F1 driver report card: 5 races in, who is a straight-A student and who needs to try harder?

The 2018 Formula One season has so far been filled with unpredictability and littered with dramatic races. Coming into this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix we are five races down, so now have a decent idea of the teams' and drivers' strengths and weaknesses.

With that, we present our first mid-season driver ratings (a half-term report if you will), rating all 20 of the field from A to F. On the report card are their total points and placing, points per finish, how they fare in the qualifying battle versus their team-mate and an overall grade.

Some of the field definitely deserve an A for effort, while others have underachieved, disappointing themselves and their teams. There have definitely been a few instances of drivers needed to go and sit in the corner and think about what they've done.

READ MORE: Vettel disagrees with phasing out grid girls in Monaco

Who is the straight-A student? Who must try harder? And who needs to do their homework?

Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton

It was a difficult start to the season for the current world champion, taking until Baku to register his first win. Even that required a large slice of luck. He struggled after a team miscalculation lost him the Australian Grand Prix and was outdriven by Bottas in Bahrain, China and Azerbaijan. A flawless weekend in Spain puts him back in his best form ahead of Monaco. Off colour or not, he still has a 17-point championship lead over Sebastian Vettel.

Points: 95 (1st)

Points per finish: 19

Qualifying battle: 3-2 (-0.184 average gap to team mate)

Grade:  B-

Valtteri Bottas

A mirror image of his team-mate, really. An error in Q3 in Australia aside, Bottas has been close to his best since then and could have won in Bahrain, China and Azerbaijan. But for a puncture in Baku he would have been leading coming into Spain. Outclassed by Hamilton there but he wasn't the only one. Seems much more consistently close to his team-mate than last year, which is something he will need if he's to keep his seat.

Points: 58 (3rd)

Points per finish: 14.5

DNFs: 1

Qualifying battle: 2-3 (+0.184)

Grade: B+

Ferrari

Sebastian Vettel

His qualifying form has been blistering - registering a hat-trick of poles for Ferrari across rounds two, three and four. No podiums since his victory in Bahrain, though, and a 17-point deficit to Hamilton going into Monaco are unlikely to be pleasing to him. After winning the first two races,  he was leapfrogged by Bottas at the pit stops in China and then an overly optimistic move in Azerbaijan after a safety car restart cost him even more points. He and his team need to cut out  errors if they are to win either championship.

Points: 78 (2nd)

Points per finish: 15.6

DNFs: 0

Qualifying battle: 4-1 (-0.304)

Grade: B+

Kimi Raikkonen

It's hard to fault Kimi Raikkonen in 2018. After a few years without consistently challenging Vettel, the Finn has been much more of a threat this year. He is clearly - and contractually - a second driver at Ferrari and that means his strategy is often sacrificed for his team-mate. Aside from that, every raced he has finished (two non-finishes were not his fault) he has been on the podium. Could have had pole in Baku but for an error, too.

Points: 48 (4th)

Points per finish: 16

DNFs: 2

Qualifying battle: 1-4 (+0.304)

Grade: A-

Red Bull

Daniel Ricciardo

Had better weekends than Verstappen in the first four races of the year, picking up a sensational victory in China in the process, where his precise yet daring overtaking was in contrast to his team-mate's clumsy moves. Was, on balance, the less culpable of the two for the Azerbaijan collision but was a bit off the Dutchman's pace in Spain. His future at Red Bull is uncertain but if he drives like this he might have some tasty options for next year.

Points: 47 (5th)

Points per finish: 15.67

DNFs: 2

Qualifying battle: 2-3 (-0.116)

Grade: B-

Max Verstappen

Coming into the season, Max Verstappen's stock was higher than his team-mate's. That turned around quite quickly with four messy weekends in four. At least in Melbourne his mistake only cost himself. In China and Azerbaijan it cost others dearly. Nobody doubts his speed and a few months ago you would rate Ricciardo and Verstappen as the best overtakers in the field. But an overly aggressive approach which he has refused to adapt has been his downfall. A much tidier weekend in Spain, where he finished third, was exactly what he needed. More of the same in Monaco would dampen the criticism he has received this year.

