Lewis Hamilton 2019 F1 driver ratings: Every grand prix reviewed

Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton 2019 F1 driver ratings: Every grand prix reviewed

Here's how he fared in our ratings.

Matthew Scott

Wednesday 25 December 2019 10:00

It's becoming an increasingly familiar feeling for Lewis Hamilton, ending 2019 celebrating a drivers' title and having led Mercedes to the constructors' championship for the fifth time in six years.

Hamilton matched his career-best total of wins in a campaign, taking to the top step of the podium in 11 of the 21 races to move closer to more of Michael Schumacher's all-time F1 records.

GPFans scored ratings for every driver in all 21 races this year, with Bottas enjoying some stellar performances that he will glean confidence from once the disappointment of missing out on the title subsides.

Here's how we scored and reviewed Hamilton in every grand prix in 2019.

GPFans Driver Index: 1st
Average score: 8.0
High: 10 (France, Hungary, Abu Dhabi)
Low: 5 (Germany, Brazil)

Australian GP (Qual: 1st-Race: 2nd) 7/10

An off-colour race, which the Silver Arrows put down to floor damage, was just the latest Sunday slump for Hamilton, who secured a sixth straight pole in Melbourne (an F1 record) to take his tally in Australia to eight overall (a joint record with Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna). Had enough in reserve to keep Verstappen at arm's length and secure an all-silver one-two.

Bahrain GP (Qual: 3rd-Race: 1st) 9/10

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Mercedes did enough to keep within arm’s reach of Ferrari for the whole weekend and it paid dividends when the Prancing Horse went lame - Hamilton was the prime beneficiary of both red cars hitting problems. The overtakes on teammate Bottas and main rival Vettel put him in the perfect position, showing his racecraft is sharp as ever. Was it as much as a surprise as it was made out? Perhaps, but you this wasn’t a fluke victory.

Chinese GP (Qual: 2nd – Race: 1st) 8/10

Not the most eye-catching race from the champion, but an efficient and vital victory – his 75th in Formula 1. Given his strength and Ferrari's struggles, the genuine prospect of him now keeping his newly gained championship lead until the year's end is already raised.

Azerbaijan GP (Qual: 2nd – Race: 2nd) 7/10

Pretty comprehensively outperformed by Bottas all weekend, but kept himself close enough in the Finn's wake to ensure that the Silver Arrows would secure an F1 record and Ferrari could not mount a challenge on their places. Picked up the pace late in the race, but just ran out of laps in order to catch Bottas.

Spanish GP (Qual: 2nd - Race: 1st) 8/10

Put in a wretched lap at the first attempt in Q3 by his standards and couldn't catch Bottas on the second run as gravel on the circuit compromised everyone. Turned it around on raceday, however with the minimum of fuss. Even a safety car couldn't interrupt the flow of Hamilton, who also took his first fastest-lap bonus point of the year as he took back top spot in the championship from Bottas.

Monaco GP (Qual: 1st - Race: 1st) 9/10

On the wrong tyre, with one of the most fearsome of his rivals inches from his gearbox for more than an hour, Hamilton's stubbornness and skill came to the fore in one of his greatest battling drives. The anguish in Hamilton's radio messages grew as the race went on, but he kept it together to take an emotional victory that served as a fitting tribute to Niki Lauda, Mercedes' non-executive chairman who passed away aged 70 in the week before.

Canadian GP (Qual: 2nd - Race: 1st) 9/10

Didn't have the fastest car on the track, but hung in brilliantly with Vettel and his supreme pace after the pit-stops was crucial in forcing Vettel's mistake and ultimately securing the win, whether it came as he would have liked or not. The reigning champion is now 29 points clear in the standings ahead of a period he always enjoys. The two-horse title race may have lost a nag…