The Top 10 F1 Drivers of 2025 as Chosen by the Drivers
- - The Top 10 F1 Drivers of 2025 as Chosen by the Drivers
Owen ChaseJanuary 15, 2026 at 11:41 PM
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Formula 1 is often analyzed through rankings built on statistics, media opinion, or fan debate. This list follows a different approach. The votes were cast privately by the drivers themselves, without public discussion or external influence. Rather than focusing solely on outright speed or machinery, the emphasis was on consistency, racecraft, and performance under pressure. The results reflect how the grid evaluated its own competitors during the 2025 season.
Max Verstappen’s Late Surge Didn’t Go Unnoticed
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Even drivers who fought Verstappen on track throughout the season placed him at the top of their ballots. His late-season form stood out across the grid, with six wins in the final nine races reshaping how the championship battle was viewed. Starting from a 104-point deficit, he consistently extracted results that exceeded what the car was expected to deliver. That stretch pulled Red Bull back into contention and reinforced Verstappen’s reputation for sustained performance under pressure.
George Russell Made a Statement With Consistency
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Russell didn’t grab headlines every weekend, but his season rarely went sideways. He won twice, taking victories in Canada and Singapore, and stacked up seven additional podiums along the way. Over 24 races, he completed 99.9 percent of all laps, falling short of a perfect record only because of a Monaco penalty.
Oscar Piastri Earned Admiration, Even in Defeat
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Things fell apart after Zandvoort, but before that, Piastri looked like a future champion. He led the title race for weeks and racked up seven wins. His midseason form—stretching from China to Italy—left a lasting impression. Crashes in Baku and frustration in Singapore derailed his campaign, but the votes still came in.
Lando Norris Got the Title, But Just Missed the Top Spot Here
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Winning the championship usually means finishing first on lists like this. But Norris had hiccups—Canada and Singapore especially—and his midseason lull didn’t go unnoticed. He did, however, finish strong with key wins in Mexico and Brazil. A late surge under pressure showed growth, and drivers took note of that.
Charles Leclerc Kept Ferrari In The Conversation
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Leclerc’s year didn’t come with wins, but it had fights. He pulled seven podiums out of a car that gave up on development before May. Ferrari faded, but Leclerc kept pace with faster cars and gave Norris a real run in Abu Dhabi. On a tough grid, his peers still placed him among the best.
Carlos Sainz Turned It Around At Williams
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Sainz’s first few months at Williams looked rough. The car felt unfamiliar, results stalled, and teammate Alex Albon seemed to have the edge. That changed late in the year. Two podiums, including one in Qatar, and a front-row start in Baku reminded everyone what Sainz can do.
Fernando Alonso’s Drive Carried A Struggling Aston Martin
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Aston Martin’s early-season car did him no favors, but Alonso didn’t fold. He went point-less in the first eight rounds and still ended up in the top 10 of the championship. The turnaround came with sharper qualifying and clever race craft—two things his peers admire.
Isack Hadjar Got Voted In As A Rookie
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Hadjar’s debut couldn’t have started worse; he crashed on the formation lap in Australia. But things changed quickly. He made up ground with clean drives and finished on the podium in Zandvoort. Drivers respect someone who rebounds fast, and Hadjar did exactly that. His upcoming Red Bull seat in 2026 no longer seems too early.
Alex Albon Stayed Relevant With A Patchy Car
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The start of his season looked promising: points in seven of eight races and three top-five finishes. Then Williams hit a wall, and so did Albon’s results. Still, the grid gave him credit. The early run carried weight, especially since the car’s development stalled.
Kimi Antonelli Didn’t Get A Free Pass
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Taking over Lewis Hamilton’s seat at Mercedes brought instant pressure, and Antonelli felt it from the start. The European stretch was uneven, highlighting the usual rookie mistakes, but his response mattered more than the dip. A podium in Canada followed, then a composed drive to second in Brazil. The grid rarely shows patience to newcomers, and Antonelli earned respect by answering scrutiny with results.
Source: “AOL Sports”
