Verstappen Voted Top Driver by Peers, Hamilton Left Out of Top 10
Max Verstappen has been voted Driver of the Year by his peers for a fifth consecutive time, highlighting a dominant individual performance despite losing the title. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton was conspicuously absent from the top ten rankings voted on by team bosses.
Max Verstappen has been named the best driver of the 2025 season by his fellow F1 drivers, marking the fifth consecutive year he has received the accolade. This recognition comes despite narrowly losing the world championship to Lando Norris, with Verstappen's peers acknowledging his superior individual performance in a car that was often not the class of the field.
Why it matters:
The peer-voted award is a significant barometer of respect within the paddock, often separating raw speed and consistency from the results dictated by machinery. Verstappen's victory, despite his team's and car's relative decline, underscores his status as the grid's benchmark driver. Meanwhile, Hamilton's exclusion from the team principals' top ten is a stark indicator of the struggles he faced in his first season at Ferrari.
The details:
- Verstappen's Dominance: Despite losing the title, he led the season in wins (9), pole positions (7), and laps led, often outperforming the highly competitive McLaren MCL38.
- Top Ten Rankings: The top four were Verstappen, champion Lando Norris, George Russell (3rd, his best-ever finish), and Oscar Piastri.
- Notable Movers: Fernando Alonso climbed to 7th, while Charles Leclerc slipped to 5th. Alex Albon, Oliver Bearman, and Isack Hadjar were new entries in the top ten, reflecting strong individual seasons.
- Team Bosses Agree: Team principals also voted Verstappen as the driver of the season, and like the fans, they did not include Lewis Hamilton in their top ten, capping off a tough year for the seven-time world champion.
Looking Ahead:
The 2025 season will be defined by the fascinating battle between Verstappen's individual brilliance and McLaren's collective strength. As the grid heads into a massive regulatory overhaul for 2026, the question remains whether anyone can consistently match Verstappen's level when the machinery is equal. For Hamilton and Ferrari, the focus will be on a significant rebuild to reclaim a spot at the front of the grid.