Kimi Antonelli may have become the youngest-ever driver to lead the Formula 1 World Championship, but he hasn't quite done enough yet to summit our power rankings. However, there is a new name at the top this week after Oliver Bearman's difficult weekend at the Japanese Grand Prix meant he lost ground following a stunning start to the season.

Car performance is a huge factor in F1, and so the points leaderboard never truly reflects the individual displays of each driver relative to the machinery they have under them. That's why we've created our driver power rankings, in which we grade the performance of all 22 drivers relative to their cars across qualifying and races, including Sprints.

And, because things move fast in F1, each driver's power rating will be based on the five most recent Grand Prix weekends - to ensure a racer who performs well in the latter stages of the season is not penalised for a poor start, and vice versa.

After the third round of the year, we're starting to see those average scores taking shape - and there were some big movers this week after a Suzuka race in which a couple of slow-starters found their groove.

George Russell, Mercedes - 8 (Power Score: 8.17)

Would he have won the Suzuka race if the safety car hadn't come out just after he pitted? Very possibly, though Oscar Piastri might have had something to say about that. Was off Antonelli's pace for much of the weekend, but only luck denied him here, rather than anything he did wrong.

Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes - 8.5 (Power Score: 8)

More records toppled as Antonelli became F1's youngest-ever championship leader and the first teenager in history to win multiple Grands Prix. Tied for best performer of the weekend in Japan, but it's not quite enough to leapfrog Russell in our rankings just yet.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari - 8 (Power Score: 7.83)

After Lewis Hamilton was a step ahead in Shanghai two weeks ago, it was Leclerc's turn to do it again in that evenly matched driver pairing so far this year. He outqualified Hamilton by two places, beat him in another entertaining duel during the race and then pulled off the overtake of the weekend to sweep past Russell and hold off the Brit to keep the podium place.

Pierre Gasly, Alpine - 8 (Power Score: 7.5)

The new king of the midfield, stealing Oliver Bearman's crown after the Brit's difficult weekend at Suzuka. Gasly has impressively been getting everything he can out of the Alpine and did so again as he qualified seventh and stayed there on Sunday, fending off Max Verstappen at the end of a protracted battle.

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari - 7 (Power Score: 7.5)

A tougher weekend for Hamilton, who was only slightly off Leclerc's pace in qualifying but struggled more on race day as he complained of a lack of power. It was still a good overall display from the seven-time world champion, who will be pleased with the start to his second Ferrari season.

Oliver Bearman, Haas - 5.5 (Power Score: 7.33)

Bearman has been brilliant so far this year, but had a bit of a weekend to forget in Japan. It might seem harsh to penalise him for that crash, because the difference in speed to Franco Colapinto while the Alpine star recharged his batteries was the main culprit. But Bearman admitted that he made a mistake by pressing the boost button. He also qualified poorly with a Q1 exit, which left him behind Colapinto in the first place. Much better to come from Ollie.

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls - 6.5 (Power Score: 7.17)

A second Q3 appearance in three races is a strong way to start life in F1, though he was slower with his last lap than he was in Q2, which limited him to 10th on the grid. He only went backwards on race day, but he can be pleased overall with his work so far this year.

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull - 6 (Power Score: 7)

Outqualified Max Verstappen again, which is no mean feat, though like Lindblad he ended up slipping out of the points, not helped by the timing of the safety car. But a decent start to life at Red Bull, especially as their car so far has been a bit of a dud.

Oscar Piastri, McLaren - 8.5 (Power Score: 6.83)

"Turns out we're alright once we start," Piastri quipped after a superb drive to second place. It might have been even better for him had it not been for the safety car, as he had been holding his own against Russell in the first stint. Nice to see Oscar back and firing again.

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls - 7 (Power Score: 6.83)

Not Lawson's best Saturday as he was shown up by Lindblad, but he more than made up for it in the Grand Prix with a good recovery to ninth. A decent start to the season for the Kiwi, who is already in double figures for points.

Nico Hulkenberg, Audi - 7 (Power Score: 6.83)

Both Audis really were unlucky to miss out on a point after not really putting a foot wrong over the weekend. Hulkenberg overcame a Q2 exit to finish above Gabriel Bortoleto, but in truth, there has been little to split the two of them over the season so far.

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi - 6.5 (Power Score: 6.83)

Similar story to Lindblad in that he made Q3 but then put in a slower time. Another victim of the safety car appearing when it did, which meant he slipped behind Hulkenberg and out of points contention.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull - 6.5 (Power Score: 6.67)

It's so unusual to see Verstappen not reach Q3 in a qualifying session, especially when his team-mate proves the car is good enough to make it through. From 11th on the grid, he could only make it up to eighth as Gasly had more pace in the Alpine. And Max is getting more and more frustrated with his situation with each passing race weekend.

Lando Norris, McLaren - 7 (Power Score: 6.5)

It was a trickier weekend for Norris than for Piastri, especially as he dealt with a series of problems on his car, which limited his practice time and left him a step behind. He overcame those issues to qualify and finish the race fifth, contributing to a much-needed strong points haul for the defending champions.

Sergio Perez, Cadillac - 7 (Power Score: 6.5)

Another little step of progress for F1 newcomers Cadillac as Perez finished the Grand Prix unlapped for the first time. He also outqualified team-mate Valtteri Bottas (as well as both Aston Martins) and finished the race ahead of both Bottas and Fernando Alonso, too.

Esteban Ocon, Haas - 7 (Power Score: 6.33)

A much better display from Ocon, who was shown up by Bearman in Australia and China but led by example at Suzuka, qualifying 12th and converting that into his first point of the season. It would likely have been better than 10th place had he not been disadvantaged by the safety car, but he showed good grit to recover to the points for a second time.

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin - 6.5 (Power Score: 6.33)

It remains very difficult to rate the Aston Martin drivers, though Alonso has to get a higher mark by virtue of constantly getting more performance out of the car than Lance Stroll. At least he's now got his new child to give him some joy, amid Aston's ongoing woes.

Franco Colapinto, Alpine - 6 (Power Score: 6.33)

He remains some way off Gasly's pace in the other Alpine and finished the race 16th, slowest of every car that finished except for the Cadillacs and Alonso's Aston. He has got work to do to prove that his strong showing in China wasn't just the exception to the rule.

Carlos Sainz, Williams - 6 (Power Score: 6.33)

Reached Q2 at Alex Albon's expense, but that was about as good as Williams' weekend got. Sainz managed to hold off Colapinto for 15th, but he was nowhere near the points. Williams will be desperate to make good progress on their weight issues over the next few weeks.

Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac - 6 (Power Score: 6.33)

Seems to be a little off the pace compared to Perez in these early weeks, though that might be because he was still performing reserve duties for Mercedes in the latter stages of last season, while the Mexican was free to link up with Cadillac. Still, Bottas need to find something extra to make himself the top dog there.

Alex Albon, Williams - 6 (Power Score: 6)

Just as hamstrung as Sainz by the car at the moment, though with the added indignity of pitting several times at the end of the Suzuka race for data-gathering purposes, which is why he ended up being two laps down. Gold star for patience.

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin - 6 (Power Score: 6)

The only mechanical retiree from the race, though he was running around at the back anyway. Aston Martin's problems are well known, but he has to start showing he can beat, match or at least get close to Alonso.