Top 10 F1 Drivers to Watch in 2025

The 2025 Formula 1 season will feature some of the best F1 drivers in the world, each with unique skills and strengths. As the competition heats up, fans are eager to see who will win. 

In this article, we will look at the top 10 Formula 1 drivers expected to shine in the 2025 Formula 1 season.

The 2025 Formula 1 season promises to be exciting, with various talented F1 drivers. The competition is fierce, from veterans with decades of experience to rising stars.

Max Emilian Verstappen, born September 30, 1997, is a Dutch-Belgian Formula 1 driver for Red Bull Racing. Verstappen is the son of former F1 driver Jos Verstappen and kart racer Sophie Kumpen. 

Max began karting at four and had a record-breaking 2013 season. At 17, he debuted with Toro Rosso in 2015, becoming one of the youngest F1 drivers. In 2016, he joined Red Bull F1 drivers and won the Spanish Grand Prix, becoming the youngest race winner at 18. 

Verstappen claimed his first World Championship in 2021, dramatically beating Lewis Hamilton. Max dominated F1 by winning consecutive titles in 2022, 2023, and 2024, setting records like the most wins in a season and most consecutive wins. 

By 2024, Max Verstappen had 63 wins, 40 poles, and 112 podiums. Max is known for his aggressive racecraft and speed and remains contracted with Red Bull until 2028. He is one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time.

Charles Leclerc, born 16 October 1997, is a Monégasque Ferrari F1 driver. He began karting at seven and won the 2011 Junior Karting World Cup. Charles then progressed to junior formulae, winning the 2016 GP3 Series and the 2017 FIA Formula 2 Championship. 

In 2018, Leclerc debuted in Formula 1 with Sauber, scoring points in his first season and finishing 13th in the championship. Charles joined Ferrari in 2019, securing his first F1 win at the Belgian Grand Prix and later ending Ferrari’s nine-year winless streak at the 2019 Italian Grand Prix. 

Leclerc became runner-up in the 2022 World Drivers’ Championship. He won the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, becoming the first Monégasque driver to win the race in 93 years. As of 2024, he has eight race wins, 26 pole positions, and 43 podiums. Leclerc will remain at Ferrari until at least the end of 2026.

F1 racer Hamilton, born 7 January 1985, is a British Formula 1 driver for Mercedes AMG-Petrona. Lewis is widely viewed as one of the greatest Formula 1 pilots in history. With seven World Championships, Hamilton holds numerous records, including 105 wins, 104 pole positions, and 202 podiums. 

He began his career in karting at the age of eight and advanced through various junior series, including winning the 2006 GP2 Championship. The racer debuted in F1 with McLaren in 2007, finishing second in his first season. Lewis Hamilton won his first championship in 2008, becoming the youngest-ever World Champion at the time. 

Hamilton joined Mercedes in 2013 and went on to secure five more titles. In 2024, Hamilton announced he would leave Mercedes at the end of the season to join Scuderia Ferrari in 2025.

George Russell, born 15 February 1998, is a British Formula 1 driver for Mercedes. He began karting at seven and rose through the junior ranks, winning the 2014 BRDC F4 Championship, the 2017 GP3 Series, and the 2018 FIA Formula 2 Championship. 

George joined Mercedes’ Junior Team in 2017 and made his F1 debut with Williams in 2019. Russel gained worldwide recognition for his performance as a substitute for Mercedes at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix. In the Grand Prix, Russel nearly secured his first win. 

In 2021, Russell scored his first F1 podium with Williams at the Belgian Grand Prix before his promotion to Mercedes in 2022. During the first season with Mercedes, George secured his first pole position and won at the São Paulo Grand Prix. 

Russell won twice in 2024 at the Austrian and Las Vegas Grands Prix, bringing his career total to three wins, five poles, and 15 podiums. He will remain at Mercedes until at least the end of 2025.

Lando Norris, born 13 November 1999, is a British racing driver who competes in Formula 1 for McLaren. Norris began kart racing at age seven and won the Karting World Championship in 2014.

Lando Norris progressed through the junior formulae and claimed titles in the 2015 MSA Formula Championship, 2016 Toyota Racing Series, Formula Renault Eurocup, and NEC. The racer won the FIA Formula 3 European Championship in 2017 and finished runner-up in the 2018 FIA Formula 2 Championship.

Norris made his Formula 1 debut with McLaren in 2019 and achieved his first podium in 2020. Lando secured his maiden pole position in 2021 and consistently delivered podium finishes through 2023. Norris was runner-up in the 2024 World Drivers’ Championship and has won four Grands Prix across six seasons.

