F1i's 2025 Driver Rankings: The grid's lower half

Welcome to the side of the garage where the coffee is bitter and the carbon fiber bills are hefty.

In a year defined by brutal rookie learning curves and veteran mid-life crises, these eleven drivers found themselves fighting more than just their rivals – they were fighting their own machinery, their own teammates, and in many cases, their own weaknesses.

From a seven-time champion looking for the exit door to rookies who treated the barriers like magnetic north, here is the autopsy of the 2025 season’s underperformers.

#21 Jack Doohan - Alpine

Jack Doohan’s dead-last standing is largely a matter of unfortunate timing and a very short runway. Tasked with proving his worth at Alpine over just a handful of Grands Prix, the Australian frequently found himself at the mercy of a steep learning curve.

While he occasionally turned heads with raw velocity, those moments were often eclipsed by expensive carbon-fiber confetti—most notably during a clumsy opening lap in the Australian downpour and a costly error at Suzuka’s first turn.

There were hints that he could eventually keep Pierre Gasly honest, but his 2025 legacy is mostly a collection of "what ifs" and a heavy repair bill.

#20 Franco Colapinto - Alpine

Stepping into the Alpine pressure cooker mid-campaign is a tall order for anyone, and Colapinto’s mid-season entry was a baptism by fire. His tenure began with a forgettable blunder during his first qualifying session at Imola, setting a tone of frustration that lasted for months.

While he eventually found his footing around the time the circus reached Hungary, consistently matching Gasly’s rhythm remained an elusive goal. A recurring struggle with his technique under heavy braking eventually led to a crash in Brazil, punctuating a season of "almosts."

He’s got a seat for 2026, but he’ll need to find that missing three-tenths of a second fast.

#19 Lance Stroll - Aston Martin

Lance Stroll’s 2025 was a masterclass in the art of "just being there". While he was quick to grumble about the Aston Martin’s lack of grip, the stopwatch was far less sympathetic.

Being soundly beaten in qualifying by Fernando Alonso in virtually every encounter - save for a random sprint in China - exposed a lack of genuine spark. His season peaked far too early with a fortunate haul in Melbourne, after which he seemed to drift into a state of competitive hibernation.

Scoring a solitary point across the final nine events wasn't just a car issue; it was the hallmark of a driver who appeared to have left his motivation in the motorhome. As usual.