Italian Grand Prix driver ratings

A race that will long be remembered for its tense battle between two drivers seeking their first Formula 1 victory featured a pair of standout drives that couldn't be separated in our ratings

Alex Kalinauckas Sep 7, 2020, 10:43 AM

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Pierre Gasly – 10

Simply outstanding. Reached Q3 for the fifth time in 2020, and in the race he really did all he could. Had a slip at the second chicane on lap one, but that's not enough to cost him a mark given his later heroics. The pitlane closure and red flag helped him, but the way he resisted the relentless Sainz was majestic.

Carlos Sainz – 10

The other outstanding star of qualifying after Hamilton, and a deserving runner-up even if the race had been dull. Sainz drove brilliantly in the race and comes away with huge credit – for that and for the way he magnanimously accepted defeat. Chased Gasly well after several bold moves. Stunning, even as he rued what might have been with the red flag.

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Author Alex Kalinauckas

Alex Kalinauckas is Autosport's Grand Prix Editor, covering every Formula 1 race since the start of 2020. After completing a master's degree in journalism at Goldsmiths College University of London in 2014, he worked for a range of motorsport and technology publications while covering national racing as an Autosport freelancer.

A lifelong motorsport fan - no one in his family can explain quite how or why such a development first occurred - Alex joined the Autosport staff in April 2017 as the magazine’s Assistant Editor covering Formula 2 and GP3, before being made Formula E correspondent and Autosport.com’s Plus Editor in March 2018. He lives in north-east London and is constantly frustrated by the Central Line.