As Formula 1 embarks on its traditional summer break, now is the perfect time to reflect on what has been an action-packed first half of the season. We asked our writers Lawrence Barretto, Chris Medland, David Tremayne, Alex Jacques and James Hinchcliffe to give us their take on the campaign so far, as well as making some bold predictions for what might happen next.
What was the best race of the season so far?
Lawrence Barretto (F1 Correspondent & Presenter): There have been some crackers this year, but for me the opener in Australia gets my vote. Treacherous conditions in Melbourne created high drama with three Safety Cars, an aborted start and a slew of crashes. Lando Norris mastered it all to come out on top – while rookie Kimi Antonelli impressed with a drive from 16th to P4 and Alex Albon starred for Williams in fifth.
Chris Medland (Special Contributor): Australia was a pretty entertaining start to the year, but I’m going to go with the British Grand Prix. In the end the fight for the win fizzled out a little – which was a shame as Oscar Piastri drove really well – but there was plenty of action elsewhere and a brilliant podium at last for Nico Hulkenberg. Plus there were lots of great fights throughout, including moves for points even on the final lap.
David Tremayne (Hall of Fame F1 Journalist): In many ways I enjoyed the Canadian Grand Prix more than most, not just because it brought us a different winner in never-say-die George Russell, who beat Max Verstappen, but also because Kimi Antonelli showed his true potential by scoring his first podium and becoming the youngest driver so far to achieve such a result. The collision between the two McLaren drivers added spice, especially after they had enjoyed such an intense battle for fourth place.
Alex Jacques (F1 TV Commentator): The British Grand Prix for the sheer amount of action. We had extreme weather conditions, spins, overtakes, a controversial penalty, home winner and a moment for the ages with the Nico Hulkenberg podium, which just didn’t seem real when he was rounding the final corners.
James Hinchcliffe (IndyCar Race Winner and Analyst): Silverstone – this year’s edition was a blockbuster. Mixed weather, controversial penalties and a first win on home soil for the country’s top title prospect made it one to remember. There were multiple exciting battles on track all the way to the flag, including the immensely popular first podium for Nico Hulkenberg on his 239th attempt.
Who are the top three drivers from the season so far?
LB: I think the top three of the Drivers’ Standings is a fair reflection of the true pecking order. Oscar Piastri has been ruthlessly consistent to take six wins and six other podiums and deservedly leads the way. His McLaren team mate Norris has starred as well, with three wins in the last four, and the reward is being in the thick of the title fight. And Max Verstappen in P3 has no right to be as high as he is given the performance of his car – and yet his insane talent has yielded two victories and three other podiums as he once again scores the lion’s share of Red Bull’s points.
CM: Oscar Piastri, Alex Albon and George Russell. The reason for all three is pretty much the same – I’m struggling to recall many times when any of them have made big mistakes that have prevented them from maximising their results. For Piastri there was Melbourne – which was such fine margins – and the Safety Car infringement in Silverstone, but that’s about it. His level has been consistently high all year.
Albon similarly has taken pretty much every significant opportunity going for Williams, and that was crucial as the car looks like becoming less competitive as the season wears on. Russell has been hurt slightly by Mercedes’ suspension upgrade issues since Imola, but still registered the impressive Canada win, another podium in Hungary and three further top-five finishes. It was a toss-up between Russell and Charles Leclerc for the third one, but Canada just swung it Russell’s way.
DT: I’d say based on pure performance speed and fundamental ability: Oscar Piastri, Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen. Of course, we all know that Lando Norris should be in there too, making it a top four. But for me, here’s the thing. On his day I think Lando is as good as anyone out there; he’s fast, smooth and doesn’t often make serious mistakes (though he can be prone to them when he’s really pushing, as he showed at Spa). But I feel he’s won a couple of races through being in the position of the McLaren driver to pit later (i.e. being behind his team mate) where he’s benefited slightly fortuitously from the strategy he’s adopted. That’s why I’ve plumped for Oscar, who is super-quick and less prone to errors.
