Formula 1
Formula 1 in India: A Curious Case
What if I told you you could have watched F1 on Doordarshan? Or that we could have had a Hyderabad Gp or even a Mumbai GP long before the Indian GP at Buddh? Surprising right
India has seen significant growth in its motorsport culture over the past decade. The popularity of racing events like the Indian Grand Prix, which was held first in 2011, demonstrated the immense interest and enthusiasm of Indian fans. Bringing Formula 1 back to India would further fuel this passion and contribute to the development of motorsport in the country. The introduction of Drive To Survive in 2018 only accelerated the growth. When it comes to F1 fan bases around the world, India ranked 5th largest in 2019[1]. But it still doesn’t have an official broadcaster in the country nor do we have an Indian GP. Ever wondered what went wrong? Or what could have been?
Table of Contents
1. Broadcasting: Doordarshan to F1TV
Let’s go back to the times when F1 was in India. It all started back in 1995. Schumacher had just won his first championship the previous year, and the world was mourning the passing of Senna. Damon was upset about the Australian GP, and India was about to experience its first live Formula 1 event. Vicky Chandhok, a familiar name, as he’s the father of Karun Chandhok, had his own production house that held the broadcasting rights for F1 races in India.
However, there was a problem. Cable TV had only been introduced in India three years prior, and Chandhok had to decide whether to offer F1 as pay-per-view or show it on the national network, Doordarshan. They chose the safer option of broadcasting F1 on Doordarshan, but it wasn’t easy. Prasar Bharti, the parent organization of Doordarshan, wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about showcasing car racing during their prime-time television slots. Eventually, Vicky had to pay Doordarshan just to broadcast Formula 1 on their network, marking the first live telecast of F1 in India.
However, this arrangement didn’t last long. At that time, F1 cars prominently featured tobacco sponsorships, which became a problem when the Indian parliament decided that promoting such products on television wasn’t ideal. As a result, the broadcasts were abruptly discontinued.
Later on, the broadcasting rights for F1 shifted to ESPNStar, which was known as Star Sports in the early 2000s. Interestingly, many new F1 fans might not be aware that India used to have its own pre and post-race shows, separate from the world feed. Steve Slater became a household name in India as he became the voice of F1 in the country. [2]
However, after ESPNStar transformed into what we now know as Star Sports, the decline in F1 broadcasting began. Investments in Formula 1 were reduced, the pre and post-race shows were canceled, and Indian commentators were lost. Eventually, Indian fans were left with only the international feed, which was also discontinued in 2023 when Star Sports didn’t renew the contract with F1. As a result, Indian fans were left with no option but to subscribe to F1TV in order to watch the sport.
2. Hyderabad: Biryani, Charminar and Formula 1?
Transporting us back to the early 2000s, a time of shifting cultural landscapes and technological advancements, Formula 1 found itself in the spotlight of discussions for a potential race in Hyderabad. Chandrababu Naidu, the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, embarked on a three-day trip to Italy during the Italian GP weekend in an ambitious attempt to bring Formula 1 to Hyderabad as early as 2006. During his visit, he met with Bernie Ecclestone and Herman Tilke, successfully securing Ecclestone’s acceptance to visit Hyderabad and finalize the deal.
In fact, a preliminary agreement was even signed, setting the stage for hosting F1 races in the city from 2007 onwards[3]. Simultaneously, Sharad Pawar, the former CM of Maharashtra, announced that Mumbai would also bid for a race, claiming that it possessed better existing infrastructure and was more suited to host a race in the near future[4].
However, for Hyderabad to successfully host a Formula 1 race, significant infrastructural improvements were required. These included an international airport, an expressway connecting the airport to the race track, five-star accommodations for the entire grid comprising teams, officials, journalists, and media teams, as well as an international standard trauma center to ensure safety during the event. Additionally, a race track that met all the safety regulations set by the FIA was of utmost importance.[5]
Despite the ambitious plans, the anticipated cost of $200 million posed a significant obstacle. Moreover, the plight of millions of farmers facing a severe drought added to the challenges. Ultimately, Chandrababu Naidu’s dream of bringing an F1 race to his state faded away with his defeat in the 2004 elections. Similarly, Mumbai’s bid for an F1 race also faced a similar fate, as the government showed little interest in allocating hundreds of millions of dollars for motorsports ventures.
