Kada Sárközi joined GPblog as an editor ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 season. He graduated with a BA in Sports Journalism in the UK and has covered Grands Prix and other F1 events live.
A weekend close to perfection for Max Verstappen: The Red Bull driver won qualifying, the Sprint, and the Grand Prix. Yet one driver performed a tiny better at the Shanghai International Circuit, according to the F1 Power Ranking panel: Lando Norris.
Norris and Verstappen excel
Norris and Verstappen, according to the panel, were at a lonely height in China, which saw their first race since 2019. "Lando Norris starred from the outset in China, brilliantly claiming pole position during a rain-hit Sprint Qualifying. While he ran wide on the first lap of the Sprint and dropped down the order, the Briton more than made up for it in the Grand Prix, where he turned fourth on the grid into a fine second between Red Bull pair Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez."
Verstappen also gets praise. "Verstappen had to settle for P4 in that dramatic Sprint Qualifying session, but the reigning world champion bounced back immediately by recovering to victory in the Sprint, bagging pole position for the Grand Prix and then dominating Sunday’s encounter – despite a host of incidents, Safety Cars and restarts threatening to derail his efforts.."
After the two rivals, Fernando Alonso finished third with an 8.0. Nico Hülkenberg (7.6) and Charles Leclerc (7.4) also performed creditably.
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After five Grands Prix, Verstappen occupies first place in the Power Rankings standings. He takes over first place from Carlos Sainz, who 'only' got a 7.0 after his fifth place. However, Ferrari' s Spaniard is still the clear number two in the rankings. Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc and Fernando Alonso complete the top-five.
F1 Power Rankings after Chinese Grand Prix
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