2025 F1 Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings

For the first time in 2025, the RacingNews365 driver ratings has had a perfect score of 10 awarded. 

There are no prizes for guessing who was awarded it after a stunning performance from world champion Max Verstappen saw him steal pole from McLaren and then taunt them in the race with an expertly judged drive.

Behind him, there is a 9.5 and a 9 handed out, as Verstappen also makes his way to the top of the 'Season Average' ratings - taken by adding up the scores for each driver and then dividing that figure by the number of races held. 

Make sure to let us know in the comments if you agree - or even disagree, with our ratings!

The top five

Max Verstappen - 10

The first perfect 10 of the season in the RN365 rankings - and he could have got it for that pole lap alone. It was truly one of the great pole laps in a Red Bull that had no business being anywhere near P1. After navigating the start, it was a masterclass in toying with the opposition. McLaren was always just on the fringes of DRS but never had a sniff. Champion's drive.

Kimi Antonelli - 9

After admitting he was "lost" in practice, Antonelli did an amazing job to secure sixth on the grid, just 0.237s down on Mercedes team-mate George Russell at the daunting track. He led the race by staying out to take one F1 record from Verstappen for youngest race leader, before snatching another with a late burst on worn hard tyres to become the youngest to set the fastest lap.

Isack Hadjar - 8.5

Earned high marks for out-qualifying a works Ferrari in Lewis Hamilton on merit. Was always going to be passed, eventually, by Hamilton, so eighth in his Racing Bulls was the maximum result possible, and he achieved it with a mature drive, just eight seconds behind that Ferrari. 

Alex Albon - 8

The first non-9 score of the season is earned primarily because he was ninth on the grid when sixth was just 0.060s up the road. But Albon has become the first Williams driver since 2017 to score points in three races in a row and has markedly stepped up since the arrival of big-name Carlos Sainz. 

Ollie Bearman - 8

Bearman has now had six races in his F1 career, and scored points in four of them, with only the wet chaos of Brazil and Australia the blots on his copybook. Comprehensively out-performed Haas team-mate Esteban Ocon, with six previous Suzuka visits, to nab another point. Was 0.829s faster in qualifying and then finished 30 seconds ahead of his team-mate.

The bottom five

Gabriel Bortoleto - 5

One to be described as a character-building weekend for the Stake rookie, although he did well to be just 0.052s slower than team-mate Nico Hulkenberg in qualifying. Lucky to avoid a big crash after dipping a tyre onto the grass approaching 130R in FP3.

Jack Doohan - 5

Loses a lot of credit for destroying his Alpine minutes after climbing into it for FP2 with the failure to close the DRS. Did well to make some forward progress in the race from P19 to P15 on a day overtaking was hard, so earns some credit back.

Carlos Sainz 4.5 

It was another learning weekend for Sainz, who was again about two-tenths slower than Albon in qualifying, even before the grid penalty ruined any chances of nicking a lucky point. Good work to let Albon through after the pit stop, and very unlucky to be hit with a fine from the FIA for an upset stomach leading to him missing the national anthem. 

Esteban Ocon - 4

Could not find a balance with the car which had struggled at high speed in Australia. Nearly a second slower than Bearman in qualifying. A remarkable turnaround from fifth in China.

Lance Stroll - 3.5

A mistake on his final Q1 lap in the Esses left him last on the grid. Aston Martin gambled by starting him on the softs for some early progress forward. It didn't happen as he stayed rooted to the bottom of the timesheet and then pitted for a second time on a day the one-stopper was the only strategy in town. The only driver to be lapped.