As the 2025 Formula 1 season gains momentum with dramatic driver shuffles and a fierce title race brewing at the top, fans have turned their attention to a different kind of ranking — the official driver ratings for the upcoming F1 25 video game, set to release on May 30. EA Sports dropped the initial ratings this Thursday, and social media has since erupted with mixed reactions from the F1 community.
The season has already delivered some major headlines, particularly in terms of team shakeups. Liam Lawson, who began the season with Red Bull Racing, was swiftly demoted to the sister team, Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, after just two races. His replacement? A returning Yuki Tsunoda, who has reclaimed a seat at Red Bull in a surprise early-season switch.
In another bold move, Alpine parted ways with rookie Australian Jack Doohan following the Miami Grand Prix. The French outfit quickly replaced him with rising Argentine talent Franco Colapinto. These rapid changes have only added to the drama surrounding the new season, with teams already looking to maximize performance and potential before the summer break.
Meanwhile, McLaren has emerged as the early powerhouse in 2025. Oscar Piastri has taken the lead in the championship standings, outperforming teammate Lando Norris and even three-time world champion Max Verstappen, who currently trails in third. The resurgence of the Woking-based outfit has been one of the season’s biggest storylines.
But despite Piastri’s stellar on-track form, it’s the F1 25 driver ratings that have stirred the most conversation this week. According to the initial ratings released by EA Sports, reigning world champion Max Verstappen tops the list with an impressive overall rating of 95 — a number few will argue with. Just behind him are Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, both rated at 91.
Controversy arises, however, with the rest of the list. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton received a respectable 89, while Piastri, who currently leads the 2025 championship, was rated at just 87 — sparking outrage among fans. At the lower end of the spectrum, Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar received the lowest score of 68, followed closely by Kimi Antonelli at 72. Interestingly, Jack Doohan — who is no longer on the grid — was rated 73, still higher than Antonelli. Franco Colapinto’s rating remains unknown at this stage.
Fans did not hold back on social media, with many calling out what they saw as baffling or unfair assessments.
“Lando at the same rating as Charles? Get real,” one fan wrote bluntly. Another questioned the logic behind the numbers, asking: “Are these the pre-season ratings? Will they be updated when the game drops?”
The rating given to Piastri was a particular point of contention. “Oscar below Lando is wild,” tweeted one fan, while another went even further, declaring: “Piastri only getting an 87 overall is criminal.”
The confusion didn’t end there. One user highlighted the disparity between Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon: “Sainz 90 but Albon 83?! What the f*** are these ratings?” Another added, “Haha you need to update your ratings I guess… Isack and Kimi rates are a joke NGL. Alonso is overrated IMO and Oscar underrated.”
With tensions high both on the racetrack and in the gaming world, fans will now look ahead to the next race — the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at the legendary Imola circuit. As the 2025 season unfolds and performances continue to shift, fans will be watching closely to see whether EA Sports makes any adjustments to its ratings — or if the debate will only intensify as the game launches at the end of May.
