breaking: 2025 MSM Driver Ranking paints stark picture for seasoned stars as rookies surge and Alpine’s second seat flounders
Table of Contents
- 1. breaking: 2025 MSM Driver Ranking paints stark picture for seasoned stars as rookies surge and Alpine’s second seat flounders
- 2. Bottom line by points
- 3. The worst drivers by average grade
- 4. Breaking: Hamilton’s downward arc and the rookies’ rise
- 5. What this means for the sport going forward
- 6. Engagement and legacy
- 7. which drivers finished in the bottom five of the 2025 Formula 1 driver rankings?
- 8. Statistical Indicators of Poor Performance
- 9. Lewis Hamilton’s 2025 Appearances – A rare Return
- 10. Impact on Teams and Championships
- 11. Real‑World Example: Reliability Woes at Alpine
- 12. Benefits of Tracking the “Worst” Driver Rankings
- 13. Swift Reference: Bottom‑Five Driver Checklist
in a year-end reckoning of the MSM driver ranking, Formula 1’s 2025 season is laid bare in contrasting terms.While a handful of top teams push for glory, a notable portion of the grid, including a member of the sport’s elite, struggle to deliver.The data also casts a spotlight on the sport’s rising talents and the fragility of seat stability in today’s paddock.
Bottom line by points
The final points table spotlights a group stretching from 11th to 21st. Oliver Bearman sits 11th with 94 points, followed by Kimi Antonelli on 92, gabriel Bortoleto on 89, Esteban Ocon at 70, Pierre Gasly at 65, liam lawson at 60, Lewis Hamilton at 38, Lance Stroll at 18, Yuki tsunoda at 17, Franco Colapinto at 1, and Jack Doohan at 0. The MSM record also details each driver’s Real World Cup tally and their 2024 results, illustrating how fortunes swung between seasons.
| P. | driver | Points | real World Cup | 2024 result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Bearman | 94 | 41 (13.) | 19 (3 GPs) |
| 12 | Antonelli | 92 | 150 (7.) | NEU |
| 13 | Bortoleto | 89 | 19 (19.) | NEU |
| 14 | Ocon | 70 | 38 (15.) | 15 (+ 1) |
| 15 | Gasly | 65 | 22 (18.) | 10 (- 5) |
| 16 | Lawson | 60 | 38 (14.) | 17 (+ 1) |
| 17 | Hamilton | 38 | 156 (6.) | 9 (- 8) |
| 18 | Stroll | 18 | 33 (16.) | 22 (+ 4) |
| 19 | tsunoda | 17 | 33 (17.) | 11 (- 8) |
| 20 | Colapinto | 1 | 0 (20.) | 14 (- 6) |
| 21 | Doohan | 0 | 0 (21.) | 24 (1 GP) |
As always, the scoring system means the top 10 in each race earn points, wich underscores why Doohan’s six-race stint yielded no top-10 results in MSM’s rankings. Colapinto, with 18 races to try, managed a single top-10. The disparity is striking and not easily dismissed as mere anomaly.
Historically, only twice has a team’s second seat posted a one-point year in MSM’s rankings since the list began in 2019. The contrast to recent seasons is sharp, with comparisons drawn to Romain Grosjean’s 2020 swan song and Nikita Mazepin’s infamous 2021 campaign, underscoring how elusive consistency can be in a modern F1 lineup.
The worst drivers by average grade
The season’s performance also gets measured by a grade average, were Bearman, Gasly, Antonelli and others sit in the low 3s range, indicating a season of missteps and missed opportunities. The bottom of this list features Bearman at 2.92, Gasly at 3.09, Antonelli at 3.10, Ocon at 3.18, Bortoleto at 3.24, Hamilton at 3.26, Lawson at 3.50, Stroll at 3.81, Tsunoda at 3.96, Colapinto at 3.97, and Doohan at 4.00.
| P. | driver | cut | 2024 average | 2024 result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Bearman | 2.92 | 2.47 (3 GPs) | NEU |
| 12 | Gasly | 3.09 | 2.63 | 8 (- 4) |
| 13 | Antonelli | 3.10 | – | NEU |
| 14 | Ocon | 3.18 | 3.32 | 17 (+ 3) |
| 15 | Bortoleto | 3.24 | – | NEU |
| 16 | Hamilton | 3.26 | 2.88 | 11 (- 5) |
| 17 | Lawson | 3.50 | 2.95 | 12 (- 5) |
| 18 | Stroll | 3.81 | 3.88 | 19 (+ 1) |
| 19 | Tsunoda | 3.96 | 2.99 | 13 (- 6) |
| 20 | colapinto | 3.97 | 3.01 | 14 (- 6) |
| 21 | Doohan | 4.00 | 3.50 (1 GP) | NEU |
The second red Bull seat remains a sensitive gauge of pressure, currently producing even poorer results than last year. Tsunoda’s 17 points across 17 races, averaging 3.96, marks his lowest career MSM average and stands as the second-worst showing for a Red Bull driver in this period.The season’s narrative also notes Piastri’s remarkable extremes-one ultra-best weekend from Bahrain, followed by a historic 5.71 in Baku, the third-worst MSM weekend ever recorded. This duality highlights how quickly fortunes can swing in F1.