Points: 33 (6th)

Supertime: 

Points per finish: 11

Qualifying battle: 3-2 (+0.116)

DNFs: 2

Grade: D

Renault

Nico Hulkenberg

The only blot on his copybook this season was his unforced error in Baku. It was an uncharacteristic one and Hulkenberg has picked up points in all the other races, generally outpacing his Spanish team-mate, at least in qualifying. Problems in qualifying in Spain put him towards the back of the grid and he was collected by Romain Grosjean's spinning Haas, ending his race. Will want to finish in seventh in the championship to be the best-of-the-rest outside the top three teams. Has Alonso to contend with, though.

Points:22 (8th)

Points per finish: 7.33

DNFs: 2

Qualifying battle: 4-1 (+0.020)

Grade: B

Carlos Sainz Jr.

Struggled in the first three races in comparison to Hulkenberg but a fifth place finish in Baku and seventh in his home race showed us what Sainz is capable of and is expected to do. Now only trails Hulkenberg by three points in the championship after the German's two DNFs so will feel much more comfortable in his new team. Will want to address the qualifying deficit - having only been the lead Renault on the grid when Hulkenberg had a car issue, despite making it into Q3 each race.

Points: 19 (10th)

Supertime: 

Points per finish: 3.8

DNFs: 0

Qualifying battle: 1-4 (-0.020)

Grade:  B

McLaren

Fernando Alonso

The double world champion continues to drive the wheels off his McLaren. The MCL33 is a much more competitive and reliable car than its three immediate predecessors - McLaren have scored 40 points in 2018 so far, compared to 30 in the entirety of 2017 - but it is still some way off the front. Its raw pace is poor but come Sunday, Alonso is capable of doing remarkable things with it and sits only behind the Mercedes, Ferraris and Red Bulls in the drivers' standings. It might be a struggle to maintain this - with Renault, Force India and Haas with the potential to run as the fourth best package.

Points:32 (7th)

Points per finish: 6.4

DNFs: 0

Qualifying battle: 5-0 (-0.364)

Grade: A+

Stoffel Vandoorne

Vandoorne is now in his second full season of F1 and the main thing to note in 2018 is that he's a fair way behind Alonso in pretty much all regards. Three points finishes in five races is an improvement from 2017 but that is all relative. A highest finish of eighth is hardly blinding - but in Bahrain and Baku he drove excellently through the field to get there at all, so deserves credit. Saturdays are still an issue: he is the only driver yet to beat his team-mate in qualifying.

Points: 8 (14th)

Supertime: 

Points per finish: 2

DNFs: 1

Qualifying battle: 0-5 (+0.364)

Grade: C-

Force India

Sergio Perez

Sergio Perez's podium in Baku was a much-needed uptick for Force India, who had struggled to repeat their 2017 form up to that point. The result probably even exceeded the maximum they could have expected and the Mexican once again delivered in Azerbaijan. Another solid points finish followed in Spain, giving him 17 points to Ocon's one. Along with a few others will be aiming for seventh in the championship but that will rely largely on Force India's upgrades throughout the season.

Points: 17 (11th)

Points per finish: 3.4

DNFs: 0

Qualifying battle: 2-3 (-0.074)

Grade: B

Esteban Ocon

Points: 1 (17th)

Points per finish: 0.25

DNFs: 2

Qualifying battle: 3-2 (+0.074)

Grade: C

Much like his team, 2018 has been more of a struggle for Esteban Ocon, with two non-finishes and just one point in five races. The pace has not really been in the car apart from Baku - where he went out on the first lap after an incident with Raikkonen - and was unlucky to retire in Spain, where he might have scored points. Winning the qualifying battle, at least.

Toro Rosso

Pierre Gasly

It's likely that his fourth place in Bahrain will be the high watermark for Pierre Gasly this season - but that it happened at all is a big plus for Gasly, who got every single second out of his car that weekend.  Has generally got the pace out of the car when it has been there but in a tight midfield fight it has been difficult for Toro Rosso to fight for points. Should be satisfied with his start so far.

