Popular resource The Athletic has chosen the ten best drivers of the championship based on the results of the Formula 1 season.

It would seem that there is nothing special here, but the list material seemed interesting enough to translate with the explanations of journalists.

Still, it is a matter of curiosity why champion Lando Norris cannot even be among the top 3 drivers of 2025.

The best drivers of the 2025 season

1.Max Verstappen

Wins: 8

Podiums: 15

Overall score: 2

Against teammate in qualifying: 24:0 (Lawson, Tsunoda)

“We showed them once again who the boss is.” These were the words Max Verstappen said in a radio conversation with his engineer after his victory in Abu Dhabi. Yes, Max failed to win a fifth title in a row and lost by two points to Lando Norris, but he had an incredible end to the season and showed his overall standing compared to his rivals.

Verstappen had fallen out of the title race in the summer, but he did everything to come back and showed his level at every opportunity.

Verstappen’s season was almost perfect; The exception was when he crashed into George Russell in the race in Barcelona. Perhaps the penalty for this incident and his 10th place at the finish line made Verstappen lose the championship.

Fans will remember the 2025 season as the one in which one of the most incredible comebacks in F1 history almost took place.

2.George Russell

Wins: 2

Podium: 9

Overall score: 4

Places against teammate: 21:3 (Antonelli)

“He doesn’t do anything, he always just comes third.” This meme became popular among F1 fans at the start of the season when Russell regularly appeared on the podium behind McLarens. But the Briton’s performance throughout the year has cemented his status as a champion-ready driver. The Mercedes car made it difficult to fight the favorites but George was always there and won two races.

Russell once again proved that he is among the best F1 drivers and has “championship material”. He just needs a car that will help him fight for the championship.

3.Charles Leclerc

Wins: 0

Podiums: 7

Overall score: 5

Ranking against teammate: 19:5 (Hamilton)

Ferrari created pre-season excitement and raised expectations, but failed to live up to expectations. The car was often only 4-5 paces but Charles made the most of it and took the podium seven times. His teammate Lewis Hamilton finished the year without a podium finish and completely lost the race in qualifying.

Ferrari stopped updating the car in April, but Leclerc pushed harder even when the team showed weakness. It was a strong season for him.

Charles goes on vacation feeling like he did his job well.

4. Lando Norris

Wins: 7

Podiums: 18

Overall ranking: 1

Ranking against teammate: 13:11 (Piastri)

You became champion and only finished 4th in the rankings? It may seem strange, but there are reasons why the champion is not the best when all factors are taken into account. Let’s start with the good: Lando is a champion. He did the right thing in dominating Mexico and Brazil in the most important part of the season, and he did the right thing in Abu Dhabi as well. There were also difficult moments: accidents in Jeddah and Canada, problems in Baku and difficulties in fighting with the partner for most of the season.

Is there room for progress? No doubt. Norris can still improve his performances and raise the bar. He proved he could do it.

5th Oscar Piastri

Wins: 7

Podiums: 16

Overall score: 3

Against teammate in qualifying: 11:13 (Norris)

Oscar performed very well for most of the season and topped the rankings of the best drivers during the summer break. He had minimum mistakes and maximum correct decisions, which makes you think: He is a champion. Piastri led for most of the championship, losing first place only to Mexico.

Piastri’s last victory came in the Netherlands and was followed by a disappointing weekend with many mistakes. While Norris and Verstappen reached the top, he missed out on the Oscar title.

In fact, he fell to third place in the overall rankings. But Piastri showed that he has the makings of a champion.

6. Fernando Alonso

Wins: 0

Podiums: 0

Overall score: 10

Eliminations against teammate: 24:0 (Navigation)

To use modern terminology, Alonso showed that “grandpa is still okay.” Aston Martin remained average but Alonso had many excellent performances. Even though the 44-year-old driver did not have a fast car for most of the season, he still does not lose his energy.

Alonso completed more than half of the season’s qualifying runs in the top 10 and beat teammate Lance Stroll 24:0 according to the results of all qualifying races. Fernando had almost no unsuccessful or “quiet” races. Considering the changes in technical rules in the new season, Aston Martin will have a chance.

No one knows what the team’s car will be like, but one thing is known: Alonso remains the best driver doing his best on the track.

7. Carlos Sainz

Wins: 0

Podiums: 2

Overall score: 9

Rankings against teammate: 15:9 (Albon)

The Spanish pilot needed time to get used to Williams’ car after leaving Ferrari. Sainz had problems, mistakes and accidents in the first half of the season. However, in the second half of the championship, Carlos took team leader status from teammate Alex Albon and took two podium finishes, including at Qatar, a circuit unsuitable for Williams’ car.

The team is clearly improving but the 2026 season will start with a clean slate for all participants. However, leaving Ferrari, Carlos showed that he could be the leader of a strong F1 team.

8. Isak Hagar

Wins: 0

Podiums: 1

Overall score: 12

Against teammate in qualifying: 16:6 (Tsunoda, Lawson)

Hajjar’s first season in Formula 1 started with disaster: a crash in the warm-up lap of the first race in Australia. Even Lewis’ father, Anthony Hamilton, calmed the driver down. But after that, Isak’s season got better and better. Two races later he scored his first points and won his first podium in the Netherlands, becoming the youngest Frenchman to finish in the top 3 in F1 history.

The qualifying statistics are also remarkable: Hadjar, driving a middling team’s car, finished in the top 10 16 times and crashed only once in the first segment.

All this was enough to earn a transfer to Red Bull for the 2026 season, where Isak will be Verstappen’s partner.

9.Oliver Berman

Wins: 0

Podiums: 0

Total score: 13

Ranking against teammate: 14:10 (Window)

F1 fans knew Berman could be a fast driver. Haas had issues with its car, but Berman largely avoided rookie mistakes and delivered when necessary. Oliver significantly improved his results after the summer break: this was especially evident in Mexico, where he finished fourth and was even able to get onto the podium. We repeat the best result in the team’s history.

Ollie scored 41 points, but 35 of them came in the second half of the season. In qualifying, Berman beat the much more experienced Esteban Ocon by 14:10.

The pilot confirmed only the positive course of his career in 2025.

10.Pierre Gasly

Wins: 0

Podiums: 0

Total score: 15

Places against teammate: 16:6 (Duane, Colapinto)

The French driver had major restrictions due to the car. Alpin’s weak car, which has hardly been updated during the year, did not prevent Gasly from showing his level. Many times the driver finished much higher than he should have, which showed his piloting class.

His best performance of the season came at Silverston, where he finished sixth in the wet. He finished in the top 10 11 times, beating Pierre, Albon, Tsunoda, Lawson and Berman in qualifying.

It’s been a difficult season for Alpine, with all efforts focused on 2026 and the new rules. If Gasly maintains his level and Alpin improves his car a little, then 6th place will not be the maximum for the Frenchman.

Translated by Sport.ua