris to first corner to take lead at start
▶ Lost lead to Norris on lap 18, then pitted for hard tyres
▶ Unable to keep pace with Norris ahead but kept out of reach of Leclerc
▲ Finished second, 22 seconds behind the winner
For the first time in his career, Max Verstappen tasted defeat at his home Grand Prix, but his performance over the weekend was undeniably the absolute maximum he could have extracted from his Red Bull. Securing a front-row start by splitting the dominant McLarens in qualifying was a victory in itself, showcasing his immense talent even when his car wasn’t the fastest. His lightning-quick reaction off the line to snatch the lead from Norris at the very start further underscored his competitive fire. While he ultimately couldn’t match the McLaren’s superior pace and ceded the lead on lap 18, Verstappen drove a faultless race. He expertly managed his tires, kept Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari comfortably at bay, and brought the car home in a well-deserved second place. This performance, maximizing a package that was clearly the second-fastest, epitomized his consistent brilliance, even if the top step of the podium eluded him on home soil.
Sergio Perez – 5/10
Qualified: 5th (-3 places behind team mate, +0.387s)
Start: -1 place
Strategy: One-stop (M-H)
Finished: 6th (-4 places behind team mate)
▶ Qualified in fifth, but four tenths slower than team mate
▼ Lost a place to Leclerc at the start to run sixth in opening stint
▶ Pitted for hard tyres and resumed in sixth
▼ Overtaken by Sainz to fall to seventh
▶ Picked up sixth when Russell pitted and remained there for rest of race
▶ Finished sixth, 15s behind team mate
With Red Bull no longer holding the undisputed fastest car status, missing the podium isn’t the catastrophic result it might have been earlier in the season. Sergio Perez’s weekend at Zandvoort was far from bad, yet it offered little to truly impress. He qualified a significant four-tenths slower than his teammate, a gap that highlighted the difference in outright pace. In the race, while Verstappen battled for the lead and secured a podium, Perez found himself progressively slipping down the order. He lost a place to Leclerc at the start, and later succumbed to Carlos Sainz, demonstrating a lack of defensive strength and sustained race pace against direct rivals. Although he regained a position due to Russell’s second pit stop, finishing sixth, 15 seconds adrift of Verstappen, painted a picture of an average performance. He didn’t make major errors, but neither did he extract anything beyond the car’s baseline potential.
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Lewis Hamilton – 6/10
Qualified: 12th (-8 places behind team mate, +0.396s)
Grid: 14th (-10 places behind team mate)
Start: +1 place
Strategy: Two-stop (S-H-S)
Finished: 8th (-1 place behind team mate)
▼ Eliminated from Q2 in 12th saying he couldn’t go faster than final effort
▶ Hit with three place grid penalty for impeding Perez in Q1
▲ Started on softs and passed Ricciardo, then Tsunoda and Hulkenberg
▶ Overtook both Aston Martins before pitting for hards
▶ Ran in eighth but flat spotted tyres, forcing second stop for softs
▶ Unable to close gap to Perez ahead, finishing eighth behind team mate
Lewis Hamilton might have felt underwhelmed with his eighth-place finish at Zandvoort, especially after his triumphant victory in Belgium the previous round. However, considering his starting position of 14th after a disappointing qualifying and a grid penalty, eighth was by no means a poor outcome. His Sunday drive was characterized by strong racecraft and confident overtakes, as he systematically worked his way through the field. Starting on softs allowed him to make early progress, and he continued to pick off rivals with precision. A crucial moment came when he locked up and flat-spotted his tires, necessitating an unplanned second stop for another set of softs. While this forced a strategic adjustment, it ultimately didn’t cost him significantly in terms of final position. The primary regret for Hamilton was a sub-par qualifying performance that left him with a considerable amount of ground to recover on Sunday, masking what was otherwise a very resilient and well-executed race.
