George Russell mess ups hit hard as driver humiliates his own team – F1 power rankings

The Canadian Grand Prix was a much-needed shot in the arm for F1 fans. The varying weather conditions made for a race-of-the-season contender in Montreal.

Experienced heads benefitted from the early downpours which had a lasting impact on the track, proving to be a tough beast to handle for others with mistakes aplenty throughout. McLaren and Mercedes fought a valiant battle, but it was Max Verstappen who emerged victorious to create some breathing room at the top of the championship.

However, we're here to forget about those standings and focus on our own power rankings, analysing who's hot and who's not relative to the car under them. Let's take a look at how they've been impacted since last time out in Monaco.

1. (+1) Max Verstappen

While others around him were flapping, Verstappen was his reliable self - aside from the lockup which let Norris through - and delivered an assured drive. It was far from a walk in the park, but as he so often does, he made it look like one.

Knowing Max, he'll probably still be kicking himself for only equalling Russell's Q3 time and having to start second as a result. A hard-fought 60th career win.

2. (+1) Lando Norris 

As Martin Brundle accosted him for a chat pre-race, Norris radiated the sort of energy you only see from winners. He was utterly unfazed by the challenge ahead.

While he of course didn’t emerge victorious, he was unfortunate not to have, being the only driver unable to pit under the first safety car. That snatched away his eight-second lead and there were other missed opportunities to recover, albeit nothing to rue.

3. (-2) Charles Leclerc

From hero to zero for Leclerc, who was hamstrung by his Ferrari car and team. Nearly everything that could’ve gone wrong, did, after such a superb showing in Monaco.

Exiting in Q2 thanks to the decision to run the used softs, then an engine issue in the early going of the race, followed by a mis-timed switch to the hards. All out of his hands really and the retirement put him out of his misery.

4. Oscar Piastri (+1) 

The conditions were bound to make it hard for Piastri’s relative inexperience. He took it in his stride and it’ll be a valuable learning curve for him.

Says a lot about the high standards he’s setting that P5 will have been a slight disappointment after falling from a potential podium finish.

5. Carlos Sainz (-1) 

Qualifying wasn’t necessarily his fault with the used tyres fiasco, but there was no one else to blame for spinning out and taking Albon to DNF city with him.

No points for Ferrari as a result to compound their misery, which did them no favours in the constructors' championship.

6. Yuki Tsunoda (=) 

What would’ve been a fantastic showing was unfortunately scuppered by Tsunoda’s late crash into the sign at Turn 8, which he held his hands up to post-race.

Having been in superb form, an error here and there is acceptable, especially amid the chaos of Sunday. His contract extension remains well-earned.

7. Lewis Hamilton (+2)

He may have described it as one of the worst races of his career, and granted he didn’t paint himself in glory in qualifying, but Hamilton’s being harsh on himself there.

Yes, there was potential for more, but realising that is easier said than done. Unlike his team-mate, he made his way up the grid, and for that, he does so in our rankings too.

8. George Russell (-1)

Both Russell and Toto Wolff admitted it’s a case of what might have been for him in Montreal. Sloppy mistakes were made and the contact with Piastri was ill-advised. Better to look at the bigger picture, which is positive for him and Mercedes.

9. Fernando Alonso (+1)

Name a better duo than Alonso and keeping Hamilton behind him. Just loves it, doesn’t he? You feel he’s frustratingly at the maximum of the Aston Martin’s limits at the moment. Give him more and they’ll be back in top-four contention.

10. Nico Hulkenberg (+1)

Perhaps unlucky to not add to his six points for the season after the full wet gamble paid off to a degree in the early going. Very slick to avoid the spinning Tsunoda too. Job well done.

11. Pierre Gasly (+1) 

No nonsense again from Gasly. Can maybe count himself fortunate that Alpine gave team orders to let him pass Ocon and then didn’t have to give the place back, but more on that later. Like Alonso, he’s doing the most he can with the machinery at his disposal.

12. Alex Albon (+1)

Points were on the cards if it weren’t for Sainz’s spin. His double overtake on lap 31 was *chef’s kiss* and sums up his season so far. Lovely to see him with that confidence exuding in his driving.

13. Sergio Perez (-5)

Perez tumbles down the rankings and for good reason. Yet another Q1 exit and yet another DNF leaves Red Bull with egg on their face after what was already a contentious decision to hand him a new deal. The constructors championship will be under serious threat unless he bucks up his ideas.

14. Daniel Ricciardo (+2)

What a weekend for Danny Ric, eh? If he doesn’t get a seat next year, let’s get him in the boxing ring with Jacques Villeneuve! His answer to the criticism was excellent. A false start was then exactly the opposite. But it was all well that ended well in eighth.

15. Esteban Ocon (-1)

Moving from the back of the grid up to as high as eighth was a good way to respond to being dropped by Alpine. Initially ignoring their order to let Gasly through encapsulates why they have, though.

16. Lance Stroll (+1)

An ideal home race for Stroll as he followed team-mate Alonso to take the chequered flag in seventh. Not a whole lot to say about a drive which went largely under the radar. Like a good football referee, going unnoticed is what you want in the wet.

17. Kevin Magnussen (+3)

More of this Kevin Magnussen, please. The eight-plus second stop after a brilliant effort on the full wets ultimately cost him four places, finishing behind Hulkenberg in 12th. They both would’ve hit the jackpot with an earlier safety car or more of that forecast rain. Nice to not be talking about who he’s crashed into this week.

18. Valtteri Bottas (=)

You’d be forgiven for forgetting the existence of Stake/Kick/Sauber at this point. If he wasn’t growing it Bottas would surely be pulling his hair out, with his wait for some points rumbling on.

19. Zhou Guanyu (-4)

Started in the pitlane like Bottas but might as well have stayed there having finished well off him on a rough weekend all around. A crash into the barriers in first practice set the tone for what was to follow: disappointment.

20. Logan Sargeant (-1)

You don’t want to be too harsh on Sargeant, but the gulf in quality between him and the rest of the grid continues to grow. His early spin was a warning sign that he didn’t listen to on lap 26, bringing out the safety car with his crash.