Antonelli Ranked 15th in F1 25 Ratings, Sparking Fan Outrage

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli was ranked just 15th overall in the official F1 25 video game ratings, a decision that left fans baffled. EA's rating system heavily penalized the Mercedes driver in Experience (70) and Awareness (75), dragging his overall score to 83 despite his dominant form on track.

Why it matters:

Video game ratings often shape public perception of driver ability. Antonelli's low ranking contradicts his real-world performances, where he leads the title fight. The disparity highlights a disconnect between statistical modeling and actual racecraft.

The Details:

• Rating Breakdown: EA uses four categories: Experience, Racecraft, Awareness, and Pace. Pace carries the most weight, but Antonelli's low initial Experience and Awareness scores (likely due to his rookie status) significantly reduced his overall rating.
• Comparative Ranking: Antonelli (83) sits behind Esteban Ocon and Valtteri Bottas (both 84), despite neither having a strong start to 2026. He also ties with Isack Hadjar and Oliver Bearman.
• Top 5: Max Verstappen (95), Lando Norris (94), George Russell (93), Charles Leclerc (92), Lewis Hamilton (91). The ratings reflect a mix of legacy and recent success.

What's Next:

Former F1 driver Riccardo Patrese defended Antonelli's mentality, calling him 'arrogant' in a positive way, comparing him to Verstappen, Schumacher, and Senna. Patrese believes Antonelli's confident attitude is key to his title charge and would bet on him for the championship. While the video game ranking may not affect his real-world performance, it underscores how long it takes for young drivers to earn respect in established metrics.