Verstappen Leads Most Laps in 2025 Despite Missing Title
Max Verstappen dominated the track in 2025, leading more laps than anyone else despite narrowly missing out on his fifth straight Formula 1 championship.
The Red Bull Racing star led an impressive 454 laps throughout the season, just edging out Oscar Piastri‘s 452.
It was a remarkable comeback effort from Verstappen, who at one point trailed championship leader Lando Norris by a staggering 104 points. In the end, he finished just two points behind Norris in one of the closest title battles in recent memory.
Piastri nearly claimed the most-laps-led honor in Abu Dhabi by running an alternative strategy and staying out longer, but fell short by just two laps.
New world champion Norris only led the third-most laps this season with 373.
George Russell was the only other driver to break the 100-lap mark, finishing with 103 laps led for Mercedes.
Four additional drivers managed to lead at least one lap during the 2025 campaign: Charles Leclerc, rookie sensation Kimi Antonelli, Lewis Hamilton, and Alexander Albon.
Most laps led in the 2025 Formula 1 season
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull – 454 laps
- Oscar Piastri, McLaren – 452 laps
- Lando Norris, McLaren – 373 laps
- George Russell, Mercedes – 103 laps
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari – 48 laps
- Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes – 11 laps
- Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari – 2 laps
- Alexander Albon, Williams – 1 lap
Peers recognize Verstappen as best driver of 2025
While he didn’t capture the championship trophy, Verstappen’s incredible comeback didn’t go unnoticed.
The Dutchman topped both the drivers’ and team bosses’ lists of the top 10 drivers of the season – a clear sign of the respect he commands throughout the paddock.
He’s currently enjoying a well-deserved holiday in Brazil before preparations begin for the 2026 Formula 1 season.
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