Our 2025 F1 Driver Rankings: Verstappen #1, Norris #4

Lando Norris clinched his first Formula 1 world title in 2025, but our annual driver rankings tell a different story. We've placed Max Verstappen at number one for his phenomenal season, which saw him drag a flawed Red Bull to the brink of the championship. The final standings only partially reflect a year defined by shifting competitive orders and individual brilliance that often outshone the machinery.

Why it matters:

The championship table rewards consistency and the best package, but driver rankings aim to isolate individual skill. This list highlights who truly maximized their potential, exposing the drivers who consistently outperformed their cars and those who may have underdelivered despite superior equipment. It’s a crucial look at the talent shaping the future of the sport.

The details:

• 1. Max Verstappen: Produced what could be the greatest season ever by a non-champion. He won 8 races and 8 poles, losing the title by just two points after being over 100 points behind. His calm, relentless drive in a volatile car reaffirmed him as the grid's undisputed #1.
• 2. George Russell: Delivered the most complete season of his career, completing 99.9% of race laps. He was a model of consistency and leadership at Mercedes, capitalizing on opportunities to win 2 races and firmly establish himself as a future title contender.
• 3. Oscar Piastri: Looked like a champion-in-waiting for much of the year with relentless consistency. However, a mid-season slump featuring two crashes in Baku proved costly, allowing his teammate to seize the initiative.
• 4. Lando Norris: The deserving world champion who peaked at the perfect time. While he secured the title, his season was marked by periods of inconsistency where he was outperformed by Piastri, placing him fourth on our list.
• Midfield Masters: Nico Hulkenberg delivered a career-best season to score Sauber's first podium since 2012, while Pierre Gasly was arguably the driver of the year for extracting 22 points from the widely-regarded slowest car on the grid, the Alpine.

The big picture:

The 2025 season was a fascinating case study in performance versus results. Verstappen's campaign will be remembered as one of the greatest non-championship-winning drives ever, reaffirming his status as the grid's benchmark. Meanwhile, McLaren's internal battle showed that even with the best car, driver consistency is paramount, and the midfield's strong performances prove that talent is spread deeper across the grid than ever before.