Experts agree, Verstappen, not Norris was Driver of the Year

The 2025 Formula 1 season delivered one of the most dramatic title battles in recent memory. Lando Norris clinched his maiden Drivers’ Championship in a tense Abu Dhabi finale, edging out Max Verstappen by just two points (423 to 421) after a remarkable late-season surge. Norris dominated key races in his superior McLaren car and showed remarkable mental strength—silencing critics who questioned his ability to handle pressure.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Yet, when Sky Sports F1’s panel of experts—Ted Kravitz, Karun Chandhok, Simon Lazenby, and Bernie Collins—ranked their drivers of the year in the season review podcast and final F1 Show, Max Verstappen emerged as the consensus top pick for three out of four pundits. Norris finished second on two lists and third on the others, often behind George Russell or even Verstappen himself.

This choice sparked debate, especially given Sky Sports’ British roots and Norris’ status as the first UK champion since Lewis Hamilton. So why did the experts favor the Dutchman?

– Verstappen’s Raw Dominance and Comeback: Verstappen secured eight Grand Prix wins—the most of any driver—despite Red Bull’s RB21 being inferior to McLaren’s MCL39 for much of the season. His stunning recovery after the summer break, reducing a massive deficit while outscoring rivals in nearly every late race, was seen as extraordinary. Pundits like Chandhok called it proof that Verstappen remains “undisputably the best driver on the grid,” highlighting drives like his pole lap in Suzuka and overtakes at Imola.

– Norris’ Strengths vs. Perceived Gaps: The experts praised Norris for his growth, particularly in the second half where he delivered “world-class” performances and converted poles into wins with minimal errors. Martin Brundle, Sky’s lead commentator, noted Norris’ mental resilience and dominant races as “beautiful” and rare. However, they pointed to Norris’ slower start—marked by car unhappiness and mistakes—contrasting with Verstappen’s consistency.

– The “Best Driver” vs. “Champion” Distinction: Many argued the title isn’t always the sole measure of the year’s best performer. Verstappen’s ability to extract maximum from a suboptimal car, combined with his eight victories and poles, made him stand out. As one expert put it, “Most people in F1 will say Max Verstappen is the best driver on the grid—and this year he underlined that fact.”

– The Outlier: Bernie Collins’ Piastri Pick: Strategy analyst Bernie Collins bucked the trend, naming Oscar Piastri as her driver of the year for his early dominance (leading the championship for months) and qualifying edge over Norris at times. This highlighted Piastri’s consistency before a late dip, but it underscored that even the panel saw Norris’ achievement as strong—yet not quite the pinnacle.

The rankings reflect a nuanced view: Norris earned the crown through consistency and clutch moments, but Verstappen’s sheer talent and ability to defy the odds in a less competitive car earned him the “Driver of the Year” nod from most experts. As Brundle summed up: “Lando did a super job… But you’d have to say Max is still the best driver on the grid.”

Other publications that picked Verstappen as Driver of the Year 2025

Several outlets echoed Sky Sports’ sentiment, often prioritizing Verstappen’s eight wins, standout performances (like his pole in Suzuka), and ability to maximize an inferior car over Norris’ championship triumph:

– PlanetF1: Named Verstappen the top-rated driver of 2025 based on their post-race ratings system, emphasizing his late-season surge and more race wins than Norris or Piastri.
– Autosport: Ranked Verstappen #1 in their Top 50 Drivers of 2025 list, calling him a “worthy number one” for his dominant end-of-season form and eight victories despite Red Bull’s challenges.
– Formula1.com (Official Power Rankings): Their judges placed Verstappen first, highlighting his more poles and victories despite team troubles, with Norris second.

– AutoRacing1.com: We laid out all the facts as to why Verstappen was the best here.

In a season defined by two titans, the experts’ verdict celebrates Verstappen’s brilliance—even if the trophy went to Norris.