Formula One Team Power Rankings After Azerbaijan
By Alex Herbst
A crazy race on the streets of Baku has the top ten finishers all kinds of topsy-turvy. What impact will that have on the Formula One team power rankings?
NOTE: The “Last Week” category includes each team’s rankings in the previous edition of the Formula One team power rankings.
MCLAREN
Stoffel Vandoorne and Fernando Alonso, Honda
#10
Last Week: 10th (NC)
No longer the lone team without points on the season, Fernando Alonso brought home his McLaren-Honda in ninth in Baku to earn the team’s first championship points of 2017. They still sit on the bottom of the constructors standings, however, and must continue to wrangle the rumors of their quickly deteriorating relationships with their top driver and their engine supplier.
SAUBER
Pascal Wehrlein and Marcus Ericsson, Ferrari
#9
Last Week: 9th (NC)
Pascal Wehrlein remains the only driver at the team to score points, picking up another mark with a 10th place finish on Sunday in Azerbaijan. Yet, this is likely not the big story that many will be talking about regarding Sauber this week. No, instead most will continue to wonder about the sudden departure of Monisha Kaltenborn from the young squad, and what their future how holds.
Renault Sport
Nico Hulkenberg and Jolyon Palmer, Renault
#8
Last Week: 7th (-1)
A double retirement is never a step forward for any organization. Perhaps Jolyon Palmer’s poor form is unsurprising, considering the growing rumors that he may be replaced before the end of the 2017 season. Meanwhile, Hulkenberg hopes to continue to carry the banner for the French marque, unless some bigger name comes to the team in the 2018 offseason.
Scuderia Toro Rosso
Carlos Sainz Jr. and Daniil Kvyat, Renault
#7
Last Week: 8th (+1)
Carlos Sainz Jr. made many (save Felipe Massa) about his rookie-like opening lap wreck in Canada in the last race. A points-paying finish and being the top runner of the Scuderia Toro Rosso team has this driver suddenly as one of the most sought after prizes in the silly season frenzy of F1. Perhaps his days could be numbered with Red Bull’s junior team, but in a much more positive way than the underperforming Daniil Kvyat.
HAAS F1
Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean, Ferrari
#6
Last Week: 6th (NC)
While Romain Grosjean struggled on the streets of Baku, Kevin Magnussen earned the team another finish in the points, allowing them to leapfrog Renault in the constructors standings. Magnussen also jumped ahead of Grosjean in the drivers standings, likely to spark a fire under the Frenchman who is eager to reclaim his title as team leader.
WILLIAMS MARTINI RACING
Felipe Massa and Lance Stroll, Mercedes
#5
Last Week: 5th (NC)
Last week in Montreal, Lance Stroll arrived in Formula One. This week, he became a contender, bringing Williams back onto the podium for the first time since losing Valtteri Bottas to Mercedes. Perhaps a brief homecoming was just what the rookie needed to push him toward the front of the F1 grid.
FORCE INDIA
Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon, Mercedes
#4
Last Week: 4th (NC)
After Perez held back Ocon from a podium in the Canadian Grand Prix, the young Frenchman seemed to return the favor in Baku. Tangling with his teammate, Perez certainly was a contender for a podium spot if not for a win on Sunday, before Ocon forced him down the grid. Force India needs to get their drivers back on the same team if they are going to hold onto the top spot among the midfielders.
RED BULL RACING
Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen, Tag Heuer
#3
Last Week: 3rd (NC)
A winner’s weekend is always a good weekend. Their top driver Daniel Ricciardo won on Sunday for the first time since the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix, allowing the Australian to celebrate and say that Red Bull is back. However, on the other end of the scale Max Verstappen fell prey to mechanical problems again, likely stewing up some mixed feelings from the youngster.
SCUDERIA FERRARI
Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari
#2
Last Week: 2nd (NC)
Scuderia Ferrari got burned again this weekend by struggles on track. They were keeping good pace with the Mercedes duo once again, only to have Sebastian Vettel get caught up in some drama. It cost him a ten-second stop and go penalty, and likely a more terse relationship with his chief championship adversary.
Next: Daniel Ricciardo Wins At Azerbaijan
MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS
Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
#1
Last Week: 1st (NC)
Despite not winning on the streets of Baku, Mercedes flexed their muscle all weekend, especially in qualifying. If not for the scrape that Hamilton got into with Vettel under the safety car, the former world champion would have likely won the event. Now, an even more intense battle between Hamilton and Vettel is shaping up for the F1 title.