Formula 1
Sprint, Strategy, and Shanghai: Key Battles to Watch at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix
The 2025 Formula 1 season moves to Shanghai for the Chinese Grand Prix, introducing the first sprint race of the year. Here’s DRC’s preview for the weekend.

The 2025 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix marks an exciting return to Shanghai International Circuit, one of the most technically demanding tracks on the calendar. This race is particularly significant as it hosts the first Sprint Race of the season, intensifying the weekend’s schedule and adding an extra layer of unpredictability.
All you need to know for the first #F1Sprint of the season 🙌👇#F1 #ChineseGP pic.twitter.com/VNVGoMWdGl
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 20, 2025
The event comes amid a major technical shake-up as the FIA implements new rear-wing flexibility regulations, which could impact the competitive order. With teams still adapting to the latest car developments and tire strategies, this weekend in China is poised to be a turning point in the season.
Shanghai International Circuit Overview
The Shanghai International Circuit, a 5.451 km Hermann Tilke design, is a demanding mix of long straights, heavy braking zones, and technical corners. The 1.2 km back straight offers prime DRS overtaking, while Turn 1’s spiral and Turn 14’s hairpin test braking precision. Tire wear, especially on the front-left, is key, forcing teams to balance straight-line speed with cornering grip. Past races have seen Hamilton’s 2007 pit lane mistake and Ricciardo’s 2018 charge, and with the first Sprint Race and flexi-wing rule changes, 2025 promises another thriller.

Track layout (Credits: formula1)

Tyre Compounds (Credits: Formula1)
For the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix, Pirelli has selected the C2, C3, and C4 compounds as the hard, medium, and soft tires, respectively. This allocation is one step harder than the selection for the Australian Grand Prix, reflecting Shanghai’s track characteristics. The circuit has been resurfaced recently, which may affect tire performance and grip levels. Additionally, the front-left tire is expected to experience significant stress due to the track layout, necessitating careful management by teams and drivers. With the first Sprint weekend of the season, teams have 12 sets of dry tires—two hard, four medium, and six soft—along with intermediates and full wets. Managing these allocations effectively will be crucial for a successful weekend.
Technical Update: FIA’s Flexi-Wing Crackdown
The FIA’s new rear-wing flexibility tests could shake up the competitive order. Teams found to be pushing the limits on rear-wing flex could face performance losses or even disqualifications.
McLaren and Ferrari have expressed confidence that the rule change won’t significantly affect them, but Red Bull’s aerodynamic advantage could be tested.
McLaren: Norris and Piastri Enter the Fray
McLaren heads to China with momentum, after Lando Norris’ stunning victory in Australia put him at the top of the championship standings. Oscar Piastri, however, had a more difficult outing, finishing only ninth in his home race.
With Shanghai featuring long straights and a mix of slow-speed corners, McLaren’s aerodynamic efficiency will be tested. Norris, who finished on the podium here last year, is optimistic:
“I’m confident that when we go to China next weekend, we can be very strong because we were strong there last year with not a very good car.”
Switching our focus to the #ChineseGP 👊#McLaren | @OKX
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) March 19, 2025
Mercedes Closing the Gap to the Front
Mercedes arrives in Shanghai looking to build on early-season momentum and further develop their W16 challenger. The first Sprint Race of the year means limited practice time, so the team must adapt quickly to the circuit’s demands.
George Russell, eager to challenge for another strong result, sees the Chinese Grand Prix as a crucial test for Mercedes:
“Shanghai is a demanding track, especially with tire wear and long corners, but we’ve made clear progress with the car. The Sprint format makes things more intense, so we need to maximize every session.”
His teammate, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, faces a new challenge at a circuit he has never raced on before in Formula 1 machinery. Despite this, the young Italian remains focused on learning quickly and delivering a strong result: “Every race is a new learning experience, and I’m excited to take on Shanghai. The long back straight will be key for overtaking, and managing tire degradation will be crucial.”
Team Principal Toto Wolff remains optimistic about Mercedes’ development and feels that they have made a solid step forward. Still being optimistic about unlocking more performance with efficiency due to sprint weekend and less time to fine tune the car.
Verstappen Seeks Redemption in Shanghai
Red Bull enters the Chinese Grand Prix aiming to fine-tune their RB21 after a challenging start to the season. Max Verstappen, a past winner in Shanghai, remains focused on extracting the most from the car in the Sprint weekend’s limited running:
“Shanghai is a fun track with lots of overtaking opportunities, but tire management will be key. We need to be sharp from the first session to get everything right for the weekend.”

