The Red Flags Podcast Guenther Steiner’s 2025 End-of-Year F1 Driver Rankings!
Jan 1, 2026
Guenther Steiner, the outspoken Formula 1 team principal, joins Matt and Brian to unveil his bold 2025 driver rankings. He controversially ranks Yuki Tsunoda a surprising C and drops Lewis Hamilton to B, citing struggling performance. Guenther highlights impressive rookie performances, giving Isaac Hadjar an A- and elevating Oli Behrman to a B+. He places Max Verstappen in the coveted S tier for his championship win, while Charles Leclerc earns an A for consistency. The dynamic discussion is filled with laughter and hot takes, making for an entertaining analysis of the season.
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Grading Drivers Like A School Report
- Guenther uses a school-like grading framework (A/B/C/D/S) to evaluate drivers across the season.
- This framework blends objective results with subjective judgement to create emotionally driven rankings.
Doohan's Off-Track Wobbles
- Guenther recounts Jack Doohan crashing three times in Japan, though not in Formula 1.
- He uses that story to justify keeping Doohan at a D grade.
Team Context Shapes Driver Grades
- Guenther notes Franco Golapinto's lack of chances in an Alpine-made car limits visible performance.
- He grades drivers partly on opportunity and team context, not only raw talent.