The 2025 Formula 1 season has delivered fireworks, fresh rivalries, and a shift in the sport’s power balance, as McLaren emerge as the team to beat and Oscar Piastri rises to the brink of Australian motorsport history.
In a season celebrating Formula 1’s 75th anniversary, few expected the sheer dominance McLaren has displayed. With 11 wins and 24 podiums in just 14 races, the Woking-based team holds a commanding lead in the Constructors’ Championship – nearly 300 points clear of Ferrari.
But behind that dominance simmers a tense internal rivalry:Piastri vs Lando Norris.
With McLaren’s superiority in mind – let’s look at who’s leading the Drivers’ standings and how their recent form is impacting the F1 odds.
Piastri leads the Drivers’ standings with 284 points at the time of writing, thanks to six Grand Prix victories and a season of consistent excellence. However, Norris is closing the gap rapidly, just nine points behind, having taken three of the last four races in a late-summer surge.
What began as friendly competition has begun to boil, prompting McLaren management to hold private talks to prevent the rivalry from spilling over.
A so-called “Papaya Rule” was instituted early in the year to avoid on-track clashes, but the cracks are showing as both drivers eye their first world title.
Some of the other storylines in the 2025 season that have been just as intriguing can be found below:
The fall of Red Bull, the rise of others
2025 has not been kind to Red Bull Racing. After years of dominance, the Milton Keynes outfit now finds itself adrift. Max Verstappen has scored 96% of the team’s 194 points but sits third in the standings—nearly 100 points off the lead. Teammate Yuki Tsunoda has struggled, offering little support.
Ferrari, though bolstered by the high-profile arrival of Lewis Hamilton, has yet to mount a serious title challenge. The seven-time champion has shown flashes of brilliance, but Ferrari’s pace remains inconsistent. His teammate Charles Leclerc has struggled to find rhythm in the new car.
Meanwhile, Williams and Sauber have staged unlikely revivals. Williams, led by Alexander Albon and new signing Carlos Sainz Jr., is a surprising fifth in the standings. Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg delivered an emotional first podium in his 239th start – a moment nearly 15 years in the making.
Milestones & moments
- McLaren clinched their 200th Grand Prix win at the Hungarian GP – part of an astonishing run of four consecutive 1–2 finishes.
- Piastri is now the most successful Australian driver in a single F1 season and will be honoured with a dedicated grandstand at the 2026 Australian GP.
- Mercedes handed teenage sensation Kimi Antonelli his F1 debut, while Haas promoted Oliver Bearman, as the sport leans into a generational shift.
Looking ahead
With eight races left when writing, the sport braces for a potential all-McLaren showdown. Can Piastri handle the pressure and etch his name into F1 history? Or will Norris complete his comeback and capture a long-awaited maiden title?
Formula 1’s 2025 season has been a tale of revival, rivalry, and realignment. And with its climax still ahead, the best may be yet to come.