Teammate Liam Lawson, still adjusting to the demands of a full-time F1 seat, is excited about his first race at the circuit: “I’ve done plenty of simulator work to prepare, but experiencing the track in real life will be different. It’s going to be a big challenge with just one practice session, but I’m ready for it.”
Hamilton and Leclerc Looking for a Breakthrough
Ferrari approaches the Chinese Grand Prix with determination to improve upon their recent performances. Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur emphasizes the importance of the upcoming race: “It’s good that we are back on track just a few days after racing in Australia, as Shanghai will give us the opportunity to turn the page and move on immediately.” He acknowledges the challenges posed by the Sprint weekend format, which limits free practice time, and underscores the critical role of the team’s preparatory work at the Maranello factory and simulator support during the event. Vasseur adds,
“Charles and Lewis both like the Shanghai track, and we must ensure we do everything we can to allow them to get the most out of the SF-25.”

As Ferrari gears up for the first Sprint weekend of the season, the focus remains on optimizing performance and strategy to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the unique challenges of the Shanghai circuit.
Williams Racing looking to Build-up on Early Success
Williams arrives in Shanghai with growing confidence following a strong Australian Grand Prix, where Alex Albon finished fifth, securing valuable points. Carlos Sainz, in his first season with the team, had a tougher weekend but remains optimistic.
Albon is focused on maintaining momentum: “Australia was a really strong way to start the year with a great result for the team. We need to build on this momentum and pick up where we left off going into China this weekend.”
Meanwhile, Sainz is looking forward to the Sprint format to get his season back on track:
“Australia was a great start to the season for the team, although it proved more challenging for me. We will take all our learnings from Melbourne and focus our attention on China; our first Sprint event of the season and a good opportunity to get my season going.”
Albon seems well-adapted to the car, but Sainz will be keen to bounce back. Both drivers could fight for points if the setup is right.
Aston Martin Navigating Challenges in Shanghai
Aston Martin arrives at the Shanghai International Circuit for the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix, aiming to build on recent performances and address the challenges faced with their AMR25 car. The team acknowledges that while the car performs well in high-speed sections, it struggles in slower corners, as evidenced by a three-tenths deficit in the final sector at Albert Park compared to competitors like Red Bull.
Lance Stroll demonstrated resilience in the season opener, securing a sixth-place finish amidst challenging conditions. His ability to capitalize on chaotic races showcases his experience and adaptability, qualities that will be crucial in Shanghai’s demanding environment. Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso, reflecting on his enduring competitiveness, stated: He remains optimistic about the team’s potential, emphasizing the need to understand and address the car’s weaknesses.
“I debuted in 2001, competed in the first GP of China in 2004, and in 2025, I am as fast as in 2004, or even faster.”
Alpine F1 Team: Harnessing Promising Pace
Alpine showed flashes of speed in Australia but failed to convert it into points. Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan are determined to change that in Shanghai.
Gasly remains optimistic despite the Melbourne result:
“It was disappointing to leave Melbourne without scoring points after showing promising pace across the weekend in a variety of conditions. However, I am pleased with the overall package and am confident heading to Shanghai for the first Sprint weekend of the year.”
For rookie Jack Doohan, this race is special, as he has past success at this track:
“I have fond memories of the circuit from past visits, including a win in Asian F3, and it will be a fun challenge in a Formula One car.”
If Alpine can fine-tune their setup quickly, Gasly could fight for points, while Doohan will focus on gaining experience.
Visa Cash App RB: Embracing the Sprint Challenge
Visa Cash App RB showed strong pace in Melbourne, giving Yuki Tsunoda and rookie Isack Hadjar confidence heading into Shanghai.
Tsunoda is excited about the weekend:
“The Shanghai track is quite unique, I do like it and I feel we can have a strong weekend. Our performance level every time we were on track in Melbourne was very good so if we have a straightforward FP1, picking up where we left off, we can do well.”

