Max Verstappen Named Top Driver Despite Norris Title

December 29th, 2025, 11:00 AM
Max Verstappen Named Top Driver Despite Norris Title
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Max Verstappen has once again been chosen as the best driver of the season by team bosses. The Dutchman has been awarded this honor for the fifth consecutive time, even though he had to concede this year’s world title to Lando Norris.

It has become an annual tradition at the end of the season: the team bosses of the various Formula 1 stables select their top ten drivers of the past year for Formula1.com. And it seems to have also become a tradition that Max Verstappen wins these elections. The Dutchman fell short by two World Championship points in Abu Dhabi to secure his fifth title, but his impressive comeback since the summer break also made an impression on the team bosses.

Top Ten

Lando Norris – who secured his first world title at the Yas Marina Circuit – finishes in second place, followed by teammate Oscar Piastri. Mercedes driver George Russell is – just like in the drivers’ championship – fourth, thanks to his two victories and seven podium finishes. Fernando Alonso (5), Carlos Sainz (6), Charles Leclerc (7), Oliver Bearman (8), Isack Hadjar (9), and Nico Hülkenberg (10) respectively complete the top ten. The two rookies – Bearman and Hadjar – thus make the list for the first time.

The top ten drivers were compiled by the following team bosses of the current Formula 1 grid: Andrea Stella (McLaren), Toto Wolff (Mercedes), James Vowles (Williams), Alan Permane (Racing Bulls), the team bosses of Aston Martin, Ayao Komatsu (Haas), Jonathan Wheatly (Sauber), and Steve Nielsen (Alpine). Notably absent are Laurent Mekies, the team boss of Red Bull, and Frédéric Vasseur, team boss of Ferrari.

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