F1 Australian GP Driver Ratings: Ferrari pace is worrying

The 2019 Formula One season is well underway as the opening race has come to a close as Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas won the Australian Grand Prix by storm.

A refreshed Finn beat team-mate Lewis Hamilton by more than 20 seconds and also recorded the fastest lap of the race (1:25.580) to score a bonus point.

Hamilton and Red Bull's Max Verstappen beat both Ferraris of Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc to 2nd and 3rd to complete the podium spots.

It was certainly a day to forget for Scuderia Ferrari as they downgraded from their previous two outings in Melbourne where Vettel was able to win the last two Australian Grand Prix.

It may only be the first race of 21 but it was a worrying race pace from the expected title contenders.

Before we get carried away with Ferrari's problems, let's take a look at Sportskeeda's driver ratings for the 2019 Australian Grand Prix...

#10 Williams

Robert Kubica - 17th

Sunday's race was an emotional moment before lights out for Williams' Robert Kubica.

It was the Pole's first race in Formula One since 2010 in which not many people expected the racer to ever return to the series.

But Sunday's race was not Kubica or Williams' finest hour as the 34-year-old finished last behind his teammate, George Russell.

Not the usual position you would have seen from a younger Kubica.

Driver rating - 2/10

George Russell - 16th

It was also a memorable weekend for the young George Russell as he made his debut race in Formula One.

The Formula 2 champion spent most of last year racing at the front of the grid but it was completely the opposite on Sunday in Melbourne.

But Russell won't take it too badly as many expected Williams to struggle in the race as well as it being the Briton's first ever race in F1.

Can't complain when you've outraced your teammate.

Driver rating - 2/10

#9 McLaren

Lando Norris - 12th

As well as George Russell, another Briton experienced his first time racing in Formula One making Great Britain have the most nationalities in the driver's line-up for 2019 (3).

Lando Norris performed superbly in Saturday's qualifying by reaching Q3 and starting the race in 8th position while his teammate, Carlos Sainz Jnr, struggled to even get out of Q1.

Norris also finished higher than the Spaniard as Sainz retired early on in the race.

The 19-year-old would have wished on a top 10 finish but it's still a good start to his F1 career.

Driver rating - 4/10

Carlos Sainz Jnr - DNF

Not the opening race weekend Carlos Sainz Jnr would have wished for since joining McLaren from Renault.

The Spaniard had a torrid time in qualifying by only being 18th fastest out of the 20 cars before an early retirement on lap 9.

A forgetful one for Fernando Alonso's successor.

Driver Rating - 1/10

#8 Toro Rosso

Daniil Kvyat - 10th

Now this is a driver not many thought they'd see come back to Formula One after the departure from Toro Rosso in 2017.

But times have changed with Red Bull's sister team needing a seat to fill and they've offered Kvyat the opportunity to prove himself.

And the Russian has started off very well by scoring a point for himself and the team by finishing in 10th place on Sunday.

Could we see a different Kvyat in 2019?

Driver rating - 5/10

Alexander Albon - 14th

It was a debut Formula One race for Thailand's Alexander Albon.

A driver's name not many motorsport fans will recognise but it certainly helps put Thailand on the F1 map.

Albon did out-qualify his team mate Kvyat on Saturday by starting the race two positions higher than the Russian in 13th.

But Albon maybe a little disappointed to have finished one place lower than where he started at lights out.

Yet again, this was his first ever race in F1.

Driver rating - 3/10

#7 Alfa Romeo

Kimi Raikkonen - 8th

It is going to feel a little weird not seeing Kimi Raikkonen on the podium as much as we used to.

Especially in the last few seasons we would see Raikkonen gather many big points and podium finishes for Scuderia Ferrari.

But times have changed and now the Finn is at Alfa Romeo.

The 2007 world champion displayed a strong performance throughout the weekend by making it into Q3 before going one place higher from 9th to 8th in Sunday's race.

That's four vital points for the team, oh how his experience is priceless for a group like Alfa Romeo.

Driver rating - 6/10

Antonio Giovinazzi - 15th

Another name that will have taken the Australian Grand Prix as an opportunity to pick up very valuable experience going into the second race in Bahrain at the end of March.

The Italian was lapped like many others around him on the leaderboard and started the race in 14th position before dropping down one place.

Driver rating - 3/10

#6 Racing Point

Lance Stroll - 9th

The Canadian is getting used to life at his second ever team since joining the racing series in 2017 with Williams.

Oh how Lance Stroll will be delighted to make the switch to Racing Point after the opening race in Australia.

While his ex-team had their two drivers hanging out at the back of the grid, Stroll was strolling up the leaderboard and finished in the points in 9th place.

Stroll also beat his team mate Sergio Perez by three places.

He couldn't have asked for a better start in his new spell at Racing Point.