Hadjar, still learning in his debut season, sees the Sprint as a valuable opportunity:
“I am still lacking race experience so it’s good that this will be a Sprint weekend, as I will have the short race to get a feel for it before the main one.”
Tsunoda has the pace to challenge for points, while Hadjar will use the weekend to gain experience.
MoneyGram Haas F1 Team: Aiming for a Strong Comeback in Shanghai
After a challenging season opener in Melbourne, MoneyGram Haas F1 Team is focused on leveraging lessons learned as they head to the Shanghai International Circuit for the Chinese Grand Prix. The team is eager to capitalize on the unique opportunities presented by the first Sprint event of the season.
Esteban Ocon, who has prior experience at Shanghai, including a top 10 finish in 2017, is looking forward to the technical challenges the track offers: “Shanghai is a very interesting track. It has a very technical layout and it’s great to have it back on the calendar.”
Rookie Oliver Bearman is eager to make his debut at the Shanghai International Circuit: “I’m very excited to go to China… I’m looking forward to the first Sprint—it’s definitely going to be a challenge as I haven’t driven the track before—but it’s a challenge I’m ready to take on.”
With the Sprint format allowing only a single practice session, the team acknowledges the need for quick adaptation and efficient decision-making to optimize performance throughout the weekend
Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber: Looking for Strong Points Finish in Shanghai
Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber heads to Shanghai aiming to capitalize on their promising start to the season. The first Sprint weekend of the year adds extra intensity, requiring quick adaptability and precise decision-making from both drivers. Nico Hülkenberg, who secured the team’s first points in Australia, is optimistic:
“Starting the season with points in Melbourne was a great result for the team, giving us positive momentum heading into China. Sprint race weekends bring an added level of intensity, so we need to be sharp from the start.”
His teammate, Gabriel Bortoleto, will face another steep learning curve as he makes his Shanghai debut in F1 machinery. The Brazilian rookie is embracing the challenge:
“Every new track in F1 is a learning process for me, but I’ve worked hard in the simulator to be ready. The long back straight and slow corners will make this an interesting race, and I’m excited to get on track.”
Weather Forecast

(Credits: Formula1)
The 2025 Chinese Grand Prix weekend at the Shanghai International Circuit is expected to feature warm and dry conditions:
Friday, March 21:
- Conditions: Sunny with a light breeze; gusts up to 40 kph.
- Temperature: High of 24°C.
- Chance of Rain: 0%.
Saturday, March 22:
- Conditions: Sunny with gentle breezes; gusts up to 35-40 kph in the evening.
- Temperature: High of 25°C.
- Chance of Rain: 0%.
Sunday, March 23:
- Conditions: Partly cloudy with a gentle breeze; gusts up to 35 kph.
- Temperature: High of 27°C.
- Chance of Rain: 1%
These stable weather conditions should provide teams with consistent track performance throughout the event.
Weekend schedule
📅 | Here is the Weekend Schedule for Formula 1's 🇨🇳 Chinese GP.
— Desi Racing Co (@DesiRacingco) March 19, 2025
Note: All timings mentioned are in 🇮🇳 Indian Standard Time.#F1 #Formula1 #ChineseGP pic.twitter.com/1qJ5i6IILs
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Formula 1
The Sweet Taste of Victory, The Bitter Pill of DNF: McLaren’s Dutch GP Paradox

Zandvoort, Netherlands — The 2025 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort was a race of two halves for McLaren, a weekend that perfectly encapsulated the brutal duality of Formula 1. On one side, the jubilant celebration of Oscar Piastri’s masterful victory. On the other hand, the crushing defeat of Lando Norris, whose championship hopes were dealt a devastating blow by a late-race mechanical failure

The Unshakable Australian: Piastri Withstands Pressure and Chaos for His 7th Win
McLaren’s dominance was clear. Piastri made a clean start from the front. At the same time, Norris, after a brief tussle with Max Verstappen, quickly reclaimed second place, putting the two papaya-liveried cars in a commanding 1-2 formation. Piastri led with composure, managing his pace and holding a comfortable, albeit slim, advantage over his teammate. Norris, meanwhile, drove with his characteristic blend of speed and aggression, keeping the pressure on Piastri and pulling away from the rest of the field.
With just seven laps remaining, the race’s defining moment arrived. A puff of smoke emerged from the back of Lando Norris’s car. He reported an issue over the radio before being forced to pull off the track, his McLaren coming to a smoky halt. The issue was later confirmed to be a rare mechanical failure—an oil leak—the team’s first race-ending reliability problem in over 60 races.
“It’s a shame to have ended the race like that today, but it was out of my control… I’m pleased with my performance” – Lando Norris(post race)
Verstappen Salvages a Hard-Fought Podium at His Home Race
Max Verstappen delivered a vintage performance of determined racecraft and strategic patience to secure a hard-fought second place at the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix. With a brilliant start, Verstappen went side-by-side with Norris and, despite a near-spin, managed to make a daring overtake for second place. It was a move that got the crowd on its feet and proved he wasn’t going to give up on a podium fight. He wisely chose to manage his pace and tires rather than ruin his race by trying to keep up with the faster McLarens. This strategic decision ultimately paid off.

