As Formulation 1 embarks on its conventional summer time break, now could be the proper time to mirror on what has been an action-packed first half of the season. We requested our writers Lawrence Barretto, Chris Medland, David Tremayne, Alex Jacques and James Hinchcliffe to provide us their tackle the marketing campaign up to now, in addition to making some daring predictions for what may occur subsequent.
What was the very best race of the season up to now?
Lawrence Barretto (F1 Correspondent & Presenter): There have been some crackers this yr, however for me the opener in Australia will get my vote. Treacherous circumstances in Melbourne created excessive drama with three Security Vehicles, an aborted begin and a slew of crashes. Lando Norris mastered all of it to return out on high – whereas rookie Kimi Antonelli impressed with a drive from sixteenth to P4 and Alex Albon starred for Williams in fifth.
Chris Medland (Particular Contributor): Australia was a reasonably entertaining begin to the yr, however I’m going to go along with the British Grand Prix. In the long run the combat for the win fizzled out a little bit – which was a disgrace as Oscar Piastri drove very well – however there was loads of motion elsewhere and a superb podium finally for Nico Hulkenberg. Plus there have been numerous nice fights all through, together with strikes for factors even on the ultimate lap.
David Tremayne (Corridor of Fame F1 Journalist): In some ways I loved the Canadian Grand Prix greater than most, not simply because it introduced us a distinct winner in never-say-die George Russell, who beat Max Verstappen, but additionally as a result of Kimi Antonelli confirmed his true potential by scoring his first podium and changing into the youngest driver up to now to realize such a end result. The collision between the 2 McLaren drivers added spice, particularly after that they had loved such an intense battle for fourth place.
Alex Jacques (F1 TV Commentator): The British Grand Prix for the sheer quantity of motion. We had excessive climate circumstances, spins, overtakes, a controversial penalty, house winner and a second for the ages with the Nico Hulkenberg podium, which simply did not appear actual when he was rounding the ultimate corners.
James Hinchcliffe (IndyCar Race Winner and Analyst): Silverstone – this yr’s version was a blockbuster. Combined climate, controversial penalties and a primary win on house soil for the nation’s high title prospect made it one to recollect. There have been a number of thrilling battles on monitor all the best way to the flag, together with the immensely fashionable first podium for Nico Hulkenberg on his 239th try.
Who’re the highest three drivers from the season up to now?
LB: I feel the highest three of the Drivers’ Standings is a good reflection of the true pecking order. Oscar Piastri has been ruthlessly constant to take six wins and 6 different podiums and deservedly leads the best way. His McLaren staff mate Norris has starred as properly, with three wins within the final 4, and the reward is being within the thick of the title combat. And Max Verstappen in P3 has no proper to be as excessive as he’s given the efficiency of his automobile – and but his insane expertise has yielded two victories and three different podiums as he as soon as once more scores the lion’s share of Pink Bull’s factors.
CM: Oscar Piastri, Alex Albon and George Russell. The rationale for all three is just about the identical – I’m struggling to recall many instances when any of them have made massive errors which have prevented them from maximising their outcomes. For Piastri there was Melbourne – which was such positive margins – and the Security Automobile infringement in Silverstone, however that’s about it. His degree has been constantly excessive all yr.
Albon equally has taken just about each vital alternative going for Williams, and that was essential because the automobile appears like changing into much less aggressive because the season wears on. Russell has been harm barely by Mercedes’ suspension improve points since Imola, however nonetheless registered the spectacular Canada win, one other podium in Hungary and three additional top-five finishes. It was a toss-up between Russell and Charles Leclerc for the third one, however Canada simply swung it Russell’s means.
DT: I’d say based mostly on pure efficiency velocity and elementary means: Oscar Piastri, Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen. After all, everyone knows that Lando Norris needs to be in there too, making it a high 4. However for me, right here’s the factor. On his day I feel Lando is pretty much as good as anybody on the market; he’s quick, clean and doesn’t usually make critical errors (although he will be liable to them when he’s actually pushing, as he confirmed at Spa). However I really feel he’s received a few races by being within the place of the McLaren driver to pit later (i.e. being behind his staff mate) the place he’s benefited barely fortuitously from the technique he’s adopted. That’s why I’ve plumped for Oscar, who’s super-quick and fewer liable to errors.
