For the first time in 41 races, Charles Leclerc is a race winner. And what a place to do it, at home in Monaco.
It was an incredible victory, and one that makes this edition of the driver power rankings even more spicy!
Before we get to those, the disclaimer remains the same here as it does for the teams. You know the drill, these are all subjective and based mainly on my (incredibly smart) opinion mixed with form and on-track results, meaning it is a generally subjective list that holds no real weight except for the large basis of fact I like to think I can generate.
So with that in mind, let’s get to the rankings!
10. Pierre Gasly (new)
A great weekend by Gasly as he lands his first points of the season. Alpine are getting better each weekend, so expect more to come.
9. Sergio Perez (-2)
Very unlucky not to drop out of the top ten altogether, it’s really down to not many other people significantly deserving a spot in the top ten that saves him. Was nowhere all weekend, which is surprising given he is a street circuit specialist. More worrying for him is that he seems to be bearing the brunt of just how much the Red Bull has dropped off recently, adding fuel to the fire that he may lose his seat for 2025.
(Photo by Bleacher Report)
8. Lewis Hamilton (new)
Pretty much can write the same entry for both Hamilton and his teammate. Both are doing what they can with the car, and getting points. There’s nothing outstanding about it, but they are doing their job.
7. George Russell (new)
See the above entry, but just give George one spot higher given he is the one who is finishing higher.
6. Yuki Tsunoda (+2)
Fast becoming Mr Consistent with the RB, he is always there to get points and just do what is needed of him. With Perez pulling his usual form slump as he goes to Europe, Tsunoda simply needs to keep this up to make those conversations about a promotion to Red Bull become even louder.
5. Carlos Sainz (-)
I hate having to keep Carlos at fifth given how strong he was in Monaco. It’s just that the others in front of him were overall stronger. Still in great form however and played a great team role to his teammate across the weekend.
4. Oscar Piastri (-)
Similar to Sainz above, I hate that I can’t move Oscar up. Drove amazingly all weekend, but needs just a tad more of that moving forward to move him up. Beating his teammate though is also a huge step in that prospect.
3. Lando Norris (-1)
It’s kind of hard to believe that a fourth-place finish seems like a bad result for Norris. Coming off a win two rounds ago and a nearly win a round ago, he would be gutted not to back it up with another podium and be so comprehensively beaten by his teammate. Still drove a great weekend though and will be looking to bounce back in Canada.
(Photo by The Sports Rush)
2. Max Verstappen (-1)
I’ve done it. I’ve pulled the trigger. Max Verstappen isn’t number one for only the second time this season. How can I keep him there when he has had two races in 2024 that aren’t in the top five, when the driver above him hasn’t finished outside of the top four? This is power rankings, and consistency is key. Despite his best efforts, he wasn’t able to be consistent enough in Monaco with a Red Bull that is losing its advantage more and more each round. Sorry Max, but it had to be done.
1. Charles Leclerc (+2)
Bravo Charles! For only the second time this season, we have a driver at the top that isn’t Max Verstappen. The win was coming, you just knew it. Now we have a true fight for the Championship on our hands. Not once has Charles finished outside of the top four this season, and the win in Monaco gives him his fifth podium in the first eight races, which is by far his best-ever start to an F1 season. Let’s hope that his place at the top of the standings in F1 isn’t the only one we’ll see in 2024.
What do you think of this list? Which order would you currently rank the drivers in? Let me know your thoughts below!
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