EA Sports has unveiled the official driver ratings for the upcoming F1 25 video game. As anticipated, certain rankings are expected to spark considerable discussion among fans, with one notable exception: the decision to grant the highest overall rating (OVR) to four-time world champion Max Verstappen, who begins the game with a 95 OVR.
Each driver`s overall rating is composed of four underlying statistics: Experience, Racecraft, Awareness, and Pace. The reigning Red Bull driver boasts stats of 87 for Experience, 96 for Racecraft, 85 for Awareness, and 96 for Pace. The inclusion of Experience as a distinct stat is particularly interesting, as it provides insight into why talented young and emerging drivers might initially appear underrated within the game`s system.
This emphasis on Experience significantly affects the OVRs of promising rookies like Kimi Antonelli, Oliver Bearman, Isack Hadjar, and Gabriel Bortoleto. Despite their impressive performances in their debut season, their lower Experience scores cap their overall ratings. Similarly, Oscar Piastri, who is currently leading the real-world championship, has a relatively modest 87 OVR due to this rule, placing him below more seasoned competitors such as Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.
Complete F1 25 Driver Ratings:
- Max Verstappen (95 OVR)
- Lando Norris (91 OVR)
- Charles Leclerc (91 OVR)
- George Russell (90 OVR)
- Carlos Sainz (90 OVR)
- Lewis Hamilton (89 OVR)
- Fernando Alonso (88 OVR)
- Oscar Piastri (87 OVR)
- Pierre Gasly (86 OVR)
- Esteban Ocon (85 OVR)
- Nico Hülkenberg (84 OVR)
- Alexander Albon (83 OVR)
- Yuki Tsunoda (82 OVR)
- Liam Lawson (80 OVR)
- Lance Stroll (78 OVR)
- Oliver Bearman (74 OVR)
- Gabriel Bortoleto (74 OVR)
- Jack Doohan (73 OVR)
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli (72 OVR)
- Isack Hadjar (68 OVR)
As of the game`s release, there has been no information on how EA Sports will incorporate recent driver changes, such as Franco Colapinto replacing Jack Doohan at Alpine. Likewise, it remains uncertain whether Liam Lawson will start the season in the Red Bull car or if he will swap with Yuki Tsunoda from the outset in the game.
EA Sports has indicated that driver ratings will be subject to updates throughout the Formula 1 season. Therefore, players can anticipate adjustments to some of the initial, potentially surprising, numbers relatively soon after the game becomes available.
Dominic Ashworth