3. It’s here! Indian GP Gurgaon 2010 Noida 2011
In June 2007, following extensive negotiations between the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and Bernie Ecclestone, it was officially announced that India would host a Formula 1 race in the 2009 season. The chosen location for the race was Gurgaon, and the track design was entrusted to the renowned Hermann Tilke. However, in September of the same year, a change in plans emerged, and it was decided that the race would instead debut in 2010 at the Buddh International Circuit.
Unfortunately, due to delays in land acquisition and construction works, the inaugural Indian Grand Prix was once again postponed, this time for an additional year. The timeline was incredibly tight, with the circuit’s inauguration occurring just a few weeks prior to the October 2011 Indian Grand Prix.[6]
4. Empty your pockets.
Jaypee Group, the owners of the track, invested approximately $463 million at that time in the construction of the circuit, aiming to recoup their investment as quickly as possible [7] . Additionally, they had to pay around $50 million just to secure a spot on the Formula 1 calendar. Consequently, ticket prices for the event were set quite high. During the inaugural race, the cheapest ticket was priced at Rs 2,500, while the Main Grandstand boasted a staggering Rs 35,000 price tag. However, due to poor sales, organizers later reduced the Main Grandstand ticket price to Rs 15,000 for the Race Day. Regardless, the inaugural race drew a crowd of approximately 1 lakh people.
In the following year, both ticket prices and attendance decreased. The cheapest ticket for the 2012 Indian Grand Prix was available for Rs. 2,000 on the Race Day, with the most expensive grandstand tickets priced at Rs. 12,000 for Sunday. Customers also had the option to purchase a season pass for all three days of the weekend, ranging from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 21,000 [8].
However, in the third year, attendance rebounded. The race attracted a total of 85,000 people, and ticket prices were made even more affordable. The cheapest and most expensive tickets for the race day were priced at Rs. 1,500 and Rs. 12,000, respectively, while the season pass for the entire weekend ranged from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 21,000. [9]
5. Did you pay your tax?
Despite the challenging economic conditions, Jaypee remained committed to its plans and invested approximately Rs 2,000 crore (USD 314 million) in the construction of the Buddh International Circuit on the outskirts of Delhi. According to the audited accounts of Jaypee Sports International Limited (JPSI), the company also paid a licensing fee of Rs 197.7 crore (USD 31.1 million) for the inaugural race, a figure that increased to Rs 249.6 crore (USD 39.1 million) by the third edition, indicating the presence of an escalation clause in the contract.
Additionally, the inaugural race incurred operating expenses of Rs 121 crore (USD 19 million), bringing the combined costs well beyond Rs 300 crore (USD 47 million).
The exact amount of taxes paid by JPSI for hosting the race is difficult to determine as the relevant figures are not segregated in the accounts from other company activities. However, leading Indian media outlets estimated custom duties to be somewhere between Rs 8 – 10 crore (USD 1.25 – 1.57 million). The government later dropped this tax in 2014, a few months after the last Indian Grand Prix.
In terms of revenue, the promoters were only able to recover Rs 140 crore (USD 21.2 million) from the 2011 Indian Grand Prix, despite attracting a crowd of 95,000 fans to the event. The figure dropped to nearly half at Rs 76 crore (USD 11.5 million) in 2012 but recovered substantially to Rs 113 crore (USD 17.1 million) in 2013.
