Recap of the 2025 Formula 1 Racing Season

The 2025 Formula 1 season was packed with drama and nonstop conversation among fans. From intense championship battles to unexpected team turnarounds, the year reshaped how people viewed drivers and teams across the grid. With McLaren’s dominance, the rise of rookies, Ferrari’s fall, and Williams’ rise, this season is one of the most memorable. With many BIFU students either following F1 or surrounded by friends who are F1 fans, the 2025 season stands out as one worth breaking down, both for its on-track results and debates sparked off the track.

McLaren dominated the 2025 season, winning both the Driver’s and Constructor’s Championships. However, these victories came with controversy. Many fans believe that Lando Norris, the champion, was unfairly favored by McLaren over his teammate Oscar Piastri.

“They should let them race each other. That, or figure out who gets priority based on qualifying or something fair. Lando is definitely being favored by McLaren. I’m more of a Piastri fan, he definitely deserves a better shot than what he’s been given,” commented Mr. Albert.

Piastri led the standings early in the season, and critics pointed to strategy calls in several 2024 and 2025 Grand Prix that appeared to prioritize Norris. Norris narrowly defeated Max Verstappen, champion from 2021 to 2024, by just 2 points, leading to credit for his “rocketship” of a car rather than his driving.

Backlash and criticism against Norris grew during the season. Once widely liked, he drew criticism after making several disparaging remarks towards other drivers, including Hamilton, Verstappen, and Vettel. In one instance, he said, “it’s not the car, look at Checo,” insinuating that Sergio Perez’s struggles proved Red Bull’s success was not due to the car. Additionally, support for Piastri increased as team orders repeatedly told him not to attack, swap positions, or switch back with Norris after penalties, reinforcing the perception that the team prioritized Norris. Although Norris admitted he regrets his statements, the controversy surrounding team favoritism and his comments continues to fuel backlash against him.

A whopping 7 rookies raced in the grid this season! For comparison, there’s only 1 new rookie in 2026 and 0 back in 2024. These young drivers made up 30% of the grid. 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli finished 7th in the Championship, scoring 3 podiums. His first podium at Canada made him the third youngest driver to achieve the feat. He climbed from 16th to 4th place in his debut race, and although his performance dipped mid-season, he rebounded after a strong 4th place result at Azerbaijan and consistently finished in the points, or top 10.

“Kimi seems to be the next great driver,” Mr. Albert remarks. “Hopefully they give him a car that’s competitive. He’s been a good prospect since karting, so people have been watching him for a long time.”

Isack Hadjar also had a strong debut, scoring a podium in a Racing Bull. Despite crashing on the formation lap of the season opener, he quickly recovered throughout the season. His strong performance earned him a seat in Red Bull Racing alongside Max Verstappen in the upcoming 2026 season. Oliver Bearman also did very well in the 2025 season, finishing 2 places ahead of teammate Esteban Ocon and securing Haas’s best-ever result with a 4th place finish in Mexico. Driving for Sauber, which becomes Audi this season, Gabriel Bortoleto showed promise with a P6 finish in Hungary. Overall, the rookie class brought fresh energy and gave fans new drivers to watch compared to the 2023 to 2024 season, where no drivers moved seats.

As the excitement around new talent grew, Ferrari entered the 2025 season with high expectations, but left fans disappointed. The departure of Carlos Sainz at the end of the 2024 season was especially emotional for supporters. It proved embarrassing for Ferrari as Sainz remains Ferrari’s most recent race winner with his victory back in March of 2024 in Australia. The team let him go to make room for 7-time World Driver Champion Lewis Hamilton after his 12-year run in Mercedes.

Despite having Hamilton with Charles Leclerc, the team struggled with an underperforming car, nicknamed “ferrari dumptruck” by fans, and questionable strategy calls. These issues quickly fueled what fans began calling “Ferrari Depression.”

“I feel really bad for Charles,” said Nicole Lin (11). “There was a point where a lot of us thought it [the 2025 season] would be Max [Verstappen] versus Charles [Leclerc], but the thing holding him back is Ferrari.”

Hamilton’s move to the team marked a historic low. For the first time in his Formula 1 career from 2007 to 2024, he finished a season without a single podium, underscoring the team’s broader struggles.

While Ferrari faltered after moving on from Sainz, Williams benefitted almost immediately. The Spanish driver found new momentum alongside his teammate, Alex Albon. Together, they transformed Williams from a midfield afterthought into a genuine competitor. Sainz finished the season with 2 podiums. His success became a highlight of the team’s season and a reminder of what Ferrari had lost.

“I think it’s pretty funny how he was the last Ferrari winner and then got booted out,” Lin said. “Williams has a really good future with Alex and Carlos.”

Beyond podiums, the team made a measurable leap in performance. After scoring just 28 constructors’ points in 2024, Williams surged to over 100 points in 2025, signaling real progress for the team. Sainz’s hands-on role in car development, combined with Albon’s consistency, helped their team become extremely collaborative. For a historic team that had spent years near the back of the grid, 2025 felt like the start of a long-awaited resurgence.

Overall, the 2025 Formula One World Championship was entertaining and filled with drama, including the close title fight between Verstappen and the controversial McLarens; Piastri received strong support due to perceptions of team favoritism and Norris’s controversial comments. The season also introduced many promising rookies such as Antonelli, Hadjar, and Bearman, who have delivered great results in their first full seasons.

At the same time, Ferrari struggled with subpar cars and questionable strategy calls, disappointing fans. However, the downturn of Ferrari marked the upturn of Williams, showing how quickly fortunes can change. With new talents rising and teams on upswings and recovery, fans have much to look forward to next season.