Driver rating - 6/10

Sergio Perez - 13th

It was only a few months that Sergio Perez wasn't sure on his future in Formula One when Lawrence Stroll brought the team for his son to join.

But here we are with one less Esteban Ocon, who has been seen watching the action from the Mercedes garage.

The Mexican will not be satisfied with his weekend performance especially when his new team mate scores points and Perez doesn't.

Driver rating - 4/10

#5 Renault

Daniel Ricciardo - DNF

Many eyes were on Daniel Ricciardo in build-up to the opening Grand Prix of the season as the Australian was beginning a new life at Renault after many seasons at Red Bull.

Renault's aim this year looks to be improving on finishing 4th in the 2018 Constructors' Championship but they will need both drivers to finish in the points if they want those objectives to be met.

Ricciardo has had a disappointing weekend all round by starting the race in 12th before losing his front wing before the very first corner in Sunday's race.

The history of Australian racers finishing on the podium in Melbourne is not something you would brag about as the Grand Prix history continued.

Driver rating - 1/10

Nico Hulkenberg - 7th

Another season at Renault for Nico Hulkenberg and will certainly be no push over for the new arrival of Daniel Ricciardo at the French team.

The German out qualified Ricciardo on Saturday by starting the race one position higher before gaining a 7th place finish.

A normal race day for Hulkenberg in terms of performances.

Driver rating - 6/10

#4 Haas

Kevin Magnussen - 6th

Sunday's race was the mark of 1 year since Haas had that devastating Australian Grand Prix when both Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean retired from the race because of simple tyre placement errors during their pitstops.

1 year on and they have improved, mainly thanks to Magnussen who finished convincingly in 6th place.

The Dane showed no real problems during the race and Sunday's performance is a little statement that they are capable of finishing 4th in the Constructors' Championship.

Driver rating - 7/10

Romain Grosjean - DNF

On a weekend where Romain Grosjean would have liked to finish in the top 10 to help forget the events in Melbourne 12 months ago, the Frenchman ended the race with another DNF to his name.

Grosjean will no doubt want to score points in Bahrain as consistency is very important this season for the American group.

Driver rating - 1/10

#3 Red Bull

Max Verstappen - 3rd

It's as almost as if Max Verstappen hasn't changed a bit from the winter break as the Dutchman achieved a sixth successive podium for Red Bull.

Verstappen will be thrilled to have finished above the two Ferraris of Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc when many expect the Italian team will finish higher than Red Bull in the Constructors'.

But Sunday reminded us of how strong Verstappen is becoming when competing at the top by consistently finishing in the top three.

Driver rating - 7/10

Pierre Gasly - 11th

Pierre Gasly is used to finishing in the points for Toro Rosso not outside the zone in a Red Bull however.

The Frenchman would have wished for a better start to his Red Bull career after not scoring any points to support the momentum of Verstappen's 3rd place finish.

Driver rating - 4/10

#2 Ferrari

Sebastian Vettel - 4th

For the last two years, Sebastian Vettel has come out on top in Australia for Scuderia Ferrari but this year himself and the Italian team didn't look at all close to a race winning pace.

It may only be the first race of a very long season ahead but there look to be concerns for the Ferrari team as neither drivers could finish in the top three.

Vettel arguably could have finished below his new teammate of Charles Leclerc as the Monegasque was right on his tail with a few laps to go.

A worrying weekend for the title contenders.

Driver rating - 6/10

Charles Leclerc - 5th

A dream come true for Charles Leclerc over the weekend by taking part in his first race for Scuderia Ferrari.

A childhood dream achieved which could have been topped off with a finish higher than Vettel.

Leclerc will however be happy to have shown a strong performance by not losing any positions in Sunday's race after starting from 5th.

Driver rating - 6/10

#1 Mercedes

Valtteri Bottas - 1st

Valtteri Bottas is a Grand Prix winner again!

The Finn has had to wait 476 days to get himself back at the top of the podium as the 2018 championship was a forgetful one for the Mercedes driver.

But what a way to forget last season's performance by beating your team mate, Lewis Hamilton, to the finish line with a gap of over 20 seconds.

Bottas overtook Hamilton at lights out before they had even reached the first corner and then after that the race was well and truly controlled from the Finn.

And let's not forget Bottas achieved the fastest lap also to gain a point on top of his 25.

A big statement from a possible title contender.

Driver rating - 10/10

Lewis Hamilton - 2nd

The Australian Grand Prix is just that one race Lewis Hamilton seems to struggle to win on.

The Briton achieved a sixth straight pole at Albert Park on Saturday but lost the race from the word go to his teammate on Sunday.

But Hamilton will be happy for his team already achieving a 1-2 as they bid to become the first team to win both the Driver's and Constructors' Championship six seasons in a row.

Driver rating - 7/10

Edited by Kingshuk Kusari