Alpine concluded the F1 2025 season with three drivers – Pierre Gasly, Franco Colapinto, and Jack Doohan – finishing in the bottom four, while Yuki Tsunoda was left without a seat for F1 2026.
But who was the least impressive driver of the season? After naming the best driver of F1 2025, our writers now focus on the worst…
Clear Winner: Yuki Tsunoda!
By Michelle Foster
Determining the worst driver is challenging, as performance heavily relies on the car’s capabilities. The Alpine A525 was notably poor in terms of handling, speed, and drivability. However, this does not reflect the drivers’ abilities; Pierre Gasly, for instance, deserves a top-10 finish. In contrast, Yuki Tsunoda’s struggles as a Red Bull driver tell a different story, making him the obvious choice for this title.
Max Verstappen vs Yuki Tsunoda: A Red Bull Comparison for F1 2025
Tsundoda recorded more infractions noted by the stewards than any other driver, excluding track limits. His frequent complaints about Liam Lawson, who was performing better, indicate a mismatch in capabilities given their respective teams. Tsunoda, despite his charisma, has not demonstrated the necessary skill. After five years in Formula 1 with only 30 points, it’s evident that he may not belong in F1.
Franco Colapinto: Need for Improvement
By Mat Coch
Every driver in Formula 1 is significantly talented; the days of merely buying a seat are behind us. Identifying Franco Colapinto as the ‘worst’ driver doesn’t imply he lacks skill, but rather that he had an unsatisfactory season. His performance, possibly due to uncertainty within Alpine, did not match his potential from 2024. Although he brought investment, he failed to convert that into points.
Yuki Tsunoda Again: A Weak Performance
By Henry Valantine
Regrettably, I have to agree with Yuki Tsunoda’s selection. A pre-season could have significantly benefited him had he been chosen initially. While he showed improvement late in the season, it wasn’t enough to lift himself off the bottom. Comparatively, Franco Colapinto performed reasonably against Pierre Gasly but finished without any points, which speaks volumes about his competitiveness.
Jack Doohan: A Struggle to Shine
By Oliver Harden
While Yuki Tsunoda’s performance was lackluster, Jack Doohan’s results raised concerns during his limited time in F1. His most notable incident was crashing into barriers due to leaving his DRS open. Despite being closely matched with Gasly in terms of pace, he seemed overwhelmed by the experience and failed to capitalize on opportunities.
Tsunoda’s Inability to Adapt
By Thomas Maher
Despite no bad drivers in Formula 1, someone must be recognized as the ‘worst.’ For me, that’s Yuki Tsunoda, whose promotion to Red Bull resulted in a dramatic decline in performance. His struggles, compounded by a lack of consistency, resulted in an unprecedented points gap with teammate Max Verstappen. Having had ample time to adjust, his inability to improve raises concerns about his future in F1.
