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Alpine
Pierre Gasly sneaks into the top 10, thanks largely to his strong finish to the season. While the start of the year wasn’t bad, Alpine’s lack of performance made it tough to judge his efforts. But when the car finally became competitive, Gasly made the most of it.
He scored points in four of the final five rounds, including a standout performance in Brazil, where Alpine celebrated a memorable double podium. Gasly also narrowly outqualified his teammate, Esteban Ocon, with a 16-13 edge in qualifying and sprint sessions. His third-place grid position in Las Vegas was a highlight, showcasing his ability to deliver when it mattered most.
9. Lewis Hamilton
Red Bull
Age at 2025 season’s start: 27
Championship position in 2024: 1st
Wins in 2024: 9
Let’s start with the reigning champ. Max Verstappen is coming off his fourth consecutive title, and there’s a strong case to be made for him to make it five in a row—a feat only Michael Schumacher has achieved. Despite some struggles in the latter half of 2024, Verstappen’s nine wins were more than double those of his closest rivals and equal to the combined total of Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc, and Oscar Piastri.
However, Red Bull’s dominance has been slipping. Since May, when Norris beat Verstappen fair and square, the team’s performance has been on a downward trajectory. The departure of design legend Adrian Newey and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley could further complicate matters. If Red Bull can’t reverse this trend, Verstappen might find himself struggling to stay in the top three.
Lando Norris
Championship position in 2024: 1st
Wins in 2024: 9
Seattle Sounders
Seattle’s veteran goalkeeper Stefan Frei was the hero of the weekend, making nine saves in the Sounders’ 2-1 win over LAFC. Frei’s big-game reputation was on full display, and his performance drew high praise from head coach Brian Schmetzer. “How that guy hasn’t won Goalkeeper of the Year is a travesty,” Schmetzer said. “He’s the best shot-stopper in the league, bar none.” — Becherano
Gabriel Pec
