We’re back with our F1 driver ratings for the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix — and yes, it’s the last one for five weeks, so we had to make it count. We go through the grid and try to grade fairly based on what each driver could realistically do with what they had, which is why you’ll hear us give a “whopping” 7/10 to someone finishing 17th (hello, Sergio Perez). In a Cadillac that’s been close all year between teammates, Checo absolutely put it on Bottas and that matters more than the headline result. There are proper standouts too: Pierre Gasly is a stone-cold 10/10 for us after qualifying P7 and then beating Max Verstappen on the road. We also talk through the messy midfield stories — Audi’s brutal starts, Haas’ ups and downs (and Ollie Bearman’s scary DNF), and Williams turning Alex Albon’s race into a six-stop test session for banter. Up front, we rate the big moments: Antonelli winning but still losing the 10 because of that poor start and safety car fortune, Russell’s “weekend to forget” despite the pace of the Mercedes, and Ferrari once again carrying the season on vibes with their wheel-to-wheel racing — especially Leclerc’s super smart P3.