F1 driver power rankings: Four lead Lewis Hamilton despite Monaco win

ByEurosport

Updated 30/05/2016 at 19:44 GMT

Lewis Hamilton is this week’s big climber in Keith Collantine’s driver power rankings after his triumph in Monaco, but he is still some way adrift of top spot.

Mercedes F1 driver Lewis Hamilton (C) poses with Red Bull Racing F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo (L) and Sahara Force India F1 driver Sergio Perez

Image credit: Reuters

Rain in Monaco turned Sunday's race into a crash-strewn affair. But out of the carnage several drivers emerged with their heads held high having taken strong results for their teams.

F1 Fanatic's Keith Collantine name the top drivers from the last round of the championship.

1. Fernando Alonso (up 7)

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The combination of the low-speed Monaco track and the treacherous conditions were tailor-made for one of the team's world champion drivers to claim a big points haul with the car. Alonso delivered it: He wasn't quite a brave with his first pit stop as Button, but the team timed his stops well to move him up the order, and Alonso's skill kept a vastly superior Mercedes behind.

Fernando Alonso (McLaren) - GP of China 2016

Image credit: AFP

2. Daniel Ricciardo (down 1)

For the second race running a call which was out of his hands denied Ricciardo a very likely victory. He was the driver to beat all weekend, and he even came close to wresting his lost lead back from Hamilton at one point.

3. Nico Hulkenberg (up 15)

Strategy alone explains why Perez and not Hulkenberg made it to the podium. Hulkenberg qualified ahead but lost out in the pits. His last-lap pass on Rosberg was a masterpiece of opportunistic race-craft.

4. Sergio Perez (up 5)

When the opportunity came he delivered another big result for Force India in treacherous conditions and despite a Ferrari bearing down on him at the end.

5. Lewis Hamilton (up 16)

No Monaco win comes easily, especially one taken in wet conditions from third on the grid. But the two places Hamilton made were handed to him: one by the Mercedes pit wall and the other, inadvertently, by Red Bull. After that he had to soak up some serious pressure from the Red Bull driver and nurse his ultra-soft tyres for a long stint, which he did superbly.

Mercedes F1 driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates on the podium after winning the Monaco Grand Prix

Image credit: Reuters

6. Carlos Sainz Jnr (down 3)

Showed up his recently-promoted ex-team mate with another mature drive. Toro Rosso's conservative strategy cost him a bigger points haul.

7. Jenson Button (down 3)

Not quite on Alonso's pace in qualifying but as usual Button made a brave early move off wet weather tyres as the track dried. That paid off and helped McLaren to another double points finish.

8. Sebastian Vettel (down 2)

Ferrari continue to struggle for one-lap pace. Making matters worse, Vettel got snookered strategically early on, losing time behind Massa and having to follow Perez home.

9. Esteban Gutierrez (up 4)

Just outside the points for the second place in a row. Gutierrez out-qualified his team mate for the first time this year and raced well, but fell behind in the pit stops.