2025 F1 Hungarian Grand Prix - Driver Ratings

The Hungarian Grand Prix rounded out the first half of the 2025 F1 season, with the summer break now in full swing. 

To cap it off, there were a number of stunning performances at the Hungaroring, but nobody quite made a perfect 10. 

Check out our driver ratings from Budapest below, and make sure to let us know what you rated the drivers in the comments!

The top five

Fernando Alonso - 9 

Carrying the back injury which forced him to miss FP1, Alonso excelled in every critical session, and was 0.109s away from taking an astonishing pole for a team which had qualified last on pure pace at Spa. After settling into the race, Alonso took the best possible result in fifth. 

Gabriel Bortoleto - 9

Close behind Alonso in the race was his protege Bortoleto, who enjoyed his strongest weekend in F1 to date. He landed a maiden Q3 berth, with seventh, ahead of Max Verstappen, and then improved his result by leapfrogging Lance Stroll to take sixth. Thoroughly out-performed Nico Hulkenberg to boot. 

Lando Norris - 8.5 

Loses some credit for being out-qualified by Oscar Piastri, and then for the first lap which dropped him to P5. But earns it back for pulling off the one-stopper with nothing to lose following intense pressure from Piastri. A big statement to reduce Piastri's lead to nine points, instead of the 23 it would have been if he had been passed.

Oscar Piastri - 8.5 

Given that the McLarens were so equally matched, it is only fair to rank them equally. Piastri receives some credit for qualifying ahead of Norris and carving great chunks of time out of him in the chase, but ultimately fell short. 

Charles Leclerc - 8.5

Most of Leclerc's rating is based on his Q3 pole lap and the first stint in the race. It was arguably the lap of the season to deliver an upset to McLaren, not deemed possible after practice, and in tricky conditions. In the first stint of the race, he genuinely had Piastri covered, but fell apart as the race progressed. Loses credit for the aggressive defence against George Russell for which he received a five-second penalty and one penalty point.

The bottom five

Franco Colapinto - 4.5 

Colapinto out-performed Pierre Gasly in qualifying, but his race was ruined by a long pit-stop which ruined his afternoon. Lost four places from where he qualified. 

Lewis Hamilton - 4 

Probably the lowest weekend in a season which has been a major disappointment. Was both 12th in qualifying and the race, even after a contra-strategy. Had decent pace in clean air after the stop, but made no progress beyond 12th. The fact he did not even attempt to stay on the track when Max Verstappen barged past sort of sums it up. The summer is much needed.

Esteban Ocon - 4 

Was comprehensively out-performed by Ollie Bearman in qualifying and something of an anonymous weekend all told. 

Yuki Tsunoda - 4

Another nothing weekend for Tsunoda as Red Bull struggled once again. Hard-done-by to fall in Q1 given he was close to Verstappen's time, but even though the car is tricky, a Red Bull should be able to clear cars such as a Haas, the two Williams, and a Stake.

Pierre Gasly - 4

Out-qualified by Colapinto and also had a scrappy race. Received a 10-second time penalty and two penalty points for a needless shove on Carlos Sainz. Finished 19th and last.