The summer holidays are almost over, and soon it will be time to swap the beaches or the mountains for the racetrack once again. The yachts will be docked, the suitcases repacked, and Formula 1 heads to the Netherlands for the restart of the 2025 season. The final rush begins on home ground for Max Verstappen, as the world championship prepares for the last ten races of the current technical cycle, before the major regulatory upheaval set to arrive in about six months.
The remaining European rounds will take place at Zandvoort, Monza, and Baku before the calendar shifts towards Asia and the Americas. Singapore, Austin, Mexico City, São Paulo, Las Vegas, Lusail, and Abu Dhabi will then host the climax of the season. That is where the eagerly awaited conclusion of the McLaren in-house battle between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will be decided. Yet the world championship fight is not the only storyline worth following. There are plenty of other narratives to keep an eye on as the second half of the season unfolds.
1) Piastri versus Norris: who will be crowned champion?
The most obvious starting point is the McLaren duo in papaya orange. Unless something completely unexpected happens, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris will fight for the world championship until the very last race under the Abu Dhabi lights. Such a scenario has not been seen since 2021, when Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton arrived at Yas Marina tied on points. So far, the two McLaren drivers have been separated by only fine margins, and with just nine points currently between them, it seems increasingly likely that the smallest details will decide who comes out on top.
Predicting the winner is extremely difficult, almost impossible. But their strengths and weaknesses can be examined to get an idea of where each might gain the upper hand.
Piastri, the current championship leader, has already earned the nickname of the “new Iceman” for his calm approach. In many ways, he is already used to winning. During his junior career, he showed he had the mentality and skill needed to beat teammates in direct competition. In Formula 3 in 2020 and in Formula 2 in 2021, the Australian driver outperformed Robert Shwartzman and Logan Sargeant at Prema, proving his ability to impose himself in equal machinery.
However, while Piastri has made a huge step forward, Lando Norris still seems to have a slight edge in terms of pure speed. Yet the young Australian’s composure may contrast with Norris’s tendency to let emotions affect his driving. That was seen in Hungary, where in the closing laps he pushed too aggressively and nearly caused a major collision in a move reminiscent of what had already happened in Austria. Norris’s fiery temperament has always been one of his defining traits, but it has also occasionally worked against him. In a close championship battle, mistakes like those in Belgium could prove costly.
It is worth remembering though that Norris was the driver who secured McLaren’s constructors’ title last season. At the decisive race, he handled enormous pressure across the entire distance to deliver a flawless performance. That experience could serve him well in the coming months.
At 25 years old, the British driver has a slight advantage over a single lap, but more importantly, his consistency over race distance is one of his greatest strengths. That is an area where Piastri, in head-to-head comparison, sometimes still struggles to deliver at the same level every weekend. The second half of the season will test which of the two can balance speed, consistency, and composure best.
2) Verstappen, Leclerc, Russell: one place for three
If the top two positions are already locked in by the McLaren drivers, the question remains of who will claim third place in the drivers’ championship. The contenders are Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, and George Russell. Whoever succeeds will join Piastri and Norris at the FIA Prize-Giving Gala, scheduled for December 12 in Uzbekistan.
Currently, Max Verstappen leads this trio. The Dutchman has a 15-point advantage over Russell and a 36-point lead on Leclerc. The battle promises to be intense, as their cars are closely matched in performance, with relative strength likely to vary depending on the circuit. For fans, this three-way contest adds another exciting subplot to the second half of the season.
3) Ferrari versus Mercedes for second in the constructors’ standings
The same drivers also play a crucial role in the fight for second place in the constructors’ championship. Red Bull, weakened by the inconsistent performances of its second driver, is unlikely to challenge for the runner-up spot. That leaves Ferrari and Mercedes in direct competition.
Despite difficulties for Lewis Hamilton and rookie Kimi Antonelli, both teams have managed to score reasonably well with both cars. Development has essentially reached its end for this season, so consistency will be the decisive factor. Ferrari currently sits on 260 points, while Mercedes follows on 236. The outcome will largely depend on whether Hamilton and the 18-year-old Antonelli can consistently deliver clean weekends without major mistakes.
4) The best of the rest
Another intriguing battle is taking place behind the four top teams. The fight for fifth in the constructors’ standings, effectively the crown of the midfield, remains wide open.
At the moment, James Vowles’s Williams occupies the position with an 18-point margin over its rivals. With Carlos Sainz showing flashes of strong form since joining the team, Williams appears the favorite. If Sainz can begin to maximize the car’s potential regularly, Williams could defend its advantage.
However, Aston Martin, Sauber, and Racing Bulls are all within just seven points of each other, setting up an unpredictable contest in the coming races. Each of these teams has shown glimpses of competitiveness, but consistency remains elusive. The midfield battle could easily swing in any direction depending on race incidents, updates, or driver errors.
5) The Alpine seat mystery
At Alpine, the biggest question mark is about Franco Colapinto. Will he keep his seat until the end of the year, or will the team make a change? The rumors during the summer break suggested that Colapinto would be retained at least until Abu Dhabi, cooling speculation about Valtteri Bottas arriving on loan from Mercedes or a mid-season return for Jack Doohan. Still, with Flavio Briatore back in a position of influence at Alpine, nothing can be taken for granted.
Paul Aron’s name was also mentioned, but his case has never been a realistic mid-season option. The Estonian is considered more likely for a potential 2026 role. Colapinto could still earn his place for next year if he shows improvement in the last ten races. For now, his fate is still in his own hands.
Bonus: Cadillac must decide
Finally, attention also turns to Cadillac, which will officially debut in 2026 as Formula 1’s 11th team. The final months of 2025 will be critical for the American manufacturer, as it must finalize the driver line-up that will lead its maiden campaign.
The management in Detroit has repeatedly said that the plan is to field an experienced pair of drivers capable of guiding the team through the difficult early years. The shortlist has narrowed to Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas. For Perez, everything appears already agreed, with some reports suggesting the announcement could come during the Italian Grand Prix weekend. For Bottas, only some final details remain.
That leaves Felipe Drugovich once again without a Formula 1 opportunity, despite his Formula 2 title in 2022. Mick Schumacher, however, remains in contention. Rumors indicate that Schumacher could become Cadillac’s third driver while simultaneously taking a full-time seat in the World Endurance Championship. In that role, he would drive one of the leading cars in endurance racing, while also working on the Formula 1 team’s simulator and staying connected to the paddock. For Schumacher, it would be a way to keep a foot in the door of Formula 1 while continuing his racing career elsewhere.
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