Ranking every F1 team's driver lineup

With the 2025 season a few days away, we rank every driver pairing on the grid from the worst to the best.

10. Alpine

It's difficult to muster any confidence in Alpine's 2025 lineup when one can honestly question whether the team itself has confidence in it. There were whispers that the French outfit got cold feet about Jack Doohan's promotion late last year, and the outright signing of Franco Colapinto from Williams seemingly confirmed those doubts. It's a shame Doohan has been put in this lame-duck situation, though mismanagement is hardly a surprise from Alpine. Otherwise, Pierre Gasly is a dependable driver who ended 2024 on a major high. That just won't be enough to rescue what looks like this year's weakest lineup.

9. Racing Bulls

Yuki Tsunoda has outgrown the Racing Bulls and arguably should be driving for Red Bull's main team. Perhaps due to his ties to Honda, which won't provide Red Bull engines next year, he's back at the sister team again. The 24-year-old has improved each season, growing into a dependable driver who can secure his share of Q3 appearances and points finishes. Partnering him is the intriguing 20-year-old Isack Hadjar, who won four races in F2 last season and fell just short of the championship. Both drivers can be a tad hotheaded at times, but if their raw pace is as fiery as their emotions, this lineup could cause problems in the midfield.

8. Kick Sauber

Nico Hulkenberg, 37, is coming off a superb 2024 season where he outpaced Kevin Magnussen by some margin and collected 11 Q3 appearances and 10 points finishes. That's even more impressive considering the veteran had seven 11th-place finishes. Gabriel Bortoleto is no slouch either: The rookie driver became the F3 champion in 2023 before graduating and winning F2 in 2024. Kick Sauber's lineup will likely fly under the radar since the team's expected to have another poor season, but don't be fooled: This is a perfect combination of an underrated veteran and promise for the future.

7. Haas

It's a brand-new look at Haas with Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman in the fold. Ocon may not be a major upgrade over the departing Hulkenberg, but he's performed better than he generally gets credit for. The French pilot even held an edge over Gasly last season at Alpine before his departure was announced. In the other garage, lightning-quick rookie Bearman gets a deserved full-time seat after shining in sporadic appearances last season. Haas might have the most unexpected pairing on the grid, but its pace shouldn't catch anyone off guard.

6. Aston Martin

Aston Martin has the most lopsided lineup in F1. Still, we rank it above most of the midfield due to Alonso's talent. The Spaniard will be 44 by the end of the 2025 season but is still performing like an ageless wonder even though the team's form tailed off after a hot start to 2023. His 2024 performances in Saudi Arabia and China offered a reminder of the two-time champion's skill. Alonso will likely have to carry Aston Martin once again, as the gap between him and Lance Stroll only seems to be growing.

5. Mercedes

For the first time in over a decade, Mercedes won't feature Lewis Hamilton. But there's no shortage of intrigue with George Russell stepping up as team leader and Kimi Antonelli joining as F1's most promising rookie since Max Verstappen. Russell got the better of Hamilton last season, which speaks volumes about how quickly his star is rising. Antonelli's likely growing pains are the only thing keeping this lineup from being ranked higher. Still, the 18-year-old should display his blistering speed and talent. This is a lineup that could shock the masses if Antonelli puts it all together.

4. Williams

Carlos Sainz's arrival instantly boosts the quality of Williams' lineup to a level it hasn't reached in years. On his day, the Spaniard is as fast as any driver on the grid, and his sword is well-sharpened after having the likes of Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Charles Leclerc as teammates during his career. His new adversary is the improved Alex Albon, who has developed into the heart and soul of Williams since his Red Bull exit. Sainz is easily Albon's best teammate since Albon went against Verstappen, and competition should bring out the best from the Williams pair. While their head-to-head results will be worth watching, it'll be most interesting to see what these two can accomplish together.

3. Red Bull Racing

A one-sided pairing at Red Bull is no surprise - but at least the former constructors' champs ditched the declining Sergio Perez for some young blood in Liam Lawson. The Kiwi pilot has made the most of it whenever his number's been called by AlphaTauri and RB. If he can avoid succumbing to the dreaded Verstappen Teammate Syndrome, Red Bull will reap the rewards of this lineup decision. As for Verstappen, who still seems to be at the peak of his powers, not much needs to be said. He won the 2024 title in a car that was far from the fastest for most of the season, further cementing his status as a generational talent.

2. McLaren

F1's fastest-rising driver pairing is expected to take a massive step in 2025. There's no more doubt about Norris' pace after he collected eight poles and four victories last season, though he arguably should have had even more wins if not for some missteps on his part. If he can put those behind him, he'll be one of the toughest drivers to beat. Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri's gap to Norris appeared to widen in 2024, but he also grabbed his first two career wins. If Piastri arrives hungry and determined to close that gap and dispel the idea he's a No. 2, McLaren will have a strong claim as the strongest duo on the grid. Until then, we'll leave the reigning constructors' champion as the runner-up.

1. Ferrari

Was there any doubt? Hamilton and Leclerc are one of the strongest driver pairings that F1 has seen in quite some time. Together, they have more poles than the rest of the grid combined. While the 40-year-old British driver seemed to lose a step last year, a move to Ferrari should reignite his pursuit of his elusive eighth drivers' title. A grand opportunity also awaits Leclerc, who's coming off his most well-rounded season: He can not only fight for his first championship, but also try to outmatch a seven-time champion. Both pilots should be driving at their absolute limit.