George Russell – 6/10
Qualified: 4th (+8 places ahead of team mate, -0.396s)
Start: +1 place
Strategy: Two-stop (M-H-S)
Finished: 7th (+1 place ahead of team mate)
▲ Secured fourth on the grid behind McLarens and Verstappen
▲ Passed Piastri at the start to run in third over first stint
▶ Pitted for hards but undercut by Leclerc
▼ Lost a place when passed by Piastri, then made second stop for softs
▶ Rejoined ahead of Hamilton in seventh but unable to catch Perez ahead
▶ Finished seventh, five seconds ahead of team mate
George Russell’s Sunday at Zandvoort unfolded in a somewhat perplexing manner. He began the weekend strongly, securing an impressive fourth place on the grid, outperforming his teammate significantly. A brilliant start saw him leapfrog Oscar Piastri into third, placing him firmly in contention for a potential podium during the opening stint. However, his race began to unravel after his first pit stop, where he was undercut by Charles Leclerc. A subsequent second stop for soft tires saw him lose further ground, eventually dropping him to seventh place. While he finished ahead of his teammate, who had started eight places behind him, the trajectory of his race was concerning. Mercedes later indicated that his setup likely contributed to higher tire wear than Hamilton’s, explaining his fading pace. After his exceptional tire preservation display at Spa, this performance wasn’t as convincing, suggesting that the team might have missed the optimal setup balance for the challenging Zandvoort circuit.
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Charles Leclerc – 8/10
Qualified: 6th (+5 places ahead of team mate, -0.225s)
Start: +1 place
Strategy: One-stop (M-H)
Finished: 3rd (+2 places ahead of team mate)
▲ Took a top six starting position behind faster cars
▲ Passed Perez at the start to run fifth in early laps
▶ First of the leaders to pit for hard tyres
▶ Undercut Russell and Piastri to move up to third
▲ Held off Piastri for almost 30 laps despite older tyres
▲ Took final podium position in third, two seconds ahead of Piastri
Charles Leclerc delivered one of the standout performances of the Zandvoort weekend. In a season where Ferrari appears to be a half-step behind Mercedes and Red Bull, and McLaren has ascended to the role of the sport’s fastest team, securing a podium finish in a race with no retirements and no Safety Car interventions is an exceptionally strong result. Leclerc achieved this through a combination of brilliant driving and sharp strategy. He executed a strong qualifying session, securing a top-six starting position behind overtly faster cars, and then made a decisive move at the start to pass Sergio Perez. Being the first of the leaders to pit for hard tires proved to be a masterstroke, allowing him to undercut both George Russell and Oscar Piastri. The true test of his performance came in the final 30 laps, where he masterfully defended third place against a charging Piastri in a demonstrably faster McLaren, all while on older tires. This blend of pace, strategic awareness, and tenacious defense solidified an excellent performance.
Carlos Sainz Jnr – 6/10
Qualified: 11th (-5 places behind team mate, +0.225s)
Grid: 10th (-4 places behind team mate)
Start: +1 place
Strategy: One-stop (M-H)
Finished: 5th (-2 places behind team mate)
▶ Lost dry running time in second practice with gearbox problem
▼ Failed to reach Q3, knocked out in 11th
▲ Gained ninth passing Stroll at the start
▲ Passed Alonso for ninth around outside of Tarzan, then took seventh from Gasly
▶ Pitted for hards to run seventh behind Perez
▲ Caught and overtook Perez to move up to sixth
▶ Gained fifth when Russell pitted ahead where he would finish, six seconds behind team mate
Carlos Sainz delivered a perfectly decent fifth-place finish at Zandvoort, especially when considering his starting position of 10th on the grid. He managed to finish ahead of both George Russell and Sergio Perez, who had started significantly further up. While his teammate Charles Leclerc grabbed the headlines with a superb podium, Sainz’s race pace was equally impressive, if not stronger in the final stint. He made swift progress at the start, gaining positions and then executing strong overtakes on Fernando Alonso and Pierre Gasly. His decisive move to pass Sergio Perez later in the race was a highlight, showcasing his racecraft. However, his overall grade is hampered by a disappointing qualifying session on Saturday, where a gearbox problem in practice contributed to him failing to reach Q3, leaving him with an uphill battle on Sunday. Despite the strong recovery drive, the Saturday performance prevented a higher score.
