Max Verstappen Cemented as F1 King While Ex-Teammate Plummets

Max Verstappen heads the 2026 Formula 1 driver ratings in Codemasters’ latest update to F1 2025, released ahead of Monaco, providing the clearest snapshot of expected competitive order.

There is no standalone 2026 game. Instead, the add-on brings new-generation cars, fresh entries Audi and Cadillac, and the Madring circuit, scheduled to host the Spanish Grand Prix.

Drivers are scored for Experience, Racecraft, Awareness, and Pace. These combine into an overall rating, with Verstappen on 95, reinforcing his status as the F1 king of the virtual grid.

Oscar Piastri climbs four points to 91. Lando Norris and George Russell each gain three. Charles Leclerc inches to 92, reflecting steady development as that cohort settles into leadership roles.

Carlos Sainz suffers the sharpest established-driver fall. Now at Williams, he drops four to 86 despite delivering the team’s first two podiums since 2017 in standard race conditions.

Rookies see dramatic recalibration. Isack Hadjar jumps 15 to 83, the biggest gain. Mercedes leader Kimi Antonelli improves 11 to 83 after four straight wins and a 43-point real-world lead.

Codemasters typically updates mid-season. Given current trajectories, Antonelli and Hadjar are strong candidates for further increases if their results sustain against improving opposition.

McLaren’s upward curve is reflected in the numbers. The Piastri-Norris pairing has converted race pace into consistency, echoing recent analysis of McLaren’s Verstappen-chasing development.

For Red Bull, Verstappen’s headline 95 contrasts with circuit-specific vulnerabilities. Monaco is expected to compress margins, with renewed pressure and ongoing weight-management concerns shaping expectations.

With Red Bull less comfortable on street circuits, Lewis Hamilton’s prospects emerge as a legitimate talking point for Monaco’s unique demands.

These ratings are not predictions, but form-guided indicators. They distill recent evidence into a hierarchy the game can track, then adjust, as new events and circuits broaden the 2026 picture.

Visual Summary

James William

James William covers the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, from the Rolex 24 at Daytona to sprint-race formats. His reports include prototype performance reviews, GT class battles, and pit-stop strategy insights for endurance-racing fans.