The 2025 Formula 1 season has come to a close, delivering excitement, surprises, unexpected podiums, and an intense championship battle. Among the twenty drivers, some stood out for their competitiveness and consistency, while others struggled and disappointed. Today, we take a closer look at the drivers who failed to meet expectations this season.
Lewis Hamilton
Leading this group is none other than the seven-time world champion. The excitement of joining Ferrari quickly faded, partly due to the difficulty of adapting to Maranello and a lack of connection with the SF-25. Charles Leclerc consistently outperformed Hamilton, who will need to use this time away from the track to reset and return stronger in 2026.
Oscar Piastri
The runner-up of the championship, Oscar Piastri was just steps away from triumph. Losing the title fell squarely on the Australian’s shoulders, as a brilliant first half of the season was followed by a dramatic decline after the summer break. A more vulnerable side of Piastri emerged, and despite a late-season recovery, he could not reclaim the championship lead. While this can be partially excused as it was only his third season in F1, 2026 will demand consistency and determination: there is no room for mistakes.
Yuki Tsunoda
It was a year to forget for the Japanese driver, who even lost his Formula 1 seat. His stint with Red Bull was disastrous, being significantly outperformed by Max Verstappen in the championship standings. Frequent mistakes and shortcomings overshadowed the few races where he impressed. His seat now goes to Hadjar, leaving Tsunoda on the sidelines. Will this dramatic departure mark the end of his F1 career, or could we see a remarkable return in 2026? From his reserve role, he will be watching closely.
Franco Colapinto
For the Argentine, the challenges are clear: he scored no points from his debut at Imola, while peers like Gasly managed 22. Colapinto had no standout performances but has another season to prove himself to the Enstone team. He will be one to watch in 2026.
Esteban Ocon
The Frenchman had a season of highs and lows, losing the internal team battle to Oliver Bearman, who proved more consistent over 24 rounds. In 2026, Ocon must leverage his vast experience or risk further setbacks.
Lance Stroll
Few words are needed for the Canadian, whose future in Formula 1 is increasingly questioned. The saying “seat guaranteed by daddy” seems ever more fitting. His wet-weather performances were notable, but overall, enthusiasm has been nearly nonexistent.
The underwhelming performers
Finally, we have drivers who didn’t have a disastrous season but consistently underperformed. Leading this group is Alex Albon, who after a remarkable start, lost his way and even saw Sainz bring the Williams to two podiums. Next is Fernando Alonso, whose season was marked by inconsistency due to a challenging car. Alonso himself has declared his desire to forget 2025 and focus on 2026; we hope that the arrival of Adrian Newey and regulatory changes will restore success for “super Nando.”
Liam Lawson also had mixed fortunes. Despite losing the Red Bull seat, he found his footing in Racing Bulls, scoring points. However, he lost the internal team battle to Hadjar, who will join Max Verstappen. Lawson will face a new rookie teammate, Arvid Lindblad, promising a dynamic 2026. Closing the list is Pierre Gasly, who deserves recognition for scoring 22 points with a difficult car. We hope this season’s review will serve as motivation for a stronger 2026.
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