In-depth comparisons using excerpts of the full dataset.
This analysis page uses excerpts of the full dataset to support and develop specific claims: Career Points reflect longevity, points per race is the best metric when comapring across experience levels, and DNFs help to explain a driver's volatility.
To view the full dataset and specific driver summaries, check out the Data Grid page.
The drivers with the most years in Formula 1 will naturally have an increased amount of chances to get points. This is why Career points as a metric is an unreliable measure of who is the current best driver.
| Driver | GP Entered | Career Points |
|---|---|---|
| Lewis Hamilton | 380 | 5018.5 |
| Fernando Alonso | 427 | 2393 |
| Max Verstappen | 233 | 3444.5 |
Notice how Fernando Alonso has the most races in this group and Lewis Hamilton has very high career points becaues of his long and succesful career in F1. Now compare that to Max Verstappen, who has fewer races than both of them, but still has extremely high total Career Points. This demonstrates how Career Points can be an unreliable metric.
Points per race (Career Points divided by GP Entered) helps to compare drivers with different levels of experience. While it doesn't include every possible statistic (since the car itself still matters because a great driver could get low points just because the car is bad), it at least helps to make more accurate analyses.
| Driver | GP Entered | Career Points | Points Per Race |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis Hamilton | 380 | 5018.5 | 13.21 |
| Max Verstappen | 233 | 3444.5 | 14.78 |
| Charles Leclerc | 171 | 1672 | 9.78 |
Max Verstappen's points-per-race is higher than Lewis Hamilton's and Charles Leclerc's, demonstrating how the pointer per race metric can reveal far better insights than overall Career Points.
DNFs (did not finish) can reduce the total points a driver gets, making them appear inconsistent. While it may just be bad luck on race day, it can sometimes be an indication of a high-risk driving style.
| Driver | Career Points | DNFs | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fernando Alonso | 2393 | 83 | Lots of experience but lots volatility |
| Carlos Sainz | 1336.5 | 42 | Scores a ton of points but has a ton of DNFs |
| Lando Norris | 1430 | 13 | Strong scorer and very reliable |
Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris have a close amount of Career Points despite Sainz having more than double Norris's DNF count. This is because Sainz is a risky driver, meaning he scores high but also crashes a ton.
The 2025 Formula 1 season welcomed 6 new drivers to the grid: Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Oliver Bearman, Gabriel Bortoleto, Liam Lawson, Jack Doohan, and Isack Hadjar.
". Whenever new drivers enter the grid, people begin to wonder which of them has the potential to be a future championship winner.
| Rookie | GP Entered | Career Points | DNFs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimi Antonelli | 24 | 150 | 4 |
| Oliver Bearman | 27 | 48 | 3 |
| Gabriel Bortoleto | 24 | 19 | 5 |
This excerpt demonstrates how because rookies have entered far fewer races, their total Career Points smaller because of their lack of time on the track, making it an unfair evaluation of their skill.