The 2025 Formula 1 season had a significant economic impact when it came to car damages. The “Destroyers” ranking, which tracks the total cost of accidents and repairs, provides a clear picture not only of reliability but also of risk management and discipline on track. Comparing 2025 with 2024 reveals notable changes and a shift in patterns for several drivers and teams.
Bortoleto leads, Tsunoda and Norris complete the podium
At the top of the 2025 Destroyers ranking is Gabriel Bortoleto, with $3,976,000 in damages. Behind him are Yuki Tsunoda ($3,497,000) and Lando Norris ($2,899,000), forming a top three that highlights how even high-profile drivers can significantly influence seasonal costs.
The upper part of the table also includes Lance Stroll, Charles Leclerc, and Oscar Piastri, all exceeding two million dollars. This group represents a substantial portion of total damages, showing how errors, collisions, and off-track excursions had a notable financial impact during the early part of the season.
Team overview: Alpine and McLaren hardest hit
On a team level, Alpine tops this particular 2025 ranking with $5,348,000 in total damages. Following closely are McLaren ($5,071,000) and Kick Sauber ($5,015,000), all within a relatively narrow margin.
Red Bull and Ferrari are slightly behind in fourth and fifth, while Mercedes closes the list with $1,385,000, making it the least penalized team in terms of accident-related costs.
Top 5 comparison: 2024 vs. 2025
| Top 5 2024 | Top 5 2025 |
|---|---|
| Sergio Pérez $3,810,000 | Gabriel Bortoleto $3,976,000 |
| Alex Albon $3,660,000 | Yuki Tsunoda $3,497,000 |
| George Russell $2,610,000 | Lando Norris $2,899,000 |
| Logan Sargeant $2,360,000 | Lance Stroll $2,678,000 |
| Carlos Sainz $2,260,000 | Charles Leclerc $2,204,000 |
Comparing with 2024: a shift in the protagonists
The 2024 Destroyers ranking saw Sergio Pérez, Alex Albon, and George Russell at the top, with high costs concentrated in specific incidents. In 2025, the distribution is broader and less tied to a single critical event. Drivers like Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, and Max Verstappen, who had minimal impact in 2024, show a significant increase in accumulated damages, indicating a season more challenging in terms of control and overall reliability.
With the 2025 season now concluded, the Destroyers ranking serves as a definitive assessment of risk management and the economic impact of accidents. The data confirm that some teams and drivers paid a high price in damages, directly affecting resources within the budget cap.
The comparison with 2024 shows an overall increase in costs and a redistribution of responsibility, highlighting a season that was not only more competitive but also demanded greater precision and reliability. In this context, the 2025 Destroyers ranking is not merely a statistical curiosity but a tangible indicator of the operational challenges teams faced throughout the year.
Looking ahead to 2026: technical revolution to reshape costs
The 2025 Destroyers ranking, with Bortoleto at the top and Alpine among the most economically penalized teams, takes on particular significance looking toward 2026, the year of major technical changes in Formula 1. New hybrid power units, drastic aerodynamic revisions, and modifications to technical regulations are set to make the cars more complex to manage and potentially more fragile during early adaptation.
With the budget cap becoming even tighter, teams’ ability to limit damages will be crucial: those who adapt quickly to the new cars will gain a double advantage, both performance- and cost-wise. Teams that demonstrated greater control over incident costs in 2025, such as Mercedes, could benefit, while teams and drivers accustomed to wider margins of error will need to drastically revise their approach. The 2026 season could therefore not only shake up the Constructors’ Championship but also the “Destroyers” ranking, making risk management as decisive as raw speed.
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