By this time, Jaypee had managed to reduce the operational expenses of the circuit, bringing the total cost of staging the event down to Rs 273 crore (USD 42.91 million). However, the conglomerate still had to write off losses of Rs 160 crore (USD 25.13 million), without considering taxes. [10]
6. “WE WERE ON A BREAK”
There were numerous other challenges to overcome as well apart from the tax issues. Dealing with customs to import equipment for the race teams proved to be a headache, with Ferrari even attributing their loss in the 2012 race to the delay in obtaining critical parts. The visa process was also unforgiving, as Karun Chandhok revealed in an interview with the BBC, stating that numerous media personnel and team members were unable to attend the race due to visa complications.
“Just this week, I have had at least 50 different media people from around the world, and people from teams, engineers who have called me to say, ‘Hey, we are stuck in London without a visa, we can’t come to the race” Karun Chandhok told BBC [11]
In 2014, Formula 1 initially sought to schedule a race in March instead of October, but the organizers were not prepared to host the event twice within a span of six months. However, they eventually agreed to the change. Unfortunately, the Indian Grand Prix was ultimately dropped from the calendar for that year, with Bernie Ecclestone citing bureaucratic and political issues as the primary reasons for excluding India from the 2014 F1 calendar [12] . Despite assurances that the race would return in 2015, it never materialized.
Furthermore, the owners of the track, Jaypee Group, encountered financial difficulties. As of March 31, 2015, the conglomerate’s total debt was estimated to be around Rs 75,000 crores, according to foreign brokerage firm Credit Suisse. To alleviate the debt burden, Jaypee Group opted to sell some of its cement and hydro-power plants. [13]
7. So long, farewell?
So, what’s next for the Formula 1 in India? One of the biggest misconceptions people have is that the Indian government considers Formula 1 or motorsports in general as entertainment rather than a sport. While it’s true that F1 was taxed as entertainment during its time in India, that was only at the state government level, not the central government. In 2015, the Indian government officially recognized motorsports as a sport when they included the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI), the governing body of motorsports in the country, in the list of sports ministry-backed national sports federations [15] .
It’s difficult to say for certain when the Indian Grand Prix might make a comeback, but considering the recent debut of Formula E and MotoGP in India in 2023, it doesn’t seem too far-fetched. Formula E is receiving support from the Telangana government, while MotoGP has been assured by the Uttar Pradesh government—something that Formula 1 didn’t have during its time here. These are promising signs.
With proper planning and support, the return of Formula 1 to India is within reach, although there are other factors to consider. Even if India is the perfect place to host an F1 race, it’s not guaranteed to secure a slot in the super hectic 24-race calendar that F1 currently has. Nevertheless, we remain hopeful that F1 will make its way back to the country soon.
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The 2025 Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the legendary “Temple of Speed,” delivered one of the most historic races in modern F1 history. Max Verstappen stormed to pole position with a record-breaking lap — the fastest qualifying effort ever recorded in Formula 1 — before converting it into a dominant race victory.Verstappen not only secured his third career win at Monza but also etched his name into the sport’s record books as the victor of the fastest F1 race ever run.
Temple of Speed Falls to Verstappen’s Relentless Charge
From the moment qualifying began, history was in the making. Max Verstappen, relentless as ever, delivered a lap of breathtaking precision to seize pole position with a new track record and in doing so, set the fastest average-speed lap in Formula 1 history.
Under the blazing Italian sun, Verstappen launched from pole with clinical composure, controlling the race with his trademark efficiency.That performance alone would have cemented Monza 2025 as unforgettable, but what followed on race day elevated it into legend. McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri gave spirited chase, forcing Red Bull to push to the absolute limit, but neither could match the Dutchman’s rhythm.
Team Orders, Tension, and Triumph
Norris hounded Verstappen in the opening laps, keeping the reigning champion within striking distance, while Piastri played the perfect supporting role in third. Yet, as the stints unfolded, Verstappen’s relentless pace proved just out of reach.
McLaren strategists called for calm, instructing Norris and Piastri to swap position rather than risk everything in a wheel-to-wheel scrap. It was a pragmatic move that secured the team a valuable double podium — P2 for Norris and P3 for Piastri. The team faced heavy backlashing from fans over the papaya team orders.
