Again, to win the grand prix on Sunday it's the usual Max Verstappen. The big surprise of the week is the McLaren. The home team proved to be a threat right from the start Saturday qualifying, even if he did little in the attempt to overthrow Max's already written victory. Silverstone is a great starting point for a team that in season opening match he finished in 17th position with Norris, and retired with Piastri... what a leap!
He returns to disappoint Ferrari once again. The Scuderia struggles to find confirmation weekend after weekend, maintaining a performance that is decidedly too fluctuating, a symptom of a still immature understanding. Mercedes does much better, especially compared to the premises of Friday who saw her fighting with the redhead. A third and fifth place that make the technicians and drivers breathe a sigh of relief in front of the demanding compatriot public. Certainly not the result the star is used to, but still an enviable bunch of points by the teams it competes with in the constructors' championship.
Who climbs after Silverstone
There are three prices that rise after the English weekend: the drivers on the rise are Verstappen, Norris and Albon.
Max Verstappen + 1: continues to win without stopping. Max has now gotten used to victories, and when he rejoices he most often limits himself to a calm "ah yes". The Dutchman rings the sixth consecutive success, mortgaging the title with half a season still to run. When the man-machine combination is so dominant one can only watch, applaud and raise the value of Fanta F1.
Current value: 40 Masi
Lando Norris + 1: McLaren's start to the season was disastrous, but the team's reaction really scares everyone. Lando proved that when the car is there, he is there. Always. Starting behind Max, he was close to him for a few laps, before taking charge knowing that he was running a different race from that of the two-time world champion. Wise choice which allowed him to finish on the podium without having to face huge threats. With second place at Silverstone he brings home 18 very important points with a view to moving up the rankings. If McLaren knows how to maintain the "momentum" the boy with the papaya car will show some good things.
Current value: 18 Masi
Alexander Albon + 1: since Williams returned to show signs of life, Alex didn't hesitate to get noticed demonstrating the qualities that everyone knows deep down. In Canada he took home seventh place, and at Silverstone he gave another show of strength by finishing eighth ahead of the two Ferraris. Monstrous. He totally deserves the increase in altitude.
Current value: 13 Masi
Who gets off
The English weekend also brings fog for some. The performances of the pilots who descend are anything but exciting: Sainz, Ocon and Magnussen.
Carlos Sainz – 1: the Spaniard finished tenth, behind his teammate, after starting fifth. Carlos was nervous on several occasions, and perhaps also for this reason, the performance was not the best. If we also add to everything the strategy that made him the victim of a triple overtaking, we get a performance balance below expectations for a driver who has been quite consistent up to now despite limited means.
Current value: 25 Masi
Kevin Magnussen – 1: last time in qualifying, then retirement from the race due to the engine being burnt. The turn Kevin's season is taking is one you wouldn't expect from a veteran like him. Fifth consecutive result outside the points, ergo: -1 inevitable
Current value: 11 Masi
Esteban Ocon – 1: Out of Q3 and withdrawn on Sunday. Esteban is nothing more than the victim of a team from which much more was expected with the arrival of the new year. The Frenchman seems very different from the one who grabbed the third step of the podium in Monaco. Drop in price for him too.
Current value: 18 Masi
