Lewis Hamilton 2019 F1 driver ratings: Every grand prix reviewed

Lewis Hamilton 2019 ratings Part 3

Singapore GP (Qual: 2nd – Race: 4th) 7/10

Though the stats say he lost places in the race, they weren’t really any fault of his own – a series of… interesting strategy calls cost him his second place, putting him behind Verstappen and unable to make any progress to where he started. Not a bad drive, but not a great one either.

Russian GP (Qual: 2nd – Race: 1st) 9/10

Lewis kept his head at the start, matched the pace of the Ferraris at the start (whilst on slower tyres), and was able to make the most of Ferrari’s failure. He then controlled the race following the safety car, put in the fastest lap, and won. Textbook.

Japanese GP (Qual: 4th - Race: 3rd) 6/10

Although Hamilton played his part in securing Mercedes' title success with a crucial bonus point for the fastest lap, all did not seem well with the champion here. His race start would have landed him in fifth without the Leclerc-Verstappen collision and came after he had been outperformed by Bottas in practice and qualifying. He must have been sorely tempted to take strategy into his own hands and go for the one-stopper when in the lead of the race, but bowed down to the team, and his team-mate.

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

Hamilton, deep down, probably does trust the strategies Mercedes put him on, but the champion's public fretting certainly makes for an edgy in-race atmosphere. As the Silver Arrows crew told Hamilton the plan would work, he was clearly doing something right to keep enough life in his tyres so that he could end the race putting in a string of personal-best lap times to keep Vettel at bay. A 10th win of 2019 might not have delivered the title, but it was certainly a performance of champions.

United States GP (Qual: 5th - Race: 2nd) 9/10

Hamilton has previously shown that his mind can stray from conventional tactics when the title is on the line – Abu Dhabi 2016, anyone? And although a gentle cruise behind the rest of his fellow front-runners and ahead of the 'B Class' would have seen him crowned champion all the same, perhaps Hamilton wouldn't now be a six-time title-winner were he not the kind of person that would go all out for the win anyway, getting his elbows out in late combat with Bottas, despite it being destined for on-track defeat.

Brazilian GP (Qual: 3rd - Race: 7th) 5/10

Hamilton had little answer to Verstappen out front and the frustration of coming up short against one Red Bull possibly influenced his hasty decision to try and overtake the other one after the odd decision to pit under the safety car with just five laps left. It shunted both Albon and Hamilton from likely podium finishes. The reigning world champion is also now on his longest run of events without taking a pole position since joining Mercedes…

Abu Dhabi GP (Qual: 1st - Race: 1st) 10/10

Peerless, ruthless, unstoppable stuff from the champion, who rounded out 2019 in some style. Dominant only scratches the surface of Hamilton's sixth career grand chelem – winning from pole, while leading every lap and setting the fastest lap. He now moves above a clutch of other drivers who were on five, with only Jim Clark, who has eight, above. Hamilton's pole was his first in 10 races, ending the longest wait for qualifying success of his Mercedes career, and he would not let it go to waste, ending the season with a record-breaking 413 points after taking an 11th win of the season to match his own personal best.

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