In 2024, Norris claimed his first win at the Miami Grand Prix, followed by victories in the Netherlands, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi. The racer has four wins, nine poles, 12 fastest laps, and 26 podiums. Lando Norris is contracted with McLaren until 2027.

Fernando Alonso, born 29 July 1981, is a Spanish racing driver competing for Aston Martin in Formula 1. Alonso has won two World Drivers’ Championships in 2005 and 2006 with Renault and 32 Grands Prix across 21 seasons. 

Born in Oviedo, Asturias, Alonso began karting at age three and progressed through junior formulae, winning the Euro Open by Nissan in 1999. Fernando debuted in Formula 1 with Minardi in 2001 before joining Renault. At Renault, the racer made history as the youngest world champion. 

After being at McLaren, Ferrari, and McLaren again, Alonso retired in 2018 but returned to Formula 1 in 2021 with Alpine and Aston Martin in 2023. He achieved his 100th podium in 2023 and has 106 podiums as of the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Fernando Alonso won the 2018–19 FIA World Endurance Championship in endurance racing and is a two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner with Toyota. Alonso remains the only driver to have won the Formula 1 World Championship and the World Endurance/Sportscar Championship. 

In 2024, Fernando Alonso represented the Aston Martin Aramco-Mercedes team. In 2025, the racer will also be part of the Aston Martin Aramco-Mercedes team.

Oscar Piastri, born 6 April 2001, is an Australian racing driver for McLaren in Formula 1. Piastri won two Grand Prix in his first two seasons, with victories in Hungary and Azerbaijan in 2024.

Born and raised in Melbourne, Piastri started his career in radio-controlled racing before transitioning to karting at nine. Oscar won the 2019 Formula Renault Eurocup and then claimed back-to-back championships in FIA Formula 3 in 2020 and Formula 2 in 2021 with Prema. The racer became the only driver to win the three championships in successive seasons.

After being part of the Alpine Academy, Piastri joined McLaren in 2023.  Oscar Piastri made his F1 debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix and secured his first podium in his rookie season at the Japanese Grand Prix. 

At 43, Fernando Alonso, one of the most successful Spanish Formula one race car drivers, continues challenging the best. As of the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Piastri got two wins, three fastest laps, and ten podiums. The racer has a contract with McLaren until at least the end of 2026.

Carlos Sainz Vázquez de Castro, born 1 September 1994, is a Spanish racing driver who most recently competed in Formula 1 for Ferrari. Sainz has won four Grands Prix across 10 seasons, with victories at the British Grand Prix in 2022, the Singapore Grand Prix in 2023, and the Australian and Mexico City Grand Prix in 2024.

Born in Madrid as the son of two-time World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz, Sainz began his career in karting and progressed through junior formulae. Carlos won the 2011 Formula Renault NEC and the 2014 Formula Renault 3.5 Series championships.

The racer won the 2011 Formula Renault NEC and the 2014 Formula Renault 3.5 Series championships. Sainz joined Toro Rosso, now known as AlphaTauri, in 2015. Carlos moved to Renault in 2017 and later to McLaren in 2019, where he earned his first podium. The racer joined Ferrari in 2021, replacing Sebastian Vettel, and took his first win for Ferrari in 2022.

Carlos Sainz, one of the top Spanish F1 greatest drivers, has firmly established himself as a strong contender in the F1 drivers championship. As of the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Sainz has four wins, six poles, four fastest laps, and 27 podiums. He will leave Ferrari at the end of the 2024 season to join Williams.

Sergio Pérez, born 26 January 1990, is a Mexican racing driver for Red Bull Racing in Formula One. Pérez was the runner-up in the 2023 World Drivers’ Championship and has won six Grands Prix across 14 seasons.

Born in Guadalajara, Pérez began karting at age six, winning his first championship in the 2007 British Formula 3 International Series. Sergio progressed to GP2, where he finished runner-up in 2010, before making his F1 debut with Sauber in 2011. Pérez earned his first podium in 2012, then moved to McLaren and later to Force India in 2014, where he secured five podiums.

Pérez won his first career race at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix and joined Red Bull in 2021. At Red Bull, he won his first race for the team at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The racer also finished third in the 2022 championship. In the 2023 season, Pérez finished as runner-up behind Max Verstappen.

As of the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Pérez has six wins, three poles, and 39 podiums. Sergio Pérez is contracted with Red Bull until at least 2026. 

