Max Verstappen Unanimously Ranked as 2025's Top F1 Driver
Max Verstappen has been unanimously voted the top driver of the 2025 F1 season by team principals, drivers, and media. While the top five were clear, the rankings reveal interesting debates among peers and fans about the grid's best performers.
Max Verstappen has been crowned the best driver of the 2025 Formula 1 season, securing the top spot in rankings from team principals, fellow drivers, Motorsport journalists, and fans. While the Dutchman's dominance was undisputed, the polls revealed a fiercely contested battle for the positions behind him, particularly among the next tier of drivers from McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari.
Why it matters:
These rankings offer a unique 360-degree view of driver performance, blending the perspectives of those inside the cockpit and on the pit wall with expert analysis and fan sentiment. Verstappen's unanimous acclaim solidifies his 2025 season as one of complete dominance, while the tight margins behind him highlight the intense, high-level competition defining the current era of Formula 1.
The details:
- Unanimous #1: Verstappen was ranked first by all four groups polled—team principals, drivers, Autosport's journalists, and its readers.
- The "Big Five": Lando Norris, George Russell, Oscar Piastri, and Charles Leclerc filled the next four spots in some order across all rankings, solidifying their status as the sport's elite tier.
- Divergent Views: Team principals ranked Fernando Alonso (5th) and Carlos Sainz (6th) higher than their average placement, while fans voted Oscar Piastri second, ahead of Norris.
- Midfield Star: Rookie Isack Hadjar was the only driver from outside the top teams to feature in every group's top 10, a testament to his impressive debut season.
- Notable Omissions: Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, along with drivers like Liam Lawson, Esteban Ocon, and Lance Stroll, failed to appear in any of the top 10 lists.
The big picture:
When the four polls are combined using F1's points system, a clear hierarchy emerges. Verstappen is in a league of his own with a perfect 100 points. The battle for second is tight, with Norris edging out a tie between Russell and Piastri. This data paints a picture of a sport with one undeniable leader and a fiercely competitive pack chasing him, with the midfield talent like Hadjar and Antonelli already making their mark on the paddock's consciousness.