Isack Hadjar’s Historic Dutch GP Podium
Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar, in a truly sensational performance, held his nerve against far more experienced drivers to secure a maiden career podium, marking a historic moment for the young Frenchman and a much-needed morale boost for his team.
While many expected him to fade in the race under pressure from seasoned veterans like Charles Leclerc and George Russell, Hadjar showcased a composure that defied his rookie status. He held his nerve through multiple safety car restarts, fending off attacks and maintaining his position on pure pace. On the podium, Hadjar was embraced by his childhood hero, Max Verstappen, a moment that felt symbolic of a passing of the torch.
Ferrari’s Zandvoort Zero: A Double DNF Delivers a Crushing Blow
With both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc retiring in separate, high-profile incidents, the team left Zandvoort with zero points and a host of questions to answer ahead of their crucial home race at Monza.
First, Lewis Hamilton’s afternoon came to an abrupt and uncharacteristic end on Lap 23. While pushing to make an undercut stick on a rival, the seven-time World Champion ran slightly wide on the banked Turn 3. With a sudden snap of oversteer on a damp patch of the track, he lost control and hit the barrier.
“I’m really not sure [what happened]. I will have to look back at it. As I went up the bank, the rear snapped out and I couldn’t recover. The car was a bit twitchy… My pace was looking pretty decent. I was catching George [Russell] and I think I had the pace of a few cars ahead of me.” – Lewis Hamilton(post crash)
Charles Leclerc, who had shown promising race pace and had recovered some positions, found himself embroiled in a battle with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli. On Lap 53, Antonelli, in an aggressive move, understeered into the side of Leclerc’s car at the same infamous Turn 3. The contact sent Leclerc spinning into the wall, ending his race on the spot.
Russell’s Resilience vs. Antonelli’s Rookie Mistakes
Russell qualified his Mercedes W16 in fifth, a solid if not spectacular result that put him in the thick of the midfield battle. Antonelli, meanwhile, continued his up-and-down rookie season, qualifying 11th after an unfortunate spin in an earlier practice session put him on the back foot. Russell’s fourth-place finish was a crucial strategic win in the constructors’ championship. Now, the team looks ahead to Monza, hoping to put the ups and downs of Zandvoort behind them and continue their fight for a healthier points haul.

Kimi’s forward momentum put him in a position to fight for a potential podium, but his race unraveled when he came into contact with Charles Leclerc at the infamous Turn 3. The aggressive move resulted in a 10-second penalty for causing a collision, which, combined with a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane, dropped him from a finishing position of sixth to a final classification of 16th.
Points, but No Satisfaction: Aston Martin’s Dutch GP
Lance Stroll delivered a stellar recovery drive from 19th on the grid to finish seventh, a frustrated Fernando Alonso ended his race in eighth, ruing a series of strategic missteps and unfortunate timing that prevented him from fighting for a higher position. The race itself was a story of two very different performances. Lance Stroll’s day was a masterclass in strategic savvy and determined driving. The strategic disadvantage, combined with a car that felt more difficult to handle in traffic than in clean air, led to a visibly angry Alonso. They leave Zandvoort with a valuable 10 points, but know they must find a way to consistently deliver on the promise shown in practice to truly challenge at the front.
“Shoutout to the team for rebuilding the car Friday night and then again Saturday… it was nice to bounce back today.” – Lance Stroll(post race)
Williams’ Albon Delivers
Williams Racing capitalized on the chaos, with Alex Albon delivering a sensational drive to secure a fifth-place finish at the Dutch Grand Prix. The Thai-British driver’s race was a masterclass in opportunistic driving and pure speed. His brilliant opening lap, which saw him vault five positions, was the foundation for his entire race. Albon expertly navigated the first corner traffic to put himself in the top ten, a move that he later credited as being the “perfect race” from his perspective.
However, the mood in the garage was not entirely celebratory. Carlos Sainz’s afternoon was a story of frustration and debate. After a strong start saw him in P9, Sainz came into contact with Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls during a Safety Car restart. The incident, for which Sainz was deemed “wholly or predominantly to blame,” resulted in a 10-second time penalty.
Race Results
Driver’s standings
Constructor Standings
Monza: Temple of speed
The stage is set for a high-octane weekend that could see fortunes turn once again. Iconic, high-speed circuit is a stark contrast to the previous race, demanding a completely different aero philosophy and offering a fresh start for teams looking to reset after a chaotic Dutch Grand Prix. For Scuderia Ferrari, in particular, the weekend is a pilgrimage; after a disastrous double DNF in the Netherlands, they arrive at their home race under immense pressure to deliver a performance worthy of the Tifosi.

