Max Verstappen has re-entered the 2025 Formula 1 championship contention strongly by clinching a decisive win at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Following the unexpected disqualification of both McLaren cars, Verstappen now trails the championship leader by just 24 points with two races left in the season.
Here are the driver performance ratings from Las Vegas:
Max Verstappen – 9.5
Verstappen showcased another brilliant performance, securing his sixth victory of the 2025 season by leading from start to finish.
George Russell – 8
Although not at his peak, Russell managed a podium despite struggling with tire management in the closing stages. Overall, a solid season for the Brit.
Kimi Antonelli – 8
Antonelli recovered from an early setback and false start to finish fifth, reinforcing why Mercedes and Toto Wolff remain confident in his abilities.
Charles Leclerc – 8.5
Leclerc maximized his Ferrari’s capabilities but was handicapped by team strategy and lack of straight-line speed, finishing fourth but deserving better.
Carlos Sainz – 9.5
Sainz was arguably the weekend’s standout, earning third on the grid and delivering an impressive race.
Isaac Hajar – 8.5
Midfield talent Hajar recovered from a thwarted qualifying session caused by a yellow flag, finishing a strong sixth.
Nico Hulkenberg – 8.5
Hulkenberg continued his late-season resurgence with a seventh-place finish, benefiting from a strategic tire stint.
Lewis Hamilton – 5
A difficult weekend for Hamilton, marked by sluggish pace and multiple errors, though he was bumped to eighth after the McLaren disqualifications.
Esteban Ocon – 7.5
Ocon had an improved weekend, outperforming teammate Olly Bearman in qualifying and finishing just outside the top ten.
Oliver Bearman – 6.5
Bearman struggled after a poor qualifying session involving wall contact and lost out to his teammate during early pit stops.
Fernando Alonso – 7.5
Alonso squeezed the most from Aston Martin’s dry-weather pace but lacked race speed to stay in the top ten; minor wing damage hampered him further.
Yuki Tsunoda – 4
Tsunoda’s poor qualifying was attributed to incorrect tire pressure, and starting from the pit lane, he couldn’t improve his race position.
Pierre Gasly – 6.5
Gasly’s strong qualifying was ruined by an aggressive first-lap move from Gabriel Bortleto, impacting his overall race.
Liam Lawson – 5
Lawson’s misjudged contact with Piastri on the first lap dashed a promising weekend and his chance at points.
Franco Colapinto – 4.5
Colapinto had an uneventful weekend, finishing last among those classified and lagging behind his teammates.
Alex Albon – 4.5
Albon faced a tough race after hitting the wall in qualifying, resulting in an early exit and a penalty for contact with Hamilton.
Gabriel Bortleto – 3
Bortleto had a rough weekend, with a reckless first-turn move earning him a grid penalty for the next race.
Lance Stroll – 6
Stroll gambled on intermediate tires in qualifying and was knocked out in Q2; he was forced to retire on lap one after contact with Bortleto.
Note: The two McLaren drivers were disqualified from the race due to excessive tire wear. Their ratings reflect their personal performance, not the official results.
Lando Norris – 9
Norris recovered well after a tough start to finish second on track, but both he and teammate Oscar Piastri were disqualified post-race for excessive plank wear.
Oscar Piastri – 6.5
Piastri made an error while leading Leclerc but benefited from McLaren’s aggressive pit tactics, though his charge was halted by Antonelli’s strong race.
Fan Take: This race highlighted the unpredictable nature of F1, with Verstappen’s resurgence and the drama surrounding McLaren shaking up the championship fight. For racing fans, it emphasizes how technical compliance and strategy play crucial roles, keeping the title race thrilling right until the very end.
