The 2025 Formula 1 season started on March 14, and there hasn’t been a dull moment yet. New teams, promising rookies, and the overwhelming excitement to watch Hamilton in red have kept this season as entertaining as ever. So here’s my highly opinionated, too-invested, and slightly biased ranking of the 2025 driver lineup.
Top 5 ‘Wait… you’re in the race?’ drivers
- Esteban Ocon
I was really excited for Ocon’s debut at Haas, especially after having an exit from Alpine during the earlier season, but it has been eerily quiet with him in the red and white car. He’s had a couple of good laps, specifically during the Bahrain race this weekend, but I know that he has the potential to come out on top. I’m hoping to see more of Ocon down the line in the season, but for now, I can say that #31 is down the grid for me.
- Nico Hulkenberg
I originally didn’t have Hulkenberg in this ranking, but after seeing today’s disqualification in Bahrain, he was placed on the list. I actually love Hulkenberg and have been following him for so many of his races, but it’s Kick Sauber. The car is… well, definitely not the best, but Hulkenberg tries to give it the best shot it has, just falling short of earning points towards the Driver’s Championship. Personally, I would love to see him go back to Haas, and possibly earn a couple of points.
- Liam Lawson
I will admit, I was biased against Lawson when he was announced to join Red Bull with Verstappen at the beginning of the season. As a Tsunoda fan, it felt unfair to give a rookie the seat that Tsunoda has worked his F1 career towards. And I guess I was not the only one who thought this, because soon enough, we saw the infamous swap where Lawson went back to Visa Cash App RB and Tsunoda was promoted to Red Bull. It was a brutal switch, and I do feel as though Lawson wasn’t given a fair shot, but Christian Horner needs a Contractor’s win, so I can see why the change went into place. I’m personally not a fan of Lawson’s driving, however, I’m excited to see him go back to his home team and make it out with points.
- Lance Stroll
This wouldn’t be an accurate list if Stroll didn’t make an appearance. I would like to go ahead and say that I think Stroll is hilarious, and that his personality is miles above his driving career. Hailing from his father’s company, Aston Martin, there was always going to be a bit of a bias against him, however, I always hoped that he was the underdog that came out on top. Unfortunately, I don’t think the 2025 season is where we will witness his domination, but maybe 2028… or 2029.
- Gabriel Bortoleto
A rookie in a Kick Sauber. I mean, the odds against Bortoleto were not in his favor. Everyone knows that Sauber is no “on-the-track monster,” but I liked to get more action out of the green and black car. With the competitiveness of the rookies, Bortoleto hasn’t shown anything mind-blowing yet, but I’ll give it to him – he’s still got more time, exactly 20 more races.
Due to my appreciation of several drivers on the grid this year, I’ve added an honorable mention ranking of some of my favorite drivers that didn’t make it on the ‘This is what I call F1’ list.
Honorable Mention: George Russell
Bahrain’s race made me put Russell on the list. The race was almost flawless, and he had the ability to keep Driver’s Championship leader Lando Norris out from overtaking him- which is no easy feat. He’s been extremely consistent with scoring points for Mercedes, racing clean (Max Verstappen would disagree), and staging his iconic “T-pose” with his podium finishes, but I know that he could be even better. I’m excited to see where Mercedes heads this year with both Russell and Antonelli performing with a bang.
Honorable Mention: Charles Leclerc
The prince of Monaco is back in the Ferrari and this season has been full of clean and crisp races so far. Leclerc has proven to be a force to be reckoned with, and the addition of Hamilton to Ferrari has put the pressure on him to stack up the points for the Constructors Championship. I’ll be rooting for him for the iconic Monaco race, and I can count on him to finish strong, even with Ferrari’s questionable strategy.
Honorable Mention: Oliver Bearman
The kid’s in a Haas and is racking up points. Not to mention, he’s a rookie. Ollie is definitely one of the rookies to watch this season, as he’s demonstrated his quick wit and overtaking abilities during the races so far, something that I am excited to see more of. He was one of the drivers I followed after watching him as Ferrari’s reserve driver last season, and I really do think he will stick around and drive for the red one day.
Top 5 ‘This is what I call F1’ drivers:
- Alex Albon
#23 has been one of my favorites for a long time, and I’m thrilled to see the battle between him and Sainz in the brand-new Williams car. Albon has surprised me this season, with a fiery start during qualifying and following William’s strategy to come out with higher places. I was especially excited to witness his fifth place position in Australia, and I’m hoping to see an Albon podium this season. He’s definitely pushing that Williams to its breaking point, and it’s working for him.
- Max Verstappen
This would not be a complete list without our four time World Champion Max Verstappen on the list. He keeps winning, and I’m not mad – I personally root for him. He’s been having a bit of a rocky start with the Red Bull pit team, it being the tire changes or the pit light malfunctions, but he’s number one for a reason, and pushes through each obstacle that’s put in front of him. I will say that there’s high competition this year, but he’s not going out without a fight.
- Kimi Antonelli
It was that overtake during Bahrain that put Kimi above Max. Antonelli was the first driver that I was thrilled to be joining as a rookie, but also the one that I was most afraid of in hopes that he wouldn’t become the next Logan Sargent. Antonelli came out with a clean set, knowing exactly what he wanted to do, and driving his Mercedes to get to his goal every race. It’s amazing to me how he’s outperformed some of the most experienced drivers on the grid, and he’s just getting started. If you’re going to root for a rookie, #12 is a solid bet.
- Lewis Hamilton
The moment we’ve all been waiting for, Lewis in red. I mean, there isn’t even much to say since watching him in the Ferrari has been a dream come true for the team, and his fans. He’s a legend, and he’s turning heads both in the paddock and on the race track. China’s sprint results were all I needed to see to know that Hamilton was ready for Ferrari, and I’m thrilled to see more of him on the track as Leclerc’s teammate. And maybe this will be his eighth World Championship, and I can say it for real.
- Oscar Piastri
Bringing in his masterclass driving, level-headed aggression, and flawless tire management, our top spot goes to Piastri. I mean, look at China- absolute domination, and today, at Bahrain- a perfectly stunning drive. He’s proven that he is no number 2 driver to Norris, and I’m stunned to see his pace when competing against his teammate. Piastri is championship material, and if I’m being honest, I think he’ll snatch the Driver’s Championship trophy before Norris does.
Buckle up, as this is only the start of the 2025 season, and these rankings can get shifted around within a single race. The grid is as competitive as ever, but if Oscar Piastri does end up holding the Championship trophy at Abu Dhabi, let’s just say- I told you so.