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Formula 1
FORMULA ONE SUMMER BREAK: First Half Review

The 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix marked the end of the first half of the 75th anniversary of Formula One. Mclaren reigned the Hungaroring marking two back-to-back 1-2 finishes with last year’s controversial Oscar Piastri maiden win at this circuit and this year’s fierce fight between the papaya pair with Lando Norris taking the top step of the podium. A season full of chaos and teammate battles goes into the summer break.

A month of calm before the storm; the final 10 races of fierce battle that will decide the World Champion. Before heading back to the action in Zandvoort, let’s review the first half of this season and discuss all the drama and controversies we had to keep us entertained for 5 straight months.
PAPAYA AT WAR
The most obvious highlight of the season so far has to be the ongoing championship battle between the Mclaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. The team in papaya has let their drivers fight without establishing team orders creating the amazing battlefield within the team with both “Number 1 Drivers” fighting for their first ever championship.
Lando Norris had a great lead over Oscar Piastri with the opening race of the season, where the Aussie spun out during the rain at his home grand prix, while Lando took the top step of the podium. Despite the early lead for the Brit, the title battle, which seemed to be between Norris and Verstappen, quickly changed its narrative with Piastri winning the next 4 out of 5 grand prix from China to Miami, making Oscar and Lando the main challengers for the title this season.
After the 5th race of the season at Jeddah, Oscar Piastri became the first Australian to lead the championship since his manager Mark Webber in 2010. Since then. Piastri has maintained his lead in the standings fending off his teammate Lando Norris in second. Although due to Lando’s recent resurgence in form, he has closed the gap to just 9 points heading in to the summer break.

Both drivers have fought wonderfully but with their fair share of mistakes as well.In Canada Lando while attempting an overtake on Oscar, crashed into the pitwall which unfortunately resulted in his DNF. Norris had a strong start in Belgium, starting from pole, however due to a battery issue and Piastri’s excellence, he got overtook by his Aussie teammate under braking for Les Combes. Former Mclaren driver Jenson Button comments:
“Lando can be his own worst enemy at times – he puts a lot of pressure on himself. He’s unbelievably quick, but if he makes a tiny mistake, he really takes it to heart.”
Piastri on the other hand lost his win at Silverstone due to a 10 second time penalty he was handed for erratic braking under the safety car. And in Hungary, due to wrong tire choices as compared to his teammate Norris who was on a one stop strategy, he lost out on another win that should’ve been his.
With both sides of the Mclaren garage making frequent mistakes, and the pitwall allowing both drivers to fight, the battle for the title looks to go till the final race of the season. With Mclaren having the clear fastest car, the Constructor’s Title is unlikely to be lost by the team based in Surrey, England, they have the opportunity to give the audience the closest title battle since 2021 and the closest among teammates since 2016, and so they are.
DRIVER CHANGES
Liam Lawson, set to replace Sergio Perez at RedBull, was demoted only after two races, back to Racing Bulls. In both the weekends, Lawson performed sub par compared to his 4 time champion teammate Max Verstappen, which included a DNF at the opening race in Melbourne. By the Japanese Grand Prix, RedBull decided to swap the Kiwi back to his Racing Bulls seat, and bring home hero Yuki Tsunoda to pair the reigning world champion.
Since the change, Lawson has regained his form with the sister team while Tsunoda continues to struggle in the second RedBull seat. Going into the summer break, Lawson has double the points of Tsunodo, with the former having 20 and the latter 10.

Another driver change in the first half of this season came from Alpine. Unlike Lawson, Alpine rookie Jack Doohan wasn’t swapped to a sister team, but demoted to the role of reserve driver instead after the first 6 races. In his short lived career of 6 races, Doohan garnered no points and 2 DNFs. Although the Argentine rookie Franco Colapinto who took his seat hasn’t gained any points either in the 8 races he has participated till now, it seems like his no DNF record is enough for Alpine to keep him in the seat for the rest of the season.
POST HORNER RED BULL
Talking about mid-season changes, drivers aren’t the only ones being sacked this season. Red Bull has officially entered its post-horner era. July 9, 2025, a date long term Red Bull Racing CEO and Team Principal would never forget. As a shocking news, Red Bull announced the immediate stepping down of Horner from all his operational duties, appointing Laurent Mekies as the new CEO for the Austrian company. Horner led the team since its birth for 21 years and amassed 6 Constructors’ Championships and 8 Drivers’ Championships.
The sacking of Horner although a massive shock, was a rumor floating in the paddock for over an year now. On 5 February 2024, Red Bull confirmed that Horner was facing an investigation following allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague. Some speculate the sacking to be a direct reflection of the allegations against him from last year. But the timing also suggests it may have more to do with a performance clause in Christian’s contract. Red Bull’s performance had seen a significant downwards trend through the first half of the season, with 4-time world champion Max Verstappen openly expressing his frustrations with the car. With ongoing rumors of Verstappen possibly leaving Red Bull to Mercedes for 2026, the energy drink company’s sudden decision sparked the debate of whether the dropping of Red Bull to 4th in the Constructor’s Standings had any role to do in Horner’s sacking.
ALPINE MUSICAL CHAIRS
Red Bull’s Christian Horner was not the only team principal that saw the end of his time with his team. Alpine, on 7 May, released a statement stating, Team Principal Oliver Oakes resigned from his role with immediate effect. Oakes joined Alpine in July 2024, the Briton; a former racing driver, who also runs the Hitech Grand Prix squad, and had the team sat P9 in the teams’ standings post Miami. Flavio Briatore was set to cover Oliver’s duties for the indefinite future.
Merely 12 hours later, Franco Colapinto was announced as replacement for Jack Doohan with immediate effect as well. The rotating seat basis is common for some teams with their drivers but Alpine played this with its driver and team principal simultaneously on the same day.

