Where do the drivers stack up after the Belgian Grand Prix at the world-famous Le Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps? Welcome to the LWOS F1 Power Rankings.
With just eight races left and Max Verstappen and Oracle Red Bull Racing running away with the championship titles, we are excited to bring you a new F1 reoccurring feature. The first edition (and iteration) of the LWOS F1 Power Ranking. This is a fluid ranking system at this point so there is potential that we will introduce new elements as the season continues.
How are the Rankings calculated?
In order to ensure our rankings are not just a direct correlation to the Championship rankings, we added started by adding in a few different variables.
- We started with every driver’s points entering the Belgian Grand Prix, which makes up half the initial score since we are jumping in mid-season.
- The remaining 50% of a driver’s score is based on factors from the race weekend.
- Qualifying results compared to their starting position in the standings.
- Places gained or lost during the race.
- Any change of position in the Championship standings.
- The points scored in the current Grand Prix
For example for the Championship Leader Max Verstappen: 258 (Season points entering the race * 50%) + 0 (qualifying delta) + 13 (places gained) + 0 (Changed in Championship ranking) + 25 (Points Scored) = 167
LWOS Power Rankings
1. Max Verstappen – 167
Verstappen looked like the Champion on Sunday, starting at the back of the grid due to an engine penalty. That didn’t stop him from marching through the grid to his eventual win.
2. Sergio Perez – 106
Perez was in the mix all day and raced well, as he started and finished in P2, and helped Red Bull leave Spa with maximum points.
3. Charles Leclerc – 103
Leclerc struggled a bit on Sunday after starting in the back with an engine penalty, but ultimately Ferrari’s attempt at getting the fastest lap to stay in the Championship fight failed and Leclerc finished sixth after a late penalty.
4. Carlos Sainz – 95
Sainz started on pole thanks to Leclerc and Verstappen’s engine penalties, but the Ferrari was no match for Red Bull’s pace today and Sainz ended up closing out the podium in P3.
5. George Russell – 87
Russell raced well today considering Mercedes didn’t have great pace throughout the weekend. Could have possibly overtaken Sainz for third if not for a late error.
6. Lewis Hamilton – 57
Hamilton’s day was cut short after a collision with Alonso ended his race on the first lap. A weekend to forget.
7. Esteban Ocon – 47
Ocon had some of the best overtakes of the season at Spa, with Alpine looking very good all weekend.
8. Lando Norris – 40
Sunday was a race to forget for Norris, in the midst of a season he will be happy to be done with. The Mclaren struggled to keep up with the top of the field, finishing in a disappointing P12.
9. Fernando Alonso – 34
Started on the second row on Sunday, and survived without damage after the first-lap collision with Hamilton, finishing P5.
10. Sebastian Vettel – 13
Vettel looked like his former self on Sunday finishing P8 in an Aston Martin that has struggled all season. He beat his teammate of Lance Stroll by around 25 seconds.
After 14/22 rounds 🔍#BelgianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/38kVH1sfG4
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 28, 2022
11. Alex Albon & Zhou Guanyu (tied) – 11
Albon was my personal Driver of the Weekend, in a Williams that was fastest on the straights at Spa. Though after starting P6, he fell a few places down to P10 but managed to hand on for another point.
The only rookie for this season of Formula 1 was able to move up four places during the race and overall had a decent day.
13. Yuki Tsunoda & Pierre Gasly (tied) – 10
Tsunoda started from P20 on the pit lane but was able to get himself up to a P13 finish.
His teammate also recovered from a pit lane start to finish P9. Gasly got caught in a DRS train for portions of the race which hurt his ability to move up the field.
15. Mick Schumacher – 8
Schumacher struggled again on Sunday and found himself, along with Haas teammate Kevin Magnussen, getting lapped by Verstappen. After seeing how well Haas raced early in the year, one just hopes that the American team can help Schumacher and Magnussen return to that level.
16. Valtteri Bottas – 5
Bottas left Spa disappointed after a collision with Latifi ended his race early.
17. Lance Stroll – 3
Stroll has improved lately and had a decent day, just missing out on the points in P11.
18. Daniel Ricciardo – 2
Ricciardo’s struggles continued in Spa, after being fired from McLaren earlier in the week. He ended the day in P15 and over 100 seconds off the lead.
19. Kevin Magnussen – 0
Magnussen struggled in his Haas on Sunday, as he was one of just three drivers that got lapped by Verstappen.
20. Nicholas Latifi – (-4)
Latifi’s struggles continued and remained the only driver with 0 points on the season, despite a favorable starting position. With no signs of improvement, and being blown out of the water by his teammate, Latifi might find himself without a drive next season if things don’t turn around soon.
Join the community and comment below on which ranking surprised you the most! And give us your F1 Power Rankings.
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