The Formula 1 world is again in a stir after the recent publication of the Power Rankings for the Grand Prix of Canada 2025, where Max Verstappen is wronged according to many fans and insiders. The Dutch driver, who has been one of the most dominant figures in sport for years, received a surprisingly low score of the F1 jury after an impressive performance in Montreal. This assessment has led to a storm of criticism, not only from Verstappens loyal supporters, but also of Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, who labeled the jury’s decision as “absurd” and “incomprehensible”. The controversial assessment has rewinded the discussion about the objectivity of the Power Rankings, especially among the fans of the four -time world champion.
During the race weekend on the Gilles Villeneuve circuit, Max Verstappen delivered a major performance. Although he rode in a Red Bull car that did not have the speed of the leading Mercedes of George Russell, Verstappen was constantly busy putting pressure on the Brit. Russell, who grabbed pole position and eventually won the race, was praised by the jury with a rare perfect score of ten. Verstappen, on the other hand, had to do with an 8.4, a figure that placed him in fifth place in the ranking, behind drivers such as Kimi Antonelli, Fernando Alonso and even Nico Hülkenberg. This decision has led to astonishment with many followers of the sport, who believe that Verstappen is being tackled harder than his competitors.
The controversy was further fueled by an incident during the last Safety Car period of the race. Russell consciously seemed to try to lure Verstappen into an error, hoping that the Dutchman would get a punishment that would give him a suspension for the next race in Austria. Verstappen, who is already at eleven penalty points after an earlier collision with Russell in Spain, kept his head cool and avoided a violation. Red Bull filed a protest against Russell after the race, because they found that the Mercedes driver was unportnual behavior by driving irregularly behind the Safety Car. However, this protest was rejected by the FIA, which only increased the frustration within the Red Bull camp. Horner expressed his dissatisfaction in sharp terms: “It is ridiculous that a driver who clearly sorts out the limit is rewarded with a perfect score, while Max, who is driving a clear race, is relegated in the rankings.”
The Power Rankings of Formula 1 are intended to objectively assess the performance of drivers on a racing weekend, but critics state that the jury often uses inconsistent standards. An example of this is the comparison with the Grand Prix of Brazil in 2024, where Verstappen rode a phenomenal catch -up race from P17 to victory, but still did not get a perfect ten. Russell now receives this score, even though he encountered less opposition in Canada and was partly due to the superior speed of his Mercedes. For many fans, this is a sign that the Jury Verstappen does not give the appreciation he deserves, possibly because of his controversial driving style or earlier incidents.
In the annual overview of the Power Rankings, the high score of Russell brought him to third place in the ranking, with only 0.3 point behind Verstappen. The Dutchman himself is in second place, also 0.3 point behind McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, who leads the ranking this season. Lando Norris, Piastri’s teammate, dropped to fifth place after his crash in Canada, hit his own teammate and was blown out of the race. This incident once again emphasized McLaren’s dominance this season, but also the tensions within the team.
The situation is worrying for Verstappen and Red Bull. With a car that is less competitive than that of McLaren and Mercedes, the Dutchman has to rely on his exceptional driving skills to stay in the title race. The persistent speculation about a possible suspension, combined with the low assessments of the Power Rankings, puts extra pressure on the shoulders of the four -time champion. Still, Verstappen remains unperturbed. In a reaction after the race, he said: “I always race like I always do. This nonsense about penalty points does not change my approach.” With fourteen races to go in the season, it is clear that Verstappen will make every effort to silence his critics, both on and next to the track.
The Grand Prix of Canada has again proven that Formula 1 is not only a sport of speed, but also of strategy, politics and controversies. For Verstappen and his fans, the battle has not yet been fought, but the question remains whether the jury of the Power Rankings will ever give a fair assessment of the Dutch superstar.
