F1 experts rank the top 10 drivers of 2025 with Max Verstappen not the unanimous number one

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Lando Norris won the 2025 F1 title, but for some, Max Verstappen was the best driver in the field, having dragged his Red Bull to within only two points of the McLaren star.

McLaren started the 2025 season as the clear team to beat, as their work over the winter on the MCL39, including redesigning their suspension set-up, placed the car at the front of the field. The Red Bull RB21 always had potential but it had poor through-corner balance at first.

Verstappen ultimately fell to a whopping 104-point deficit to McLaren star Oscar Piastri atop the F1 drivers’ standings after 15 out of the 24 rounds this term. The Dutchman even left his home event trailing Norris by 70 points, but Red Bull would then turn a corner in round 16.

While McLaren stopped developing their car in July to focus on the 2026 F1 regulations, Red Bull continued to produce upgrades to help Verstappen fight back in the title race. The four-time champion even outscored Piastri in each of the final nine rounds, plus Norris in seven.

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But Norris won the 2025 F1 drivers’ title in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix season finale, with P3 at Yas Marina enough to deny Verstappen a fifth consecutive title by just two points. Piastri fell to just third place, and 13 points shy of Norris, after he struggled for form across the run-in.

Pundits like Karun Chandhok think Verstappen proved he is “undisputedly” the best driver in F1 with his, ultimately unsuccessful, comeback in the 2025 title fight. But not everyone in F1 Oversteer’s expert team of writers believes Verstappen was the number one driver in 2025…

Kyle Archer: Lando Norris proved his naysayers wrong to win the title as the best driver of 2025

Kyle Archer: “Lando Norris won the 2025 F1 drivers’ championship for his first title, and also deserves to be the driver of the season. The McLaren man made his fair share of mistakes in qualifying at the start of the year, but his response to those initial setbacks defined his term.

“Norris called himself “clueless” after qualifying in Bahrain and even an “idiot” after crashing without a Q3 lap time in Saudi Arabia, having tried to match Oscar Piastri’s speed for Turn 4. But Norris kept plugging away while the naysayers questioned his mentality to take the title.

“Alex Albon also deserves more praise than the Williams driver received towards the end of 2025, as teammate Carlos Sainz finally started to turn in brilliant performances for the team. The London-born Thai carried Williams on his back for most of 2025 while Sainz got settled.

“Were it not for Sainz’s P3 results in Azerbaijan and Qatar, plus P3 in the Sprint at COTA, the Spaniard would not have much reason to celebrate his first term for Williams. Albon fought off the expectations that Sainz would dominate him to score 70 of Williams’ first 86 points.

“Albon ultimately finished on 73 points, while Sainz ended the term with 64. But Albon built Williams’ season with P5 finishes in the Australian, Miami, Imola and Dutch Grands Prix, as well as P6 in the Belgian Grand Prix. Sainz did not finish higher than P8 until his P3 in Baku.

READ MORE: 2025 F1 teammate head-to-heads, including Grand Prix and Sprint results

“The driver who took Sainz’s place at Ferrari for 2025, Lewis Hamilton, also deserves a bit of recognition, despite enduring the worst season of his 19-year career. Hamilton did not get a single Grand Prix podium for the first time and finished the year with three straight Q1 exits.

“Charles Leclerc also dominated Hamilton in their F1 teammate head-to-head, but the latter gave Ferrari their only truly positive result all term. Hamilton won the Sprint in China, before Ferrari realised the SF-25’s chronic ride height problems and he accepted the team’s flaws.”

Rebecca Braybrook: Max Verstappen and McLaren dominated in 2025 but Carlos Sainz provided some plot twists

Rebecca Braybrook: “Although Carlos Sainz got off to a rocky start in 2025, his two podiums for Williams show that he deserves to be on the top 10 list this year.

“His value to the team started as early as Australia, when he aided Alex Albon to a P5 finish with the perfect tyre strategy and continued throughout the season.

“His partnership with the Williams team has provided some great plot twists to a season dominated by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren, proving that the underdogs can still achieve great things.

“Signing Sainz to partner Albon was a genius move from James Vowles, creating a dreamy partnership of experience and understanding that saw them have their best finish in almost a decade.

“Oliver Bearman was one of just two rookies who outperformed their more experienced teammates in 2025.

“Although he scored just nine points finishes this season, his P4 in Mexico and impressive defending from the then-championship leader Oscar Piastri prove he’s worthy of a top 10.

“Despite being on the cusp of a race ban, Bearman has shown great improvement in 2025, even with a struggling Haas.”

Ashley Hambly: Oscar Piastri could easily have been No1 over Lando Norris but is only No4

Ashley Hambly: “Oscar Piastri could easily have been at the very top of this list, had it not been for a swathe of crucial mistakes that derailed his season.

“However, there are also a multitude of positives to take away from only his third season in the category, which is easy to forget given the high level that he drives at. It’s been said a lot in the past, and I’ll say it again, he will be a future world champion.

“Isack Hadjar was easily the most impressive debutant during the 2025 F1 campaign. The Frenchman’s maiden podium at Zandvoort was the cherry on top of his strong one-lap pace and impressive consistency.

“But Hadjar hasn’t even scratched the surface of what he can achieve in the sport. If Red Bull can build a car worthy of the top step of the podium, I have no doubts that he will find himself higher up this list next year.”

Tyler Rowlinson: Max Verstappen was No1, but Nico Hulkenberg deserves recognition

Tyler Rowlinson: “Charles Leclerc worked miracles to score seven podiums in a car that arguably had no right being there.

“His pole position in Hungary left everyone stunned and showed exactly why he is one of the top drivers on the grid, even if his resources let him down again.

“The veteran Nico Hulkenberg’s work to propel Sauber up the order and to consistent points finishes deserves recognition.

“Hulkenberg’s podium at Silverstone brought a smile to everyone in F1, and he’s shown he is the perfect fit for Audi in 2026 with his experience and his racecraft.”

Ben Evans: George Russell was virtually faultless but still No2 to Max Verstappen in 2025

Ben Evans: “George Russell was virtually faultless throughout 2025, and he maximised what was available to him this season. The Mercedes wasn’t the most consistent car.

“But, when it was capable of victories, Russell delivered, and nine podium finishes highlight how much the 27-year-old is still improving.

“As for Pierre Gasly, any driver who scores 100% of his team’s points across an entire season deserves a lot of praise.

“Jack Doohan and Franco Colapinto won’t feature in many top 10s this year. But Gasly dragged an Alpine that was rooted to the back of the grid into the top 10 on seven occasions, including Sprint races, and 10 Q3 appearances.”

Shay Rogers: Max Verstappen had his best season in F1 to date in 2025

Shay Rogers: “It was the best season of Max Verstappen’s career to date. Without a doubt, Verstappen showed exactly why he’s the best driver of a generation, and some, in 2025.

“He had no right to be in that championship fight, but just wouldn’t give up. The only fitting result for his campaign was the title. He deserved more than he ended up with, and I dread to think of what he might have done in a McLaren.

“Lando Norris was far from perfect, but he just enjoyed his best season yet and pulled the performances out of the bag exactly when he needed to.

“In that McLaren car, he didn’t need to be box office. He crossed the line in the right position, and now no one can take the crown he earned away from him. It must be noted that Oscar Piastri will be very eager to get some revenge next year.”