Max Verstappen has emerged top of the F1 driver ratings list for the latest video game instalment from Codemasters.
Due to launch later this week, for the first time since Codemasters took over the franchise in 2009, a dedicated game will not be released.
Instead, the 2026 season, featuring the all-new cars and teams, including Audi and Cadillac, and the new Madring, which will host the Spanish GP, will be part of an 'add-on' to the existing F1 2025 game.
In preparation for that, Codemasters have unveiled their rankings for the class of 2026, with Red Bull driver Verstappen taking top spot with a score of 95 out of 99.
Drivers are measured in four areas: Experience, Racecraft, Awareness, and Pace, with the four numbers being added up and then divided to create the overall ratings.
Beyond Verstappen, of the non-2025 rookies now into their second season, Oscar Piastri (+4), Lando Norris, and George Russell (+3) were the biggest winners and leapfrogged Charles Leclerc (+1) up the table.
Meanwhile, the biggest overall faller was Carlos Sainz of Williams.
The Spanish racer lost a total of four points as he fell to 86, despite scoring Williams' first two podiums in normal race conditions since 2017 in his first season with the team.
Of the class of 2025 rookies, collectively, these drivers enjoyed the highest growth across the board as Codemasters had the benefit of a full season of real-life data on which to base their virtual rankings.
Isack Hadjar enjoyed a bump of 15 points to 83, the highest of any driver, with Mercedes' world championship leader Kimi Antonelli moving up 11 points to also 83.
Antonelli has won the last four grands prix and leads the championship by 43 points, but a further mid-season update is likely to reflect this.
Check out the full table of the driver ratings for F1 2026 below!
Originally published by RacingNews365 —
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