The latter two are slam-dunks. Charles is screwing the very best out of a Ferrari that appears tough to deal with whereas Max, too, falls into that class. What he did in Imola, with one other very tough automobile, showcased the pluperfect means wherein he can drive. I used to be super-impressed there how clean and docile he made the RB21 look whereas struggling like mad to beat the McLarens.
AJ: 1. Oscar Piastri – he has confounded pre-season predictions to be McLaren’s major contender. 2. Max Verstappen – he’s able to stealing outcomes he is bought no proper to be close to. 3. George Russell – he is driving at his best-ever degree in F1.
JH: For me it’s a reasonably uninspiring listing right here, with Oscar, Lando and Max. Beginning with Max, to have 4 poles and two wins in straight-up fights in opposition to such a superior McLaren exhibits he’s nonetheless at peak type. Lando and Oscar have been going punch-for-punch all yr, and each have carried out admirably up to now in what’s the first professional shot at title glory for every. The very fact they’re doing it in opposition to the driving force within the subsequent storage makes this example much more tense and troublesome to handle, however each are conserving it skilled and doing their speaking on the monitor. For now…
Which driver has been probably the most under-the-radar performer this yr?
LB: It is a close-run combat between Alex Albon and Nico Hulkenberg. The latter completely deserved his first podium on the 239th time of asking – however for me, Albon’s sustained brilliance throughout the season earns him this accolade. He is levelled up in an enormous means since highly-rated Carlos Sainz joined as his staff mate at Williams this yr. His drives in Australia, Miami and Imola have been beautiful and the best way he rebounded from three successive DNFs from Spain-Austria exhibits an enhanced psychological toughness.
CM: Certainly Alex Albon’s performances don’t rely as below the radar, so whereas I really feel like both Haas driver might be a candidate right here, I’m going to go along with Esteban Ocon. Though Ollie Bearman has been so spectacular in Qualifying occasionally, and had a run of 4 straight P11s that would have given him a a lot larger factors tally, Ocon delivered some massive outcomes after they got here alongside. He’s within the high 10 within the standings, in a brand new staff with a automobile that was usually aggressive however not often fourth or fifth quickest. I don’t assume he’s carried out at his greatest all through, both, however that’s encouraging for each Ocon and Haas.
DT: I might nominate each Kick Sauber drivers, Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto; Liam Lawson, who of late has shrugged off the mantle of the man who couldn’t make it at Pink Bull not simply by rehabilitating himself fantastically at Racing Bulls however outqualifying and outracing speedy staff mate Isack Hadjar (see beneath); or Kimi Antonelli, who has proven some nice flashes of brilliance in between a extra troubled season than one might need anticipated of the youthful rookie.
However general I’d choose Alex Albon. Everyone knows two issues about him; properly, three, really. He’s bloke. He’s quick. And he’s an actual racer. You possibly can use related descriptions for his new staff mate Carlos Sainz, a confirmed winner in opposition to Charles Leclerc. However in opposition to Carlos (who has, like Alex, had some misfortunes this yr), the Thai driver has proven that he actually does have what it takes. And the radio messages we’ve heard every now and then reveal that he’s a tiger reasonably than a pussy cat within the cockpit, with the boldness to talk his thoughts. No offence to Williams, however I’d like to see him in a topline automobile.
AJ: Alex Albon has responded to the specter of new staff mate Carlos Sainz brilliantly. He recognised this may be a career-defining season for his notion within the paddock and has seemed like scoring factors nearly on a regular basis. Fifth on the grid at Spa, when so many have been near that point, was a standout second in a superb season that was meant to be transitional for Williams.
JH: Just a few drivers are outperforming their equipment on a reasonably constant foundation, however the one which we haven’t spoken about as a lot to me is Esteban Ocon. Haas have struggled this yr with an inconsistent automobile; it’s generally fast, however usually not, and regardless of it being his first yr on the squad, his expertise is coming by and serving to him gather invaluable factors. Sitting high 10 within the factors, forward of each Aston Martin drivers and Hadjar within the very fast Racing Bulls machine, is spectacular. When you think about Hulkenberg is forward of him off the again of that Silverstone podium, shifting additional up isn’t out of the query both.