Since the driver and team principal swap, Alpine has fallen to P10 in the standings. Despite being last, as a bittersweet truth, the team has scored more points after the swap than before. Thus, it does look like an overall good decision for the team going forward.
NEW FACES NEW SEATS
The biggest and most shocking driver changes in recent Formula 1 history has to be the 7-time world champion Lewis Hamilton joining forces with the most successful team in Formula 1, Ferrari. This year was the first time the Briton drove a non-Mercedes powered car in his 18 year long career. Heading in to the summer break, he stands p6 in the drivers’ standings, 42 points behind his teammate. Lewis hasn’t had a great season so far, with finishing only p4 or lower in each race of the first half, most of the time finding himself stuck in upper mid-field battles. Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur comes to his defense:
“He’s frustrated but not demotivated, it’s a completely different story.
Lewis Hamilton also finds himself on his longest career streak without a podium of 16 grand prix. Although he found himself on the top step of the podium with a sprint win in China where barely any overtakes took place.
On the other hand, someone who has had a great first half of the season in a new team, is Nico Hulkenberg. The German left Haas at the end of 2024 season and was paired with rookie Gabriel Bortoleto at Sauber. Despite having 8 point-less finishes and a disqualification in the first half of the season, Hulkenberg sits calmly at P9 in the Driver Standings.
This is a result of him ending his record 239-race streak without a podium finish, in Silverstone at the 2025 British Grand Prix. Perfectly timed strategy from Nico and Sauber secured him his maiden podium at the wet race, which also ended Sauber’s 13 year long podium draught.
Another driver seemingly having a better time at his new team is Frenchman Esteban Ocon. Ocon moved from Alpine to Haas for the 2025 season, and is paired next to rookie Oliver Bearman. Despite not having the strongest first half, Esteban enters the summer break at P10 in the Drivers’ Standings, 19 points ahead of Bearman.

Even with multiple point-less finishes, Ocon seems to be having a much better time with the American team, than Alpine. Last year with the French team, Ocon had 16 point-less finishes and 2 DNFs, out of the 23 races and ended the season at P14. Even off-track, this year Esteban looks happier with the Haas family, showing up as a much more mature version of himself than previous years.
Then there is Carlos Sainz. He lost his Ferrari seat to Lewis Hamilton and chose Williams as the next destination in his career. Everyone expected the Spanish driver to outperform his new teammate Alex Albon in his first season with the team. But his continuous struggle to find form has put him in P16 with 16 points in the Drivers’ Standings, 38 points behind Albon who stands at P8. The Spaniard comments on his performance:
“I think everything that could go wrong this year so far has gone wrong for me.”
DNFs in Australia and Bahrain did not give him the start to the season he needed, which must have affected his confidence. Yet he finds himself in the bottom pile of the points each race garnering a few points every week. Unfortunately, again toward the end of the first half, he loses his form gaining only 4 points in the final 6 races.
ROOKIE REVIEW
As for the rookies, most of them have looked decent and have shown good race pace with amazing on-track battles. Alpine rookies Jack Doohan and Franco Colapinto are the only ones remaining point-less in the season, but considering either of them have only raced for half the races as others, it’s excusable.

