Team Principals Name Verstappen 2025's Top Driver

Max Verstappen has been voted the top driver of the 2025 F1 season by his peers' bosses, marking the fifth consecutive year he's received the honor. The Red Bull driver secured the top spot in the team principals' annual poll despite narrowly losing the world championship to McLaren's Lando Norris by just two points. The ranking highlights a season where Verstappen's late-season surge was not enough to overcome Norris's consistency, but still earned him the respect of the grid's team leaders.

Why it matters:

• The team principals' poll is a unique measure of a driver's raw pace, racecraft, and overall contribution, as judged by those with the most intimate data and strategic insight.
• Verstappen's victory in this poll, despite his championship loss, underscores the perception that his individual performances were often superior, even when his car or strategy fell short.
• It also solidifies the narrative of a thrilling 2025 season where the title fight went down to the wire between two exceptional talents.

The details:

• The Top Three: Verstappen finished first, followed closely by his title rival Lando Norris in second. Norris's McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, completed the top three, reflecting a dominant season for the Woking-based team.
• Voting System: Drivers are awarded points based on the official F1 scoring system (25 for 1st, 18 for 2nd, etc.) from each team principal's top 10 list, which are then aggregated for a final result.
• Notable Absences: Eight of the ten teams on the grid participated in the vote. Notably, Red Bull and Ferrari did not submit their own rankings, potentially adding a layer of complexity to the final standings.

Looking Ahead:

• This ranking adds another compelling chapter to the burgeoning rivalry between Verstappen and Norris, setting the stage for their 2026 title battle.
• While Norris holds the championship crown, Verstappen's peer-voted accolade serves as a powerful statement of his perceived driving superiority.
• All eyes will be on whether the McLaren driver can convert his consistent form into another title, or if Verstappen can reclaim both the championship and the top spot in the drivers' minds next season.