We are actually precisely midway into the 2025 System 1 season, with 12 of 24 scheduled rounds behind us. From the growing intra-team battle at McLaren to Lewis Hamilton’s new journey at Ferrari, there have been loads of moments to maintain followers on the sting of their seats and speaking factors to maintain pundits busy.
Earlier than the second half kicks off, F1.com has individually gathered the ideas of a number of F1 legends: particularly 2009 World Champion Jenson Button, 1997 title winner Jacques Villeneuve, 13-time Grand Prix winner David Coulthard, three-time Grand Prix winner Johnny Herbert and 12-time podium finisher Stefan Johansson.
So, what did they should say about every little thing that’s occurred on and off the observe up so far – and what is perhaps on the best way? Learn on to search out out…
What do you make of the season thus far?
Jenson Button: I’m loving the season. Typically it’s difficult when there’s only one staff combating on the entrance for the championship, however I believe the wonderful thing about the Mclarens is that they’re allowed to race, which is essential – seeing them struggle on observe is nice. Then you’ve gotten different folks which can be profitable: Max [Verstappen] profitable races, George [Russell] profitable races, Lewis profitable the Dash in China. It’s good to see plenty of folks within the combine and many change up and down the grid.
For me, the 2 groups which have made a large leap over the past couple of years are McLaren, clearly, to the entrance, and Williams from the again to the midfield. To make that kind of leap when there aren’t any regulation modifications could be very spectacular.
Jacques Villeneuve: It’s been enjoyable. It’s what we wish in F1. When you’ve gotten a battle of two staff mates then it’s okay if the staff is forward of the others. When it was simply Max, his staff mate wasn’t as much as par, in order that form of killed it. However now, the 2 [McLaren] staff mates are combating and taking factors away from one another. It additionally provides an opportunity to the opposite ones which can be simply barely behind car-wise.
David Coulthard: For those who’re a McLaren fan, you’re loving the run that they’re having, however even in the event you’re a generalist, I believe it’s an amazing season of F1. The closeness of the grid is the factor that’s actually impressing me, particularly in Qualifying. Clearly come race time it opens up just a little bit, however I’m simply loving how shut this season is. To have an ideal Hollywood season, we’d like Ferrari doing a bit extra. I do know we acquired the little pleasure with Lewis within the Dash, however they clearly acquired disqualified on race day.
In any other case, I predicted the approaching collectively of the 2 McLaren drivers, as a result of I’ve been there and completed that. I crashed into Mika Hakkinen, he crashed into me, and it’s all the time going to be the case that irrespective of how tight a staff is, after you have the depth of each drivers having an opportunity to win, then that’s going to get increasingly more sophisticated.
Johnny Herbert: It’s going to be very attention-grabbing to see how the championship battle pans out as soon as the strain begins to ramp up. At this second, it’s simply gathering, gathering, gathering [points] and never getting your self into hassle. To this point, I’m liking it. It’s nice that Oscar and Lando are shut, it’s nice that Max is in it, and George and Mercedes each on occasion. There’s a pleasant little mix-up.
Stefan Johansson: Initially, throughout the board now, I believe the usual of drivers might be as excessive because it’s ever been in F1. They’re all actually, actually, actually good drivers, actually quick drivers. With Oscar and Lando, it’s extraordinary how they’re usually inside hundredths or thousandths of one another in Qualifying. You’ve additionally acquired Max, George and the Ferraris [involved] once in a while. I don’t suppose F1 has ever been nearer from prime to backside than it’s now. It’s unbelievable.
How do you view the Piastri vs Norris struggle?
JB: Austria was a extremely necessary weekend for Lando. I believe if it went on any longer with out Lando profitable, mentally it’s very robust for a driver. Particularly somebody like Lando, who I believe will be his personal worst enemy at occasions – he places numerous strain on himself. He’s unbelievably fast, but when he makes a tiny mistake, he actually takes it to coronary heart. He’s acquired to understand that all of us make errors. It occurs, it’s a part of racing, and as a rule you lose fairly than win. I like his persona, and I actually suppose he’s super-quick. Oscar’s a really completely different persona, very level-headed. Nothing appears to faze him, and that makes him a really, very tough competitor…
JV: It’s nice as a result of they’re very completely different. Each can win it, and we don’t know which one will get the higher hand. I believe Norris nonetheless has the sting speed-wise, however he’s so good at berating himself that it’s additionally self-damaging in some unspecified time in the future. With Piastri, it was the primary time he acquired a penalty at Silverstone, and that noticed a little bit of a change of perspective. If you’re combating for the championship, it actually modifications your strategy. We’ve seen Norris being within the lead of the championship, being behind, combating again, so we’ve seen form of every little thing that Norris is. We haven’t seen every little thing that Piastri is and the way he reacts in sure conditions. Will that make him higher or worse? That’s what I’m ready to see.