Lando Norris – 7/10
Qualified: Pole (+2 places ahead of team mate, -0.499s)
Start: -1 place
Strategy: One-stop (M-H)
Finished: Winner (+3 places ahead of team mate)
▲ Took pole position by over three tenths of a second
▼ Lost lead to Verstappen at start
▲ Stuck with Verstappen to retake lead on lap 18
▶ Pitted for hard tyres and emerged comfortably ahead of Verstappen
▶ Gradually grew his lead over Verstappen to over 20s across second stint
▲ Took second career victory by 22 seconds
▲ Secured bonus point for fastest lap on final lap despite being on old hards
Lando Norris’s second career victory at Zandvoort was, on the surface, utterly dominant and emphatic, perhaps positioning him as the driver to beat in the latter stages of the championship. He secured pole position with a commanding margin of over three-tenths of a second, demonstrating the McLaren’s formidable pace on Saturday. However, by his own admission and general consensus, the McLaren was unquestionably the best car in the field at Zandvoort, setting high expectations for his performance. While Norris maximized the car’s potential on both Saturday and Sunday, a recurring issue arose: he once again failed to hold the lead out of Turn 1 after starting from pole, succumbing to Max Verstappen’s superior start. Although he quickly regrouped and skillfully retook the lead on lap 18 before stretching an unassailable advantage, this momentary lapse at the start prevents him from achieving a higher rating. A truly perfect weekend would have seen him convert pole into a lead from the outset, maintaining an unblemished performance throughout.
Oscar Piastri – 5/10
Qualified: 3rd (-2 places behind team mate, +0.499s)
Start: -1 place
Strategy: One-stop (M-H)
Finished: 4th (-3 places behind team mate)
▶ Beaten to pole by team mate and to front row by Verstappen
▼ Lost third to Russell at the start, then came under early pressure from Leclerc
▶ Extended first stint until lap 33, then pitted for hards, rejoining fifth
▲ Reclaimed position from Russell into Tarzan on lap 40
▶ Caught up to Leclerc but unable to get close enough to challenge for the podium
▶ Finished just under two seconds off Leclerc in fourth, 27s behind team mate
There was no denying that Oscar Piastri was driving the fastest car on the Zandvoort grid, a fact emphatically proven by his teammate’s dominant victory. While there is certainly no shame in being outqualified or beaten by Max Verstappen, losing out to Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari for a podium spot did not constitute a ‘good’ result for Piastri, and he acknowledged as much. He qualified third, but lost a position to George Russell at the start and then came under early pressure from Leclerc. Despite reclaiming a position from Russell later in the race, he couldn’t quite close the gap to Leclerc sufficiently to challenge for the podium, finishing just under two seconds behind. While his weekend wasn’t ‘bad’ by any stretch, for a driver in the fastest car on the grid, the expectation is to convert that advantage into a podium finish. Piastri himself will know that with the machinery he had, he needs to perform better than this, particularly against rivals whose cars were not as strong.
Fernando Alonso – 6/10
Qualified: 7th (+2 places ahead of team mate, -0.224s)
Start: -1 place
Strategy: One-stop (M-H)
Finished: 10th (+3 places ahead of team mate)
▲ Took seventh on the grid, claiming he could not go faster
▶ Lost a place to Gasly at the start, then passed by Sainz and Hamilton
▶ Pitted for hard tyres, rejoining 14th
▲ Overtook Magnussen and Albon in five-car battle to sit 11th
▲ Passed Hulkenberg on old tyres to claim final point in tenth
Considering the current performance level of the Aston Martin, securing a single point in tenth place at Zandvoort can be deemed an acceptable result for Fernando Alonso. He was demonstrably the quicker of the two Aston Martin drivers over the weekend, though the margin wasn’t as commanding as we’ve often seen over the past two seasons. While being passed by the faster Ferraris of Sainz and the Mercedes of Hamilton was largely anticipated, Alonso might have harbored hopes of holding off Pierre Gasly in the race, especially after starting ahead of him. His race saw him make progress after his pit stop, engaging in some strong battles and making decisive overtakes on Magnussen and Albon. His late-race move on Nico Hulkenberg to snatch the final point, despite being on older tires, highlighted his enduring racecraft and determination to extract every ounce of performance. A solid, if not spectacular, weekend given his car’s limitations.
