Five Reds · Power Rankings · Week of 9 Nov 2026
A weekly editorial ranking, what we'd answer if someone asked us, who's actually driving the best. Not the same as the championship table. Almost the opposite of it, in some places.
By Sam Holroyd · 7-min read · Updated weekly · Disagree? Write us
The best driver in the world right now. Five pole positions in seven rounds, three wins, and a margin in race trim that no model published before April 2026 predicted. Currently outscoring Piastri 1.3:1 on weekends both McLarens finish.
Lost the title fight to Norris by being the second-fastest McLaren in 14 of the last 16 race trims. A driver who would be P1 in this column in any other season of his career.
Still extracting more from the RB22 than the car deserves. The Mexico win was a reminder, not a turning point. Loses no respect for falling behind in a Norris season.
The rookie chart of the year. A driver-of-the-day on a track he'd never raced. Mercedes are starting to plan their next season around him.
The Ferrari fastest lap in Mexico was a thing of strategic beauty. Whether the car can hold a P3 in the constructors for three more rounds is the question.
Three of his best four 2026 weekends are the last three. A model upgrade arrived in October that he says fits his style. The driver thinks he's finally a Ferrari driver.
Holding pattern. Losing his teammate battle to Antonelli in Mexico was avoidable; the body language afterwards was not.
Williams' twentieth points finish of the year was an Albon Q1-out, P9-at-the-flag race. A masterclass in extracting from a car not designed for the year's regulations.
The Haas garage knows. The market knows. Eight points-finishes from a car that should have produced two. Quietest career trajectory in the field.
Outqualified by Albon 11-9, outpointed 96-60. Mexico's penalty was self-inflicted; the Williams response was: nothing.
Stroll, Gasly, Tsunoda, Hülkenberg. Stroll dropped after Mexico; Gasly's Alpine has been undriveable since Imola; Tsunoda is in a contract year and looks like it; Hülkenberg's reliability woes have masked some of his best weekends in years. We'll move them in or out next week.