Piastri, Norris and Verstappen currently hold the top three positions in the Drivers’ Standings
The latter two are slam-dunks. Charles is screwing the best out of a Ferrari that looks tricky to handle while Max, too, falls into that category. What he did in Imola, with another very tricky car, showcased the pluperfect way in which he can drive. I was super-impressed there how smooth and docile he made the RB21 look while struggling like mad to beat the McLarens.
AJ: 1. Oscar Piastri – he has confounded pre-season predictions to be McLaren’s main contender. 2. Max Verstappen – he is capable of stealing results he’s got no right to be near. 3. George Russell – he’s driving at his best-ever level in F1.
JH: For me it’s a pretty uninspiring list here, with Oscar, Lando and Max. Starting with Max, to have four poles and two wins in straight-up fights against such a superior Mclaren shows he is still at peak form. Lando and Oscar have been going punch-for-punch all year, and both have performed admirably so far in what is the first legitimate shot at title glory for each. The fact they are doing it against the driver in the next garage makes this situation even more tense and difficult to manage, but both are keeping it professional and doing their talking on the track. For now…
Which driver has been the most under-the-radar performer this year?
LB: It’s a close-run fight between Alex Albon and Nico Hulkenberg. The latter thoroughly deserved his first podium at the 239th time of asking – but for me, Albon’s sustained brilliance across the season earns him this accolade. He’s levelled up in a big way since highly-rated Carlos Sainz joined as his team mate at Williams this year. His drives in Australia, Miami and Imola were stunning and the way he rebounded from three successive DNFs from Spain-Austria shows an enhanced mental toughness.
CM: Surely Alex Albon’s performances don’t count as under the radar, so while I feel like either Haas driver could be a candidate here, I’m going to go with Esteban Ocon. Although Ollie Bearman has been so impressive in Qualifying on occasion, and had a run of four straight P11s that could have given him a much higher points tally, Ocon delivered some big results when they came along. He’s in the top 10 in the standings, in a new team with a car that was often competitive but rarely fourth or fifth quickest. I don’t think he’s performed at his best throughout, either, but that’s encouraging for both Ocon and Haas.
DT: I could nominate both Kick Sauber drivers, Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto; Liam Lawson, who of late has shrugged off the mantle of the guy who couldn’t make it at Red Bull not just by rehabilitating himself superbly at Racing Bulls but outqualifying and outracing speedy team mate Isack Hadjar (see below); or Kimi Antonelli, who has shown some great flashes of brilliance in between a more troubled season than one might have expected of the youthful rookie.
But overall I’d select Alex Albon. We all know two things about him; well, three, actually. He’s a good bloke. He’s fast. And he’s a real racer. You could use similar descriptions for his new team mate Carlos Sainz, a proven winner against Charles Leclerc. But against Carlos (who has, like Alex, had some misfortunes this year), the Thai driver has shown that he really does have what it takes. And the radio messages we’ve heard now and then reveal that he’s a tiger rather than a pussy cat in the cockpit, with the confidence to speak his mind. No offence to Williams, but I’d love to see him in a topline car.
AJ: Alex Albon has responded to the threat of new team mate Carlos Sainz brilliantly. He recognised this would be a career-defining season for his perception in the paddock and has looked like scoring points almost all the time. Fifth on the grid at Spa, when so many were close to that time, was a standout moment in an excellent season that was meant to be transitional for Williams.
JH: A few drivers are outperforming their machinery on a fairly consistent basis, but the one that we haven’t spoken about as much to me is Esteban Ocon. Haas have struggled this year with an inconsistent car; it is sometimes quick, but often not, and despite it being his first year at the squad, his experience is coming through and helping him collect valuable points. Sitting top 10 in the points, ahead of both Aston Martin drivers and Hadjar in the very quick Racing Bulls machine, is impressive. When you consider Hulkenberg is ahead of him off the back of that Silverstone podium, moving further up isn’t out of the question either.
