Piastri impresses, Gasly excels - Japanese GP driver ratings
Kimi Antonelli - 8. 5 - Antonelli had a certain buzz about him after his breakthrough win in China and was immediately on the pace in Japan. Had the better of Mercedes team-mate George Russell in qualifying but another poor start saw him plummet down the order to sixth.
While the car had pace, I don't think the win was there without the luck of the safety car. Oscar Piastri - 9 - When he does start a race, he scores big! Immediately on the pace and had an advantage baked in from Friday over McLaren team-mate Lando Norris with the world champion's reliability issues.
Nevertheless, a superb start to get both Mercedes by Turn One and then control the pace for the first stint. A real shame about the timing of the safety car but without it, Piastri could have stolen a win on Sunday. Charles Leclerc - 8 - On top of his Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton from the get-go even with a car that was to neither drivers' liking.
Flew in qualifying and despite downplaying his final lap, he could have pipped Piastri for P2. Another blinder of a start on lap one and great wheel to wheel battling throughout, with some quite close call action with Hamilton. Fended off Russell right to the flag.
George Russell - 7 - Quick, as you'd expect, but ever since that small change to suspension in qualifying, Russell struggled for pace. Another poor start, not as bad as Antonelli's but enough to cause him trouble. Dealt a bad card with the safety car but couldn't exactly carve his way through the field and couldn't find a way past Leclerc for the final podium place.
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