Max Verstappen has been voted the best driver of the Formula 1 season by his fellow competitors, despite narrowly missing out on the world championship at the final race.

The Dutch driver topped Formula 1’s end-of-season drivers’ poll for a fifth consecutive year. Verstappen finished the season with the most wins, pole positions and laps led, while competing for much of the year in machinery considered less competitive overall than the McLaren MCL39.

Newly crowned world champion Lando Norris was ranked second in the poll. George Russell finished third, moving up one place after what was described as the strongest season of his career, with Oscar Piastri fourth.

Charles Leclerc dropped two positions to fifth, while Carlos Sainz remained sixth. Fernando Alonso climbed two places to seventh. Alex Albon, Oliver Bearman and Isack Hadjar completed the top ten after making their first appearances in the rankings.

Lando Norris was not included on the Royal New Year Honours list despite becoming Britain’s most recent Formula One world champion.

The McLaren driver secured the 2025 title after a season-long battle with teammate Oscar Piastri and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, winning the championship by a two-point margin over the Dutch driver.

Norris followed Lewis Hamilton as Britain’s latest F1 champion, with Hamilton last winning the title in 2020.

Traditionally, British drivers who claim their first Formula One championship have been recognised with honours such as an MBE or OBE, as seen with Damon Hill in 1996, Hamilton in 2008 and Jenson Button in 2009. Hamilton was later knighted in 2020 for services to motorsport and diversity.

The reason for Norris’ omission from the 2025 honours list has not been explained.

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