2025 F1 driver rankings: New champion Lando Norris misses out on high three

After 9 lengthy months, the 2025 F1 season is finished and dusted.

It’s now time for us to look again and replicate on one other memorable marketing campaign. Lando Norris clinched the title following a tense Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, beating Max Verstappen to the championship by two factors.

Whereas Norris is the 2025 F1 world champion, has he truly been the perfect driver this season? 

After each F1 grand prix, Crash.internet charges every driver’s efficiency out of 10. We’ve calculated a median primarily based on these rankings throughout the 24 races.

Listed here are our closing common rankings for the 2025 F1 season…

21) Jack Doohan – 5.33

Jack Doohan lasted simply seven races at Alpine (together with one on the finish of the 2024 season in Abu Dhabi) earlier than he was changed by Franco Colapinto. The writing was all the time on the wall for Doohan after Colapinto joined the group forward of the brand new marketing campaign. Whereas Doohan struggled within the races he did get an opportunity in, his successor didn’t fare that a lot better — and who’s to say that he wouldn’t have improved within the center a part of the yr like Gabriel Bortoleto did? Or the latter third like Kimi Antonelli?

20) Yuki Tsunoda – 5.44

After a protracted wait, Yuki Tsunoda was lastly handed his likelihood to drive for Pink Bull alongside Verstappen. Like Liam Lawson, Tsunoda discovered the problem too powerful. He was instantly on the again foot after a crash at Imola, leaving him brief by way of upgrades. As soon as given equal tools at Spa, Tsunoda confirmed glimpses of promise. His Baku weekend was respectable, and had he continued to match that degree, he’d have had a shot at holding his drive for 2026. Nonetheless, Tsunoda did little to assist Pink Bull or Verstappen’s title bid within the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

19) Franco Colapinto – 5.76

Like Doohan, Colapinto didn’t shine within the second Alpine seat. He failed to attain throughout his time with the group — though for a lot of the season, it’s truthful to say Alpine had the slowest automobile on the grid. Colapinto did handle to out-race teammate Gasly on a number of events, however it tended to be on weekends the place Alpine had been firmly on the again. The peaks by no means confirmed up for Colapinto.

18) Lance Stroll – 5.98

Lance Stroll’s place on the F1 grid is rightfully questioned after he didn’t out-qualify Fernando Alonso at any of the 24 grands prix in 2025. Nonetheless, Stroll saved his finest work for race day, racking up huge factors early within the season which put him forward of his world champion teammate within the standings early on. A poor run of flyaways noticed Stroll rating factors simply as soon as — tenth in Abu Dhabi.

17) Liam Lawson – 6.07

Even with out his torrid two races for Pink Bull, Liam Lawson would solely be one place greater in our end-of-season rankings. It took Lawson a while to seek out his mojo once more after a impolite awakening alongside Verstappen. By Monaco, Lawson was slowly again to his finest, then scoring huge on the Austrian GP. General, although, Lawson was constantly a step behind teammate Isack Hadjar and was concerned in too many pointless incidents.

16) Gabriel Bortoleto – 6.35

Gabriel Bortoleto confirmed promise all through his rookie F1 season. Impressively, he edged out teammate Nico Hulkenberg within the qualifying head-to-head. Tough across the edges, there’s no doubting Bortoleto’s pace and that he’s deserving of his place on the F1 grid. 2026 will likely be fascinating to see whether or not he can convert his qualifying tempo into extra constant race outcomes for the Audi works group.

15) Lewis Hamilton – 6.50

2025 was the worst season of Lewis Hamilton’s illustrious F1 profession. Zero podium finishes and customarily dominated by teammate Charles Leclerc. Is Hamilton the Fifteenth-best driver in F1? Definitely not, however given the pre-season expectations and his unbelievable observe report, his first marketing campaign at Ferrari was a whole failure. Regardless that Hamilton did make some progress after the summer season break and appeared to be inside a tenth or so of Leclerc constantly, his finish to the season was shambolic.

14) Kimi Antonelli – 6.56

In the event you subscribe to the speculation that Antonelli is a ‘generational expertise’, then 2025 was disappointing. Up till the top of the European leg of the season, Antonelli appeared out of his depth and fairly merely not prepared for F1. To his credit score he turned it round with extra constant performances — Brazil being a standout weekend. In his defence, he’s racing for a high group towards a world-champion-calibre teammate in George Russell.

13) Esteban Ocon – 6.79

Esteban Ocon’s closing factors tally most likely over-exaggerated how good he was in 2025. A strong, confirmed, skilled pair of fingers, however in comparison with teammate Ollie Bearman he was nowhere in pure tempo phrases. Ocon will likely be needing a robust 2026 to cement his spot on the grid shifting ahead.

12) Pierre Gasly – 6.81

Gasly’s place in our end-of-season rankings might be a tad harsh, given he made it into Q3 on 10 events — and scored 100 per cent of Alpine’s factors. Gasly’s type and performances had been underwhelming between Hungary and Mexico, with Colapinto out-racing him on a number of events. Nonetheless, the Frenchman confirmed his class every time the automobile was able to scoring factors, delivering a high quality weekend at Interlagos.

