After just three races in the 2020 Formula 1 season, it already looks as though the championship battle will be a solely Mercedes affair.
Lewis Hamilton now leads the championship from his teammate Valtteri Bottas following two consecutive wins, with Max Verstappen already a race win further back.
Here, based on the driver rankings from the first three races, are the driver power rankings:
1= Lewis Hamilton – 8.7
Beat teammate in qualifying 2/3
Beat teammate in race 2/3
After an unusually slow start, Hamilton has been near-perfect for the past two weeks with dominant wins from pole.
1= Max Verstappen – 8.7
Beat teammate in qualifying 3/3
Beat teammate in race 2/2
Does not really have the car to compete with Hamilton just yet, but Verstappen has given it as good as he has got so far. He will have been really pleased to beat Bottas in Hungary after crashing on the installation lap and should be a constant thorn in the side of the Mercedes.
3. Lando Norris – 8.0
Beat teammate in qualifying 2/3
Beat teammate in race 2/3
Fantastic for the first two races but fell back in Hungary. Still has made an outstanding start to the season.
4= Daniel Ricciardo – 7.7
Beat teammate in qualifying 2/3
Beat teammate in race 2/3
Has looked a step ahead of the highly rated Esteban Ocon in a Renault that does not quite look as competitive as hoped. Will be pleased with consecutive points finishes at tracks that do not necessarily suit the team.
4= George Russell – 7.7
Beat teammate in qualifying 3/3
Beat teammate in race 2/3
His qualifying has been outstanding ever since he arrived in Formula 1 and you cannot help but be impressed with consecutive p12 performances. Car still lacking pace in race trim, but has the legs on Nicholas Latifi by a clear margin.
6. Lance Stroll – 7.3
Beat teammate in qualifying 2/3
Beat teammate in race 1/3
I have been really impressed with his turnaround in qualifying and thus far, he is ahead of teammate Sergio Perez. Obviously he has a great car underneath him, but this has been a positive opening three races for Stroll.
7= Valtteri Bottas – 7.0
Beat teammate in qualifying 1/3
Beat teammate in race 1/3
Made the perfect start to the season but still looks to be lacking in comparison to Hamilton in race trim. Losing to a Red Bull was not the plan in Hungary and he needs to cut out the errors if he is to have any chance of beating the six-time world champion.
7= Charles Leclerc – 7.0
Beat teammate in qualifying 1/3
Beat teammate in race – 1/2
Made a silly error at the Styrian Grand Prix by taking out his teammate, but came second a week prior. Tough to judge given the car he is driving, but this has not been a vintage start from Leclerc.
7= Pierre Gasly – 7.0
Beat teammate in qualifying 3/3
Beat teammate in race 1/3
Has been rapid in qualifying but very unlucky in the races. Hope to see him get more luck going forward as he is showing very well at Alpha Tauri.
7= Sergio Perez – 7.0
Beat teammate in qualifying 1/3
Beat teammate in race 2/3
Will have been concerned about a poor showing in Hungary, but has also shown some impressive race pace. Should really be looking for a few podiums this year given the pace of his car.
7= Carlos Sainz – 7.0
Beat teammate in qualifying 1/3
Beat teammate in race 1/3
Slightly overshadowed by Norris so far but nonetheless has been a solid points scorer in all three rounds so far. Needs to show more speed though if he is to avoid questions about his Ferrari move.
7= Daniil Kvyat – 7.0
Beat teammate in qualifying 0/3
Beat teammate in race 2/3
Does not have the same qualifying form as Gasly but has been really consistent in the races. Will be pleased with the job he has done so far, even if he has been under the radar.
7= Kevin Magnussen – 7.0
Beat teammate in qualifying 2/3
Beat teammate in race 2/2
Not much to write home about until Hungary, but Sunday was a great performance. Thoroughly deserved a point from his showing and has certainly had the edge over teammate Romain Grosjean.
14= Alex Albon – 6.7
Beat teammate in qualifying 0/3
Beat teammate in race 0/3
Struggling at the moment in a team where things are not quite right. Did well to recover in the race at Hungary but is starting to come under pressure.
14= Sebastian Vettel – 6.7
Beat teammate in qualifying 2/3
Beat teammate in race 1/2
The spin in race one and incident in race two has impacted his rating, but this has not been too bad a start to the season for Vettel. Has shown well against Leclerc in qualifying and in Hungary he showed good pace to finish sixth despite a slow pit stop.
16= Esteban Ocon – 6.3
Beat teammate in qualifying 1/3
Beat teammate in race 1/3
A bit of an underwhelming return to Formula 1 for the talented Frenchman, he certainly has a task on his hands against Daniel Ricciardo. His wet qualifying at the Styrian Grand Prix was impressive, but has struggled otherwise.
16= Kimi Raikkonen – 6.3
Beat teammate in qualifying 1/3
Beat teammate in race 2/3
Alfa Romeo have gone backwards since last year and Raikkonen is struggling as a result. Still looks stronger than teammate Antonio Giovinazzi, but needs to show more.
16= Nicholas Latifi – 6.3
Beat teammate in qualifying 0/3
Beat teammate in race 1/3
The only rookie on the grid that has the unenviable task of going up against George Russell in a slow Williams. Did well to reach Q2 in Hungary, but needs to get closer to his teammate.
19. Romain Grosjean – 6.0
Beat teammate in qualifying 1/3
Beat teammate in race 0/2
The Haas team are still one of the slowest on the grid but Grosjean has not shown enough. Had the chance in Hungary but went backwards rapidly, while his teammate held on.
20. Antonio Giovinazzi – 5.7
Beat teammate in qualifying 2/3
Beat teammate in race 1/3
Has the edge over Raikkonen in qualifying trim, but simply makes too many mistakes. This season should be his last chance to prove he is at the required level.