2025 F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix - Baku driver ratings

It was a contrasting Azerbaijan Grand Prix from Baku with displays of utter dominance mixed in with catastrophic blunders. 

Below, are our driver ratings from Baku, including two 10s and a season-worst score for the world championship leader.

The top five

Max Verstappen - 10

The rules are pretty simple. You score a grand chelem, you get a 10. He's now 69 points behind Piastri. He couldn't, could he?

Carlos Sainz - 10

Perhaps got a little lucky with the chaos of Q3, but put the time on the board when others fumbled or crashed to start P2. In the end, second or third probably doesn't matter, a podium is a podium and did well to ensure Antonelli never got within striking distance. Now, he must deliver this level of performance for the rest of the season.

George Russell - 9.5 

Given he was on the verge of pulling out after Friday due to illness, to come back and finish second was a remarkable achievement. Doing the overcut worked wonders as the track and conditions played to Mercedes' strengths. Can't score a 10 because he was out-qualified by Antonelli by over three-tenths. 

Kimi Antonelli - 9 

Just the weekend Antonelli needed. Did well to out-qualify Russell for the first time since Miami, and was a little anonymous and in no man's land in the race after passing Lawson. But that's exactly the result and drive he needed to rebuild his confidence. He's given himself a springboard.

Liam Lawson - 9 

Despite all the plaudits Hadjar is receiving, Lawson is now just nine points behind after a career-best finish. Was not phased by battling with Tsunoda, Norris, and Hamilton late on, and more than held his own against Antonelli, who only got ahead after undercutting. 

The bottom five

Franco Colapinto - 4.5 

Officially out-qualified Gasly once again, but then tanked himself by destroying the car at Turn 4. In the race, unlucky to be rammed by Albon, causing damage, but still came home last on a difficult weekend for Alpine. Is showing flashes, but is it enough to keep his seat?

Alex Albon - 4 

On a weekend, his team-mate was second on the grid and third in the race; this was a massive missed opportunity. His crash in Q1 was careless, and ramming Colapinto in the race was uncalled for. Has been the better of the two Williams drivers this season, but dropped the ball, which fell kindly for an open goal for Sainz.

Nico Hulkenberg - 4 

Nothing overly wrong with Hulkenberg's weekend, but was anonymous and out-qualified and out-raced once again by Bortoleto. 

Lance Stroll - 4 

Went from 14th on the grid to 17th in the classification, despite Piastri's retirement. Largely anonymous.

Oscar Piastri - 3 

Quite possibly the worst weekend of his F1 career. Had been off Norris throughout practice, and then stacked it in an unusual qualifying crash to leave him ninth on the grid. A jump start is unforgivable and crashing on Lap 1 just about summed it up. But earns some credit back for passing two cars on that first lap, and he at least made Q3. But lost fewer points to Norris (six) than if he had finished second to him in the race.