It may feel odd to discuss what’s in store for the remainder of the 2025 Formula 1 season when one team appears to have it all sewn up with 10 races to go.
McLaren harbours a commanding 299-point lead over Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship after 14 rounds, with back-to-back titles all but assured.
Still, it’s the intra-team duel between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri that is captivating, with a mere nine points dividing them before the Dutch Grand Prix.
The Papaya duo have been trading blows all season, each continuing to adapt and learn on their quest for a maiden championship victory.
There are, of course, other storylines unfolding alongside the title fight: Ferrari’s hunt for a first victory of the season – a worrying prospect given last year’s form – the ongoing midfield scrap, and the eyes on 2026 with Cadillac’s entry and its yet-to-be-confirmed driver line-up.
As the paddock gears up for the remainder of the season, we take a look at five narratives set to shape the championship battle.
Norris vs Piastri: A championship duel under one roof
Last season, the man standing in Norris’ way was the formidable Dutchman, as Max Verstappen denied the Briton’s crowning moment in a year when McLaren returned to the pinnacle.
Now, Piastri stands in his way – a team-mate who has grown tremendously this season, adding to his two victories from 2024 and elevating his game to a whole new level.
Norris may have taken the season opener, but in the stretch of races that followed, Piastri stamped his authority on the title fight with remarkable ease, looking every bit the champion in waiting.
The Briton fought back over the last few rounds, putting aside the qualifying demons that had haunted him earlier in the season and showing an improved mental resilience, refusing to dwell on his mistakes.
It sets up an exciting second half of the 2025 campaign: while Norris may appear to have the momentum, Piastri has proven this season that he is more than capable of claiming the World Championship.
Such fine margins have defined the fight so far. Norris’ strategic gamble against Piastri in Hungary went down to the wire, just as the chase in Belgium did – only this time, a few mistakes from Norris hindered his pursuit of victory.
Next up on the calendar is a return to Zandvoort, where Norris dominated last year, finishing over 20 seconds ahead of second-placed Verstappen – marking him as the favourite once again. But, as always, there are circuits that could play into Piastri’s hands, with Azerbaijan and Qatar among them. At this stage, you simply can’t predict the outcome of this title fight.
Red alert: Ferrari chasing a breakthrough
Mamma mia! This season has definitely not gone to plan for the Scuderia.
Charles Leclerc has been the lone beacon of hope in what was meant to be a defining campaign for the Italian marque.
The great Lewis Hamilton has struggled to adapt since his shock departure from Mercedes, with just a Sprint Race victory in China to show for his season so far.
Leclerc has earned multiple podium finishes, but a win has continually eluded him, with car troubles at the Hungaroring denying him the result his qualifying performance deserved. The Monegasque has been vocal, proclaiming that the team missed its only real opportunity for triumph.
Ferrari still has 10 rounds to prove him wrong, including its beloved home race at Monza, where Leclerc last season stunned the McLarens to take victory.
Whether the team can put behind the disappointment of this campaign and salvage what remains is still uncertain. You could argue that Budapest hinted at a possible shift in fortune, despite the disappointing outcome.
Ferrari can take some comfort in the fact that Red Bull and Mercedes have fared worse, but McLaren continues to look untouchable across all circuit configurations.
The American invasion: Who will drive for Cadillac in 2026?
Another American team is on the F1 horizon – Haas, beware. Cadillac enters as the 11th team next season, with two extra seats seemingly already filled.
Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez – both left without a drive in F1 at the end of last season – are the frontrunners to lead the line-up next season.
The Finn was dropped by Sauber but quickly snapped up by former team Mercedes to serve as its reserve driver. After a year on the sidelines, the 10-time Grand Prix winner is eager to get back into the groove.
Similarly, Perez has been forced to watch from afar this year, having been dropped by Red Bull after a tumultuous campaign that left him over 285 points adrift of his team-mate and World Champion, Verstappen.
But another opportunity is in the pipeline, with the 35-year-old determined to prove his worth once again. Other names such as Colton Herta, Zhou Guanyu and Mick Schumacher have also been linked to Cadillac’s 2026 line-up.
An official confirmation isn’t expected until after the Dutch GP, but an announcement is looming – one certain to keep fans on edge as the second half of the season gets underway.
The midfield mayhem: Who will come out on top?
Williams is in pole position to secure fifth in the standings, but the midfield chase remains fierce with Aston Martin, Sauber, Racing Bulls and Haas all close behind.
Alex Albon’s haul of 40 points from the opening seven rounds gave Williams a strong foothold in the midfield fight. But with Sauber and Aston Martin mounting a resurgence, the Grove-based squad suddenly finds its position under threat.
Racing Bulls and Haas remain within striking distance too, while Alpine languish at the foot of the standings despite collecting 20 points, 15 adrift of its nearest rival.
The Anglo-French outfit’s woes are compounded by Franco Colapinto’s struggles on his F1 return – with Alpine’s second driver dilemma becoming a story of its own – leaving Pierre Gasly to shoulder the team’s efforts almost entirely alone.
Silly season sparks: The 2026 seats still up for grabs
As the 2025 F1 season resumes, attention inevitably turns to the chaos of next year’s grid.
While some teams have already locked in their line-ups, others are still juggling options – leaving fans guessing who will be sitting where in 2026.
McLaren, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Williams, Haas, and Sauber – which becomes the Audi works team in 2026 – have all confirmed their driver pairings for next season.
Red Bull is guaranteed to Verstappen, despite interest from Mercedes, but remains undecided over the future of Yuki Tsunoda, who continues to struggle in the team’s second seat.
Meanwhile, after all the drama, Mercedes is poised to run George Russell alongside rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli for another season, though official confirmation is still pending.
Racing Bulls’ future depends on the main team, with Isack Hadjar enjoying an impressive debut season and seemingly destined to become Verstappen’s next team-mate. Liam Lawson is also waiting on clarity over his place in the Red Bull family, though the Kiwi, who has rebounded since his shock demotion two races into 2025, is set to continue next season.
Alpine may have Gasly’s future secured, but the second seat remains a headache. The Colapinto experiment looks increasingly short-lived, yet exactly what comes next is anyone’s guess.
READ MORE – Motorsport Week’s F1 2025 Mid-Season Team Ratings
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