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Max Verstappen has been named Driver of the Year for the fourth consecutive time by Formula 1’s team principals, following his successful defense of the World Drivers' Championship title in 2024. This marks an exceptional achievement for Verstappen, who secured his fourth title this season.
For the first time in the history of this annual poll, conducted over the past seven years, Verstappen received the maximum number of points from all 10 team principals. Each principal submitted their top 10 drivers, with the rankings kept confidential. The points were then awarded based on the standard Formula 1 system, where the top driver receives 25 points, the second 18, and so on down to 1 point for the 10th place. This points system was used to determine the final rankings, and Verstappen emerged as the clear winner with a perfect score.
McLaren’s Lando Norris Takes Second Place
Lando Norris, who finished as the championship runner-up to Verstappen in 2024, secured second place in the rankings, improving by one position compared to last year. Norris, who had a standout season with McLaren, accumulated 178 points, falling 72 points behind Verstappen.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc Completes the Podium
Charles Leclerc rounded out the top three for Ferrari, finishing in third place. Leclerc remained consistent in his performances throughout the season, with 121 points, a one-position improvement from the previous year.
Rising Stars and Season Highlights
Oscar Piastri, who celebrated his first-ever world title with McLaren, made a significant rise in the rankings, moving up three places to fourth. This followed McLaren’s historic win of the Constructors' Championship for the first time since 1998.
Carlos Sainz also had an impressive season, moving up one position to finish in fifth place. This was his final season with Ferrari before his upcoming move to Williams. George Russell of Mercedes climbed three positions to take sixth place.
Hamilton and Other Notable Rankings
Lewis Hamilton, Verstappen’s closest competitor in previous seasons, saw a slight decline in his position, finishing in seventh place. This was two places down from his ranking last year. Nico Hülkenberg made a notable entry at eighth after a stellar season with Haas, earning votes from nine out of the 10 team principals.
Alonso and Gasly’s Rankings
Fernando Alonso, who had a difficult season with Aston Martin, saw the biggest drop in the rankings, falling seven places to finish in ninth. Pierre Gasly, after a strong end to the season with Alpine—including a podium finish—made his debut in the top 10, securing the final spot.
Complete Ranking of F1’s Top 10 Drivers in 2024
Below is the full list of drivers, their points, and their comparison to the 2023 rankings:
1. Max Verstappen – 250 points (Equal to 2023)
2. Lando Norris – 178 points (Up 1 from 2023)
3. Charles Leclerc – 121 points (Up 1 from 2023)
4. Oscar Piastri – 113 points (Up 3 from 2023)
5. Carlos Sainz – 110 points (Up 1 from 2023)
6. George Russell – 86 points (Up 3 from 2023)
7. Lewis Hamilton – 54 points (Down 2 from 2023)
8. Nico Hülkenberg – 39 points (New entry)
9. Fernando Alonso – 27 points (Down 7 from 2023)
10. Pierre Gasly – 21 points (New entry)
Team Principals' Poll
The team principals who participated in this poll (listed alphabetically) included: Alessandro Alunni Bravi (Alfa Romeo), Christian Horner (Red Bull Racing), Ayao Komatsu (Alfa Romeo), Mike Krack (Aston Martin), Laurent Mekies (Ferrari), Oli Oakes (Aston Martin), Andrea Stella (McLaren), Fred Vasseur (Ferrari), James Vowles (Williams), and Toto Wolff (Mercedes).
This ranking is a reflection of Verstappen’s continued dominance in Formula 1 and the fierce competition among other drivers who have impressed throughout the season.
