Verstappen Led Most Laps in 2025 Despite Title Defeat

Despite losing the 2025 Drivers' Championship to Lando Norris, Max Verstappen's season was defined by raw pace and consistency, culminating in him leading the most laps across the year. The four-time world champion edged out Oscar Piastri by just two laps, with 454, while also securing the most pole positions and race wins in a car often considered less competitive than the dominant McLarens.

Why it matters:

• This statistic highlights a compelling narrative from the 2025 season: the potential disconnect between on-track dominance and championship outcomes.
• It solidifies the argument that Verstappen was arguably the most consistent and fastest driver on the grid, even when his equipment wasn't the best.
• For Red Bull, it's a testament to their driver's caliber, serving as a crucial morale booster and a foundation to build upon for 2026.

By the numbers:

• Max Verstappen: 454 laps led, the highest of any driver.
• Oscar Piastri: 452 laps led, a close second and just two shy of Verstappen.
• Lando Norris: 373 laps led. The new world champion finished third in this metric, despite his title success.
• George Russell: 103 laps led, the only non-Red Bull/McLaren driver to win a race and lead a significant number of laps.

The big picture:

The laps-led stat adds weight to the widespread belief that Verstappen was the driver of the year, a sentiment echoed by former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer, who stated, "Verstappen was the best driver in 2025, there isn't any doubt on this one." His ability to "snatch a couple of wins from McLaren" early in the season and remain a "major threat" until the end underscores a campaign built on exceptional individual talent, even as the constructors' and drivers' titles ultimately went to his rivals.