‘Max Verstappen was the best in 2025 — No doubt about it’

According to the former Renault driver, there is little debate about who delivered the best performance in 2025.

After trailing the championship leader by as many as 104 points at one stage, the Dutchman finished just two points behind Lando Norris in the drivers' standings. Verstappen also won the most Grands Prix this year.

In his season review on F1.com, Palmer explained: "I don’t think there’s any doubt on this one. This was an unbelievable season for Max who put in some huge underdog performances early on to snaffle a couple of wins from McLaren, before storming in with the big threat in the final third of the season."

The Briton believes Verstappen put together an "all time great fightback," but also highlighted a single mistake by the four-time world champion.

He added: "The only reason he can be questioned about his clash with George Russell in Barcelona is because it’s about the only mistake he made all year – and it wasn’t even due to driving skill."

For the first time in his career, Verstappen was knocked out in Q1 at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

After starting from the pit lane, the Dutchman eventually finished third behind Lando Norris and Kimi Antonelli.

Palmer wrote: "Max was electric in Brazil, against the odds, as it looked like it was going to be the weekend of the bubble bursting in his title chasing run.

He concluded: "On race day he drove from the pit lane to the podium with a series of great moves and searing pace – and it perhaps could have even been better were it not for the decision to take a final pit stop."

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