P1 with Matt and Tommy - Mexico City GP Driver Ratings: F1-to-10

Episode Date: October 29, 2024

A chaotic Mexico City weekend has come to a close, so it's time for another calm and collected set of driver ratings. Nothing controversial to see here! Join us for our End of Season tour across the UK this December! Get your tickets here!Sign up to our Patreon here! You'll get access to bonus episodes, our classic race podcast series, every P1 episode ad-free, early access to live tickets and merch, and access to our Discord server where you can chat with other F1 fans!Follow us on socials! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, Twitch, YouTube and TikTok. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello everybody and welcome back to the B1 podcast with Matt and Tommy. It's driver ratings time. Oh yeah, it's your favourite part of the week. I know a lot of you love driver ratings. So here we are again to give our numbers from zero all the way to 10 about a driver's performance. We've got 20 of them to go through today, Tommy. The Mexico City Grand Prix wasn't boring, which means we should get some interesting grading today. We sure should.

I've watched show Gwainu's raised from start to finish, ready to go. Why does my man, Joe, always get a shout out at the top of the show? Because this is his series. He sponsors it. Now my front door's gone. For crying out that. Joe, I'm sorry. You're getting an eight.

Matt's show Gwainu merch has arrived. Right, let's get into everything. Shall we and begin where we always begin. Kevin, well, not always, because he got banned once. But Kevin Magnuson started 7th, finished 7th. And we are starting this driver ratings with a 10 out of 10. K-Mag. Who gave you the chef's apron, my friend?

Because he was cooking, seasoning, finished best of the rest, beat Oscar Piastri. So he's actually better than the rest. The rest of, you know what I'm saying? He beat Oscar Piastri, which was very unexpected. Of course, Oscar had a pretty stinker for qualifying. but Magnuson just had pace. He was decisive and then he just sort of drove on his own.

He himself said it was the perfect day really. So well done, Kevin Magnuson. Well done indeed. It's also a 10 out of 10 from me. It can't be anything less because it was the perfect drive. Outqualified Holkenberg which is no easy thing

because we know how good Hulk is and actually comfortably outqualified him by a few places as well. And then yeah to beat a McLaren in the race even if that McLaren started at the back is an amazing performance. He was only a few seconds off Max Verstappen at the end as well. It was closing in.

Unbelievable. Go get Max and you're getting an 11K mag. We'll all forget about your race. We would actually allow it, I think, if he'd done that. Is that his first ever 10? I can't remember ever starting driver ratings with a 10. He's had some very good drives. He's had some polarizing drives.

There was that one in Miami. where some might give them a 10, someone to give them a zero. But this is his best drive of the year. Absolutely. Well done KMAG. The fans also gave Kevin Magnuson a 10. Nika Holcomburg started 10th, finished 9th.

I've gone for an 8 out of 10 for Nika Holkenberg. It was still a very good drive considering. I think he'd have absolutely taken a slightly disappointing weekend being starting 10th and finishing 9th last year. So Haas are just looking very, very nice indeed, but he wasn't on his teammates level, which was surprising, not just in the race, but qualifying as well.

Absolutely. I've gone for an 8 out of 10 as well for Nico. He's lost a little bit of that quali prowess in the last few weekends. A few mistakes creeping in for Nico, which is very unheard of for him, because that's what we all seem to very much. praise about his driving. But look, he's getting an 8 out of 10.

He's still scoring a couple of points for Hass that are doing unbelievably well this season. And they continue to score double points in a lot of weekends. And it's seriously impressive. When we spoke obviously about the start of the season, you have these top four teams. You have Aston Martin that was kind of in that top four as well. So it was like Formula A, top 10, done and dusted for a team like Hasse to be scoring so many points. Obviously, that includes an Aston Martin downfall, for sure, is something that I don't think any of us expected. And it's 2024, just really just randomizing a lot of things and just roll the dice.

