The 2025 Singapore Grand Prix was a thrilling showcase of Formula 1 racing, with some incredible performances from drivers navigating one of the toughest physical challenges of the season. Edd Straw, a renowned F1 expert, has ranked all 20 drivers based on their weekend performances, and here's a breakdown of his insights.
Russell: The Pole Position Dominator
Despite a Friday practice crash at Turn 16, Russell bounced back with a masterful performance. Studying his teammate's approach, he found his groove on Saturday, securing pole position with two impressive laps. On race day, he held his lead effortlessly, showcasing his dominance.
Verdict: An Imperial Performance
Alonso: The Overtaking Specialist
Alonso's Friday pace was a glimpse of things to come. He efficiently qualified for Q3, and his key overtakes were the highlight of his weekend. He earned his 'midfield win' twice, passing several competitors, including Stroll, who held up some of Alonso's targets.
Verdict: Master of Overtaking
Verstappen: A Close Second
Verstappen was a strong contender in Singapore, but perfection eluded him. While he kept the quicker McLarens at bay, his race strategy of starting on softs didn't pay off, and he missed out on a potential win from pole position.
Verdict: Strong, but Not Suzuka-Level
Bearman: A Consistent Performer
Bearman delivered a solid performance throughout the weekend. He survived a first-corner scrape and maintained a good race pace, but a long stint behind Sainz allowed Alonso to catch and pass him. Given his dissatisfaction with the car, ninth place was a commendable result.
Verdict: Fast and Well-Executed
Piastri: A Close Battle with Norris
Piastri's qualifying performance was solid, but he couldn't improve on his final Q3 run. He had an unfortunate start, getting jumped by Norris, which led to a stalemate with his teammate. A slow pit stop didn't help his cause.
Verdict: A Close Battle, but No Clear Winner
Norris: Improving with Each Day
Norris' weekend got better as it progressed. He struggled on Friday with a lack of feel from the front end, but by Saturday, he was chasing the Red Bull driver for second place. His place gains at the start were impressive, but he needed to pass Verstappen for a higher ranking.
Verdict: A Promising Weekend, but More Needed
Sainz: An Unexpected Point
Sainz was frustrated with a lack of rear grip in qualifying, but he salvaged an unexpected point. He started 18th but opted for a longer stint, using fresh softs to his advantage and passing several competitors in the closing laps.
Verdict: A Well-Deserved Point
Hamilton: A Convincing Performance
Hamilton outqualified his teammate Leclerc and completed the race safely, despite multiple necessary track cuts. He held off Alonso but dropped behind him in the final results due to a penalty.
Verdict: More Convincing Than His Teammate
Hadjar: A Strong Weekend, Despite a Q3 Error
On his first time in Singapore, Hadjar was rapid from the start. He believed a top-five qualifying performance was within reach but aborted his final lap due to a double lock-up. He held ninth but a power unit problem cost him, and he finished 11th, an impressive result nonetheless.
Verdict: A Strong Showing, Despite the Q3 Error
Antonelli: Better Than His Results Suggest
Antonelli's overall performance was impressive, despite the results. He was more comfortable on Friday than Russell and could have been on the podium if Q3 had gone better. Mercedes regarded this as his most complete weekend yet, but rough edges in execution kept him mid-pack.
Verdict: A Solid Weekend, Despite the Results
Colapinto: Building a Case for 2026
Colapinto had a stronger weekend than Gasly, building a case for his retention in 2026. He seemed more confident in the car and performed well, despite its limitations in Singapore.
Verdict: Did His Best with the Given Circumstances
Albon: A Long Afternoon in Traffic
Albon's Friday was challenging, with a rear brake fire and a tricky FP2. He started from the pits and had a long afternoon in traffic. He showed decent pace when given the chance, and his performance was commendable despite car troubles.
Verdict: Performed Well, Despite Setbacks
Leclerc: Not at His Best
Leclerc, usually strong in Singapore, admitted he wasn't at his best. Ferrari's good mechanical platform couldn't help him thrive. He struggled with understeer and opted for a 'Hail Mary' setup choice, which proved challenging. He finished sixth, a decent result, but not his best.
Verdict: Decent, but Room for Improvement
Ocon: Q1 and Strategy Issues
Ocon's weekend started to go wrong in Q1 due to braking issues and a yellow flag. He had decent race pace but couldn't utilize it due to a lap-28 pit stop that dropped him into traffic. His strategy hurt him the most.
Verdict: True Speed Not Shown Due to Q1 and Strategy
Bortoleto: A Frustrating Race
Bortoleto's weekend followed a similar pattern to Baku. He sustained front wing damage in a scrape with Stroll and ran 15th in the first stint. His early stop was motivated by the desire to undercut, but it dropped him into traffic and later, tyre troubles.
Verdict: Q1 Yellow Flag Led to a Frustrating Race
Gasly: A Weekend That Went Nowhere
Gasly's Friday went reasonably well, but a set-up change for Saturday's practice didn't work. He had a 'messy' qualifying and a long, hard race to 19th place. His weekend lacked direction.
Verdict: A Disappointing and Unproductive Weekend
Stroll: Lacking Confidence in Qualifying
Stroll couldn't match Alonso's qualifying pace, despite having the same grip problem. He ran 14th early on and went long, hoping for a safety car or red flag. After switching to mediums, he found traffic and tyre overheating frustrating.
Verdict: Confidence Issues in Qualifying Persist
Hulkenberg: Late-Race Errors
Hulkenberg had a good, clean run through practice and qualifying, earning 11th on the grid. His race turned into a traffic nightmare after pitting on lap 25. He struggled with needless clashes and spins, and his late-race errors count against him.
Verdict: Strong Start, but Late-Race Errors
Lawson: Practice Shunts Impact Rating
Lawson's crashes in FP2 and FP3 impacted his preparation for qualifying and the race. His qualifying performance was respectable, but his practice shunts torpedoed his overall rating.
Verdict: Practice Crashes Hindered Performance
Tsunoda: Well Short of the Required Level
Tsunoda was confident behind the wheel but struggled with a lack of grip. He started 13th but his race went wrong at the start, dropping him to 17th. He was always in traffic and couldn't pass Hadjar late on. He needs to improve to reach the required level.
Verdict: A Disappointing Weekend, Falling Short of Expectations
Feel free to discuss and debate these rankings! Edd Straw is happy to take your questions over on Patreon. Comment below to join the conversation!