POWER RANKINGS: Where do the drivers sit at the halfway stage of 2025?Internal linkAlbon has impressed many with his performances for Williams in 2025
Which rookie has impressed you most so far?
LB: Isack Hadjar recovered from a frustrating crash in Melbourne to put together a strong run of performances that included a superb sixth in Monaco. The way he’s dealt with the pressure of having to deliver when you race for the Red Bull family while delivering consistently good performances has been impressive.
CM: I was originally going to go with Isack Hadjar, but that’s more that he surprised me. So given the question, it has to be Gabriel Bortoleto, for the fact he’s actually lived up to the high expectations I had. The Brazilian won back-to-back F3 and F2 titles as a rookie, so I expected him to show his abilities in F1 if given the machinery, and he’s doing exactly that. He learns quickly, handled the difficult car well early on, and is capitalising now. I think we’ll see his racecraft become that bit more aggressive too in the second part of the year as his confidence continues to grow.
Hadjar, by contrast, was a bit more of a question mark. Undoubtedly quick, I was unsure if he’d translate it into immediate performances at Racing Bulls, but he bounced back brilliantly from the disappointment of Melbourne and had a strong first half, even if he’s had a tougher run of results recently.
Hadjar and Bortoleto were amongst the rookies to make the step up to F1 this season
DT: Isack Hadjar, without question. I’ll admit I was a little surprised when Red Bull placed him with Racing Bulls, and that I was looking forward to the cockpit rants war between him and Yuki Tsunoda. Of course, that never materialised with Yuki’s promotion to Red Bull, but on the serious side Isack has impressed on so many occasions, and been nothing but super-positive. He generally looks and sounds unruffled and he is always on it right from the start of a meeting, he doesn’t seem to need to play himself in. Very definitely a man to watch.
AJ: I feared for Isack Hadjar after Melbourne, so for him to show so much speed in the races which followed was outstanding. His performance across the Monaco weekend fulfilled his potential as a rapid driver in F1. Elsewhere I’ve been impressed with his ability to twin the pace with control and acceptance of when to fight and when to collect the points.
JH: I think you have to tip this to Hadjar, with the small caveat that the VCARB 02 seems to have been the most consistent car in relative performance outside of the McLaren. Because of that, we haven’t seen the peaks and valleys of Bearman in the Haas or Bortoleto in the Kick Sauber, which has helped make his effort look more complete. That said, all of these three are in contention for best rookie by season’s end.
Which team and driver will be under the most scrutiny in the second half of the season?
LB: I’m going to cheat and give three teams that will be under scrutiny, as I see them as a collective. McLaren have been outstanding this year and are in a class of their own and thus their chasing rivals Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull will be under pressure in the second half of the year, to not only learn the lessons of why there is a chasm of around 300 points between them and McLaren but also ensure they prepare as best as they can to slam shut that gap for next year. From a driver perspective, I think those who haven’t got an iron-clad contract for next year will be under plenty of scrutiny – including Yuki Tsunoda. The Japanese racer has shown flashes of pace that suggests he’s getting to grips with his tricky Red Bull – but he needs to find a way to start scoring consistently if he’s to keep his seat for 2026.
CM: Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton. It might have been Red Bull and Max Verstappen until recent changes and commitments, but Hamilton seemed particularly downbeat and frustrated after Hungary. It was always likely to be a tough transition after 12 years at Mercedes, but I think the general lack of competitiveness from Ferrari compared to their strong finish last year has added to the situation. With Monza on the horizon, that partnership is going to be the centre of attention for the next few rounds.
McLaren’s rivals will be hoping to close the gap to the reigning Teams’ Champions going forward
DT: All of them! Because that’s the nature of the game. But if we look from the top down it has to be Lando Norris. In a way I respect him for speaking his mind, about his mind. But part of me thinks that by doing so, he’s telegraphing his inner self to guys who will be racing into corners with him at 200mph. I always remember American great Dan Gurney saying of Stirling Moss, “If you ever got close enough to start putting him under pressure, he would let you slip by and become the one applying it, so you’d never get to see when he started to come unglued.” The world will be watching Lando’s every move to see how he deals with the super-quiet Oscar Piastri, who so rarely reveals just what he’s thinking.