Lance Stroll – 5/10
Qualified: 9th (-2 places behind team mate, +0.224s)
Grid: 8th (-1 place behind team mate)
Start: -2 places
Strategy: One-stop (M-H)
Finished: 13th (-3 places behind team mate)
▶ Reached Q3 alongside team mate to line up behind him in eighth
▼ Dropped two places on the opening lap
▶ Overtook Hulkenberg but lost a place to Hamilton
▶ Pitted for hard tyres, rejoining in 16th place
▼ Hit with five second time penalty for speeding in the pit lane
▲ Followed team mate by Albon, then ran behind him
▶ Held off late pressure from Ricciardo to finish 12th but dropped to 13th after penalty
Lance Stroll was the slightly slower of the two Aston Martin drivers in the Netherlands, though the margin between him and Alonso was notably tighter than it has been in previous races. He secured a decent eighth-place grid slot by reaching Q3, but his race quickly unravelled. He dropped two places on the opening lap, setting a challenging tone. While he made some efforts to recover, including an overtake on Hulkenberg, he ultimately fell behind the faster Hamilton. A five-second time penalty for speeding in the pit lane – his second such infringement this season – proved costly, dropping him from 12th to 13th in the final classification, behind Daniel Ricciardo. This sequence of events made for an underwhelming result. However, what prevents a lower score is that Stroll largely matched his teammate’s underlying pace during the race, showing he wasn’t completely off the mark. The errors and penalties, rather than pure lack of speed, were his undoing.
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Pierre Gasly – 8/10
Qualified: 10th (+7 places ahead of team mate, -0.277s)
Grid: 9th (+6 places ahead of team mate)
Start: +2 places
Strategy: One-stop (M-H)
Finished: 9th (+6 places ahead of team mate)
▲ Reached Q3 to line up ninth on the grid
▲ Passed Aston Martins at start to run seventh before passed by Sainz
▶ Pitted for hards later than most to rejoin in 12th after slight delay during stop
▲ Passed Magnussen and Albon to run tenth
▲ Caught and overtook Hulkenberg outside of Tarzan to move up to ninth where he would finish
Pierre Gasly and Zandvoort have proven to be a delightful combination, much like coffee and stroopwafels. Following his impressive podium finish here last year, Gasly picked up exactly where he left off, delivering one of the most outstanding performances of the entire field. From his superb qualifying effort that saw him start ninth, significantly ahead of his teammate, to his decisive start where he gained two positions by passing the Aston Martins, Gasly displayed exceptional form. His race pace was consistently strong, and his overtaking moves were executed with precision and confidence, including a crucial pass on Nico Hulkenberg at Tarzan to secure ninth place. Despite a slight delay during his pit stop, he regrouped effectively, passing Kevin Magnussen and Alexander Albon. This was a flawless weekend for Gasly, maximizing the Alpine’s potential in every session and making a strong first impression on his new team principal. An excellent all-around performance.
Esteban Ocon – 4/10
Qualified: 17th (-7 places behind team mate, +0.277s)
Grid: 15th (-6 places behind team mate)
Start: -1 place
Strategy: One-stop (M-H)
Finished: 15th (-6 places behind team mate)
▼ Knocked out of Q1 to line up 15th
▼ Lost a place to Bottas at the start to run behind Ricciardo early
▶ Overtaken by both Haas drivers before pitting for hards
▲ Overtook Sargeant, then gained a place when Albon pitted
▶ Ran 14th but overtaken by Albon late to finish 15th
Esteban Ocon endured a puzzling weekend at Zandvoort. Despite a clean three days with no major incidents or car damage, he consistently found himself unable to match the pace of his teammate, Pierre Gasly. Being knocked out in Q1, lining up 15th on the grid, was a clear underperformance, especially given Gasly’s Q3 appearance. In the race, Ocon struggled to make significant progress, losing a place at the start and then being overtaken by both Haas drivers. While he managed to make a few overtakes later on, notably on Logan Sargeant, he ultimately finished 15th, six places and a considerable distance behind Gasly. Without any obvious external excuses for his lack of pace – aside from being caught in congested traffic during parts of the race – it’s difficult to ascertain if Ocon genuinely underperformed or if Gasly simply had a truly brilliant weekend. Regardless, the Alpine car was clearly capable of a much higher finish than 15th, highlighting Ocon’s struggle to extract its full potential.