Which rookie has impressed you most up to now?
LB: Isack Hadjar recovered from a irritating crash in Melbourne to place collectively a robust run of performances that included an excellent sixth in Monaco. The way in which he is handled the strain of getting to ship while you race for the Pink Bull household whereas delivering constantly good performances has been spectacular.
CM: I used to be initially going to go along with Isack Hadjar, however that’s extra that he stunned me. So given the query, it must be Gabriel Bortoleto, for the very fact he’s really lived as much as the excessive expectations I had. The Brazilian received back-to-back F3 and F2 titles as a rookie, so I anticipated him to indicate his talents in F1 if given the equipment, and he is doing precisely that. He learns rapidly, dealt with the troublesome automobile properly early on, and is capitalising now. I feel we’ll see his racecraft grow to be that bit extra aggressive too within the second a part of the yr as his confidence continues to develop.
Hadjar, against this, was a bit extra of a query mark. Undoubtedly fast, I used to be not sure if he’d translate it into fast performances at Racing Bulls, however he bounced again brilliantly from the frustration of Melbourne and had a robust first half, even when he’s had a harder run of outcomes lately.
DT: Isack Hadjar, with out query. I’ll admit I used to be a little bit stunned when Pink Bull positioned him with Racing Bulls, and that I used to be wanting ahead to the cockpit rants conflict between him and Yuki Tsunoda. After all, that by no means materialised with Yuki’s promotion to Pink Bull, however on the intense aspect Isack has impressed on so many events, and been nothing however super-positive. He typically appears and sounds unruffled and he’s all the time on it proper from the beginning of a gathering, he doesn’t appear to want to play himself in. Very positively a person to look at.
AJ: I feared for Isack Hadjar after Melbourne, so for him to indicate a lot velocity within the races which adopted was excellent. His efficiency throughout the Monaco weekend fulfilled his potential as a fast driver in F1. Elsewhere I have been impressed along with his means to twin the tempo with management and acceptance of when to combat and when to gather the factors.
JH: I feel it’s important to tip this to Hadjar, with the small caveat that the VCARB 02 appears to have been probably the most constant automobile in relative efficiency exterior of the McLaren. Due to that, we haven’t seen the peaks and valleys of Bearman within the Haas or Bortoleto within the Kick Sauber, which has helped make his effort look extra full. That stated, all of those three are in rivalry for greatest rookie by season’s finish.
Which staff and driver will probably be below probably the most scrutiny within the second half of the season?
LB: I’ll cheat and provides three groups that will probably be below scrutiny, as I see them as a collective. McLaren have been excellent this yr and are in a category of their very own and thus their chasing rivals Ferrari, Mercedes and Pink Bull will probably be below strain within the second half of the yr, to not solely be taught the teachings of why there’s a chasm of round 300 factors between them and McLaren but additionally guarantee they put together as greatest as they’ll to slam shut that hole for subsequent yr. From a driver perspective, I feel those that have not bought an iron-clad contract for subsequent yr will probably be below loads of scrutiny – together with Yuki Tsunoda. The Japanese racer has proven flashes of tempo that means he is attending to grips along with his tough Pink Bull – however he must discover a strategy to begin scoring constantly if he is to maintain his seat for 2026.
CM: Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton. It might need been Pink Bull and Max Verstappen till latest modifications and commitments, however Hamilton appeared notably downbeat and annoyed after Hungary. It was all the time prone to be a troublesome transition after 12 years at Mercedes, however I feel the overall lack of competitiveness from Ferrari in comparison with their robust end final yr has added to the state of affairs. With Monza on the horizon, that partnership goes to be the centre of consideration for the subsequent few rounds.
DT: All of them! As a result of that’s the character of the sport. But when we glance from the highest down it must be Lando Norris. In a means I respect him for talking his thoughts, about his thoughts. However a part of me thinks that by doing so, he’s telegraphing his interior self to guys who will probably be racing into corners with him at 200mph. I all the time bear in mind American nice Dan Gurney saying of Stirling Moss, “If you happen to ever bought shut sufficient to begin placing him below strain, he would allow you to slip by and grow to be the one making use of it, so that you’d by no means get to see when he began to return unglued.” The world will probably be watching Lando’s each transfer to see how he offers with the super-quiet Oscar Piastri, who so not often reveals simply what he’s pondering.