Haas rookie, Oliver Bearman, is at P19 with 8 points. But the standings don’t reflect his race-craft as he has consistently finished at P11 in 4 races straight, missing the points just by one position.
Sitting in P17 is Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto has had 3 DNFs in the first half. But despite the points draught for the first 10 races, Bortoleto has found his pace and gained 3 top-10 finishes in the final 4 races.
Liam Lawson had a rough start to his season with a DNF and P12 finish in the first two races followed by a demotion from Red Bull to its sister team Racing Bulls. Despite the initial lack of form, Lawson has occasionally gained a few points bringing him to P15 in the Drivers’ Standings. Although he does come with his fair share of rookie errors and DNFs.
Lawson’s Racing Bulls teammate, Isack Hadjar also had a rough start to the season without even getting to race a single lap at the first race of the season in Melbourne. But the French rookie came back stronger and has always found himself in the points are just a few positions shy of it, throughout the first half. He currently is at P13 in the Drivers’ standings.
Italian Rookie Kimi Antonelli, is the star of Mercedes junior program and is seen as the Silver Arrows’ future champion. He had the best first quarter of the season compare to his fellow rookies. But unfortunately, due to Mercedes’ mid-season downfall and his loss in confidence, resulted in him having 4 DNFs and 2 point-less finishes just in the final 8 races of the first half. In these recent races the only points he gained are his maiden podium in Canada and a P10 in Hungary. Although he is currently in P7 in the Drivers’ Standings due to his initial performance, if he doesn’t find his form again after the summer break he may not hold the status of “Only rookie in top-10 in the standings” for much longer.
CADILLAC FOR 2026
In January 2023, General Motors and Andretti Global announced their intention to enter GM’s Cadillac brand into the Formula One World Championship. However the Formula One Group had vetoed the decision later that year. In November 2024, following extended disputes between Formula One Group’s leadership and Michael Andretti, Andretti Global sponsor TWG Global (Mark Walter) announced that it was taking over the operation from the Andretti family. Michael Andretti remained as an advisor, and his father Mario Andretti agreed to serve on the board of directors. By March 2025, Cadillac got the final approval from FIA and Formula One, to join as the 11th team in 2026. The team will race with Ferrari engines with future plans to manufacture their own engines.
Cadillac had a huge set of ex, current and new drivers to choose from for their lineup for next year. But on 26 August,2025, the team announced their lineup: Valterri Bottas who is serving as Mercedes’ reserve driver for the 2025 season and Sergio Perez who was lost his Red Bull seat due to underwhelming performance. This lineup looks the strongest for a new team as two experienced drivers are perfect for the development of a car. With this pairing, fans have coined the term “opposite of Mclaren” for Cadillac, as the team in papaya claims to have “2 No. 1 Drivers”, while Bottas and Perez can be considered “2 No. 2 Drivers”.
It doesn’t look like Cadillac would be among the front-runners right from the get go but with the experience and good development, they can rise to the midfield by their first season itself. Team Principal Graeme Lowdon looks forward to the 2026 season:
“We don’t just want to turn up and race, we want to be as competitive as we possibly can be.”
A season packed with so much drama and the closest grid in recent years, is hard to recap, but is surely very entertaining. From maiden podiums and rookies fighting for survival and a midfield so close, the final few positions for points are always up for grab for everyone, this season has had everything. And we’re only halfway there yet.
The Constructors’ Championship is extremely close, with the fight for P2 and P5 extremely tight. Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull all are fighting for P2, and whoever develops their car the best during this summer break, will come out on top. As for P5, Williams have the lead due to their initial stint but Aston Martin has found some pace towards the end of the first half and look like are going to be mighty strong in the second. Kick Sauber, Racing Bulls, Haas and Alpine also find themselves gaining occasional points and are so close that a single DNF or a top-5 finish for either of them, could completely switch the Standings.

The Drivers’ Championship is even closer with Piastri and Norris separated only by 9 points. This is the closest title fight we’ve had since 2021 and the closest between teammates since 2016. With Mclaren letting both its drivers fight it out on track without establishing team orders, the audience are set to enjoy a brilliant concluding second half of the season, with the title fight projected to go till the final race of the season. Both the drivers are extremely talented and will do everything to steal points from each other.

Who will come back stronger after the summer break. Will Australia get their first World Champion since Alan Jones in 1980, or will UK add Lando to their long list of champions. Either way we are likely to see a new world champion being crowned, with Max Verstappen being stripped off his Driver Number 1 by the end of this season. Unless Red Bull develops a car strong enough to fight for wins, then you can never count Verstappen out. Who is going to take away this year’s title. Welcome to the pinnacle of motorsports, where every move matters. This is Formula One. And what a season we have in front of us!
Formula 1
Redemption For Norris In Hungary, Piastri Challenges For Win, Ferrari Falls Short: The Hungarian Grand Prix Review

The Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix had a lot of action up and down the field. From Norris losing positions at the start leaving him vulnerable, to a flashback further down the order with Verstappen vs Hamilton.