Alexander Albon – 7/10
Qualified: Disqualified
Grid: 19th (-1 place behind team mate)
Start: +2 places
Strategy: Two-stop (M-H-M)
Finished: 14th (+2 places ahead of team mate)
▲ Secured best starting position of the season in eighth
▶ Disqualified from qualifying after found to have illegal floor
▲ Picked up two places at the start to run 17th before pitting first for hards
▶ Rejoined last, catching and passing Magnussen in melee
▶ Lost several places to cars with fresher tyres, then made second stop for mediums
▶ Overtook Magnussen and Tsunoda, then allowed through by team mate
▲ Caught and passed Ocon in later laps to finish 14th
No driver would have left the Zandvoort paddock feeling more frustrated than Alexander Albon. What should have been a genuine opportunity for his best result of the season was cruelly snatched away through no fault of his own after his car was found to have an illegal floor post-qualifying, leading to disqualification. Although he technically achieved eighth on the grid with a non-compliant car, his subsequent performance on Sunday unequivocally demonstrated that the updated Williams package was indeed performing exceptionally well. Albon delivered a typical ‘Albon special’ on Sunday: a fantastic start saw him gain two positions, and he relentlessly fought his way through the field. Despite rejoining last after an early pit stop, he meticulously carved through rivals, making crucial overtakes on Magnussen, Tsunoda, and eventually Ocon in the later laps. Finishing 14th after starting 19th, having been disqualified, was an incredible recovery, showcasing his raw talent and determination. He truly deserved the chance to battle for a top-ten finish, and his rating reflects the brilliance of his driving, despite the unfortunate circumstances.
Logan Sargeant – 4/10
Qualified: DNQ
Grid: 18th (+1 place ahead of team mate)
Start: Held position
Strategy: One-stop (M-H)
Finished: 16th (-2 places behind team mate)
▼ Wrecked car in final practice crash
▼ Forced to miss qualifying due to damage to car
▶ Ran 18th eartly but passed by Magnussen before pitting for hards
▶ Rejoined 19th and caught Bottas before he made second stop
▲ Absorbed pressure from Tsunoda for 30 laps, allowing Albon through in process
▲ Held off Tsunoda and Magnussen over closing laps to finish 16th
Logan Sargeant seems acutely aware that these are likely the final Grand Prix races of his Formula 1 career, and his Zandvoort weekend did little to alter that perception. Ultimately, it is self-inflicted mistakes like his significant crash in final practice – caused by running onto the wet grass – that have consistently undermined his prospects of remaining in the sport beyond this season. The incident not only damaged his car extensively but also forced him to miss qualifying entirely, denying him a crucial opportunity to impress at what could have been Williams’ most competitive qualifying session of the year. What is most frustrating, however, is that Sargeant occasionally flashes undeniable, albeit unharnessed, potential. His solid defensive work over his final stint, absorbing pressure from Yuki Tsunoda for nearly 30 laps and expertly holding off both Tsunoda and Kevin Magnussen in the closing stages, earned praise from his team principal. This demonstrates that the raw talent is there, but the costly errors continue to overshadow these positive moments, leading to yet another frustrating weekend where potential was not fully realized.