DC: If it was half a World Championship, Oscar’s received. I don’t suppose anybody might say he hasn’t deserved to be main – he was main earlier than [the McLarens] got here collectively in Canada. But when Lando turns it round within the second half of the season, he’s doing it in opposition to somebody that’s a gifted third yr F1 driver. It’s a bit like 2021, the place some persons are nonetheless so vocal about what occurred… just one driver might win. Each Max and Lewis Hamilton drove like World Champions that yr, however solely one in every of them might have the title.
I believe McLaren have dealt with it very well. I believe each their drivers are on the tamer aspect of animal than the wilder aspect of animal, in order that most likely makes it just a little bit simpler. However this may be their solely probability to win a world title; we don’t know what 2026 brings, we don’t know what the long run is, so that you’ve acquired to grab the second. That’s why I’m actually impressed with how Oscar has stepped up this yr. However Lando’s response over the past two races is exhibiting his high quality as properly. I believe it’s going to be a kind of issues the place each of them deserve it, however just one can get it.
SJ: I believe it’s going to go all the way down to the wire. Ultimately, it should most likely be circumstances that tip the end result of the championship. As a result of speed-wise they’re so shut, it’s most likely going to return all the way down to race craft, studying conditions the appropriate approach, and avoiding any kind of unforced errors, in the event you like. Oscar had his penalty at Silverstone, which you’ll be able to debate whether or not it was justified or not, however I believe issues like that, or Lando’s incident in Montreal… these are the issues which can be going to tip the size on the finish of the yr.
JH: Oscar’s come into F1 in a really, very mature approach. He’s acquired himself in staff on the proper time and he’s delivering. However then I throw it on the opposite aspect, and Lando is bettering… he’s most likely a later developer in some methods, however he has modified over the past couple of years. I believe the incident in Canada, the positives of Austria and Silverstone… I all the time say it’s about capability, and I believe his mind capability generally will get full up. There’s the luggage that comes with every little thing that’s happening, and I do know from my very own profession, there are occasions the place you’ve acquired to eliminate baggage that’s hanging round your neck.
It’s going to be all the way down to the mentality of each of them. However they’re each youngish and so they’re solely going to get higher as time goes by, like Max has completed, like Lewis did, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher… they’ve that great means to discover a approach of shifting up each time the efficiency of the automobile will get higher. With all of the little ups and downs they’ve had, they’re nonetheless very, very shut general. It’ll solely be one over the opposite come the tip of the yr.
Can Verstappen and Crimson Bull ever be dominated out?
JH: For the championship, sure. He’ll be within the combine, he’ll be inflicting hassle for the others, and he’ll have an affect – as a result of he’ll be taking factors away probably from the others. That’s what he’ll take pleasure in as properly: ‘I’m nonetheless right here, I’m nonetheless right here’. It’s impossible… there may very well be an implosion at McLaren, however I don’t suppose so. Max is simply going to be within the combine and he’s going to be inflicting them to suppose in a barely completely different approach, as a result of they’re combating for a championship whereas combating Max.
JB: I believe it’s actually tough for Max. If Max has one unhealthy race, like he did in Austria, that’s numerous factors for him to make up in a automobile that’s not so good as the McLaren. You’d should say it’s a two-horse race in the mean time, however Max has had it his approach for a couple of years, and what he’s doing with that automobile is simply unbelievable. If you put so many drivers in the identical automobile and they’re nowhere close to him it proves what a expertise he’s, and what he’s in a position to do with a tough automobile.
What’s he going to do subsequent yr? I don’t know. I believe it’s attention-grabbing that we don’t know what the most suitable choice is. I’m positive he doesn’t know both proper now. You may form of see the long run just a little bit, as a result of you’ll be able to see what the automobile’s doing within the wind tunnel, you’ll be able to see what the ability output is, however you don’t know what different groups are doing. They could say they’re doing higher, however who is aware of? So, it’s a difficult determination for him and, no matter he chooses, I believe it’s going to be an thrilling season in 2026 – no matter automobile he’s in.
JV: Max will all the time be in it for some race wins and factors, however the championship is hard. You can’t be on the sting the entire time – it received’t all the time go in your favour. Until the 2 McLaren boys make a multitude, find yourself combating too harshly like they did in Canada, like they nearly did in Austria… After Silverstone, there’s one half of the camp that’s upset, so I’m curious to see how that may evolve within the coming races. I wouldn’t know who to place my cash on – I simply do not know proper now…
DC: I wasn’t in Japan, however I used to be watching Qualifying, and when Max took pole there, I used to be like, ‘How did he do this?’ It was just a little bit like that at Silverstone as properly. That’s one of many issues I like in regards to the sport – seeing distinctive drivers do distinctive issues when others can’t or haven’t. So, you’ll be able to’t rule Max out. I believe for the championship, everyone knows it’s going to take an improve to unlock some efficiency. The place Crimson Bull are proper now, and in the event that they had been frozen, it’s tough to think about that the second half of the season circuits are all of the sudden going to swimsuit the Crimson Bull higher than the primary half. It would take an improve from Crimson Bull to provide him the consistency. Are they able to doing it? Completely. Have they completed it earlier than? Sure. Is Max distinctive? Completely.