“If it was the other way around, we would have done the exact same way.” – Lando Norris(post race)
Strategic Missteps Cost Mercedes
Mercedes’s outing at Monza 2025 was a mixed effort from both Kimi and Russel combined. While the team arrived to close the gap and maintain as a contender to the top teams, they fell short by the least margin. The car lost its performance on the straight.
Kimi lost 3 places in the due course where as Russel managed to protect his 5th place from the Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Despite the challenges, Mercedes took valuable data from Monza as they continue to refine their package for upcoming races, determined to turn signs of progress into consistent results.
Glory Slips Away: Ferrari’s Costly Mistake at Home
The 2025 Italian Grand Prix at Monza promised to a celebration for Ferrari, but ended in bitter heartbreak for Scuderia Ferrari and their Tifosi Fans. Lewis Hamilton facing a 5 place grid penalty from the Dutch Grand Prix costed misfortune as he fought hard to put his car in the top 10 facing overtakes from Williams, Mercedes and a Sauber.
The race unfolded in cruel fashion.Mechanical gremlins and tyre degradation further compounded Ferrari’s woes, leaving neither driver able to extract the maximum from the SF-25 on one of the most important weekends of the season. Each lap that slipped away felt heavier for the thousands of fans dressed in scarlet, who had filled Monza’s grandstands with hope and pride.
Italian GP Brings Hopeful Signs for Williams
While they weren’t expected to challenge the front-runners, Williams maximized their opportunities, turning steady pace and sharp racecraft into a performance that left the paddock impressed.Qualifying set the tone, with both drivers pushing the FW47 to its limits around Monza’s long straights and heavy braking zones. Though not inside the very top of the grid, Williams positioned themselves well to fight for the lower points-paying positions – an achievement in itself given the team’s recent struggles.
Alex Albon challenged mid-field, starting all the way from P14, finished P7 scoring valuable points for the team. Willams took the strategy correct, pitted early and fought hard. Meanwhile, Carlos started from P13 finished P11, missing out points by a second. Major damage occurred when he and Ollie Bearman had a spun due to crash at the apex, amounting in damaging the front wing.
Gabriel Bortoleto Impresses with Solid Points Finish at Monza
Formula 1 rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, Monza was another clear sign of his growing maturity and consistency. Starting from eighth on the grid—his joint-best qualifying result to date—Bortoleto turned in a composed drive to finish eighth, earning valuable points and strengthening Sauber’s standing in the Constructors’ Championship.
“Overall, I am happy to have finished eighth and have made it back in the points: this is also important for the Constructors’ Championship… it’s been a consistent, productive one, and a good way to close the European leg of the season.” – Gabriel Borteleto(post race)
Hadjar’s Fightback Leaves a Mark in Italy
Starting all the way from the pit-lane, Hadjar battled hard to finish P10, scoring a point fighting up 10 positions. Visa Cash RedBull Racing got the strategy and the pace perfect. He managed his tires perfectly.
Hadjar’s qualifying ended on a sour note as he was knocked out early in Q1. His frustration were compounded when he blamed Carlos Sainz for disrupting his crucial out-lap during the session. On top of that, a new power unit forced him to start from the pit-lane, putting him at a significant disadvantage from the outset.
His grit was rewarded with a top-10 finish despite all the weekend’s setbacks. The full results show him completing the race just under 64 seconds behind Max Verstappen, in 10th place.
Race Result!
Driver’s championship as we head to Baku
Team Standings
Touchdown in Baku
The 2025 Italian Grand Prix delivered everything fans expect from Monza – blistering speed, passionate tifosi, and a race packed with drama from front to back. Max Verstappen’s dominance reaffirmed his place at the top, while McLaren’s consistency kept the championship battle alive. Ferrari, under the weight of home expectation, suffered heartbreak, leaving the Tifosi deflated once again.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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