The 2025 Formula 1 Season so far - McLaren’s Charge, Rookie Surprises, and a Title Race to Remember
Last updated August 12, 2025
The 2025 Formula 1 World Championship is taking a breather for its summer break, and after 14 of the 24 scheduled races, the storylines are coming thick and fast. This year marks the sport’s 76th running — and its 75th birthday — with an unusually tight calendar that’s been both grueling and unpredictable.
McLaren has stolen the headlines so far, setting the pace at the front, but the season hasn’t been short of drama elsewhere. New rules, an influx of fresh talent, and some high-profile team moves have shaken things up in ways few predicted back in March.
A Year of Change: Calendar Tweaks, Rule Shifts, and Big Driver Moves
The season began in Melbourne on March 14–16 — the first time since 2019 that Australia has opened the year. The FIA’s “regional clustering” plan has kept freight miles down and fed into the sport’s push towards sustainability, paving the way for 2026’s big changes: smaller, lighter cars and fully sustainable fuels.
Rules-wise, the fastest-lap bonus point is gone, which has put an end to late-race pit-stop gambles for a single extra point. DRS has been tightened up to reduce artificial passing, and drivers now need mandatory cooling systems in extreme heat. Meanwhile, the “flexi-wing” saga continues to bubble.
Off-track, the driver market went into overdrive. McLaren and Aston Martin are the only two teams to keep last year’s pairings. Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari — alongside Charles Leclerc — is still the biggest shock of the year, though his adjustment to the SF-25 has been a mixed bag. Carlos Sainz heading to Williams has given the Grove team a fresh push, while Mercedes made waves by promoting teenage F2 star Kimi Antonelli to partner George Russell.
McLaren’s Relentless Pace
After 14 rounds, McLaren’s stats are staggering: 11 wins, a huge points lead in both championships, and a car that works in almost every condition. Oscar Piastri has been razor-sharp, racking up victories in Australia, China, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Miami, Spain, and Belgium, putting him on 284 points.
Lando Norris is right behind on 275 after wins in Monaco, Austria, Britain, and Hungary. Between them, they’ve turned McLaren into the team everyone’s chasing.
Max Verstappen sits third with 187 points. Red Bull have had flashes of their old dominance, but early-season stumbles and Adrian Newey’s departure to Aston Martin have left them playing catch-up. Ferrari’s Leclerc (151) and Hamilton (109) have had speed but have also seen points slip away through strategy calls and setup disagreements. Russell (172) and Antonelli (64) have been steady at Mercedes, while in the midfield, Nico Hülkenberg’s British GP podium for Sauber and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto’s top-three in Hungary were huge moments for their teams.
The Numbers Game
Constructors’ standings going into the break:
- McLaren: 559 points
- Ferrari: 260 points
- Mercedes: 236 points
- Red Bull: 194 points
Beyond the Lap Times
McLaren’s edge isn’t just raw speed; it’s adaptability. They’ve nailed setups in tricky mixed-weather races, and they’re making fewer mistakes than anyone else.
Ferrari’s situation is almost like two teams in one: Hamilton’s playing it safe with ride heights, while Leclerc is pushing low-slung, aggressive setups. Mercedes has been the quiet improvers, and Haas and Sauber are overperforming on paper. Alpine, meanwhile, are stuck; a mid-season driver swap hasn’t solved their pace deficit.
From the Betting Desk
If you’re looking at the odds (from Draftkings), Piastri leads the drivers’ market at -175, with Norris at +125 not far off. Verstappen’s +5000 might tempt those who believe Zandvoort could be his turning point.
McLaren are overwhelming favorites for the constructors’ title (-10000), but for long-shot hunters, Red Bull at +1200 is still alive if they find big (or should we say mega big) upgrades.
The Dutch GP (Aug 29–31) is next, and the home crowd will be roaring for Verstappen. Outright prices: Piastri +175, Norris +185, Verstappen +950. There’s value in podium bets or a top-six punt on Bortoleto at +300.
Bet on F1 at one of our recommended sportsbooks for Formula 1 betting.
The Run-In
After Zandvoort, we’ve got a rapid-fire run through Monza and Baku before heading to the flyaways. With 10 races left, Piastri’s leads but Norris is closing in. This year, McLaren will win both the driver and constructors' championship; anything else would be a big, big upset.
The 2025 season has been a mix of heritage and change — Hamilton in red, rookies making headlines, and rules shaping racing in new ways. And with 2026’s overhaul looming, every team is juggling the fight now with the build for tomorrow.
One thing’s certain: the second half is going to be unmissable.