How do you assess Hamilton’s begin at Ferrari?
JB: You all the time count on Lewis to be on the entrance, you count on him to be on a par along with his staff mate, if not higher, however we’ve not seen that this yr. It’s all the time tough altering staff, however particularly to a staff that’s not a British staff. It’s an Italian staff, he’s by no means skilled that earlier than, or since karting, and his staff mate speaks the language, he’s actually embedded within the staff. So, it’s difficult, but when anybody will be aggressive in that automobile, shifting in the best way that he has, it’s Lewis. It’s a matter of time, however I’m positive it’s getting just a little irritating by way of not having the ability to get the utmost out of the automobile.
JV: Lewis is slowly however certainly placing his foot down, making this his staff. That is essential for what’s coming subsequent. He’s getting in a extra comfy place for himself. He has numerous expertise, he is aware of what it takes, and he’s biding his time. It was robust and he hasn’t collapsed, in order that’s good. He’s all the time been a really emotional driver, however plainly he’s handed the deep wave, so he is perhaps on the up wave proper now.
DC: Silverstone felt extra comfy. Up till Silverstone, and placing China to 1 aspect, it’s felt uncomfortable watching Lewis there. He hasn’t regarded as fast as Charles [Leclerc]. I don’t suppose any of the groups thoughts a quick Ferrari, as a result of they’re kind of the largest title within the historical past of the game. However at Silverstone, it regarded like he was extra up to the mark. Was that simply because it was Silverstone or not? That continues to be to be seen.
SJ: I believe Lewis is getting nearer, at the least within the final couple of races. The drivers are all the time in search of consolation, consolation that means you’ll be able to belief the automobile once you decide to the nook. I believe what Lewis has been combating is that he’s probably not comfy with the turn-in of the automobile. So, you strive a bit tougher and also you go over the restrict, and then you definitely lose much more time, otherwise you’re hovering across the two- to three-tenths beneath the restrict over an entire lap. When you’ve gotten that degree of consolation you simply put the automobile precisely the place you need it to be. That’s the arduous half. If you’re at one with the automobile, it’s simply an extension of your physique, actually – it’s the place you need to be. I believe Lewis continues to be one of many, if not the most effective driver on the grid.
JH: It’s been a gradual burner for him. He’s most likely been internally very annoyed, however he hasn’t given up – he’s nonetheless working arduous. Silverstone was hopefully an indication of higher issues to return. It was a a lot nearer state of affairs there and so they had been robust straight out of the field. Lewis made the error, sure, on that Qualifying lap, however there was just one driver who didn’t, and that was Max. It was a greater efficiency, however Ferrari have nonetheless acquired to up their recreation. The issue will probably be when the main focus goes to subsequent yr. No less than they’ve acquired probably a greater course now.
What else are you looking for within the second half?
JV: How lengthy Yuki Tsunoda will keep at Crimson Bull is the opposite massive query mark. He was pushing so arduous to go from the small staff to the large staff. He’s driver, however it’s important to be distinctive… it’s important to be a Lewis, it’s important to be a Fernando [Alonso], it’s important to be a Piastri or a Norris.
DC: Who continues to develop, as a result of 2026 is looming and we all know that’s a large change. Folks will probably be working tougher sooner than they might have completed from 2024 to 2025, due to the continuation of many issues. At a sure level, groups will both run out of useful resource or concepts, however contemplating we think about Sauber/Audi would already be very targeted on 2026, they’re getting some massive outcomes in the mean time.
Among the rookies have additionally been actually spectacular. They’ve proven they had been good within the decrease formulae… all of the sudden they arrive to F1 in opposition to drivers we all know are good, and so they’re actually exhibiting their pace. Prior to now we’ve had a few drivers the place you go, ‘They’re passing by way of’, but it surely doesn’t really feel like that. The drivers are there on advantage and so they’re doing job – they’re all good. However somebody like a Max is outstanding, in order that’s the benchmark they aspire to.
Then George not being formally signed [for the 2026 season] is barely weird. Based mostly on the efficiency proper now, even when there was a change in Mercedes’ line-up, you wouldn’t suppose it could be George who can be the change. There are some things we’re all ready on to fall into place.
SJ: I imply, I’m simply trying ahead to each race, as a result of each race is a nail-biter or a cliffhanger these days. What Max is doing with the Crimson Bull is completely unbelievable and it’s going to be nice to comply with him. He’s all the time there, form of stirring it up in the midst of every little thing. George can also be lurking. As I mentioned, the extent of drivers now could be very spectacular.
JH: I believe the primary focus would be the upgrades which have come from the vast majority of the groups, and that’s going to cease as a result of clearly focus shifts to subsequent yr. Then it’s all the way down to who doesn’t make errors. If we return to the championship, who’s not going to make these errors? What I don’t need to see is McLaren getting concerned with calls, as we noticed just a little bit final yr. Let the drivers get on with it and the most effective driver will win. I don’t need any, ‘Flip 1, it’s your race to win’. I’m positive it received’t [happen]. It ought to be a straight head-to-head.
