Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Driver Ratings

Abu Dhabi GP

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Driver Ratings

Who got top marks?

Matthew Scott

Monday 2 December 2019 08:00

The Abu Dhabi wasn't the season-ending thriller that people might have hoped for, but did witness one of the great individual performances of the year as Lewis Hamilton took a dominant victory.

While racing up front was at a premium, there were some thrilling midfield battles at the Yas Marina Circuit as positions in the drivers' and constructors' championship were still to be decided.

For the final time in 2019, Matt Scott has run the rule over all 20 drivers in action. Let us know if you agree, or not, with the scores on Facebook and Twitter!

Lance Stroll (Qual 17th - Race: DNF) 5/10

Stroll was involved in an early tangle with Pierre Gasly, which saw other drivers need new noses and was the only retiree at Yas Marina after running into brake issues.

Robert Kubica (Qual: 20th - Race: 19th) 5/10

Hampered by damage picked up in an opening-lap collision with his team-mate and more bodywork flew off Kubica's car as Antonio Giovinazzi made an overtake, leaving the pole to sign off from F1 racing last of the finishers.

Pierre Gasly (Qual: 12th - Race: 18th) 5/10

Article continues under video

After the ecstasy of Interlagos came pain at Yas Marina as Gasly's race was wrecked by a lap-one shunt, which cost him a front wing and, ultimately, sixth place in the championship.

George Russell (Qual: 19th - Race: 17th) 5/10

Russell might get a slap on the wrist for damaging his team-mate's car early in the piece, but was left as 2019's sole scoreless driver as the kind of chaos he would have needed to make the top 10 failed to materialise.

Antonio Giovinazzi (Qual: 17th - Race: 16th) 5/10

Gave Kubica a fair old clobber as he made his way past the Williams, and both were perhaps lucky not to suffer more significant damage. The Italian could not bow out with points, but has improved well as 2019 has gone on.

Romain Grosjean (Qual: 16th - Race: 15th) 5/10

Effectively had his weekend spoiled by Valtteri Bottas in the pair's Friday practice collision. It damaged the new floor that Grosjean had taken at Abu Dhabi, and had shown seriously impressive pace with in practice. With the old configuration in place, it was more of the same from a dismal 2019 for Haas.

Kevin Magnussen (Qual: 15th - Race: 14th) 5/10

Magnussen picked up a clutch of positions at the start to run in the top 10, but that has been a position that Haas have found increasingly difficult to maintain this season, and so it proved once again here.

Kimi Raikkonen (Qual: 18th - Race: 13th) 5/10

The Iceman showed decent race pace and made up a decent number of spots, but he started from too far down the grid to bow out for 2019 with points.

Nico Hulkenberg (Qual: 10th - Race: 12th) 6/10

Hulkenberg just fell short of points in his last F1 race, for some time at least, losing positions to Carlos Sainz and team-mate Daniel Ricciardo on the final lap. Still, he was awarded Driver of the Day, as fans clubbed together to salute the departing German.