The wait is almost over! Formula 1 fans all over the globe have been very patient over the last few weeks while everyone in the paddock has had a bit of a breather, but it is race week once again with the Dutch Grand Prix kicking off the final 10 rounds of the 2025 season.
It is safe to say that this year has very much belonged to McLaren so far. They have won 11 of the 14 Grands Prix held so far and are a whopping 299 points ahead of their nearest rival in the constructors’ standings.
If all goes their way, the Woking-based outfit could have the title wrapped up within just a few weeks, which would be remarkable. Fortunately for those who want some competition at the front, things remains super tight in the drivers’ championship with Lando Norris just nine points behind team-mate Oscar Piastri.
Of course, we will be right there covering it all across the Mirror Sport website as well as out print edition. And, new for 2025, we also have Pit Lane Chronicle – a FREE F1 newsletter which delivers all the stories you need to know about straight to your inbox, weekly and with no ads. You can sign up via the box below.
After all, even though McLaren look to have the teams’ title sewn up, there is still plenty yet to be decided this year. Here are some of the storylines we’re most excited about that will play out over the next few months:
Only one of McLaren’s superb racers can become World champion this year. Piastri has led the standings since April and has been the more consistent of the two over the course of the year, but the momentum looks to be with Norris right now.
The Brit won three Grands Prix out of four before the summer break, including a red-letter day at Silverstone where he won his home race for the first time in F1. But neither McLaren driver has been ahead of the other by more than 23 points all year and it is set to be mouth-wateringly tight for the rest of the year too.
They’ve behaved themselves up to now, but F1 history shows that team-mates rarely get along when they’re in direct competition with each other for the title. We’ll have our popcorn at the ready…
Things didn’t end too well for Lewis Hamilton just before the summer break. He left the Hungarian Grand Prix having failed to score a single point over a race weekend for the first time all year, and more disillusioned than ever as he continues to struggle at Ferrari.
His interview after qualifying was a difficult watch as Hamilton labelled himself “useless” and suggested the team would be better off replacing him. But he did say he would be back after the summer break and he will be determined to turn things around.
A title charge has been out of the question for some time now, but all eyes will still be on Hamilton for the rest of this year to see if he shows signs of finding his groove again, ahead of what looks like a make-or-break season in 2026 for his dreams of becoming F1’s first-ever eight time World champion.
A battle of wits seems to be taking place at Mercedes. The team held off on handing George Russell a contract extension while they were chasing Max Verstappen, and only after the Dutchman said he is sticking with Red Bull for 2026 did team boss Toto Wolff say that the Brit would “definitely” get a new deal.
Yet, pen has yet to be put to paper. Russell has had an excellent season so far and wants a long-term deal, while it seems Mercedes want to keep their options open in case Verstappen becomes available next season and would prefer only a one-year extension.
Rookie teenager Kimi Antonelli also needs new terms but Mercedes are unlikely to take any risks when it comes to the future of the starlet they believe has the future to dominate F1 in the future.
The battle to be ‘best of the rest’ behind F1’s big four this year is poised to be a fascinating one. Up to now, it is Williams who have been the stand-out performers in the midfield with boss James Vowles starting to see the fruits of his efforts to awaken the sport’s sleeping giant.
They are fifth with 70 points, 18 more than Aston Martin one place behind. But the balance of power in that midfield fight seems to be changing with every race weekend and one big haul, like Aston’s 16-point gain in Budapest or Nico Hulkenberg’s podium at Silverstone for Sauber, can change everything.
And that’s why you still can’t rule out the likes of Racing Bulls and Haas, on 45 and 35 points respectively in eighth and ninth position. Only Alpine, rock bottom and with only one driver scoring points whenever he can in Pierre Gasly, have given up on this season.
It has been a much less volatile driver market than we saw in 2024, and compared to what we are likely to get next year, but still there is plenty of room for intrigue. Eight seats have yet to be confirmed for next year, including the two new ones made available by the entry of Cadillac as F1’s 11th team in 2026.
Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez are believed to be the preferred candidates, though both have also held talks with Alpine who need to either get Franco Colapinto firing or find someone else who can deliver. Mick Schumacher has also been in talks and could be in line for a reserve role.
Mercedes will surely retain Russell and Antonelli, meaning the other three seats still to be decided are all within the Red Bull family. Yuki Tsunoda must do more to earn a longer stay as Verstappen’s team-mate at the top outfit while, at sister squad Racing Bulls, Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar are fighting not only to earn a promotion but also to avoid being axed in favour of promising British teenager Arvid Lindblad.
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