Sergio Pérez has consistently performed in Formula 1, securing multiple wins and finishing as a runner-up in the F1 drivers championship. As a crucial member of the F1 grid in 2024, Pérez will be eyeing more victories in 2025

Yuki Tsunoda, born 11 May 2000, is a Japanese racing driver who competes in Formula 1 for RB (Racing Bulls), formerly called AlphaTauri.

Tsunoda began karting at nine and the Honda supported him from 2016 through the Honda Formula Dream Project. He won the 2017 JAF F4 East Series and the F4 Japanese Championship in 2018. Tsunoda progressed to FIA Formula 3 in 2019 and finished third in his rookie Formula 2 season with Carlin in 2020.

Tsuonada has been a member of the Red Bull Junior Team since 2019. The racer joined AlphaTauri for his Formula 1 debut in 2021 alongside Pierre Gasly. Yuki Tsunoda achieved his best result in the 2021 season, finishing fourth at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. 

Tsunoda stayed with the Red Bull Junior team through 2022 and 2023, partnering with Nyck de Vries and Daniel Ricciardo in the latter season. For 2024, Tsunoda will remain with the RB team until the end of the 2025 season.

Here, we have the 2024 F1 race driver standings and key achievements, building anticipation for the 2025 championship.

The 2025 season looks set to be a highly competitive and transformative year in Formula 1, with new technologies, rising stars, and close battles between the sport’s elite teams.

By 2025, several up-and-coming F1 formula drivers will be set for action, and the current stars might face stiff competition. F1 players like Lando Norris, George Russell, and Oscar Piastri could challenge well-known names like Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. 

Additionally, the competition between Red Bull and Ferrari can intensify. With Red Bull’s dominance in recent years, Ferrari may close the gap with their new car development and strategic changes. McLaren, too, could be in the mix, depending on their progress with car upgrades and team development.

With F1’s focus on sustainability, we may see a rise in technological innovations in engines, aerodynamics, and materials. Teams that push the boundaries of innovation will have an advantage, particularly when it comes to reliability and performance under pressure.

With the 2025 season heating up, it’s also a great time to explore betting on races through reliable F1 betting apps, offering markets like race winners, podium finishes, and fastest laps.

Several external factors impact a Formula 1 driver’s performance during a race. The factors range from environmental conditions to pit stop time, and you must understand the factors to asses how a driver will behave in different scenarios.

Weather Conditions 

Weather conditions greatly impact race outcomes. Rain, extreme heat, or cold temperatures alter track conditions, requiring F1 drivers to adjust their strategy and driving style. 

Wet surfaces, for example, challenge a driver’s ability to manage tire wear and maintain grip. Meanwhile, high temperatures increase tire degradation, forcing F1 drivers to adapt their driving techniques.

Unfavorable weather conditions can also impact visibility, reducing a driver’s reaction time and affecting overall confidence on the track.

Track Conditions 

The state of the track directly influences a driver’s performance. As races progress, the track surface changes. The factors such as tire wear, rubber buildup, and developing grip levels come into play. 

A driver’s ability to quickly adapt to changing conditions is necessary to maintain competitive performance throughout a race. Additionally, certain tracks with complex layouts, sharp turns, and elevation changes demand higher skill and precision, making performance on such circuits more unpredictable.

Team Strategy and Pit Stops 

Formula 1 is a strategic sport, and the decisions made by the team during pit stops or race strategy will impact a driver’s performance. 

The timing of pit stops, tire choice, and fuel strategy are all factors that can either delay or improve a driver’s speed for the best results. A well-executed pit stop will give a valuable advantage with a few more seconds to spare. Meanwhile, a delayed or poorly timed stop will cost the team seconds.

Psychological Factors 

A driver’s mental state will also influence the performance. Pressure from teammates, team management, the media, and the overall championship standing will affect a driver’s focus and confidence. 

Stress and anxiety will decline performance, especially in tight title battles or after mistakes. Maintaining psychological calmness throughout a race, especially under intense pressure, is a part of achieving consistent results.

Competitor Behavior 

Competitors’ behavior can greatly impact a driver’s performance. Racing against F1 famous drivers can improve performance but adds unpredictability. Aggressive moves or unexpected incidents from rivals can disrupt strategy and create challenges or opportunities.

With the 2024 F1 grid coming together, F1 drivers are preparing for a highly competitive 2025 season.

Max Verstappen continues to dominate with Red Bull, but challengers like Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, and Lando Norris are ready to fight for the title. Seasoned F1 drivers like Fernando Alonso and rising stars like Oscar Piastri add even more excitement.

If you’re looking to add even more thrill to the season, learn how to bet on F1.

With fierce rivalries and a mix of experience and young talent, the 2025 season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet.