Edd Straw's F1 2025 United States Grand Prix Driver Rankings

The sprint format often presents challenges, and the United States Grand Prix at Austin was no exception, with several drivers making ill-timed misjudgments. However, two drivers truly excelled, standing out above the rest. Edd Straw’s rankings highlight these top performers and dissect the weekend for the rest of the grid.

Why it matters:

• Driver rankings offer crucial insights into individual performance, separating those who maximized their potential from those who struggled, especially during a demanding sprint race weekend.
• These evaluations provide a deeper understanding of how drivers handle pressure, adapt to car setups, and execute race strategies under varying conditions.
• For teams, such detailed assessments can inform future driver development, strategic planning, and car improvements, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement.

The Details:

• Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - Started: 1st, Finished: 1st: Verstappen delivered a commanding performance, securing pole positions and wins in both the sprint and main race. His dominance was characterized by an 'imperious' drive, showing complete control and harmony with a car that his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, found challenging.
• Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber) - Started: 11th, Finished: 8th: Hülkenberg was in top form, quickly getting to grips with the car. Despite being eliminated in the sprint's first-corner melee (a situation he arguably contributed to by opening a 'middle lane' for Alonso), he drove a faultless main race, skillfully navigating incidents to secure well-deserved double points.
• Lando Norris (McLaren) - Started: 2nd, Finished: 2nd: Norris showcased extreme strength, consistently outpacing Oscar Piastri in both qualifying and race pace. Although he couldn't challenge Verstappen, his recovery after being jumped by Leclerc at the start demonstrated his strong race craft. His sprint was cut short due to no fault of his own.
• Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - Started: 3rd, Finished: 3rd: Leclerc's weekend was a tale of two halves. A 'shaky sprint' saw him make an error, but he 'excelled in the grand prix,' nailing his final Q3 lap and fiercely battling Norris, holding onto second for longer than expected before settling for a strong third.
• Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) - Started: 10th, Finished: 10th: Alonso delivered a 'typically well-executed' weekend. Despite being caught in the sprint's first-corner collision, his main qualifying was solid, and he recovered to finish in the points after being boxed in at Turn 1 and benefiting from a collision ahead.
• George Russell (Mercedes) - Started: 4th, Finished: 6th: Russell's qualifying was strong but not perfect. While his aggressive move on Verstappen in the sprint was 'misguided,' his main race was hampered by losing two places at the start. He maintained sixth in a largely processional drive.
• Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - Started: 5th, Finished: 4th: Hamilton's pace was comparable to Leclerc's. He capitalized on his teammate's sprint error to gain a position and held fourth throughout the grand prix, only facing a late puncture scare. His weekend was 'unobtrusively good,' showing comfort with the Ferrari.
• Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) - Started: 12th, Finished: 11th: Lawson had a 'decent weekend,' consistently just outside the points. Despite minor qualifying struggles in gusty conditions, he finished one place outside the points in both races, suggesting more could have been possible.
• Oliver Bearman (Haas) - Started: 8th, Finished: 9th: Bearman's speed impressed, adapting well to a new Haas upgrade. However, a penalty in the sprint for exceeding track limits and a misjudgment attempting to pass Tsunoda in the main race highlighted areas for improved in-race decision-making.
• Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - Started: 11th, Finished: 13th: Antonelli lacked the edge in pace and execution compared to Russell. A lock-up in SQ2 and struggles with wind in main qualifying hampered his efforts. He was later taken out by Sainz, making a points finish impossible.
• Carlos Sainz (Williams) - Started: 9th, Finished: DNF: Sainz was the stronger Williams driver, excelling in the sprint to finish third. However, his race ended prematurely after a 'misjudgement' saw him collide with Antonelli, earning him a grid penalty for the next race.
• Pierre Gasly (Alpine) - Started: 14th, Finished: 19th: Gasly had a 'frustrating' weekend in an uncompetitive Alpine. Despite hopes for better pace, the car was a Q1 contender, and his race was hindered by a slow pit stop and overall lack of performance, finishing last.
• Alex Albon (Williams) - Started: 18th, Finished: 14th: Albon's weekend was 'lost' due to persistent differential problems. Despite a good SQ3 in the sprint, his car was transformed for main qualifying, and he spun on the opening lap of the grand prix, making recovery difficult.
• Franco Colapinto (Alpine) - Started: 15th, Finished: 17th: Colapinto's recent progress stalled, struggling with the sprint format and a 'stiff car' on bumpy Austin. A puncture in the sprint and an uncompetitive car in the main race led to a tough weekend. He also ignored a team order, which could have repercussions.
• Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) - Started: 13th, Finished: 7th: Tsunoda's weekend was more notable for his 'rage' than his pace. Running an older front wing, his single-lap pace was poor, and he was 'well off Verstappen's pace,' though he salvaged points in the sprint and finished a solid seventh in the main race.
• Esteban Ocon (Haas) - Started: 17th, Finished: 15th: Ocon struggled to adapt to the Haas upgrade, finding the car on edge and battling understeer. This led to eliminations in Q1 for both sessions, effectively 'costing any points hope' for the races.
• Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) - Started: 16th, Finished: 18th: Bortoleto had his 'least-impressive weekend,' struggling with balance and confidence. He was significantly off Hülkenberg's pace, resulting in an anonymous sprint and race, a 'classic rookie learning weekend.'
• Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) - Started: 19th, Finished: 12th: Stroll 'underachieved in three of the four key parts' of the weekend, with poor qualifying performances and a 'terrible misjudgment' in the sprint, causing a collision and a grid penalty. His race was strong, but the damage was already done.
• Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - Started: 6th, Finished: 5th: Piastri's 'worst weekend of 2025 pace-wise.' He lacked confidence over the bumps and was significantly slower than Norris. A 'high-risk decision' at Turn 1 in the sprint led to both McLarens' elimination. His grand prix was subdued, lacking the pace to challenge ahead.
• Isack Hadjar (RB) - Started: 20th, Finished: 16th: Hadjar's weekend was 'weekend-defining' due to a crash at Turn 6 in Q1. Starting from the back, recovery was impossible, though he drove a solid enough race despite the setback. His sprint was reasonable, but the Q1 shunt was a 'no-go.'

The big picture:

The United States Grand Prix highlighted the critical role of adaptability, especially with the sprint format. Drivers who quickly found rhythm and confidence on the bumpy Austin track excelled, while those who struggled with setup or made crucial errors saw their weekends unravel. Verstappen's dominance underscores his elite ability to extract maximum performance from his car, even when it presents challenges. For many, the weekend was a harsh lesson in minimizing mistakes and maximizing every session.

What's next:

The lessons learned from Austin will be crucial for teams and drivers as the season progresses. Teams will analyze data to improve car stability on bumpy circuits and refine driver feedback. For drivers, consistency and flawless execution, particularly in the condensed sprint format, will remain key to securing strong results and climbing these crucial rankings. The focus will shift to applying these learnings to upcoming races, with an emphasis on flawless execution in all sessions to avoid costly errors.