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Yuki Tsunoda – 5/10
Qualified: 13th (+3 places ahead of team mate, -0.34s)
Grid: 11th (2 places ahead of team mate)
Start: -1 place
Strategy: Two-stop (S-M-H)
Finished: 17th (-5 places behind team mate)
▶ Reached Q2 but eliminated in 13th
▶ Promoted to 11th on the grid after penalties
▶ Lost a place to Hulkenberg at the start despite soft tyres, then passed by Hamilton
▶ Made early stop for mediums, rejoining 19th
▶ Absorbed pressure from Albon until making second stop for hards
▶ Spent almost 30 laps unable to find a way past Sargeant, then overtaken by Albon
▶ Finished 17th, 45s behind team mate
Yuki Tsunoda’s solid qualifying performance, which saw him reach Q2 and start 11th after penalties, would have fueled hopes of potentially snatching a point in the race. However, his less-than-ideal start, despite being on the softer compound tires, immediately put him on the back foot and compromised his two-stop strategy. Losing a place to Nico Hulkenberg and then being passed by Lewis Hamilton early on meant he had to fight harder than anticipated. A significant point of frustration in his race was his extended period behind Logan Sargeant. Despite the AlphaTauri likely having a pace advantage, Tsunoda spent almost 30 laps unable to find a way past the struggling Williams. This inability to execute an overtake in a race where passing was clearly feasible was notably disappointing. He ultimately finished 17th, a significant 45 seconds behind his teammate, who had started further back. While qualifying was strong, the race execution left much to be desired, reflecting an average overall weekend.
Daniel Ricciardo – 6/10
Qualified: 16th (-3 places behind team mate, +0.34s)
Grid: 13th (-2 places behind team mate)
Start: -2 places
Strategy: One-stop (M-H)
Finished: 12th (+5 places ahead of team mate)
▼ Frustrated to fail to progress from Q1
▼ Dropped two places at the start to run 15th early on
▶ Ran behind Stroll before pitting for hard tyres
▶ Continued to be stuck behind Stroll but passed Albon
▶ Got within DRS range of Stroll over final laps but unable to pass, finishing 13th
▶ Promoted to 12th after Stroll’s penalty
The pattern of the RB driver who underperforms on Saturday finding redemption on Sunday held true once again for Daniel Ricciardo at Zandvoort. After expressing frustration at failing to progress from Q1, significantly behind his teammate, Ricciardo demonstrated his characteristic racecraft and resilience on Sunday. Despite dropping two places at the start, he systematically worked his way back through the field. He spent a considerable portion of the race in close contention with Lance Stroll, eventually benefiting from Stroll’s pit lane penalty to be promoted to 12th. While he couldn’t quite find a way past Stroll on track despite getting within DRS range in the final laps, his ability to finish several positions ahead of his teammate, who had qualified better, highlights his Sunday prowess. While a commendable recovery, the overall performance wasn’t overwhelmingly impressive compared to some of the truly standout drives of the weekend, particularly given the car’s potential.
Valtteri Bottas – 6/10
Qualified: 18th (+1 place ahead of team mate, -1.093s)
Grid: 16th (+1 place ahead of team mate)
Start: +2 places
Strategy: Two-stop (S-H-M)
Finished: 19th (+1 place ahead of team mate)
▶ Sat out of opening practice session to let Shwartzman drive car
▶ Knocked out of Q1 in 18th but well ahead of team mate
▲ Started on softs, gaining two places at start to run 14th
▶ Pitted for hard tyres to run behind Albon, then passed by Ricciardo
▶ Made second stop for mediums, rejoining 19th
▶ Finished two laps down in 19th, but well ahead of team mate
Valtteri Bottas continues to be one of the most underrated performers in the current Formula 1 season. Battling with a Sauber car that offers very little upside and provides few genuine opportunities to shine, Bottas consistently performs a highly professional job, extracting the absolute maximum and giving his team the best possible chance. At Zandvoort, he sat out FP1 for Robert Shwartzman but quickly got up to speed, qualifying 18th but a significant margin – over a second – ahead of his teammate. In the race, he made a strong start on soft tires, gaining two positions. While the car’s inherent lack of pace meant he was always destined for a back-of-the-grid finish, he made no mistakes, cleanly executed his strategy, and decisively thrashed his teammate. Given the considerable deficit to their rivals this weekend, it’s challenging to accurately assess just how good a job Bottas did, but his faultless performance and significant advantage over Zhou Guanyu underscore his consistent capability.
