Max Verstappen's petulance and driver left to rue fiasco – F1 power rankings

The Hungarian Grand Prix served up the seventh different winner of what is turning into an exhilarating F1 season. Oscar Piastri claimed his first career victory in a drama-filled Sunday at the Hungaroring.

His first corner pass on team-mate Lando Norris, who was left to rue another poor start, ultimately won him the race, despite McLaren's strategic nightmare after their second stops. The podium was rounded off by the resurgent Lewis Hamilton.

With the dust now settling, let's take a look at how the action impacted Express Sport's power rankings for the season so far. As always, we're assessing each driver's performance relative to the car at their disposal.

1. Lewis Hamilton (+2)

Mercedes had the third, if not fourth, fastest car once again, yet Hamilton continues to work his magic and out-perform it. His defence of Verstappen was the seven-time world champion at his very best.

With three podiums in the last four races, and two fourth-placed finishes outside of that, Hamilton will be wishing the summer break wasn’t just around the corner. He deservedly moves to the top of the rankings.

2. Lando Norris (=)

What looked like a solid start from Norris turned out to be another lacklustre lap one as his decision to cover off his team-mate allowed Verstappen into the battle, and while he was passed for second illegally, the early fiasco lost him valuable time.

While he ultimately did the right thing, he proved a point that didn’t need to be made at the back end of the race. Had he yielded sooner, maybe then he could’ve had the chance to battle it out for the lead.

3. Oscar Piastri (+1)

It was only a matter of time for Piastri to take the top step with the improvements both he and McLaren have made this season. He strung it all together on an excellent weekend for the Aussie.

His final stint was perhaps a reminder of his relative naivety, but no one can debate that it was his well-earned victory. Shame it was slightly overshadowed by the politics, but no doubt there’ll be more.

4. Max Verstappen (-3) 

This season we’ve seen the Dutchman at his brilliant best - this was him at his entitled worst. When your car isn’t where you want it to be, you work with your team – you don't fight against them.

His radio wars with GP were laughable for all the wrong reasons. The petulance then transpired into a desperate dive-bomb on Hamilton, which really should’ve earned him a greater punishment than being put on the Red Bull naughty step.

5. Carlos Sainz (+1)

An improved qualifying was let down by a poor start from Sainz, who should’ve been looking up the grid after a rare occasion of out-pacing his team-mate. Instead, it was more of the same from Silverstone.

The Spaniard was left largely in no-man’s land. It was a solid drive nonetheless from Sainz, with the points continuing to clock up for Ferrari - who remain well in contention for the constructors’ championship.

6. Nico Hulkenberg (-1)

Fairly unfortunate to miss out on Q3, which then had a knock-on effect for his Sunday. It was an uphill battle made trickier by the early stop.

Haas didn’t have the pace to pull it off, frustratingly for Hulkenberg, who would’ve been hopeful of adding to his 22 points for the season.

7. Charles Leclerc (+3)

The red flag in the dying embers of qualifying didn’t help Leclerc’s cause. He bounced back off the line to out-manoeuvre his fellow Ferrari driver, and from there it was relatively plain sailing.

While he benefitted from Verstappen’s ill-judged lunge on Hamilton, he’d put himself in the mix for it. A very good fourth.

8. George Russell (-1)

Regardless of who was to blame for his Q1 exit, it was the worst weekend of Russell’s season so far. His damage limitation driver thereafter was as good as it was going to get.

9. Alex Albon (-1)

There was little Albon could do with Williams nowhere near top 10 contention. By his high standards, he would’ve wanted to get into Q3.

10. Yuki Tsunoda (+1)

Crash aside, it was more of the same from Tsunoda, doing all he can in the RB. Would’ve climbed our ranks more had he not given his mechanics a load more work to do.

11. Pierre Gasly (-2)

Gasly can’t catch a break at the moment. A hydraulic leak caused his second successive retirement. Hard to judge him fairly until Alpine get his car back to its best.

12. Daniel Ricciardo (+2)

It could’ve been a really positive weekend for Ricciardo after qualifying P9. RB’s strategy let him down and cost him points.

13. Lance Stroll (=) 

Stroll did get a point, but only because he ignored team orders to invert with his team-mate. Wouldn’t have been there had they not given him the favourable strategy.

14. Esteban Ocon (-2)

Alpine will want to move on and swiftly forget this weekend. Ocon couldn’t fight back after some poor decision-making in qualifying.

15. Fernando Alonso (=)

His pit-lane tantrum was beneath the two-time world champion, even if the Aston isn’t up to scratch and he felt hard done by with their strategy. Remains hard going for him.

16. Valtteri Bottas (+1)

It didn’t materialise into anything, but 12th in qualifying showed the Sauber’s upgrades are an improvement. If they’re to finally get points on the board, it’ll be Bottas who delivers them.

17. Kevin Magnussen (-1)

As he has been throughout 2024, Magnussen was well off the pace of Hulkenberg. Like many, he wasn’t happy with his team’s performance, but those in glass houses…

18. Sergio Perez (=)

He recovered it well to finish seventh, but another qualifying crash? Really? Perez says it can’t happen again, but actions speak louder than words.

19. Logan Sargeant (=)

He was closer to Albon and could’ve finished higher had Williams made better calls. Nothing to write home about, though.

20. Zhou Guanyu (=)

Last on the track and last in our rankings. The bottom line is he has to do better.