11) Alex Albon – 6.98

2025 was a story of two halves for Alex Albon and the 2 Williams drivers. Albon was among the many high 5 performers up till the summer season break. The Thai driver was a constant factors scorer and out-performed new teammate Carlos Sainz. Not like his teammate, Albon struggled for a lot of the second half of the yr, with a mix of unhealthy luck and an absence of tempo. Albon’s good type didn’t internet him a podium, with Sainz ending the yr with two top-three finishes.

10) Carlos Sainz – 7.04

Making his approach into the highest 10 after a mighty finish to his first yr at Williams is Sainz. His podium finishes in Azerbaijan and Qatar had been unbelievable, serving to Williams safe their highest end within the constructors’ standings since 2017. A few avoidable incidents — and a poor first half of the yr by his requirements — price Sainz a better end in our rankings.

9) Nico Hulkenberg – 7.11

Hulkenberg’s lengthy anticipate an F1 podium lastly got here to an finish on the British Grand Prix, incomes the German an ideal 10 ranking. Not like for a lot of his profession, Hulkenberg’s energy at Sauber has been on race day quite than over one lap. His type after his maiden podium did tail off as Bortoleto loved the higher hand. Nonetheless, a robust finish to the yr ensured Hulkenberg completed inside the highest 10 of our rankings as soon as once more.

8) Ollie Bearman – 7.21

One of many two standout rookies this yr was Haas’ Bearman. There’s little question the British driver is destined to drive for Ferrari sooner or later. Bearman’s pace was all the time there all through his full rookie season, regardless that he struggled with executing when it mattered most. He simply must tidy up the variety of incidents he’s been concerned in, as he dances round a attainable race ban within the early races of 2026.

7) Isack Hadjar – 7.27

Extensively considered F1’s rookie of the yr, Isack Hadjar’s first season in F1 was spectacular. He was a constant Q3 contender, scoring usually for Racing Bulls. The psychological energy proven to bounce again from his formation-lap crash in Australia additionally deserves credit score. A well-deserved promotion to Pink Bull alongside Verstappen for subsequent yr.

6) Fernando Alonso – 7.50

Even at 44, Alonso stays one in all F1’s finest and most constant performers. He whitewashed teammate Stroll 24-0 in qualifying — the third time Alonso has achieved this feat versus a teammate in his F1 profession. Regardless of this, Alonso was behind his teammate within the standings for practically half of the season primarily as a consequence of unhealthy luck. General, one other sturdy season for Alonso, who will likely be hoping Aston Martin’s Adrian Newey-designed challenger comes good in 2026.

5) Oscar Piastri – 7.60

Oscar Piastri was the heavy favorite to take the title following the Dutch Grand Prix. The Australian had a 34-point lead over teammate Lando Norris after Zandvoort. Saying Piastri ‘bottled it’ might be a bit harsh, however there’s little question he imploded within the closing a part of the yr. Whereas his Azerbaijan weekend was significantly unhealthy, his lack of tempo in Texas and Mexico relative to Norris was the extra regarding half. Nonetheless, taking the entire season under consideration, it was one other step ahead for Piastri after a reasonably lacklustre 2024 marketing campaign.

4) Lando Norris – 7.77

Norris bounced again from an underwhelming first half of the yr to take the title in Abu Dhabi. The 2025 F1 world champion was solely sixth in our mid-season rankings after an error-filled first a part of the yr. Norris’ enchancment post-Zandvoort was astonishing, delivering world-class drives in Texas, Mexico and Brazil. He stored his cool within the closing leg of the season regardless of McLaren’s operational errors. Was it one in all Norris’ finest seasons? Most likely not — however his capacity to dig deep and rectify his errors was key for his final title triumph.

3) George Russell – 8.21

Russell constructed on his spectacular 2024 marketing campaign with one other high quality season. Extremely constant, he led Mercedes to 2 grand prix victories. Russell being second in our rankings would have been totally justified. Though, his type post-Singapore was much less spectacular, significantly as Antonelli upped his sport within the closing third. Regardless, Russell is able to win a title if Mercedes give him the instruments to take action.

2) Charles Leclerc – 8.31

There can’t be any doubts about Leclerc. Even when the SF-25 appeared prefer it was the worst-handling automobile on the grid, Leclerc typically discovered himself nonetheless in Q3. His wet-weather weak point stays — however in each different facet of being a racing driver, he has every thing. He dominated new teammate Hamilton throughout each metric, together with the races. It was solely the British GP the place Leclerc fell in need of his excessive requirements after an terrible technique name. Ferrari have to present Leclerc a automobile able to profitable a title, or they threat shedding him.

1) Max Verstappen – 8.73

For the fifth straight season, Verstappen tops our end-of-season driver rankings. Verstappen is a generational expertise and among the many finest 5 drivers ever to race in F1. The one factor doubtlessly lacking for Verstappen within the ‘GOAT’ debate towards Hamilton and Michael Schumacher is profitable a title with one other group. Verstappen continues to set the benchmark in F1 with no main flaws. Deep down, he’ll know his antics on the Spanish GP might need price him the title. Nonetheless, his aggressive temperament makes him the motive force he’s. His pole lap in Suzuka was ridiculous, whereas his race-winning move at Imola was excellent. The very best driver of 2025 with none doubt.