Zhou Guanyu – 4/10
Qualified: 19th (-1 place behind team mate, +1.093s)
Grid: 17th (1 place behind team mate)
Start: -2 places
Strategy: Two-stop (M-H-S)
Finished: 20th (-1 place behind team mate)
▼ Eliminated slowest in Q1 but more than a second slower than team mate
▼ Lost two places on opening lap, then passed by Magnussen
▶ Pitted for hard tyres, running last
▶ Made second stop for soft tyres, remaining last
▼ Finished last, half a minute behind team mate
Zhou Guanyu’s Zandvoort weekend was devoid of major mistakes; he didn’t crash, incur any penalties, or do anything egregiously bad over the three days. However, his performance was simply characterized by a consistent lack of pace. While he is driving the slowest car on the grid, Zhou once again appeared unable to match his teammate, Valtteri Bottas, at any point during the weekend. He was eliminated slowest in Q1, over a second behind Bottas, a significant and concerning gap. In the race, he lost two places on the opening lap and continued to struggle, finishing last, a considerable half-minute behind his teammate. Without any obvious car problems or external factors to explain such a substantial deficit, it becomes increasingly difficult to excuse this level of performance at Formula 1 standards. This weekend further highlighted the persistent gap between him and Bottas, raising questions about his consistency.
Nico Hulkenberg – 6/10
Qualified: 14th (+1 place ahead of team mate, -0.08s)
Grid: 12th (+8 places ahead of team mate)
Start: +1 place
Strategy: One-stop (M-H)
Finished: 11th (+7 places ahead of team mate)
▼ Crashed at Tarzan in second practice
▼ Broke front wing locking up early in final practice
▶ Reached Q2 but knocked out in 14th
▶ Ran 11th before early stop for hard tyres
▶ Let through by team mate to run ninth behind Hamilton
▶ Passed by Gasly and Alonso to finish out of the points in 11th
Nico Hulkenberg endured a messy start to his Zandvoort weekend, with a crash at Tarzan in second practice and a broken front wing due to a lock-up in final practice. These incidents undoubtedly compromised his preparation and cost valuable track time. Despite these setbacks, he managed to reach Q2, qualifying 14th and notably ahead of his teammate. His race performance was a commendable comeback from the practice mishaps, showcasing strong pace and resilience. He ran as high as ninth at one point, with his team instructing Kevin Magnussen to let him through. He maintained a strong rhythm and was battling for the final points position until the very end, ultimately finishing 11th, just outside the points. Had it not been for the passes by Pierre Gasly and Fernando Alonso in the closing stages, or a single problem for a car ahead, he would have secured a top-ten finish. A higher score would certainly have been on the cards if he had managed to keep his car on the road and avoided the early incidents in practice.
Kevin Magnussen – 5/10
Qualified: 15th (-1 place behind team mate, +0.08s)
Grid: 20th (-8 places behind team mate)
Start: Held position
Strategy: One-stop (M-H)
Finished: 18th (-7 places behind team mate)
▶ Followed team mate into Q2 and knocked out directly behind him
▶ Forced to start from pit lane after changing power unit under parc ferme
▼ Caught back of the field on lap one but had off at Tarzan on lap three
▲ Passed Zhou, Sargeant and Ocon before letting team mate by
▶ Pitted for mediums to rejoin 19th
▶ Overtaken by Albon to finish 18th, almost 50s behind team mate
Kevin Magnussen’s Zandvoort weekend followed a familiar pattern from his 2024 season: one setback created a domino effect, leaving him to salvage what he could. Being forced to start from the pit lane after a power unit change under parc ferme conditions was an immediate disadvantage. His challenges compounded with an early off at Turn 1 on lap three, further dropping him to the very back of the field. Despite these significant hurdles, Magnussen displayed commendable effort to recover. He made a series of determined overtakes on Zhou Guanyu, Logan Sargeant, and Esteban Ocon, demonstrating his fighting spirit. He also played the team game, allowing Nico Hulkenberg through to aid his teammate’s charge for points. By that point, any realistic hope of a strong result was long gone, and he ultimately finished 18th, almost 50 seconds behind Hulkenberg. Aside from his early excursion, his team would have found little to complain about regarding his commitment and efforts, but the unfortunate circumstances and early off limited his potential.
Over to you
We’ve provided our detailed analysis of each driver’s performance at the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix. Now it’s your turn to have your say! We invite you to cast your vote for the driver who impressed you most over the weekend. Discover if other RaceFans share your perspective and engage in the discussion!
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