Vote for your 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix Driver of the Weekend

2020 Sakhir Grand Prix

Posted on

| Written by

Which Formula One driver made the most of the Sakhir Grand Prix weekend?

It’s time to give your verdict on which driver did the best with the equipment at their disposal over the last three days.

Review how each driver got on below and vote for who impressed you the most at Bahrain International Circuit.

Driver performance summary

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

Vote for your driver of the weekend

Which driver do you think did the best job throughout the race weekend?

Who got the most out of their car in qualifying and the race? Who put their team mate in the shade?

Cast your vote below and explain why you chose the driver you picked in the comments.

Who was the best driver of the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix weekend

  • No opinion (0%)
  • Nicholas Latifi (0%)
  • Jack Aitken (0%)
  • Kevin Magnussen (0%)
  • Pietro Fittipaldi (0%)
  • Antonio Giovinazzi (0%)
  • Kimi Raikkonen (0%)
  • Lance Stroll (0%)
  • Sergio Perez (36%)
  • Pierre Gasly (0%)
  • Daniil Kvyat (0%)
  • Esteban Ocon (0%)
  • Daniel Ricciardo (0%)
  • Lando Norris (0%)
  • Carlos Sainz Jnr (0%)
  • Alexander Albon (0%)
  • Max Verstappen (0%)
  • Charles Leclerc (0%)
  • Sebastian Vettel (0%)
  • Valtteri Bottas (0%)
  • George Russell (62%)

Total Voters: 260

Loading ... Loading ...

An RaceFans account is required in order to vote. If you do not have one, register an account here or read more about registering here
When this poll is closed the result will be displayed instead of the voting form.

Author information

Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

Got a potential story, tip or enquiry? Find out more about RaceFans and contact us here.

60 comments on “Vote for your 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix Driver of the Weekend”

  1. It feels almost sacrilegious not to give it to George, and yet I can’t not give it to Checo.

    1. I get the feeling. This is the first time I’ve taken nearly 20 mins thinking about the whole race weekend and gauging who was the better driver. Honestly, is was no right answer. Both drivers were brilliant but for different reasons.

      Voted for Perez in the end.

    2. George was in the best car on the grid. Checo was not. Although George did demonstrate that Bottas is useless.

  2. It would have been slam-dunk George if he had continued to close in on Checo and pass him for the win. Unfortunately, it became a what-if situation through no fault of his own. Checo edges this for me, but only just.

  3. Situation calls for a split vote between GR/SP

  4. Perez definitely – he was set for third anyway even without the Mercedes snafu, having been last after the first safety car. Plus I think he would have held on even if Russell hadn’t had to pit with the puncture – his pace was really strong. Russell obviously was great, his time will come. But he did only have to beat a broken and incredibly wishy-washy Bottas – hopefully he takes his seat next year.

  5. DOTW: RUS
    DOTD: PER with honorable mentions to RUS and to a smaller extent, OCO.
    Although, given the difficulty of choosing between PER and RUS for the latter, I rather go for both equally.

    1. George, even if he was outqualified in equal machinery?

      I bring it up because it’s one of the usual parameters for measuring driver performance over the weekend.

      1. Outqualified? George wasn’t in the car for 4 days compared to Bottas’ 4 years, yet was only beaten by 0.026 secs, so I don’t think this usual parameter applies this weekend.

        1. I agree losing qualifying by that margin is if anything a plus to russel.

        2. Totally agree. It’s so bizzare that some try to criticize Russells performance and judge him as if he’s been in the car for years when he’s only had about 4 hours running in the car.

        3. What do you call it when a driver starts behind his teammate?

          1. @faulty
            You call it “Bottas 2.0”

  6. I don’t think I could give it to anyone other than Russell. Immediately jumping into an unfamiliar car and being straight on the pace of the guy that’s been in one all year was impressive, but grabbing the lead and driving off was something I never expected. Then the lose it, claw it back – and lose it all over again, he just seemed to have so much hunger. There’s no doubt now the guy is very talented – sure the rocketship of a car helps a lot but he’s far more capable of getting more out of it than Bottas has done and he proved that in one race. Very impressive showing.

    1. Russell was great, but you can’t ignore Checo went from 18 to 1, the first time in F1 history that a driver that was last in the first lap, won a GP. According to Mistership (spanish stats master).