AJ: Red Bull need to show green shoots of recovery to Max Verstappen, but realistically it’s Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton who need answers quickly. The early optimism of pre-season has faded, and it was tough to watch the seven-time champion so despondent in Belgium and Hungary. Both team and driver need to find a route to the form they showed exactly a year ago when Hamilton was winning in Belgium and Ferrari scored the most points of any team after the summer break.
JH: Rightly or wrongly, it always seems like Ferrari are under the most scrutiny unless they are dominating. I think after Hungary, there will be extra attention on them in the second half to pull it back together. Fred Vasseur’s future being secured helps, but Lewis Hamilton’s comments post Budapest were exceptionally downbeat and everyone is waiting, hoping, that this combination can finally click and get Lewis back to podium contention.
Hamilton faced a challenging weekend at the Hungarian Grand Prix
Who will win the Drivers’ Championship?
LB: It feels like this drivers’ title fight is heading down to the wire, with McLaren allowing their drivers to race hard but fair and Norris and Piastri making the most of that strategy to deliver some incredible racing. In my bold prediction at the start of the year, I pitched that Norris would be champion and I’m going to stand by that.
CM: Oscar Piastri, but it’s still so tight to call. I feel like Lando Norris hasn’t performed that close to his best all year and yet the fact he is just nine points behind is encouraging for him, but with Piastri he seems so comfortable in this situation and the Australian’s level rarely dips far below his potential. The exciting thing with Oscar is that you still don’t know where his ceiling is, and as much as Norris can perform to a higher level, so too can his team mate.
DT: Oscar Piastri.
How the Norris vs Piastri battle has played out so farInternal link
AJ: Oscar Piastri. His leap from year two has been really impressive and, whilst both contenders are excellent drivers, I believe the evidence from the first 14 rounds points to Oscar being able to access the best of his talent more often. Lando’s peaks are outstanding but he doesn’t appear to be able to access the extremity of performance for long enough with the 2025 McLaren. Beating Piastri at Norris strongholds like Austria and Budapest was critical for the Brit, but the margin of victory and nature of both races shows the calibre of Piastri in 2025.
JH: A McLaren driver. Don’t make me pick! It’s too close to call at the moment. Both are performing at such a high level and maximising the car’s potential. It will come down to a combo of track preference in the remaining 10 races and, ultimately, who makes the fewest mistakes. Provided the second half of the season is as fiercely contested as the first, either driver would be a deserving World Champion.
Piastri and Norris are separated by just nine points in the Drivers’ Championship
One bold prediction for the second half of the season?
LB: Lewis Hamilton cut a downbeat figure in Hungary, but that tricky weekend came after three successive events where the seven-time World Champion had shown consistent improvement. I expect the Briton to fight back and add a proper Grand Prix win to his Sprint race triumph earlier this season in China.
CM: Kick Sauber will score another podium. 45 points in the last six rounds, and some very impressive race execution, all adds up to a team that I think will take advantage of another chance if we get a race that offers a podium to a team outside the top four. I also think Lewis Hamilton will still win a race for Ferrari, despite the team having yet to get a win on a Sunday and Hamilton seeking his first podium for them, but that didn’t quite feel bold enough for a driver who has 105 wins to his name.
DT: Lewis will finally get his head round a tricky Ferrari SF-25 and return to the form he showed when winning the Chinese GP Sprint race.
AJ: We’re in for a last-race title decider for the first time since 2021.
JH: A Lewis Hamilton podium is coming in the second half. With teams less focused on upgrades now that resources are focused on 2026, Ferrari can focus on optimising what they have. For Lewis, he needs a familiar car that he can learn to drive. Not throwing upgrades at it and focusing on finding the set-up within the package they have will allow him to be the best of the rest behind the papaya cars at some point this year.
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