Which Formula 1 driver made the most of the Australian 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 Albert Park.
Driver performance summary
| Driver | Q stage | Q pos. | Q gap to team mate | GP grid pos. | GP pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Verstappen | Q3 | 1 | -0.359s | 1 | 19 |
| Sergio Perez | Q3 | 3 | +0.359s | 6 | 5 |
| Lewis Hamilton | Q2 | 11 | +0.059s | 11 | 18 |
| George Russell | Q3 | 7 | -0.059s | 7 | 17 |
| Charles Leclerc | Q3 | 5 | +0.250s | 4 | 2 |
| Carlos Sainz Jnr | Q3 | 2 | -0.250s | 2 | 1 |
| Lando Norris | Q3 | 4 | -0.257s | 3 | 3 |
| Oscar Piastri | Q3 | 6 | +0.257s | 5 | 4 |
| Lance Stroll | Q3 | 9 | -0.480s | 9 | 7 |
| Fernando Alonso | Q3 | 10 | +0.480s | 10 | 6 |
| Esteban Ocon | Q2 | 15 | -0.365s | 15 | 16 |
| Pierre Gasly | Q1 | 17 | +0.365s | 17 | 13 |
| Alexander Albon | Q2 | 12 | 12 | 11 | |
| Daniel Ricciardo | Q1 | 18 | +0.729s | 18 | 12 |
| Yuki Tsunoda | Q3 | 8 | -0.729s | 8 | 8 |
| Valtteri Bottas | Q2 | 13 | -0.645s | 13 | 14 |
| Zhou Guanyu | Q1 | 19 | +0.645s | 19 | 15 |
| Kevin Magnussen | Q2 | 14 | -0.267s | 14 | 10 |
| Nico Hulkenberg | Q1 | 16 | +0.267s | 16 | 9 |
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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 2024 Australian Grand Prix weekend?
- No opinion (0%)
- Kevin Magnussen (1%)
- Nico Hulkenberg (2%)
- Zhou Guanyu (0%)
- Valtteri Bottas (0%)
- Yuki Tsunoda (7%)
- Daniel Ricciardo (0%)
- Alexander Albon (0%)
- Pierre Gasly (0%)
- Esteban Ocon (1%)
- Fernando Alonso (5%)
- Lance Stroll (0%)
- Oscar Piastri (2%)
- Lando Norris (0%)
- Carlos Sainz Jnr (81%)
- Charles Leclerc (0%)
- George Russell (1%)
- Lewis Hamilton (0%)
- Sergio Perez (1%)
- Max Verstappen (0%)
Total Voters: 110
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When this poll is closed the result will be displayed instead of the voting form.
2024 Australian Grand Prix
- Alonso calls Australian GP penalty a ‘one-off I’ve had too many of’
- Red Bull saw warning sign of Australian GP brake problem on Saturday – Verstappen
- Failing to punish Alonso would have “opened a can of worms” – Russell
- Leclerc sure “many team principals” are pursuing Sainz for 2025 seat
- “Don’t put me under pressure” – The best unheard team radio from Melbourne
Debates and polls
- Will Alonso win a world championship title with Aston Martin?
- How long should Red Bull give Ricciardo to prove he’s not lost his touch?
- Were stewards right to penalise Alonso over his driving before Russell’s crash?
- Are Williams right to bench Sargeant so Albon can race after crash?
- Is the FIA right to make ten seconds the new standard for penalties?
BasCB (@bascb)
24th March 2024, 7:22
For this weekend, hard to vote anyone else than Sainz. Tsunoda did a really good, but somewhat anonymous weekend as well, getting into Q3 and finishing in a strong points paying position.
Shout out to Magnussen for a doing the team work with Hulk once again and then a feisty drive to get past Albon which ended up giving him the last point on the board with Russel’s accident too.
Norris had a really solid day, but nothing spectacular. Piastri seems to still lack a tad of the race craft, although he was closer for the first half of the race, and he also had a scrappy Q3 lap.
Riccard
24th March 2024, 8:11
Most drivers performed consistently to the level of their cars.
Great of course for Sainz that he beat Leclerc and got the win, despite dropping off in the last stint; great for Norris that he beat Piastri and challenged the Ferraris; great for Tsunoda to run ‘best of the rest’ and again finish fast ahead of Riccardo.
I don’t think I’d rate anyone higher than a 7 or 8, but for the lack of stellar performances, best on the weekend is Sainz for me, a hair ahead of Tsunoda.
Avro Anson (@avroanson)
24th March 2024, 9:32
Not really – Piastri was on much older tyres and let Norris past.
Crawliin-from-the-wreckage (@davedai)
24th March 2024, 10:24
Piastri was ordered to swap places. No incentive or need to drive harder. He wouldn’t have been allowed to overtake. Just do enough to maintain your position. Unlike another driver (again).
earthling (@34rthl1ng)
24th March 2024, 8:52
Carlos was just great, Too bad Max lost the car, we could have watched a serious battle for the win, something we haven’t been treated with for a long time.
But Fernando impressed me more, he worked all race to keep ahead of his direct rivals, not losing time with the Ferrari McL or Checo. he was also a bit fortunate with the timing of the VSC.
What irks me is that George is such a bad loser and snitch. He binned it in the last lap or almost, which is business as usual for him, but has to blame someone else.
EffWunFan (@cairnsfella)
24th March 2024, 9:13
It does appear as though GR’s impetuous nature got the better of him, but I am keen to see whether FA did have any influence on events before drawing any conclusions.
Avro Anson (@avroanson)
24th March 2024, 9:30
I agree that Russell is both impetuous and a snitch, but in this case the stewards agreed with him. Alonso effectively brake-tested him, leaving him with nowhere to go but the gravel.
Crawliin-from-the-wreckage (@davedai)
24th March 2024, 10:41
Um no
Russell said he thought it was bizarre that the stewards were investigating.
And no there was no brake testing real or effectively as stated in the stewards report.
I thought drivers were supposed to be in control of their cars at all times. George wasn’t. How many licence points do you think is fair for that.
Asd
24th March 2024, 10:47
The 2 drivers I will remember frin this race:
Alonso – for overachieving in the race.
Russel – for taking it to the limit and fighting
Patrick (@paeschli)
24th March 2024, 12:57
Crazy how the guy who qualified behind his teammate and suddenly forgot where to brake with two laps to go still managed to get 6% of the votes.
MichaelN
24th March 2024, 13:59
I’ve been critical of him, and still think he won’t have a drive once Honda stops supplying Red Bull, but Tsunoda is really doing a number on Ricciardo. Good for him.
An Sionnach
24th March 2024, 18:08
It can be hard to rate Tsunoda. He can be fast, but inconsistent and a liability in traffic. His judgement and temperament are questionable. I expect that it doesn’t matter how he does and that Red Bull has already decided that he will be dropped once they no longer have a Honda engine.
RR
24th March 2024, 21:41
Easy this time:
Sainz gets himself a near perfect weekend, but also it seems, Horner may have already decided to offer him the second Red Bull seat alongside Max.
However, will Jos, Max, and Marko be keen on a top driver joining Max…?
montreal95 (@montreal95)
25th March 2024, 6:19
Knew everyone voted for Sainz so voted for Tsunoda. Absolutely maximized his car in qualy and the race. To finish just 2 or 3 secs behind Stroll in the AMR is exceptional. Alonso would have been up there as well without the last gasp antics. But alas not. So it’s only Sainz and Tsunoda.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
25th March 2024, 16:54
Alonso.