      1. Spanish stats master? They might have a vested interest in publishing that.
        John Watson won from starting 23rd? on the grid in Long Beach 83. Markus winklehock rings a bell too. 07? I think it was? Racing for spyker but the race was red flagged.
        I think Lewis came 2nd after starting in the pits back in Hungary 14/15? Buttom Canada 11 but after the first lap he was higher than last place.
        It’s not a common feat but it’s not the only time it’s happened. Great drive from Sergio.

  7. On the basis the person who won made the least amount of mistakes I gave my vote to Sergio. It is easy to overlook this was a great result for Esteban and Lance too. Well deserved podium places.

    1. @drycrust Giovanazzi made least mistakes of all drivers though. So if you go by that criterium alone you have to vote for him.

      1. Giovinazzi, btw, surprised some people still misspell it.

      2. @f1osaurus Antonio didn’t win the race, Sergio did.

  8. Russell. For the first time in a while, hands down.

    1. For me is 50/50 with little edge for PER over result.

  9. Russel, after humiliating Bottas.

    1. Bit OTT. Humiliation is a very strong and emotive term. Now have a look at the finishing positions and give us another.

      1. @deanr If you only look at numbers? Sure, it’s stronger than warranted.

        If you look at what actually took place and the circumstances, “humiliation” is adequate.

        1. You have a much much lower bar for humiliation than I.
          Humiliation would more on the lines of George sleeping with his wife, posting the pics on line, taking his car, beating him it and then publicly declaring Bottas a busted flush.
          Having an off race and still beating your teammate doesn’t come anywhere close to “humiliation”, at best it would have been an comfortable weekend for Valterri but “humiliating”? Nah. Youd have to be quite a precious soul to think that is anywhere close to humiliation.

  10. Pleased to see that at time of writing, vote is split pretty much 50:50 Russell:Perez, with a tiny edge for Russell. They both did a great job all weekend, but for me the fact that it wasn’t Russell’s usual car and he still managed such an impressive performance, means he just about pips it for DOTW.

    1. Pat Ruadh (@fullcoursecaution)
      7th December 2020, 16:44

      Also at time of writing its 45 votes and all for one of two drivers

      1. Worth noting that the official F1 website has Pietro Fittipaldi in 3rd with 5.8% of the vote….. :-/

  11. It can only be Perez or Russell, and at the time of writing, they together make up 100% of the votes. For me, Perez just edges it for going from 18th to 1st, but both were 10/10 performances.

  12. It is gut-wrenching to see a backmarker losing a chance to win his first race with a top team. It takes a performance of extraordinary value to trump it. But unfortunately for Russell, Checo provided exactly that.

    A last-to-first win by a mid-field team’s driver; a driver who gave the team its first win in 15 years, a team that he played a part in saving 2 years ago; a team that repaid his faith by booting him out; a driver who has never raced for a front running outfit in his career; a driver winning his one hundred and ninetieth and possibly penultimate race.

    I will certainly get several chances to vote for Russel in what will definitely be an illustrious career. But I might not get a chance to vote for Checo again.

  13. Perez of course. There’s not much to think about it.
    From last in the first lap to winner.
    Extraordinary performance. Sparkly.

  14. Michael (@freelittlebirds)
    7th December 2020, 17:30

    Tough one between George and Checo – it’d be perfect if the final votes were evenly split between them.

  15. I’ll completely lose my faith to this community if Russell wins the vote instead of Perez

    1. +1 leave fanaticism aside.

    2. RIP faith

    3. jsw11984 (@jarred-walmsley)
      8th December 2020, 1:14

      I did vote for Russell, solely because it is driver of the Weekend and no doubt Russell did better over the whole weekend.

      Driver of the day though, 100% is Perez

  16. In an unfamiliar car, to be quickest in FP1 and 2, then lead off the line and be in total control until that farce of a pitstop. Even then he would almost certainly have won, until the puncture intervened.
    We were all told by Lewis and Fernando he was special, now we all see why.
    George I salute you.

  17. It must be Perez or Russell. Still I want to give credit to Ocon for his first podium.

  18. On any other weekend Perez would get this, he has driven great all season and thoroughly deserved the win. However, regardless of best car ir not Russell has really proved himself in his first opportunity at the front. Qualified within 200ths of a second of established team mate and drove a great race, overtaking when needed. Great stuff from him. Russell for me.