Let's see what happens with who's fastest and also with Hass as well. So, well done to them. The fans gave Nico an eight as well. Zhou Guan Yu, started 19th, finished, 15th. I've gone for a five out of ten for Joe Guanyu, and I know a lot of Joe lovers will be very upset with a straight down the middle because we like more aggressive grades, but it is a five out of ten from me

because, well, look, he didn't finish last, but the only reason he didn't finish last is because it was Lawson and Perez, who, I mean, they had their own shenanigans going on. But look, he finished 20 seconds behind Bottas, which I think is actually not. not horrendous. He also said that he was suffering with break overheating early on. So I factored in a lot of things with this show grade and I've gone straight down

the middle of the five. I have gone for a five out of ten as well for Joe Gwanyu, which I can't believe I'm giving him a five out of ten for beating a red bull in a race, but context, of course. Yeah, he didn't seem as bad as kind of normal in the race in particular. qualifying still how he always manages to be so easily last is kind of baffling to be honest but yeah the race was more solid but not on his teammates level for sure who had a really good a good one the fans gave joe a four disgraceful the absolute disrespect to joe the goat mad valetri botta started 15th finished 14th i've gone for an eight out of ten for valet which is probably the highest grade for a 14th place finish you'll ever see.

But he is driving an absolute tractor. I think this is more, you know, what he did in qualifying. I think he would have done even better had there not been a red flag. And he could have started maybe even 12th, 13th, which would have been even more impressive. But yeah, his race was looking all right, but the Saubber is just woe. He was up there at one point, but did the usual thing where you kind of forgot that he'd not pitted yet and went, ah, he might get a point, no, okay, no, he's nowhere near. But still a very good performance from Bottas, and I think he is overdriving that car.

I don't think, you know, other drivers would also be struggling in that car, has to be said. What do you mean, Tommy? Max Verstappen would be winning races in the stake because he's the greatest driver of all time. Of course. Yeah. social media thinks diving down the inside of landa in a stake oh yeah maybe and i've not gone as appreciative of botas's performance i've gone for a seven he only finished 20 seconds ahead of joe i can't give joe a five and botas and eight uh i know his qualifying was was pretty decent making it through to q two but i don't think we can we we we can't sway to quality grades

just because that's the thing that stands out um for the race you know joe was with him until he wasn't But yeah, it's a shame. You know, Bottas finishing only 14th when we had three DNFs as well. Yeah, I can't give him any higher than a seven for me. So that's what I'm going to give him. And the fans gave him a seven as well. Yuki Sonoda started 11th, didn't finish. Now, this is a difficult one because not only did he crash at the start,

but he also crashed in qualifying. So I've gone for a three out of ten for Yuki Sonoda because look, Quali was his mistake, smashed the car, but were still able to start 11th. And then I think it was unlucky. I think there was an element of a lunge from Yuki as well to really make up a few positions at the beginning. I'm not saying it's his fault, but it was aggressive to try and make up some positions. and then it was, of course, unlucky with Albon and then Gadsley as well sort of coming across. But I can't give him a five

because he's had two crashes in a weekend. So surely that deserves some kind of demotion there. So that's gone for a three. I've gone for a four out of ten, four Yuki-Sinoda. Qualifying, yeah, it was a disaster even though he out-qualified his teammate, but he did that thanks to a spin because Lawson couldn't carry on his lap.

And then the first lap is a racing incident. but you do risk it by diving round the outside. It's one of those things where you look a hero if you make it, and if you don't, you look a bit silly, and unfortunately for Yuki, he had a disastrous weekend for him, but I guess the only saving grace for him is that at least from his side, Lawson didn't have a worldly again,

which would have really kind of been bad for his Red Bull chances. It certainly would have. The fans gave Yuki a five. Liam Lawson started 12th, finished 16th. I've gone for a five out of ten for Liam Lawson. He's a difficult one to grade because he's had a lot of kind of 50-50 incidents. I think he was quite chaotic in some of his driving. I think even the move with Colapinto that he,

that Colopinto got a penalty for, I think he shoved him off very aggressively. And then was obviously very aggressive with Perez as well, which when you're trying to get a Red Bull seat, is it the best idea? I know he wants to take Perez's seat, but maybe racing that hard with a Red Bull is not what your team bosses want to see.

And then, yeah, with his front wing damage, he was never going to get any points. So a disappointing weekend, really. I've gone for a five out of ten for Lawson as well. Yeah, it's not a great weekend, I would say, for Lawson. And he is trying desperately to make a mark, be this FU kind of character, I think, that he's sort of establishing quite quickly.

And if he wants to be another Max Verstappen, then that's the chaos that it's going to bring. but I feel like there are ways of going about it in these first few races to ensure that for his own career, that he doesn't sort of burn too many bridges before it's even begun. And I think that picking and choosing your battles wisely is definitely one of them. And with Perez, that was, look, I think Perez had a part to play in that wheel-to-wheel combat, for sure.