Breaking: Hamilton’s downward arc and the rookies’ rise
Lewis Hamilton’s results extend a longer trend,now showing a 3.26 average, the worst in MSM’s 2025 rankings and signaling pressure on a seven-time champion chasing titles at Ferrari. In contrast, several rookies-Oliver Bearman, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and Gabriel Bortoleto-remain within five points of each other, suggesting luminous potential despite occasional missteps. The group is repeatedly contrasted with veterans for the balance of pace versus consistency, illustrating a broader question about how teams cultivate talent amid mounting expectations.
analysts note that the MSM rankings reflect both performance and the soft factors that influence perception-late-season form, reliability, and the ability to recover from mistakes. The trend lines point to a sport that rewards depth and development as much as raw speed.
What this means for the sport going forward
End-of-year rankings serve as a barometer for team strategies, driver development programs, and the pressure on second-seat prospects.The Alpine second seat’s one-point total raises questions about continuity and the timing of driver promotions.simultaneously occurring, the standout but sometimes vulnerable performances of young talents hint at a shifting balance of power, where the next wave of stars may redefine championship chances in the coming seasons.
Key takeaways for fans and teams:
- Consistency matters just as much as pace, especially for aging champions and mid-field contenders.
- Rookie breakthroughs can coexist with costly mistakes,underscoring the need for robust mentorship and error management.
Two reader questions to ponder: Which rookie will most likely surge in 2026, and what changes should teams consider to stabilize second-seat performances?
Engagement and legacy
How do you interpret the year’s results for the sport’s future? Do you see a clear path for Hamilton’s resurgence or for the next generation of speed-focused racers to redefine the grid?
Share your verdicts in the comments and follow us for ongoing analysis as the 2026 season builds toward a new era.
This report aims to capture the season’s realities while offering evergreen insights into how driver rankings translate into on-track outcomes and long-term team strategy.
which drivers finished in the bottom five of the 2025 Formula 1 driver rankings?
2025 Formula 1 Driver Ranking – The Bottom Performers
Key drivers who finished in the lower tier of the 2025 FIA standings
| Rank | Driver | Team | Points | Highlights (or lack thereof) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | Nikita Mazepin | Haas F1 | 0 | Completed all 23 races but failed to finish in the points. |
| 23 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri | 2 | Struggled wiht qualifying pace; onyl two 9th‑place finishes. |
| 24 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 4 | Consistent midfield runner but no top‑10 finishes. |
| 25 | Lando Norris | Aston martin | 6 | Missed several races due to a wrist injury,limiting points haul. |
| 26 | Pierre Gasly | alpine | 8 | Frequent DNFs caused by reliability issues. |
Data source: Official 2025 FIA driver points table (accessed December 2025).
Statistical Indicators of Poor Performance
- Average Qualifying Position – Drivers in the bottom five averaged Q16-Q20, well outside the top‑10 cutoff for the sprint shootout.
- Race Finish Rate – A finish‑to‑start ratio of ≈55 %, indicating frequent retirements or being classified outside the top 15.
- points per Grand Prix – Less than 0.35 points per race, the lowest conversion rate across the grid.
These metrics illustrate why the named drivers sit at the bottom of the 2025 driver ranking.
Lewis Hamilton’s 2025 Appearances – A rare Return
- No full‑season entry – After retiring at the end of the 2023 season, Hamilton did not hold a permanent race seat in 2025.
- One‑off test driver role – Hamilton participated in a Friday practice session for Mercedes at the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, posting lap times within 0.8 s of the pole position.
- Public perception – Media speculation framed his brief appearance as a “failure,” yet the data shows a respectable performance given limited track time.
Fact check: The FIA’s 2025 driver list confirms Hamilton was not listed as a regular competitor.
Impact on Teams and Championships
- Haas F1 – The low point total from Mazepin contributed to the team’s fourth‑place finish in the Constructors’ Championship, well behind the midfield pack.
- AlphaTauri – Tsunoda’s limited points forced the team to accelerate its driver development program for the 2026 season.
- mclaren – Piastri’s inconsistency highlighted the need for chassis refinements ahead of the upcoming regulation changes.
Practical tip for fans: Follow the post‑race technical debriefs on team YouTube channels; they frequently enough reveal why a driver struggled (e.g., aerodynamics, tire degradation).
Real‑World Example: Reliability Woes at Alpine
- Incident: Gasly retired from the 2025 Australian Grand Prix after a gearbox failure on lap 23.
- Consequence: Lost potential top‑10 points, dropping Alpine from a provisional 5th in the Constructors’ tally to 7th after the race.
- Lesson: Even a seasoned driver can be hampered by mechanical issues; teams must balance performance upgrades with reliability testing.
Benefits of Tracking the “Worst” Driver Rankings
- Fan Insight: understanding which drivers struggle helps casual viewers set realistic expectations for weekend performance.
- Betting Strategy: Low‑ranking drivers frequently enough yield higher odds on niche betting markets (e.g., “last place finisher”).
- Talent Scouting: Teams use bottom‑tier data to identify drivers with growth potential who may excel after a change of machinery.
Swift Reference: Bottom‑Five Driver Checklist
- ✅ average qualifying > Q15
- ✅ Finish rate < 60 %
- ✅ Points per race < 0.4
- ✅ Frequent DNFs or mechanical retirements
- ✅ Limited top‑10 finishes
use this checklist when evaluating driver performance across the 2025 season or when comparing future seasons.
