The five best and worst Formula 1 races of 2025, as rated by our readers

What were the best and worst Formula 1 races of 2025? The votes have been counted and the verdict is in – here’s your pick of the action from the last 12 months.

Five worst Formula 1 races of 2025

2025 United States Grand Prix sprint race

Average rating: 4.2/10

A first-lap crash which eliminated four drivers – including two of the championship contenders – plus a later collision between Esteban Ocon and Lance Stroll meant a significant proportion of the sprint race at the Circuit of the Americas was spent behind the Safety Car.

I fast-forwarded through pretty much everything, which was the two Safety Cars. Good to see Hamilton get his place back.
@Pcxmac

• 2025 United States Grand Prix sprint race report

2025 Japanese Grand Prix

Average rating: 3.8/10

Max Verstappen claimed a surprise pole position and held off the McLaren drivers, but they never looked likely to attack and nor did many battles develop behind them in a processional race at Suzuka.

One of the most utterly dull races I can remember. While the top three may have been close to each other at no point did they get anywhere near being in an overtaking position, excluding Lando’s lawnmower escapade, so it was just a parade.

I feel strangely vindicated in my decision to stay at the hotel in Kyoto (here on holiday with my wife timed for Sakura and F1) and watch the race on TV rather than squash myself like a sardine on the trains between Nagoya and Suzuka, and potentially get drenched into the bargain. I’ll admit I was concerned I’d miss some fantastic first corner action at the start of the race – needn’t have worried about that!

Saturday qualifying was good to watch and it’s great seeing the cars pelting down the hill into the first turn.

However, in terms of racing action the first Ferrari Challenge Japan race on Saturday between FP3 and qualifying knocked the socks off F1 on Sunday, especially the last couple of laps. The cars in third and fourth coming down the main straight side-by-side into turn one, and trading paint through 130R – the race is on YouTube if you want to see what I mean.

That shows it’s not the track that’s the problem, but the F1 cars, and maybe a bit, I think, the mentality of the teams as well where everyone has conservative strategies.
Marcus (@Wombat1m)

• 2025 Japanese Grand Prix report

2025 Monaco Grand Prix

Average rating: 3.7/10

Drivers warned that Formula 1’s plan to force two pit stops during the Monaco Grand Prix would increase the amount of tactical slow driving which happens at tracks where passing is difficult. They were proved correct, and the race entered our list of 10 lowest-rated grands prix since 2008, but this wasn’t the lowest score seen this season.

I’m so torn, because I love Monaco and I look forward to it every year. The atmosphere, the build up to qualifying and seeing the drivers gradually push harder and harder, centimetres from the barriers. Watching an F1 car around Monaco is still amazing.

But the mandatory two-stop rule only exacerbated the existing problems with racing massive modern F1 cars here. I hope Monaco is always on the F1 calendar, but I fear that something has to be done when a car ahead that is five seconds slower just simply can’t be passed. A race should not be based on who can hold up most people for the longest.

I don’t know the answer, but I know that the cars have changed hugely and the streets of Monaco haven’t. There has to be a middle ground to make them gel with each other again.
@Dot_com

• 2025 Monaco Grand Prix report

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2025 Belgian Grand Prix sprint race

Average rating: 3.0/10

Aside from Lando Norris overtaking Charles Leclerc on lap three, no changes of position occured among the top 14 cars throughout the entire race.

It was a very good demonstration of the reasons for which there are so many people that do not like the sprint ‘races’.
Nikos (@Exeviolthor)

• 2025 Belgian Grand Prix sprint race report

2025 Qatar Grand Prix sprint race

Average rating: 2.0/10

Aside from Andrea Kimi Antonelli overtaking Fernando Alonso on lap 12, no changes of position occured among the top 16 cars throughout the entire race.

Suddenly Belgium 2021 doesn’t seem quite so bad.
Rprp

• 2025 Qatar Grand Prix sprint race report

Five best Formula 1 races of 2025

2025 Mexican Grand Prix

Average rating: 7.2/10

A race which saw all kinds of shenanigans at the first corner, a clash between old foes Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, and a remarkable drive to fourth place by Oliver Bearman.

This was a brilliant race. Easily the greatest Mexican Grand Prix since we returned to the venue. Battles all over, surprise results, three different strategies all working. The only negatives are incredibly strange penalty calls. Lewis cut a corner and gained time, that much is true. His penalty was accurate. But many others did the same.
Christopher Rehn (@ChrisChrill)

• 2025 Mexican Grand Prix report

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2025 Bahrain Grand Prix

Average rating: 7.5/10

While Oscar Piastri won, George Russell impressively held Lando Norris back to claim second place, despite problems with his car.

This was the first race I watched live after a long break. I have to say I love this F1. McLaren winning, lots of quality overtaking and my guy Charles Leclerc fighting like a lion. Not sure if the Safety Car was needed though.
@Girts

• 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix report

2025 Brazilian Grand Prix

Average rating: 7.7/10

Andrea Kimi Antonelli scored his best result to date with second place, holding off Verstappen who recovered from a pit lane start. Norris won but Piastri collected a controversial penalty in the highest-rated dry race of the year.

A regular, dry F1 race can’t get much better than this. Extremely close field, strategic variation, drivers could attack and pass, and there were genuine surprises and easy-to-follow storylines like Verstappen’s rise through the field. A rather entertaining motor race.

On the flip side: DRS was slightly overpowered, there was no fight for the win, and Piastri got a strange penalty. But these are minor gripes.
@KaIIe

• 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix report

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2025 Australian Grand Prix

Average rating: 8.0/10

The season got off to a gripping start as rain played havoc with the opening race. The McLaren pair went off while leading, though Norris clung on to take victory, while all sorts of dramas unfolded behind them.

Even when McLaren were running away there was a battle for the lead brewing. Lots of strategic tension around the weather. Some critical errors from top drivers and great performances in challenging conditions.
DaveW (@dmw)

• 2025 Australian Grand Prix report

2025 British Grand Prix

Average rating: 8.1/10

Another race transformed by wet weather, and another case of Piastri collecting a hotly-debated penalty. Verstappen spun off and Nico Hulkenberg finally scored the first podium finish of his career – from the back row of the grid.

I enjoyed nearly every minute. The Safety Cars did distract a little because the cars spent a lot of time behind them rather than racing.

The penalty did also detract from the race at the front a little. I thought it was a penalty but 10 secs was too severe. It did mean then though that Norris was almost certain to win providing he didn’t spin off. But there was always something going on throughout the field.

Great to see Hulkenberg finally get his podium. A great story. It looked like Lewis was destined to catch him but his final tyre change and spin off did for him.
Phil Norman (@Phil-F1-21)

• 2025 British Grand Prix report

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2025 F1 race ratings

NB. Due to a technical problem no score is available for the Miami Grand Prix

More Rate the Race results

Browse the top 100 and bottom 10 races and compare the average scores for each circuit:

• Rate the Race: The RaceFans Top 100 F1 Races
• Rate the Race: The RaceFans Bottom 10 F1 Races
• Rate the Race: Formula 1 circuit ratings

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