  19. Georgio Perussel?

    1. Ahaha, fun mix.

    2. I’ll vote for him too

  20. How can anyone not vote Perez here? Mad

    1. Perez flat spotted his tyres and had sub-par pace on that set after

    2. jj, How can anyone not vote Russell here? Mad

  21. Definitely Pérez, his career start was formidable, in turn 4 he was already in 3 °, Charles’s misfortune took Checo to last place on the first lap, and with the tenacity that Checo has us used to, he did not give up and put his car in the right place to win, he had great overtaking, starting with overtaking Charles and Max in the first corners, Checo’s driving was phenomenal.

    Checo won the race on his own merits and with an extraordinary example of his driving.

    Congratulations Checo

  22. As much as I’d like to give it to Perez, Russell was amazing considering the pressure and unfamiliar car

  23. I went no opinion because the is no ‘other’ option. I think Russell and Perez deserve driver of the weekend. They both had good quallies. They both had obstacles to overcome, they both had to fight their way from the back to the front.

  24. Need 2 picks option! Russel and perez all the way, voted for russel cause he didn’t get what he deserved, perez should be happy without my vote!

    1. And wow, 61% russel, 38% perez, they left just ONE percent to other drivers, in fact “no opinion” got that 1%, out of 164 voters.

      1. Ops, now 61 and 39% and 166 voters, crazy!

  25. Such a tough call

    Perez takes a well-deserved first victory, last to 1st. What a great way to answer the team’s dubious choice of Vettel over him.

    Russell was a just a monster. He exceeded expectations all weekend. When the lights went out he took the lead and controlled the race until the team performed a Benny Hill skit instead of a pitstop. He was making a convincing effort to claw back first place when he got the puncture. And then he passed until he ran out of laps.

    Since I only have one vote – Perez, in case I don’t get another chance to vote for him.

  26. If I could share a vote between Checo and GR I would.

    I feel that GR’s performance in the Merc was more impressive, considering the circumstances. And to be right on VB’s pace was also very impressive.

    GR for me.

  27. petebaldwin (@)
    8th December 2020, 4:14

    Russell for me. Perez did great but he benefitted from so many others having issues. Without that, he finishes 4th at best. Russell would have won (in my opinion) if no-one had any issues so I’ll give it to him.

  28. Jelle van der Meer (@)
    8th December 2020, 7:53

    Only option is Perez – yes he benefitted from failures of other but was also last at the end of lap 1 due to Leclerc. He made a brilliant recovery drive and several good overtakes.

    Russell did great but he also drove a Mercedes so effectively was only racing Bottas.

  29. So happy for Checo, definitely deserves to be known as a Grand Prix winner. For years he’s been fast, consistent, reliable driver always bagging the most points available, often more. This time he got them all, awesome job Checo.

    George, unbeleivable achievement to step into a car for the first time and perform like that. 2 hundreths behind in qualy against someone who pushes and frequently beats Lewis in qualy. Amazing effort, gutting to lose the race in those circumstances. And lets not forget he doesnt even fit in the car, he’s probably losing aero performance because his head is poking out so much. And he had to wear shoes that are too small! How do you still have the same pedal feel when your feet are squashed into too small shoes? Not to worry, he has left his mark.

  30. isaac (@invincibleisaac)
    8th December 2020, 9:03

    I find it amazing that after 225 votes people have only voted for either Russel or Perez. Not that that’s a bad thing – they clearly drove better than most drivers this weekend, but I find it unusual to see such a white wash of votes.

    In the end I went for Russel, for all of the obvious reasons. Adapted well, good start, good pace, good overtakes. He did very well – and so did Perez.
    Also honourable mentions to Ocon and Sainz and Leclerc’s Qualifying.

  31. Mercedes, by far.
    They were responsible for all the action and excitement and fun during three days.

  32. Perez showed once again how reliable he is at being in the right place to collect the results others leave for him. His recovery drive after Leclerc span him alone shows the team are binning the wrong driver

    Russell had a blinding weekend. Jumped in a new car that he clearly didn’t fit in without compromise, got within a whisker of pole, didn’t put a foot wrong in the race, and when circumstances went against him didn’t lose his head and went on the kind of charge we’re used to seeing from Hamilton or Verstappen. I was never sure if he wasn’t just being flattered by weak teammates but now I’m confident we have another future star on the grid

Comments are closed.