Brundle picks Verstappen over champion Norris as 2025's standout driver
Sky Sports F1's Martin Brundle has named Max Verstappen, not champion Lando Norris, as the standout driver of the 2025 F1 season. Brundle praised Verstappen's relentless performance in a often-second-best Red Bull, which nearly secured him a fifth title, while also acknowledging Norris's growth and resilience en route to his maiden championship.
Despite Lando Norris clinching his maiden Formula 1 world championship in 2025, Sky Sports F1 pundit Martin Brundle has named Max Verstappen as the season's most complete performer. Brundle's verdict highlights that while the title was decided on points, the narrative of true driving excellence told a different story.
Why it matters:
In a sport where the championship trophy is the ultimate prize, expert analysis often looks beyond the final standings to assess pure performance. Brundle's choice underscores the high regard for Verstappen's ability to extract maximum results from a car that was, for much of the season, not the fastest on the grid. It also frames the 2025 title battle as one defined by resilience and raw skill as much as machinery.
The details:
Speaking at a MotorSport Magazine event, Brundle was clear in his assessment. “That would be Max [Verstappen],” he stated when asked for his top driver of 2025. He acknowledged Norris's “super job,” praising his mental strength and dominant race wins, but concluded, “you’d have to say Max is still the best driver on the grid.”
This praise comes after Verstappen fell just two points short of a fifth consecutive title, mounting a dramatic late-season charge in a Red Bull that was often second-best to the McLaren. He won more races than any other driver, dragging himself back into a fight that once seemed lost.
The big picture:
Brundle also reflected on Norris's championship season in his year-end column, offering a balanced view of the new champion's journey. He congratulated Norris on a “fine, but sometimes intense and challenging” campaign, highlighting wins in Melbourne, Monaco, and Silverstone among 18 podiums.
However, he didn't shy away from the lows: a crash with teammate Oscar Piastri in Canada, a retirement in Zandvoort, a missed opportunity in Baku, and a strategic misstep in Qatar. Brundle noted that what impressed him most was Norris's response to these setbacks, marking a “big step forward in mind management” and improved racecraft under pressure.
What's next:
Brundle's analysis sets the stage for 2026. By crowning Verstappen as the grid's best despite Norris's title, he reinforces the narrative of a relentless challenger poised to strike back. This expert perspective adds another layer of intrigue to the off-season, framing the upcoming regulation changes as a new battleground for this defining rivalry. The 2025 championship may be settled, but the debate over ultimate performance is very much alive.