Round 3 F1 driver power rankings: Verstappen proves why he is the best

Love him or hate him, you simply can’t deny just how great Max Verstappen is. From nowhere he dominates the weekend, and makes the 2025 Championship, and power rankings, extra spicy.

Before we go through them though, the usual disclaimer. You know the drill, these are all subjective and based mainly on my (incredibly smart) opinion mixed with form and on-track results, meaning it is a generally subjective list that holds no real weight except for the large basis of fact I like to think I can generate.

So with that in mind, let’s get to the rankings!

10. Isack Hadjar (+3)

A great weekend by the only Red Bull driver nobody seems to be talking about right now. Perhaps we all need to have uncomfortable seats to perform better?

9. Lewis Hamilton (-4)

How can you read Lewis right now? He’s sort of stuck in this weird area that we had him in at Mercedes the last few years. Can’t really do a whole lot with the car, but does enough to bank solid points. That about sums him up right now.

8. Ollie Bearman (+1)

The fact that Yuki Tsunoda got driver of the day when someone like Ollie Bearman put on a clinic in Japan once again goes to show with the DOTD vote is pointless. Something that wasn’t pointless though was Ollie, who took more points home for him and the team in another great performance.

7. Alex Albon (+4)

Alex continues to show why he is one of the best drivers on the grid with another solid performance in Japan. With all the hype around his teammate signing for Williams in 2025, he’s put his head down and bum up and delivered results. Another great weekend.

6. Kimi Antonelli (+1)

While he couldn’t become the youngest ever winner in F1, he did become the youngest ever race leader and fastest lap setter. He’ll definitely take that for sure. A great race from the star rookie of 2025 so far.

5. George Russell (-1)

Mr Dependable does it again. Stays out of trouble, gets some points, leaves with a smile on his face. No podium sure, but he’ll still take the result.

4. Charles Leclerc (+1)

While Ferrari just continue to exist and do Ferrari things, Charles Leclerc is putting in another solid season of doing what he can and delivering when he can. Still no podium and still no realistic shot at a win, but he is doing everything he can in the meantime to deliver whatever he can extract out of the car.

3. Oscar Piastri (-1)

So closely matched to his teammate all weekend, it wasn’t a perfect birthday present sadly for him on the Sunday. However, he is showing that he is going to be in the fight for the Championship this season, and there will be more wins to come very shortly.

2. Lando Norris (-1)

A win that possibly got away, there isn’t much you can really do at the end of it when your biggest rival is Max Verstappen. When he is on, he is on, and this weekend he was on. Norris can only just sit back and do whatever he can in the meantime, and he did exactly that in Suzuka.

1. Max Verstappen (+3)

If you ever want to know how good Max Verstappen is, then watch a race like this one. Pure perfection.

What do you think of this list? Which order would you currently rank the drivers in? Let me know your thoughts below!