But Lawson also needs to kind of understand where the lines should be. you don't want to be messing up your relationship with Red Bull. It's literally your employer. But apart from that, yeah, I think he had a part to play with Colopinto as well. And overall, it just wasn't as impressive as a weekend as maybe we've seen previously from Lawson. But I'm sure he'll be looking to bounce back in Brazil this weekend. The fans gave Lawson a six. Franco Colopinto started 16th, finished 12th.

I have gone for a six out of ten for Franco Colopinto. I think it was an all right weekend. Qualifying was a bit disappointing to be knocked out in Q1. I think that put him on the back foot pretty massively. And obviously made up a few positions in the race to finish 12th, got involved, as we just mentioned, with the Lawson incident, which is two rookies fighting. And I think there's just trying to learn just how long. and wide your car is at all times.

And I think that was pretty much the reasoning for that, for that collision that happened. But Franco's still, for me, impressing. It just wasn't as good a performance, similarly to Lawson as things we've seen gone by. I've also gone for a six out of ten for Franco Colapinto. I think by his own high standards this year, it wasn't as impressive as he has been.

I think if Legan's sergeant had finished 12th, we'd be giving him a 9 out of 10, but such as how Franco's been and what that Williams is doing, it's not as impressive as kind of what it has been. I think in particular as qualifying to get knocked out was very disappointing when Albin had such a sensational qualifying.

I do think he's unlucky in the incident with Lawson. I think it's a racing incident. I think if he'd have... it's one of those things where he's kept his foot in and there's contact so he's got a penalty and I think his 10 second penalty is very harsh and the penalty points but if he'd have kind of just stopped in the runoff area Lawson probably would have got a penalty for pushing him off but that is another debate about driving standards and all this kind of mess of Formula One at the moment. But yeah, still, P12 isn't actually that bad and it's actually still finished no

lower than 12, which is actually a very good start indeed for Franco. Very impressive indeed. The fans gave him a six. Alex Albon, started 9th, did not finish. Yes, I've gone for a 7 out of 10 for Alex Albon. Obviously, his race ended at 10-1. So it's mainly going off qualifying, which was very impressive indeed. I just want to butt in with that one. I felt like we usually go for fives, but I know that we sometimes go one up or down if quality is decent. We're going for two now.

Yes, because he was in Q3 and his teammates in Q1. I know, but I know that there are people that go, how can we give him a seven when he's not done one corner? Um... I don't... I think that's a bit. high of a grade for literally not doing the race. I'm just going to come in here as referee and I'm not as a referee.

But is... Have we ever given anyone a seven for literally not doing race? But my logic, yes. But is my logic is could he have... We've given like Max Verstappen doing one lap and then his car exploding like a 10, haven't we? So... Well, we did.

Because we said he was going to win the race. So I'll give it an... didn't we um alban i can i give him worse than colapinto though but he's not done the race yeah he's literally not done i know oh how do you grade him i feel like it's very i know what you're saying but i also feel like it's very harsh for to give him a worse grade than colapinto when he's been so much better in qualifying look i'm just i'm just i'm just covering the conversation because i know it all happened in the comments no i'm giving him a seven it's my grade that's fine yeah it's my

grade. It's my grade. And I will do it. And I will do it. Yeah. Seven for Albon because we're rating his weekend. And now I'm thinking rating his weekend and he crashed with Ali Bauman. It's a six out of ten for Alex Albon. Tommy, you can't do this. We'll stop changing my mind then. Oh, sorry for having a debate on a podcast. Six out of ten for Albin. There we go. Okay. So I've gone for a 10 out of 10 for Alex Albon. I think it was a great qualifying performance. I have also gone for a six out of ten for Alex.

It was a great Q3 appearance. He even, I think, said that he could have gone even better than ninth. And then, of course, DNF, he didn't do anything wrong in that whole debacle. It was just very unfortunate and then had to pull over because I think his suspension was broken. But yeah, it was a stronger showing up until that point. So, yeah, he may have scored a point. But who knows? The fans gave him a five.

Estabanoch on. Started from the pit lane, finished 13th. Do we have confirmation as to whether he has the upgrades yet? No, and I cannot find it. Okay. Is that how little Alpine has spoken about that we don't actually know what they're running? Let me just check to see if, I mean, Twitter is not. This changes.

I was going to say, Twitter's a minefield, mate, and full of misinformation. Let's see. Ocon upgrades. Because they normally get them after, don't they? Alpine to have no F1 upgrades before summer break. Right. It's hoping you have the full... Right, so he was hoping to have the full package in Mexico.

That's the last thing I see. Okay, so there's no confirmation from Alpine if he had. And he started from the pit lane and changed loads of parts. So whether that was him putting the new parts on, It's a mystery. Elements used apparently, so I don't think it's any to do with the upgrades. Yeah, okay.

Okay, well, it's still a five out of ten for Ocon. It's just, it's, it was a pretty anonymous weekend from Ocon to be knocked out in Q1. Then, of course, they decided to make some changes. So he started from the pit lane. Oh, is that six? Because he's an alpine, but then, oh, you know what? I'll give him a six because he started from the pit lane

and only finished about 19 seconds behind Gassley. He did have the upgrades. He did have the upgrades. He still gets a six. Or does he? Started from the pit lane. Started at 13th. Finished 13th.

Oh my God! Yes, it's a six out of ten for Ocon, a decent pit lane drive, despite the terrible qualifying. Finish less than 20 seconds behind his teammate. So, yes, six. I've gone for a five out of ten for Estabar knock on. When you were uming an iron between a five and a six,

I thought you're going to say a four and a five, because that's why I was debating between, because yeah, that was a really poor qualifying to be 19th when Gassley was eighth. Ouch. But yeah, his race was a bit better, but started from the pit lane. But yeah, didn't look anywhere near his teammate really this weekend.

the fans gave Ocon a five Pierre Gasley started eighth finish tenth I've gone for an eight out of ten for Pierre Gasley it was a good performance it's good that he actually managed to get the result in this time to get a point probably would be hoping for more based on where he qualified

got to think that maybe Nico Holcomberg was beatable and we'll never know exactly with car performance where they are, but you'd expect Gazley to be racing the Hasses based on what happened in Cota with those new upgrades. So yes, it was a good performance from Gatsley. I've also gone for an 8 out of 10 for GASLY.

I don't think the Hasses were manageable, beatable, raceable at all. Gassley was 17 seconds behind Holcomburg, I think, at the end. So it was, Hasse were in a sort of, well, they were close to being in Formula A, this weekend just gone. So very impressive from Hass. But yeah, look, it's a much better performance for Alpine.

Good to see Gazley actually score a point after. It wasn't a disaster in Cota, but it was certainly very, well, it was disappointing, wasn't it, to see him not score a point despite the pace that he was showing during the weekend. But I'm glad he gets a point for his efforts at this time in Mexico. So that's why I've gone for an eight, and the fans gave him an eight as well.

Lance Stroll started 14th, finished 11th. I've gone for a six out of ten for Stroll. He finished not that far off the points and had a reasonable race. You know, didn't do anything silly. And I don't think I saw him the entire race, but I've given him slightly higher than straight down the middle because he finished 11th and there were no incidents to speak about. Well done, Strzell.

I got for a five out of ten for Lance Stroll. It was, yeah, very much a straight down the middle performance. He's kind of not done anything particularly amazing with his, with his car in qualifying. And then in a race of, with quite a few retirements, he's kind of finished head of a few drivers. So, yeah, not really much to report for Strolaster Martin have just fallen off so much. And they are, they're not even close to Formula A anymore. They're not even this formula. They're not even this kind of off Formula A.

They are well in Formula B now. The fans gave Stroll a five. Fernando Alonzo, started 13th, did not finish. I've gone for a five out of ten for Fernando Alonze. Not the race weekend. He'd or wanted for his 400th Grand Prix. I saw that he actually retired from his 200th Grand Prix and his 300th Grand Prix and now his 400th Grand Prix.

So maybe it's a curse. but he was never going to really do much in that. Aston Martin anyway, qualified a little better than Stroll, and then just retired, so I've gone straight down the middle. I wonder what happened on his 500th Grand Prix, because we're definitely going to get there as well, aren't we? Let's be real. And 600th.

Four years, maybe. And 800th as well, Alonzo, continuing on in Formula One. I've gone for a five out of ten as well. A qualifying that didn't end the way he wanted, with Sonoda smashing it into the wall. otherwise I think he reckoned he would have made it into Q3 but alas that did not happen and they DNFed so it's straight down the middle the fans gave him a five as well

Oscar Piastri started 17th finished 8th I've gone for a six out of 10 for Oscar scored a few points but overall not good enough I think it was a weekend to forget for him again Cota was similar to be knocked out in Q1 is absolutely not good enough. A decent recovery drive to make it somewhere in the points, but still got beaten by a Hass.

But then again, Vastappen was being caught by Magnuson, so I'm not going to call Hass the dustbin that it once was. But Oscar needs to come back in Brazil with a top four in Quali and to get in the mix because Lando needs him, McLaren need him, because Ferrari are coming. I've gone for a four out of ten for Oscar Piastri. I think it was a really disappointing weekend for him.

Obviously, the qualifying was what really hindered his weekend and made it very difficult for him. But I don't even know if I could say it was a great recovery drive because he's still finished behind, you know, Vastappen who had 20 seconds worth of penalties. He's driving a McLaren that Lando almost won the race in and he's finished behind a Hass. that you know he's had a bad qualifying which was his own fault but yeah the we've seen

drives through the field in Mexico before Landre did it last year and I expected him to to finish higher so a really bad weekend for for Oscar and yeah it's it's kind of it's it's tough for him because Lande really needed him there at the very least being ahead of match has happened and then also the Constructors Championship we're now Ferrari closing in it's it's poor for for them as well so yeah not good from from Oscar this weekend all right Tommy yeah you've you've convinced me to go down one grade to a five fair enough because I just did the math and he finished nearly a minute behind Lando so yeah fair enough I'm going to downgrade him to a five and yeah that was a pretty poor performance from

God, I've said poor. Five is not poor. Tommy, I'm shaking. I don't think it's a very good performance. I think, I don't think 17th to 8th and a McLaren is a good weekend at all, personally. No, it's not, but it's still, five. Five out of ten, let us know your thoughts.

I know you've already written them. And, yeah, interesting stuff. Okay, the fans gave Oscar a six. Lando Norris started third. finished second. I've gone for a nine out of ten Philando Norris. He was, maybe could have won the race

without the Vestappan incident and being held up. I do wonder the only thing I can really sort of downgrade him on is his race start. Could have been a bit more aggressive. He seemed to second guess himself

and go down the inside. But then he put the move Max that was bold and brave and the kind of thing that he needed to do. But Max was Max and made sure it didn't happen. And then, yeah, it was the race he needed. And yeah, it was a great performance from Lando, all things considered. I've gone for a nine out of ten as well for Lando. I think it was a really good weekend from him.

He would have, in my opinion, probably, yeah, I think he would have won the race had Max not done. his things to him. But alas, that's what happened. And I think Lando conducted himself very maturely in that battle, didn't get involved, didn't have a crash with him, which, you know, at some points you're wondering with the lunge at turn eight, what did Max really want from that? But Lando, you know, he kept his wits about him and continued on, managed to get LeCler at the end.

So yeah, I think it was a very strong race from Lando and exactly what he needed. I think, well, apart from winning, that would have been the... a lot better for his championship chances, but it's still a very strong performance, and that's why I've gone for a nine. The fans gave him a nine as well. Carlos Sines started first, finished first. Could not be the more perfect 10 out of 10 for Carlos Sines. It was from FP1, really, just brilliant throughout, perfect, I would say, almost, because Carlos just was in, I would say, a league of of his own, because he just knuckled down, got pole position, his teammate who is, Charlotte Clare is literally, you know, one of if not the best qualifiers on the grid.

Carlos had more pace than him there, and then also drove away from him at the race. I've seen some people saying that Ferrari were sacrificing Charles LeClau's race for Carlos to win. That is absolute rubbish. I can't, but just because Charles was asked to, you know, manage temperament. temperatures and all this sort of stuff. And of course, Carlos coming over the radio saying, why are we pushing so hard? Charles LeCler would have caught and passed him if he could.

That is my opinion on where Charles would have been and his mindset. We've literally seen Ferrari let them race so much. Exactly. So I think Carlos won it fair and square. And he should be very proud of this performance. I'm so glad he got another win before the end of his Ferrari career. And what a way to do it. Perfect.

It was absolutely perfect I've gone for a 10 out of 10 as well the fact that he put in not just one but two amazing qualifying laps good enough for Paul position to beat Charlotte Claire in qualifying by the margin he did

and then and then to pass Maxa Stappan with the move that he did as well was so good so decisive it's it's not an easy thing to pass Maxa Stappen we've seen it of course I can already hear people saying

Max isn't going to race Carlos like Gears with Lando because Carlos isn't in the championship but it's still no mean feat to surprise Max for Stauffin with a move like that for the lead left it kind of very late so Max wasn't thinking that he was even going to go for the move

brilliant move managed the whole race perfectly and just another brilliant win when Carlos wins he seems to really put in such a good 10 out of 10 performance and this is the same again. The fans unsurprisingly gave him a 10 as well.

Charlotte Claire started fourth, finished third. I've gone for an eight out of 10 for Charlotte Claire. I can't give him a nine based on, you know, finishing third. That mistake that almost made you, your soul left your body during that moment, that crazy moment. and he just wasn't there with Carlos this weekend, which is very rare indeed because normally Shal is the quicker driver of the two.

But a difficult weekend for him, but a difficult weekend still being a P3, it kind of shows what a great season and Charles having because he's still picking up really good results and good points for the team. Absolutely, I've gone for an 8 out of 10 for Shal as well. It was a decent weekend, but a surprising lack of pace compared to Carlos.

As you say, Tommy, we're so used to Charles having that edge, especially in the races, but that didn't happen. It was a straight dog fight after the whole Lando Max shenanigans that went on. And Charles didn't have the pace, especially in that first stint, fell away from Carlos quite dramatically. There was a moment in the hard tire stint where he thought, okay, Charles starting to catch again. But he clearly pushed his tires too much because then we saw. or that massive moment, which could have ended in serious tears. And it was a mistake.

It was also the greatest save of all time. I will cope and say that. But it also, yeah, was a mistake. So, Charlott gets an eight from me, and the fans gave him an eight as well. George Russell started fifth, finished fifth. Seven out of ten, George Russell. I think it was, again, like, considering he smashed his car to pieces and I think he lost the upgrades again

because he crashed his car in tyre testing to still out-qualify Hamilton was pretty impressive and then lacked a bit of pace compared to Hamilton in the race, which is very standard and lost out in the battle with his teammate, but they were both reasonably close with each other most of the weekend, so I'm going for a seven.

I'm going for a seven as well for George Russell. Yeah, good recovery, considering the bad moment in practice to damage his car, very costly for Mercedes, but drove a good race and his battle with Hamilton was brilliant. And just kind of like Ferrari, this is where Mercedes are just maximising their result really, because it's clear to me that their package is nowhere near what McLaren and Ferrari can do. so well it might be if the ambient temperature changes by 0.2 degree

exactly if it's that yeah if it's the exact degree they need then they're winning the race but if not I think P5 is where they are so yeah

good performance from George the fans gave George a 7 as well Lewis Hamilton started 6th finished 4th I've gone for an 8 out of 10 for Lewis Hamilton they're of course very close between

him and George but the reason I'm giving Hamilton an extra point is one because he's beaten him and overtaking him in the race and two because he didn't damage his car which is why it's almost a downgrade really from George from an eight to a seven yeah it was a great little battle between Hamilton and Russell went on for a very long time but Hamilton got past eventually and yeah P4 in that Mercedes is about as good as you're going to get Yeah, I've also gone for an eight for Lewis Hamilton. I think I echo your thoughts pretty much exactly, Tommy. I think can't quite give George and Lewis the same grade,

considering one of them did a huge amount of damage to their car during the weekend and the other one didn't. Poor qualifying from Hamilton, it has to be said again. I think he was a few tenths off of his teammate, but still managed to slot in P6, but no surprise, Hamilton came alive in the race and beat his teammate. So, yeah, eight out of ten from me. the fans gave him a seven.

Okay, lock in, strap in, get your seat belts on. Sergio Perez started 18th, finished 17th. It's a zero. It's a zero out of 10 for Sergio Perez. Why? Why? I mean, how? How can it get worse?

That's probably one of the worst weekends. And this is off the back of last the Mexico City Grand Prix from 2023, where he smashed his car at term one. trying to win the race and we're like, how can it get worse at his home race? And I think it did. Being knocked out in Q1, being involved in an incident and then finishing last at his home race. I know Pitt for fastest lap, he finished last in a Red Bull, which I know is not the fastest car. But Vastappen is still finishing fourth, probably, if he didn't have that 20 second penalty. I can't give him any higher than a zero. And it's, it's, it's, it's,

really sad. Yeah, I've gone for a zero as well. It is sad to witness because we know he's a much better driver than this. He has done brilliant things in Formula One, but this was probably, well, I'm not even going to say probably, it's the worst race he's had in his career. It was the fact that it happened in Mexico as well is painful. You know, you listed off all those things. You forgot that he didn't even line up in his grip box properly as well, just to add insult to injury. What do you mean Tommy? It was a great start. Don't disrespect my...

He had a great start, Tommy. He did actually have a great start. He actually started from seventh, but he had a great start. I just... If you literally wrote a race on paper of how it could be as embarrassing and as bad as possible for Perez, even to the point where he's racing wheel to wheel with Lawson, who's rumoured to be replacing him, the fact that Verstappen's got 20 seconds worth of penalties and the, you know, the pit crew have to play musical statues for 20 seconds and Verstappen still comes out of the pits ahead of him.

It's crazy. So it can't be anything other than a zero. It is truly the worst it could possibly get. And I feel, I feel sorry for him. It's not a nice, you know, it's not one of those. things. I know we've kind of mentioned before that I think he doesn't deserve his seat next year and all that kind of stuff, but it's not, it's almost like, don't want to kind of laugh about it now. It's a shame for his career and a really good career to be going this way. It certainly is. Let's see how this unfolds in the next four races and will Red Bull make a decision now, because as much as we were writing it off, surely not, surely not. with this kind of performance at his home race, which is what everyone was focusing in on,

as this is the reason why he's staying to finish last, is literally the worst thing that he could have done. The fans, unsurprisingly, gave him a zero as well. All right, we're off to now Max Verstappenland, who started second and finished sixth. I've gone for a five out of ten for Max Verstappen. this will be a very decisive grade of course we saw the very best and the very worst

of Maxis to happen qualified extremely well when he was under pressure we were singing his praises after qualifying because he'd put in an amazing performance when under a huge amount of pressure had one lap to deliver after the track limits mistake

and then his race start again got into the lead at Mexico no matter where he starts he always seems to lead into term one at Mexico made it look so easy even though P2 is not really where you want to be starting the race because you don't get a slipstream but got into lead at the start. So that was the good side of the Stappen's race where, you know, brilliant performance. And then you see the worst side of his performance, which is him just being so desperate and public lobby kind of driving.

It's the kind of driving that you race with someone in an online game and you get annoyed at them because you're like, why can't we just have fun and actually enjoy this race together? And of course, he's not there to make friends. He's the way he drives is all calculated. We said this in the qualifying, in the race podcast that, in a weird way he's kind of gained from the system again because he's got 20 seconds worth of penalty but Lando's winning the race and is actually

minimised that points deficit by going for an absolutely outrageous lunge holding up Lando making sure he's not winning the race and then recovering to six. But it's really not the driving I like to see and it's difficult as someone that supports him because I supported him because I like to watch the moves like we saw when he was

at Toro Rosso and he was going around the outside of someone at Blanchaman and all those brilliant daring overtakes. I don't want to see these overtakes where he's just pushing people off the track and making desperate lunch because it's not fun to watch. Like that's not the kind of racing I want to see.

But that's why I've gone for five because it's kind of the good and the bad at the same time. And weirdly he's kind of come out of it not too bad. I can't Actually, just one more thing. I can't give him a worse grade than Piastri, which is why it's a five as well,

and I gave Piastri a four, because he's somehow beaten Piastri still with all those penalties. I feel like Piastri and Vestappan grades are very different things that could come together. Like, they are very difficult and very different to judge. So, well, okay, I know everyone likes a disagreement here, so lock yourselves in, because I've gone for a five out of ten for Max Verstappen.

I think that it sums it up pretty perfectly what Max has really delivered this time round I know some people will be like, no, zero, I hate this racing and some will go, yeah, but come on, he got back to six for 20 seconds worth of penalties. It depends how you judge it, but I think straight down the middle for Max, it's, you know, I know that you say,

I support Max because of his late breaking and all this sort of stuff. Sadly, Tommy, you can't have both with Max for Staff and you can't just have the positive, beautiful stuff without some of the negative. And that's what Max brings. He is a ruthless champion. And that is what he showed this time out. I'm surprised. I'm very surprised that he felt the need to do what he did with Lando.

It felt very 2021. It felt like they were level on points in the final race. Yeah, that's the kind of. So look, I hope it sparks even more discussion and more debates within the FIA, Formula One, as to what they do now, because this is not what I want to see as a Formula One fan. It's, I want to see prolonged battles over several laps where it's fair, right? I don't want it to be over in half a lap because Max doesn't want to fight Lando or doesn't think that he has the car. in order to fight him.

So he's like, right, I'm going to lunge him instead and screw his race. That's not what the sport should be about. And if there isn't a rule in there to stop it, even though the stewards would suggest that there is, because he got 20 seconds worth of penalties, I felt like that was more of an emotional, boom, avit, Max, kind of statement from the FIA, but not necessarily, I don't know.

