F1 | GP Australian Report Cards – Between heroes you don't expect and disappointments

Valtteri Bottas 10 On Sunday of the hero you don't expect, the magic (victory and fastest lap) of the squire by definition, probably underestimated even by himself. A surprise, a novelty, a different attitude, the Finn is a new fighter and not at all submissive, right from the start when he burns Lewis and bye. Anything but lèse majesté, anything other than dutiful and painful services. WE CAN BE HEROES, JUST FOR ONE DAY

lewis hamilton 8 He gets the start wrong, wasting a clear pole position, and from there he struggles slightly, unable to drive as Mercedes would like. Second place in relative tranquility, but strangely he doesn't show the polish and competitiveness of his boxmate. Twenty seconds caught by Bottas are not numbers worthy of the dominator we know. PERplexed

Max Verstappen 9 One of the few capable of entertaining the public in an intense but certainly not exciting race. The lap in qualifying is a champion's one, the overtaking on Vettel on the outside is a great manoeuvre, he never holds back, undermining the Mercedes number 44 until the checkered flag. FIERCE

Sebastian Vettel 7 With a Ferrari distantly related to the one "admired" in the winter tests and especially in 2018, evidently weakened and never at ease on the semi-permanent Australian track, the German makes no mistakes, limiting the damage as best he can, but sadly slipping off the podium. NOT GUILTY

Charles Leclerc 7 Well come on, such a young debut with the Red could have sent him into crisis, Carletto from Monaco hesitates a bit in qualifying and allows himself a long run in the race, but for the rest everything is there: pace, maturity, head . Very wise at the start, at the end of the race he obeyed the team's orders to hold position and not attack captain Vettel. INTELLIGENT

Kevin Magnussen7,5 Of substance and with the usual wickedness that distinguishes him in duels. When it doesn't exceed it, it's always fast and consistent. POSITIVE

Nico Hulkenberg 7,5 Round and round the certainty for the midfield teams he runs for is always him. CATEGORY BOMBER JACKET

Kimi Raikkonen 8 This is how it works with samples. They carry the team on their shoulders, they exalt it if followed by the technicians, they become a point of reference and bring results. Ninth in qualifying and eighth in the race, and he had the speed to do something more, but he can't pass the Renault. For Alfa Romeo, eighth place is a good result. PIMPANT

Lance Stroll 6,5 He brings Racing Point to the points with a careful and mature race, and above all he gets the better of that old fox Sergio Perez (vote 5,5), the latter having difficulty in traffic. The point is that we should treat Lance for what he is, that is, a valid driver like the others, not like a daddy's boy thrown in there at random. BRAVO

Daniel Kvyat 8,5 There will probably be no sweeter world championship point for the Russian. He, rescued from Toro Rosso after being torpedoed (several times), runs an impeccable race, managing to win the derby with Gasly complete with a decisive overtaking. An unparalleled satisfaction, under the eyes of mentor judge Helmut Marko. TO REMEMBER

Pierre Gasly 5 Disastrous qualifying, but it's not his fault but the team's strategy. However, he was very disappointing in the race, because staying behind his younger sister Toro Rosso, while also being overtaken by Kvyat, was a real setback. DELUDENT

Lando Norris 6 He wastes his masterpiece in qualifying with an imprecise race peppered with small errors. But it's very fast, and it will be done.

Alexander Albo 6 Faster than Kvyat in qualifying, he loses a bit in the race, but it's right that he gains experience.

Antonio Giovinazzi 5,5 His Alfa Romeo picks up debris on the asphalt and driving becomes difficult. A shame, yet the Italian defends himself tooth and nail against opponents who approach him, even if the weekend overall isn't exciting. It was important to have seen the finish line even in difficult conditions.

Roman Grosjean 6 The same old story. It seems incredible, but it's almost a replay of the dramatic 2018. BAD LUCK

Daniel Ricciardo 5 The impetuosity, the excessive desire to eat up the asphalt and the opponents, too much optimism at the start, but the Renault is not suited to off-track. The race soon loses one of the most anticipated protagonists, as well as the home idol. HURRY

Carlos Sainz 5 Hoping that he hasn't taken Alonso's legacy in every sense, because the engine in smoke and the Spanish helmet are a real déjà vu.

George Russell 6,5 and Robert Kubica 6 It's difficult to judge the Williams drivers, but both leave Melbourne with their heads held high and having completed the race. Russell's debut was more brilliant and less problematic, Robert's race was much more troubled also due to a contact with Gasly which affected the performance of his FW42.

Australian GP 6,5 Sufficient rating only because there is someone to entertain us (see Verstappen or Magnussen) and in any case the race features duels in all positions (except first) but if the new rules were to increase overtaking the objective seems to have failed spectacularly. Indeed, with these new missiles it even seems to have become more difficult to pass. Scenarios that of the FIA…

Antonino Rendina

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