(Credit – f1.com)
Lando Uses Offset Strategy To Bag McLaren’s 200th win
Lando Norris qualified P3 on Saturday, putting him behind his WDC Challenging teammate and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
Off the line, Norris had a great start and was shaping up a move on his teammate, however he went on the the breaks early to avoid a collision and lost 2 positions in the process, putting him behind George Russel and Fernando Alonso in P5
He didn’t wait too long to dispatch the Aston Martin, and shortly after he was shaping up an attack on George. However he was not able to get into a position to make the move on the Mercedes
Lando and his engineering team opted to use the One-Stop strategy, which wasnt the favoured strategy in the race by others. Once Piastri and Leclerc came into the pits for their second stop Lando was catapulted into the lead.
The last five laps of the race featured a late race charge by Oscar piastri in an attempt to win the race. However Lando withered the storm and kept his cool to win the Hungarian Grand Prix by a small margin of 6 tenths of a second.
Piastri on the other side of the garage was left disappointed after not being able to overtake his teammate, but he still is on a high after promising pace and a 9 point lead coming into the summer break.
200 wins and counting 🧡#McLaren | #NeverStopRacing pic.twitter.com/rvNsa5VQIn
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) August 4, 2025
Mercedes End The European Leg On A High
George Russell managed to bag P3 after a brilliant start put him ahead of Lando and behind Oscar and Charles. From there he managed to defend against the speedy McLaren of Lando Norris leading into the first round of pitstops. From there he ran a quiet race, but come to the final stint of the race he had a tussle with the fading Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, even making contact at one point. But he managed to get past and secure a spot on the podium in no longer than a few laps. A good result for the Brit after his rut in performance since Montreal.
His Rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli managed to finish P10 after a sub-par qualifying finishing off his disappointing European leg with just a single point.
Nice way to enter the break 🏆🇭🇺 pic.twitter.com/DOxX4RFq42
— George Russell (@GeorgeRussell63) August 3, 2025
Ferrari Lets Down Drivers
On Saturday, one side of the garage expressed disappointment, whilst one side was full of joy. Lewis Hamilton qualified P12, and verbally expressed disappointment with himself, his teammte managed to put the car on pole for the Grand Prix.
Going into Sunday, Charles managed to maintain pole off the line and kept the net race lead until around lap 50 where he was overtaken by Oscar Piastri and after the race, the team reported that he had a broken chassis after the second pitstop leading him to lose big margins on track every lap.
Hamilton tried an offset strategy by starting on the hards, but his progress towards the points was hampered by DRS trains, hence, he finished out of the points.
Lewis expressed his disappointment after the Q2 exit, while teammate Charles Leclerc scored a pole at the Hungarian GP #F1 pic.twitter.com/QXSG93sXqE
— Desi Racing Co (@DesiRacingco) August 2, 2025
Leclerc didn't hold back on his Radio during the Hungarian GP after starting on the Pole #F1 pic.twitter.com/1QlDKOKihD
— Desi Racing Co (@DesiRacingco) August 3, 2025
Other Notable Performances
Gabriel Bortoleto scored a career best finish in P6 after defending from Max Verstappen in the early laps of the race, he managed his pace well to bring a boat load of points for Sauber.
Fernando Alonso scored P5, the best finish for him in this season. He was 1 tenth off pole in Qualifying and carried the momentum into the race to pull off an under the radar one stopper, the Spaniard expressed his contentment after the race about the car.
His teammate wasn’t too far off as well, in P7.
Liam Lawson scored P8, a good run in the car for the last few races for the Kiwi, scoring some much needed points after the dreadful start he had in the main Red Bull car.
Race Results
RACE CLASSIFICATION
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 3, 2025
Lando Norris takes his ninth career win 🏆#F1 #HungarianGP pic.twitter.com/v1llsHul0W
Standings
DRIVER STANDINGS (AFTER 14/24 ROUNDS)
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 3, 2025
Oscar Piastri takes a nine-point lead into the summer break#F1 #HungarianGP pic.twitter.com/d5cvq76xzy
TEAM STANDINGS (after 14/24 rounds)
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 3, 2025
McLaren surge even further ahead 📈
Aston Martin jump two places 👏#F1 #HungarianGP pic.twitter.com/sw0Pl8gtDw
After The Summer Break
Next time around we will see the F1 Paddock visit the Netherlands for the Dutch Grand Prix.
A race that was won in dominant style by Lando Norris in the 2024 Season. The WDC Battle heats up, as the McLaren pair enter Round 15 with a 9 point gap. A close battle is sure to come in the upcoming rounds. Something else to watch for will be if Ferrari is able to solve their issues before the end of the season.
Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.
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