F1 Driver Power Rankings: Nico Rosberg wins in Suzuka but top spot goes to great all-round performer

ByEurosport

Published 10/10/2016 at 21:02 GMT

Nico Rosberg took a significant step towards winning his first world championship with his ninth victory of the year at Suzuka.

Formula One - Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka Circuit, Japan- 9/10/16. Mercedes' driver Nico Rosberg of Germany celebrates winning the race

Image credit: Reuters

For only the second time this year all 22 drivers saw the chequered flag, giving a better chance to rate their performances.

Who starred at Suzuka? F1 Fanatic editor Keith Collantine runs the rule over the field:

1. Max Verstappen (no change)

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Unusually the Red Bull wasn't quicker than the Ferrari at Suzuka, but penalties for the red cars elevated Verstappen to third. That gave him a shot at second after Hamilton made a poor start, and his combination of great race pace and very firm defending ensured he took it.

Formula One - Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka Circuit, Japan- 9/10/16. Mercedes' driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain and Red Bull's Max Verstappen of the Netherlands spray champagne during an awards ceremony at the race

Image credit: Reuters

2. Sergio Perez (up 8)

It's hard to see what more Perez could have done with the Force India this weekend. He qualified right behind the faster cars, got in among them at the start, but thanks to DRS and the rapidly-degrading tyres he was never going to stay there. Palmer also hindered his chances of staying ahead of Raikkonen.

3. Nico Rosberg (up 1)

Took his third consecutive Suzuka pole position but this time he managed to convert it into a win. It did help matters that Hamilton made another dreadful start, after which Rosberg could have cruised home with one hand on the wheel, but he did everything required of him.

4. Kimi Raikkonen (up 4)

Should have started where Verstappen did, from where second might have been possible, but a gearbox change penalty put paid to that. That meant he had to battle his way forward which he did well, though he wasn't able to stop Hamilton jumping him.

5. Nico Hulkenberg (up 10)

Generally shaded by his team-mate but finished close behind and put a superb pass on Bottas.

6. Sebastian Vettel (up 16)

Redeemed himself after his Malaysia embarrassment with a solid drive which might have yielded a podium finish had Ferrari not made his final pit stop too late.

Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) - GP of Japan 2016

Image credit: Ferrari S.p.A.

7. Valtteri Bottas (down 1)

Clearly the quicker of the two Williams drivers and only fell behind his team-mate because he was called in for his pit stop too late.

8. Romain Grosjean (up 8)

Brilliant in qualifying where only a problematic Drag Reduction System kept him from taking fifth place. Haas seemed to be taken by surprise by their car's performance and were more conservative than they needed to be the in race, missing out on points.

9. Lewis Hamilton (down 7)

Yet another bad start, his fourth this year, which have collectively dealt a serious blow to his title hopes. He made some good passes and showed decent pace on his record to third, but he needed more.