Edd Straw ranks Formula 1 drivers after Mexican Grand Prix

Edd Straw published his second weekly tier-list evaluation of Formula 1 drivers based on their individual performances at the Mexican Grand Prix. The analysis placed Max Verstappen in the top tier, noting his strong pace, effective race starts and his role in Red Bull’s recovery after a challenging Friday. Straw also highlighted a lock-up on Verstappen’s final qualifying lap, but considered mitigating factors such as traffic and a minor grid penalty for an incident involving Liam Lawson.

Lewis Hamilton received a high ranking after securing his first pole position since 2023 and delivering a strong race, although a late-braking error at Turn 4 was cited as a factor that could have altered the finishing order.

Liam Lawson was praised for moving from the pit lane to a points-scoring position, ultimately finishing in the midfield after a standing restart. Ryo Hirakawa, who substituted for Esteban Ocon, earned a point after a competitive race and was noted for his progress despite qualifying challenges.

Sergio Pérez’s race was affected by a five-second penalty for a minor pit-lane speed infringement, which the team attributed to a sensor issue. Pérez was described as having a strong first stint before encountering a wheel-gun problem.

Ollie Bearman faced technical setbacks, including a change to an older Ferrari engine and a track-limits violation, and was involved in a collision that was not his fault. Kimi Antonelli, after clinching the world championship, delivered a steady race despite health concerns.

Other drivers received middle-tier rankings: Gabriel Bortoleto showed speed in limited practice sessions; Fernando Alonso’s weekend was hampered by qualifying and race problems; Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc were noted for qualifying setbacks that limited their race positions; and Williams drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz experienced mixed results due to machinery limitations and race incidents.

The tier list also addressed incidents involving Arvid Lindblad, Oscar Piastri, Isack Hadjar, George Russell, Franco Colapinto, Pierre Gasly and others, noting how penalties, qualifying errors and on-track collisions influenced their final rankings.