Ranking the F1 drivers most likely to become world champions including Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris

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Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso are the only world champions on the 2025 Formula 1 grid. But there are numerous other drivers who may be good enough to join the club.

Hamilton, now in his 40s, is nearing retirement, just like Alonso. Verstappen has won the last four titles, but no driver has ever won more than five in succession.

Here, F1 Oversteer ranks the 17 remaining drivers based on their championship prospects. Some could win it as early as next year, while others may have to wait.

17th place: Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)

Hulkenberg holds the record for the most Formula 1 starts without finishing on the podium (227). At 37, his multi-year deal at Sauber is likely to be his last – and Audi aren’t expecting to win titles until 2031.

16th place: Jack Doohan (Alpine)

The Australian one of five rookies joining the grid for the 2025 season, but he’s the lowest in this ranking. That’s because Alpine have reportedly given Doohan a five-race contract, indicating doubts over his ability.

15th place: Alex Albon (Williams)

Like a few other drivers on this list, he’s already had his chance at a top team. He only lasted 18 months alongside Max Verstappen, and it was telling that no top team would pay Albon’s release clause in 2024. If Carlos Sainz beats him comfortably, his long-term F1 prospects will be in even greater doubt.

14th place: Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

Stroll is fairly well-placed to compete for a championship. His Aston Martin team have hired some of the best engineers in F1 – including Andy Cowell and Adrian Newey – to build what they hope will be a contending car following the 2026 regulation changes. The question is whether Stroll, who’s only managed three podiums in 167 race starts to date, can maximise it.

13th place: Esteban Ocon (Haas)

The Frenchman is a Grand Prix winner, but that victory at the 2021 Hungarian GP may be as good as it gets in F1. Though Toto Wolff is still part of Ocon’s management, he was hardly mentioned for the Mercedes seat alongside George Russell, so he’s yet to convince the top teams he’s worth a shot.

12th place: Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

Like Albon, Gasly had a shot at Red Bull earlier in his career. But his stint was even shorter – just six months. His late surge to 10th in last year’s championship was superb, but his stock may have taken permanent damage.

11th place: Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls)

Helmut Marko is ready to replace Tsunoda for 2025 as he reaches the end of his Racing Bulls contract. However, Tsunoda has been strongly linked with Aston Martin – Honda’s new partners – and for the reasons stated above, that could be a desirable seat.

10th place: Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)

Red Bull weren’t totally convinced by Hadjar before handing him the seat alongside Tsunoda. But his runner-up finish in Formula 2 was a clear indication of his potential.

9th place: Oliver Bearman (Haas)

Hadjar beat the Briton in F2, but he should be the most impressive of the rookies in 2025 after his magnificent stand-in showings last year. Bearman is expected to join Ferrari if he delivers at Haas, which should offer him a long-term title shot.

8th place: Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)

Bortoleto should, in theory, finish bottom of the world championship next year. Few will expect him to beat Hulkenberg, but Audi should be patient with a driver who won the F3 and F2 titles. Indeed, Bortoleto likened himself to Charles Leclerc, one of the few others to achieve that feat.

7th place: Liam Lawson (Red Bull)

It’s difficult to judge Lawson because he’s only competed in 11 Grands Prix. But he ranks highly on this list because he’s already secured a spot at Red Bull, even if he may need Max Verstappen to leave before he has any chance at winning the championship.

6th place: Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

Mercedes believe Antonelli is the next Leclerc or Verstappen, but he must now justify that hype on track. He has a realistic shot at becoming the first rookie to win a race since Lewis Hamilton in 2007 after Toto Wolff’s major leap of faith.

5th place: Carlos Sainz (Williams)

It may seem strange to rank Sainz so highly given that he’s just lost his Ferrari seat and dropped into the lower midfield. However, Sainz has a Williams get-out clause for 2026, and if they’re not competitive, he could find his way back to the front of the grid – where he’s shown he belongs.

4th place: Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

Piastri bagged his first two Grand Prix wins in 2024 and helped McLaren take the constructors’ title. He must improve in qualifying to become a champion – Norris beat him 21-3 last year – but he has plenty of time to do so.

3rd place: George Russell (Mercedes)

Russell edges Piastri because he’s already beaten a seven-time world champion in Hamilton. Indeed, Jolyon Palmer says Russell’s performances were ‘massively underrated’ amid the focus on Hamilton’s woes, and now he can become the Mercedes team leader alongside Antonelli.

2nd place: Lando Norris (McLaren)

Norris wasn’t ready to win the world championship in 2024, showcasing a lack of ruthlessness and making too many mistakes. If he can address those weaknesses, there’s no reason why he can’t win the title as early as next year given McLaren’s recent performance advantage.

1st place: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

Leclerc is the most complete driver on this list, and the most successful, with eight wins, 26 poles and 42 podiums. Up to now, his racecraft has been the big concern, but for the first time in 2024, he took as many wins as he did pole positions (three). That suggests he’s adding the Sunday expertise to go with his fearsome Saturday pace, a combination that may overwhelm even Hamilton.