AJ: Pink Bull want to indicate inexperienced shoots of restoration to Max Verstappen, however realistically it is Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton who want solutions rapidly. The early optimism of pre-season has pale, and it was robust to look at the seven-time champion so despondent in Belgium and Hungary. Each staff and driver must discover a path to the shape they confirmed precisely a yr in the past when Hamilton was profitable in Belgium and Ferrari scored probably the most factors of any staff after the summer time break.
JH: Rightly or wrongly, it all the time looks as if Ferrari are below probably the most scrutiny except they’re dominating. I feel after Hungary, there will probably be further consideration on them within the second half to drag it again collectively. Fred Vasseur’s future being secured helps, however Lewis Hamilton’s feedback submit Budapest have been exceptionally downbeat and everyone seems to be ready, hoping, that this mixture can lastly click on and get Lewis again to podium rivalry.
Who will win the Drivers’ Championship?
LB: It appears like this drivers’ title combat is heading right down to the wire, with McLaren permitting their drivers to race arduous however honest and Norris and Piastri profiting from that technique to ship some unimaginable racing. In my daring prediction at the beginning of the yr, I pitched that Norris can be champion and I’ll stand by that.
CM: Oscar Piastri, nevertheless it’s nonetheless so tight to name. I really feel like Lando Norris hasn’t carried out that near his greatest all yr and but the very fact he’s simply 9 factors behind is encouraging for him, however with Piastri he appears so snug on this state of affairs and the Australian’s degree not often dips far beneath his potential. The thrilling factor with Oscar is that you simply nonetheless don’t know the place his ceiling is, and as a lot as Norris can carry out to a better degree, so can also his staff mate.
DT: Oscar Piastri.
AJ: Oscar Piastri. His leap from yr two has been actually spectacular and, while each contenders are wonderful drivers, I imagine the proof from the primary 14 rounds factors to Oscar with the ability to entry the very best of his expertise extra usually. Lando’s peaks are excellent however he does not seem to have the ability to entry the extremity of efficiency for lengthy sufficient with the 2025 McLaren. Beating Piastri at Norris strongholds like Austria and Budapest was crucial for the Brit, however the margin of victory and nature of each races exhibits the calibre of Piastri in 2025.
JH: A McLaren driver. Don’t make me decide! It’s too near name in the mean time. Each are acting at such a excessive degree and maximising the automobile’s potential. It’s going to come right down to a combo of monitor choice within the remaining 10 races and, in the end, who makes the fewest errors. Offered the second half of the season is as fiercely contested as the primary, both driver can be a deserving World Champion.
One daring prediction for the second half of the season?
LB: Lewis Hamilton reduce a downbeat determine in Hungary, however that tough weekend got here after three successive occasions the place the seven-time World Champion had proven constant enchancment. I count on the Briton to combat again and add a correct Grand Prix win to his Dash race triumph earlier this season in China.
CM: Kick Sauber will rating one other podium. 45 factors within the final six rounds, and a few very spectacular race execution, all provides as much as a staff that I feel will benefit from one other likelihood if we get a race that gives a podium to a staff exterior the highest 4. I additionally assume Lewis Hamilton will nonetheless win a race for Ferrari, regardless of the staff having but to get a win on a Sunday and Hamilton looking for his first podium for them, however that didn’t fairly really feel daring sufficient for a driver who has 105 wins to his title.
DT: Lewis will lastly get his head spherical a difficult Ferrari SF-25 and return to the shape he confirmed when profitable the Chinese language GP Dash race.
AJ: We’re in for a last-race title decider for the primary time since 2021.
JH: A Lewis Hamilton podium is coming within the second half. With groups much less centered on upgrades now that assets are centered on 2026, Ferrari can concentrate on optimising what they’ve. For Lewis, he wants a well-recognized automobile that he can be taught to drive. Not throwing upgrades at it and specializing in discovering the set-up inside the bundle they’ve will permit him to be the very best of the remainder behind the papaya vehicles in some unspecified time in the future this yr.
