Formula 1 team principals have cast their votes, revealing their esteemed rankings of the top 10 drivers of the 2025 season. In a surprising turn, Max Verstappen, despite narrowly missing the World Drivers' Championship, has been crowned the best driver of the year for the fifth consecutive time. This decision underscores the team principals' recognition of Verstappen's exceptional racecraft and overall performance throughout the 24-round season, even acknowledging that he was driving a car that was, in their view, inferior to that of the eventual champion, Lando Norris.
Lando Norris, who clinched his first World Drivers' Championship in 2025, driving for McLaren-Mercedes, secured the second position in the team principals' rankings. Norris's victory marked the end of Max Verstappen's four-year reign as champion. Oscar Piastri, Norris's teammate, finished third in both the drivers' standings and the team principals' poll, reflecting his strong performance and early dominance in the championship.
Mercedes' George Russell claimed the fourth spot, a notable improvement of two positions compared to the previous year. Russell's strong campaign included two wins and seven podium finishes, distinguishing him as the only driver outside of McLaren and Red Bull to secure a race victory in 2025. Fernando Alonso, despite facing challenges with his Aston Martin car, impressed the team bosses, earning him fifth place, a climb of four positions from the previous year.
Carlos Sainz, in his first year with Williams, secured sixth place, delivering two surprise podiums after overcoming initial struggles with his new team. Charles Leclerc, however, experienced a significant drop, falling to seventh place due to Ferrari's disappointing season.
The rankings also saw the emergence of new talent, with Haas driver Ollie Bearman and Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar making their debut in the top 10. Bearman, the highest-ranked rookie, secured eighth place, while Hadjar, bound for Red Bull next season, finished ninth. Nico Hulkenberg, who achieved his first career podium at Silverstone with Sauber, rounded out the top 10.
Notably absent from the top 10 was Lewis Hamilton, who received no votes from the team principals after a challenging first season with Ferrari, marking his worst results in his career and finishing without a single podium.
The team principals who participated in the vote included Andrea Stella (McLaren), Toto Wolff (Mercedes), James Vowles (Williams), Alan Permane (Racing Bulls), Aston Martin's Senior Leadership Team, Ayao Komatsu (Haas), Jonathan Wheatley (Sauber), and Steve Nielsen (Alpine). The voting system awarded points based on the current F1 structure, with the top driver receiving 25 points, down to one point for tenth place. The individual rankings remained confidential to ensure a fair and unbiased vote.
The 2025 Formula One World Championship saw Lando Norris secure his first title, with Max Verstappen finishing as runner-up by a mere two points. McLaren-Mercedes clinched their second consecutive Constructors' Championship and tenth overall. The season, which began in March and concluded in December, featured 24 Grands Prix across various locations.
