Verstappen Voted Best Driver by Peers, Hamilton Misses Top 10 for First Time

Max Verstappen has been voted the 2025 Drivers' Driver of the Year by his fellow F1 drivers, marking the fifth consecutive time he has topped the poll. Despite Lando Norris claiming the World Championship title, Verstappen's peers once again recognized him as the grid's premier talent, highlighting a fascinating divide between championship results and peer perception.

Why it matters:

This annual poll is a unique barometer of respect and skill within the paddock, as it's a secret ballot of the 20 drivers who compete wheel-to-wheel each weekend. Verstappen's continued dominance in this vote, even in a year he didn't win the title, solidifies his reputation as the benchmark for driving talent. The most significant takeaway, however, is Lewis Hamilton's absence from the top 10 for the first time in the poll's eight-year history, signaling a dramatic shift in how his peers view his performance relative to the rest of the grid.

The details:

The final standings, based on a points system mirroring a race result (25 for P1, 1 for P10), are as follows:

• 1. Max Verstappen
• 2. Lando Norris
• 3. George Russell
• 4. Oscar Piastri
• 5. Charles Leclerc
• 6. Carlos Sainz
• 7. Fernando Alonso
• 8. Alex Albon
• 9. Oliver Bearman
• 10. Isack Hadjar

Verstappen was the top choice for six different drivers. Notably, two rookies, Oliver Bearman and Isack Hadjar, made the list, while Hamilton, Lance Stroll, Yuki Tsunoda, and Nico Hülkenberg did not participate in the voting.

Looking ahead:

Verstappen's undisputed status as the 'driver's driver' puts him in a unique position heading into the 2026 season and beyond. He recently hinted that his future in F1 will depend on factors beyond just car performance, suggesting his decisions will be holistic. While a new regulations shake-up in 2026 could shuffle the competitive order, it would take a remarkable downturn for his peers to suddenly view him as anything less than the best on the grid.