Formula 1 has revealed the outcome of its yearly poll among team principals, who selected their top 10 drivers of the season. Each team boss submitted a confidential ranking, and points were awarded using the current F1 scoring system (25 points for first down to one point for tenth). The totals were then combined to create the final list.

Max Verstappen, who won six of the final nine Grands Prix and fought for the title until the very end, topped the vote for the fifth consecutive season. World Champion Lando Norris was ranked second, while Oscar Piastri, who led the standings in the early part of the year, completed the top three, matching his championship position.

George Russell secured fourth place after a strong campaign with two victories and seven further podiums, climbing two positions compared to last year’s vote. Fernando Alonso impressed team bosses with his performances in a challenging Aston Martin and finished fifth. Carlos Sainz followed in sixth after a strong second half of the year.

Charles Leclerc was ranked seventh after a difficult, winless season with Ferrari. Haas rookie Ollie Bearman delivered one of the biggest stories of the season and became the top-placed debutant in eighth. Future Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar secured ninth after an impressive year with Racing Bulls, while Nico Hülkenberg rounded out the top ten after finally achieving his first career podium.

The team bosses who voted were: McLaren’s Andrea Stella, Mercedes’ Toto Wolff, Williams’ James Vowles, Racing Bulls’ Alan Permane, Aston Martin senior leadership, Haas’ Ayao Komatsu, Sauber’s Jonathan Wheatley and Alpine Managing Director Steve Nielsen.

F1 team principals’ driver of the year Rankings