Points: 12 (12th)

Points per finish: 3

DNFs: 1

Qualifying battle: 3-2 (-0.411)

Grade:  B

Brendon Hartley

The New Zealander has had some tough moments in his first full season of F1 so far. A collision with a bird in Bahrain qualifying, a racing collision with his team-mate in China and a very, very high-speed near miss with Gasly in Baku. Scored his first points in Baku, though but is making too many errors. A big one in practice in Spain ruined his qualifying as well as his car. Has at least beaten his team-mate in qualifying twice but will need to improve from now until the summer break or his seat might be offered to someone else.

Points:1 (18th)

Points per finish: 0.25

DNFs: 1

Qualifying battle: 2-3 (+0.411)

Grade: D

Haas

Kevin Magnussen

Kevin Magnussen seems to be very close to the top of his game but his driving style has drawn heavy criticism from his fellow drivers - again - perhaps deservedly. He has been comfortably ahead of Grosjean in qualifying and has out-raced him, too. In Bahrain and Spain he finished as the highest driver outside of the top three and would be on more points had his wheel been correctly attached in Melbourne's race.

Points: 19 (9th)

Points per finish: 4.75

DNFs: 1

Qualifying battle: 4-1 (-0.338)

Grade: A-

Romain Grosjean

Going into the Spanish Grand Prix, the only driver other than Romain Grosjean not to score points was rookie Sergey Sirotkin in the wretched-looking Williams. That says an awful lot. Grosjean's troubles have come partly through bad luck - finger trouble in Melbourne and some inopportune safety car deployments - and partly through his own hands, notably sticking it into the barriers whilst running sixth in Baku and keeping his foot on the throttle after running wide at turn three in Spain, ending the races of Hulkenberg and Gasly. He has the pace and talent but his confidence will be low. There will be more questions about his form if Monaco doesn't bring points. Has also been well behind his team-mate in the qualifying battle.

Points:  0

Points per finish: 0

DNFs: 3

Qualifying battle: 1-4 (+0.338)

Grade:  D

Sauber

Charles Leclerc

Took him a while to get fully up to speed in F1 and many expected the 2017 F2 champion to wipe the floor with his more experienced team-mate. It was Ericsson who scored the team's first points of the year but Leclerc's magnificent sixth place in Baku showed us what he is capable of.  Two weeks later his scored two more points and is starting to look the part. There will be likely some more difficult moments as Sauber have been improved but inconsistent but nine points after five races is more than he or his team could have expected.

Points: 9 (13th)

Points per finish: 1.8

DNFs: 0

Qualifying battle: 3-2 (-0.415)

Grade: A

Marcus Ericsson

In Bahrain Ericsson scored his first points since Italy 2015, which was reason for celebration. Leclerc has since picked up the pace but the Swede is still driving reasonably well in an unpredictable car.  Points could be on the cards on a few more occasions for Sauber and Ericsson could do with - and is capable of - picking up a few of them. Needs to not be blown away by his more-fancied team-mate.

Points:2 (16th)

Supertime: 

Points per finish: 0.4

DNFs:

Qualifying battle: 2-3 (+0.415)

Grade:  C+

Williams

Lance Stroll

It's a little hard to assess both Williams drivers, given how poor their car has been this season - arguably the slowest on raw pace but Stroll is probably getting a decent amount from a very troublesome package, at least on Sundays. Though Stroll had his moments in 2017, he's still learning his trade in this formula. Much of the criticism he has faced has been unfair - after all he scored 40 points to Felipe Massa's 43 last year in his debut season. Has again shown his skill in making up places on the opening laps but qualifying (two Q2 appearances aside) has much room for improvement.

Points: 4 (15th)

Supertime: 

Points per finish: 0.8

DNFs: 0

Qualifying battle: 2-3 (-0.026)

Grade: B

Sergey Sirotkin

Two DNFs, two fifteenth and one fourteenth placed finish is a poor start for anyone's F1 career, but how much we can blame the Russian is not sure. Sirotkin, admittedly, has not had it easy. He has not fared too poorly against Stroll overall but his troubles highlight Williams's struggles. Would Robert Kubica be able to get anything more out of this car, though? And how much? Should the car be able to challenge for points later in the season we will get a better measure of Sirotkin.

Points:0

Supertime: 

Points per finish: 0

DNFs: 3

Qualifying battle: 3-2 (+0.026)

Grade:  D+