2025 F1 Mexico City Grand Prix: Driver Ratings Revealed

Lando Norris and Ollie Bearman both earned perfect 10s in the 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix driver ratings, highlighting their exceptional performances in a race that saw few low scores. Norris capitalized on a teammate's misfortune to take a critical championship lead, while Bearman delivered a breakthrough drive to secure P4.

Why it matters:

This race was pivotal for the championship, with Norris seizing the initiative. Bearman's outstanding performance also signals a significant shift, potentially cementing his place as a rising star in F1. The high overall scores suggest a competitive and well-driven race from most of the grid.

The Details:

• Lando Norris (10): Delivered a champion's drive, capitalizing on teammate Piastri's difficulties. This performance flipped a 34-point deficit into a one-point lead in just five races, showcasing his maturity and ability to seize opportunities. He nearly achieved a Grand Chelem, only missing the fastest lap.
• Ollie Bearman (10): Made an incredible start from ninth, demonstrating remarkable composure at Turn 1 amidst more experienced drivers' struggles. He maintained pace with faster cars and executed a brilliant cut-back move during the Verstappen-Hamilton incident, securing a P4 finish after a strategic second stop. This result is being hailed as a significant breakthrough.
• Charles Leclerc (9): Qualified stunningly in second, nearly matching Norris's pace. He managed to hold onto P2 despite a tricky start at Turn 1 and was a formidable opponent for Verstappen before a VSC, caused by Sainz's car, ultimately aided his position.
• Max Verstappen (9): Showed his characteristic aggressive ambition at Turn 1, attempting an audacious outside sweep from four-wide. Although his lunge on Hamilton was arguably rash, he still secured another podium with an impressive stint on soft tires.
• Kimi Antonelli (8.5): Had his best F1 weekend, consistently placing in the top 3 during Friday practice and qualifying within a tenth of Russell. He drove a composed race, followed team orders, and notably defeated Russell for the first time this season in a Grand Prix.

The Bottom Five:

• Nico Hulkenberg (5.5): His strong P13 qualifying was undone by power unit surges on the formation lap, severely impacting his race. He eventually retired after 25 laps.
• Lance Stroll (5): Despite a challenging weekend for Aston Martin, Stroll's performance was deemed adequate, finishing ahead of Gasly.
• Franco Colapinto (5): Struggled significantly with the Alpine's pace, being out-qualified and out-raced by teammate Gasly.
• Fernando Alonso (5): Received a par score on a weekend where no driver had an 'absolute shocker.' He will be looking for better opportunities in the final four races.
• Liam Lawson (5): His race was effectively over at Turn 1 after being barged into by Sainz. He showed commendable evasive action to avoid hitting marshals.

What's next:

The remaining four races of the 2025 season will be critical, especially for Norris as he aims to consolidate his championship lead. Drivers like Bearman and Antonelli will look to build on their strong performances and further establish their presence on the F1 grid. Teams like Alpine and Aston Martin will be hoping for improved results to finish the season on a stronger note.