Verstappen named best driver of 2025 season in F1 Power Rankings despite losing title

Max Verstappen has been ranked as the best driver of the 2025 Formula 1 season according to the official F1 Power Rankings, a notable accolade that comes despite him losing his world championship crown to Lando Norris. The Red Bull driver finished the season with the highest average score from the expert panel, capping off a remarkable late-season charge that saw him win the final three races.

Why it matters:

The Power Rankings offer a performance-based assessment separate from the championship standings, highlighting drivers who excelled on pure pace and racecraft. Verstappen topping this list underscores that, despite the final two-point deficit in the title fight, his underlying performance throughout the year was considered exceptional by F1's official analysts. It reinforces the narrative of a season where the best driver did not necessarily win the championship.

The details:

• Verstappen received a season-high average score of 8.6 from the F1 panel, placing him ahead of both McLaren drivers, including new champion Lando Norris.
• His final race in Abu Dhabi was rated a 9.6, the highest mark of the weekend, for a "commanding" pole position and dominant victory—his eighth win of the campaign.
• The panel noted that while his 1,457-day reign as champion ended, "Verstappen arguably could not have ended his season on a higher note."
• Norris, who secured the title with a podium finish in Abu Dhabi, was ranked fourth for the final race with an 8.6 and finished the season with an 8.2 average.
• Charles Leclerc and Fernando Alonso tied for the second-highest rating in Abu Dhabi (8.8), while Oscar Piastri (8.0 season avg) and George Russell completed the top five in the overall season rankings.

The big picture:

This result highlights the fine margins of the 2025 season. Verstappen's ranking reflects a year where he overcame a mid-season points deficit that once stood at 104 points to take the title fight down to the final race. The Power Rankings validate his relentless performance, particularly in the second half of the season, and set the stage for an intensified rivalry with Norris heading into 2026. For Norris, becoming champion while being ranked behind his main rival in pure performance metrics adds a fascinating layer to his first title achievement.