2022 Brazilian Grand Prix F1 Driver Ratings

The penultimate grand prix of the 2022 season was also the final sprint race weekend of the year at the dependably thrilling Interlagos circuit.

Once again, the Brazilian Grand Prix delivered on action throughout the weekend. There were some outstanding performances throughout the field, with two particular drivers coming away from the weekend having achieved something that they had never done before.

Here are the RaceFans’ driver ratings for the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton – 6

Qualified: 8th (-5 places behind team mate)
Sprint race: 3rd (-2 places behind team mate)
+0.552s slower than team mate in Q3
Finished: 2nd (-1 place behind team mate)

• Sole Q3 lap on track slowly losing grip was only good enough for eighth place
• Made up five places in the sprint race to finish third, inheriting front row start due to Sainz’s penalty
• Started grand prix on soft tyres and retained second place at the start
• Clashed with Verstappen after Safety Car restart, losing six places and causing major damage
• Overtook Schumacher, Gasly, Vettel and Norris to move back up to fourth place
• Extended opening stint until pitting for mediums, resuming in fourth before Sainz’s second stop
• Caught and overtook Perez for second place before pitting for used softs to cover off Red Bull’s own pit stop
• Inherited second place back when Sainz pitted under Virtual Safety Car to line up behind team mate in second for restart
• Dropped out of DRS range of team mate ahead at restart and could not close gap, eventually finishing second by 1.5s

George Russell – 7

Qualified: 3rd (+5 places ahead of team mate)
Sprint race: 1st (+2 places ahead of team mate)
-0.552s quicker than team mate in Q3
Finished: Winner (+1 place ahead of team mate)

• Set the third-fastest Q3 lap as track conditions worsened but spun off into the gravel, bringing out the red flags
• Passed Magnussen early in the sprint race, then chased down Verstappen with his soft tyres and passed him to secure grand prix pole
• Started on soft tyres, converting pole into the lead of the race at the start
• Held the lead at the Safety Car restart, then maintained an advantage over Perez behind until pitting for mediums
• Developed a water leak on his car through the race that his team did not inform him of
• Grew his lead over the second stunt before pitting for used softs with just over 20 laps remaining
• Held his nerve and the lead at the second…