It's just such a confusing rulebook at the moment that what's allowed... And he plays the rulebook, doesn't he? Yeah, he plays the rule book. But I think with Cota, you saw with Cota, he was absolutely on the limit of the rules, got away with it. But sadly, for him, he misjudged it with turn four,

and then I think he lashed out in turn eight. And it's not good enough, sadly. But then there were moments of brilliance and him to come through to sixth, just showing that Max is one of the best drivers, if not the best driver on the grid. So yeah, five out of ten from me, me. The fans gave him a six, however, it was very split between a four and a six.

So let us know your thoughts, I'm sure you will. That was a, I bet you've waited. A lot of you have waited for this moment to judge Max Verstappen. I look forward to reading all of your very kind and composed thoughts in the comments. And that then leads us to who is our P1? It has to be Carlos, as much as I'd love to give it to Kevin Magnuson, because I don't think he's ever been anyone's P1 sadly in driver ratings. It has to be Carlos because it was such a perfect weekend from start to finish. It wasn't like it was an unexpected victory. It was on from Friday. So for me, Carlos Sines. Yeah, I've got to go for Carlos as well as much as I'd love to give it to KMAG. For KMAG it is, yeah, I think if Carlos had maybe had a worse of qualifying

or not put that move on Max or something, you might have been like, oh, well, actually KMAG, because they kind of both had like the perfect weekend, really, but Sciences was perfecter. So, which is definitely a word that I've just made up. English, yeah. Yeah, I'm sure KMAG will be absolutely good that he didn't get P1 in the Mexico City drive ratings.

I'm sorry, KMAG, I know you're listening. You probably not, but maybe next time. Just deliver again in Brazil. Get pole in Brazil. Get pole in Brazil again. He's getting a 10 again, isn't he? But yes, it is going to bump his score up for sure because having a race ban. Having a race ban and then a 10 out of 10 is not what a lot of people probably had in their predictions.

So there you go then. Thank you everybody for watching and listening to this driver ratings for the Mexico City Grand Prix. Remember, P1 live show, end of season, banger show, right? It's like nothing you've never seen before, ever seen before, even. you've been to a show before, don't worry, completely different, a lot of fun. We are very excited to bring you this middle of December show. It's like a nice little Christmas present, little Christmas outing. It's going to be so Christmasy, Tommy. Are you going to, oh, we can wear like Christmasy stuff. And then I'm going to, and anyway, so yes, that's, do it. Live on stage. Can't wait to see you

there. Link will be all over our socials, also in the description. Tommy, what's your final thoughts? Final thoughts I can't believe it's Brazil very soon It's a sprint So we're going to have Lots more racing Lots more controversy

Lots more driver rating Debates this weekend as well Because there's Two races to judge Every single incident And remember Hamilton going from 20th to 1st

It's not actually 20th to 1st You were from 20th to 10th And then went from 10th to 1st in the main race Do you remember that? In his OPM engine, that's a four out of ten. Can't wait for it. It's going to be great fun.

Sprint around Brazil always delivers. It'll be weird if like the one race that doesn't deliver is Brazil when Mexico, even Mexico is like, oh, go on then. Imagine. Go on. Looking forward to it. Can't wait to see you there. Live on Twitch, as always, Matt P. Tommy.

See you there. Lots of love. Take care. Sweet dreams. Pushing in the gym. I didn't say keep. Just pushing. Yeah.

What a time to be alive. Hey, Tommy. keep hoovering. If you're hoovering right now and you can hear the podcast, then you've maybe got noise-counselling headphones, so good on you for that. There's someone at the door. There's someone at the door. Oh, God, is there? Well, you better check. There might be someone at the door. You might be buying dog food if you are. That'd be quite something, wouldn't it? If you're in a pet shop. We're just going to make every speculative comment until someone messages going, yes, this exact thing happened as I said it. And until then, you missed that.

that crease, keep ironing. That one in the corner right there. Yeah, yeah, there you go. If this has happened to you, you have to message us, by the way. Please. You're literally buying dog food and you've got an earphone in. You have to show us a picture, though, right? You can't just be like, yeah, it happened to me.

Show us a picture, okay, because we'd love to see it. And don't forget, there's one additional clothing item in the washing machine, which you haven't taken out. So, all right, well, this is getting weird. Bye. P1 is a stack production and part of the ACAST creator network.