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F1 Power Rankings 2005: British Grand Prix Update
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- F1 Power Rankings 2005: British Grand Prix Update
Formula 1
The Austrian Grand Prix scrambled the F1 power rankings order after Round 11 and turned everything on its head. The Red Bull Ring delivered a mix of victory, disappointment, and pure velocity, which has created intense debate and raised questions in the paddock ahead of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Explore Sportsnaut's latest Formula 1 power rankings below:
1. Lando Norris | McLaren
Credit: F1
What a difference a week makes for Lando Norris. After a disastrous DNF at the Canadian Grand Prix , Norris responded like a championship driver should with his best and most dominant performance of the season in Austria. Starting from pole position, he led for virtually the entire race, fending off multiple challenges from his teammate Oscar Piastri. The ride to victory at Spielberg helped Norris cut Piastri's drivers' championship lead to just 15 points.
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2. Oscar Piastri | McLaren
Oscar Piastri demonstrated why he's currently leading the drivers' championship , showcasing his quickness and competitive chops at the Austrian Grand Prix by finishing second and helping McLaren secure a 1-2 finish. We've been waiting for the intensity to rise between Piastri and McLaren teammate Lando Norris, and we started to see that in Austria. At one point, Piastri even briefly took the lead before Norris took it back. Despite being warned by the team for being too close to colliding with Norris at one point, Piastri showed he's in it to win, even against his teammate.
3. Charles Leclerc | Ferrari
Charles Leclerc drove his Ferrari to an impressive P3 finish and another visit to the podium. Not only was it a personal victory for the Monegasque driver, but it also demonstrated the start of Ferrari's return to form. The secret weapon at the Austrian Grand Prix? The SF-25 received a newly designed floor upgrade , which delivered improved performance at Spielberg. After the race, Leclerc praised the new package, which he believes gave the team a decisive advantage establishing their position as the second-fastest team on the grid. Leclerc sits fifth in the drivers' championship standings, 27 points behind Mercedes' George Russell.
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4. Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton delivered a gritty performance at the Austrian Grand Prix, muscling his Ferrari to a respectable fourth-place finish. Just like Leclerc, Hamilton credited the team's newly crafted floor upgrade and was quick to give credit to the team at Maranello. Lewis Hamilton's struggles with the SF-25 and his adjustment to his new team at Ferrari have been very public, but perhaps finding his groove and the Scuderia's positive momentum is unmistakable heading into Silverstone. Credit Hamilton for being loud and demanding a better performance from himself and the team at Ferrari and for helping them move into second in the constructors' championship.
5. George Russell | Mercedes
George Russell finished P5 at the Austrian Grand Prix to deliver important points for Mercedes. His teammate's first-lap collision (who DNF) not only took Kimi Antonelli out of the race but also meant Mercedes fell to third in the Constructors' Championship behind the resurgent Ferrari. Yet Russell finished the race to ensure Mercedes secured some critical points. We once again see Russell's ability to finish in the points even though he trailed his former teammate Lewis Hamilton by more than half a minute. There are grumblings that Max Verstappen could be in play at Mercedes and Russell won't be happy with that.
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6. Max Verstappen | Red Bull
Max Verstappen suffered a significant setback at the Austrian Grand Prix when Kimi Antonelli collided with the reigning champion during the first lap. The incident brought an end to his 31-race scoring streak and resulted in his first retirement of the season, which pushed him further behind the McLaren drivers in the championship standings. His home race performance was his worst of the season as he qualified seventh before his early retirement.
7. Nico Hulkenberg | Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg had an impressive comeback at the Austrian Grand Prix by improving from his 17th starting grid position to earn ninth place and earn points. Sauber achieved a vital double points finish at the Austrian Grand Prix, which was a testament to the good race they had despite a poor qualifying performance. Hulkenberg's ability to fight through the field underlines his experience and the team's growth this season, moving Sauber three points closer to Aston Martin in the midfield battle.
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8. Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes
Kimi Antonelli had a brief and unfortunate outing in Round 11, as his race ended on the very first lap following a collision with Max Verstappen. Antonelli admitted to making a "big mistake" by coming into Turn 3 too quickly and hitting Verstappen from behind, which also resulted in Mercedes dropping to third in the Constructors' Championship. Despite his apologetic response, the incident led to him being handed a grid penalty for the subsequent British Grand Prix. What can you say? He's a young and talented driver, so mistakes are inevitable.
9. Esteban Ocon | Haas
Esteban Ocon had, what he called, a "great recovery" drive for Haas at the Austrian Grand Prix, climbing impressively from P19 on the grid to secure the final point at P10. He managed his race strategy effectively, executing a two-stop plan that enabled him to make consistent progress through the field. Ocon expressed his happiness with the result, highlighting that securing a point meant a lot to him and his team as it demonstrates that Haas has a good car despite qualifying struggles.
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10. Gabriel Bortoletto | Sauber
Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto had an impressive performance at the Austrian Grand Prix, securing his maiden F1 points by finishing eighth. The Sauber rookie had a strong weekend, making it into Q3 for the first time by qualifying in fourth position during Q2. His race included a battle with the experienced Fernando Alonso for seventh, and his efforts were recognized by fans, earning him the Driver of the Day award, marking a significant moment in his rookie season.
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