The 2025 Formula 1 World Championship is set to resume next weekend with the beginning of its second half. While some conclusions already seem inevitable — even if not yet mathematically confirmed — others remain open and hotly debated. One near-certainty is that McLaren will win the Constructors’ Championship, but the question of whether Oscar Piastri or Lando Norris will come out on top in their intra-team rivalry remains unresolved. Meanwhile, Ferrari are aiming to win their first Grand Prix with the SF-25 and secure second place in the team standings. Elsewhere, the paddock is full of speculation regarding Red Bull’s future after the departure of Christian Horner and where Max Verstappen will race in 2026. Here are seven burning questions that could define the remainder of the season.
1. Will a rivalry ignite between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris?
After twelve Grands Prix and two Sprint races, only eight points separate the two McLaren drivers, with Oscar Piastri narrowly ahead. So far, the competitive tension has been minimal, thanks to race dynamics that have generally kept the two drivers far enough apart to avoid direct clashes — a situation welcomed by Team Principal Andrea Stella and CEO Zak Brown.
The notable exception was the Canadian Grand Prix, where a direct battle between the two resulted in a costly mistake from Lando Norris, who crashed out with just four laps remaining. As the championship intensifies, such incidents may become more frequent. If the current balance of performance continues, internal competition could grow fiercer.
Expect battles in qualifying, tension in races, and pressure within the team. McLaren are likely to tolerate a certain level of friction, provided two conditions are met: both cars must finish races, and Max Verstappen must be kept at bay.
2. What are Ferrari’s real objectives?
Ferrari currently sit second in the Constructors’ Championship, largely thanks to the consistent points-scoring performances of both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. In contrast, Mercedes and Red Bull have struggled to extract equal performance from both cars — a fact reflected in the Drivers’ Standings, where Leclerc is fifth, trailing Max Verstappen by 46 points and George Russell by 28.
A major missing piece for Ferrari so far is a Grand Prix victory. The team’s only triumph this year was in the Chinese Sprint Race. Winning a full-length Grand Prix is the primary goal for the second half of the season. The upcoming aerodynamic and mechanical updates to the SF-25, which will debut at Spa-Francorchamps, are expected to bring a significant step forward, though catching the dominant McLarens will be no easy feat.
Hamilton and Leclerc will need to capitalize on any missteps from Piastri and Norris, as George Russell did brilliantly in Montreal. Another critical internal decision looms as well: who will lead the Scuderia as team principal in 2026?
3. What will Red Bull look like without Christian Horner?
For the first time since Red Bull Racing entered Formula 1, Christian Horner will not be on the pit wall. His absence will be felt deeply throughout the organization — particularly at the Milton Keynes headquarters, home to over 1,500 employees. The shock of losing a long-time leader after two decades of control will have consequences.
What worries Red Bull most is not just the change in leadership but the potential for a brain drain if Horner joins a rival team. While some believe the team could collapse without his leadership, others are optimistic about the role of Laurent Mekies, whose dynamic management style may usher in a new era for Red Bull.
Concrete answers about the team’s trajectory will likely arrive in 2026, but the atmosphere within the team will begin to shift as early as next weekend. Senior advisor Helmut Marko is reportedly eager to take advantage of this transitional moment and assert his influence.
4. Who will be the “best of the rest”?
The battle for fifth place in the Constructors’ standings is shaping up to be one of the most intense contests of the second half of the season. While the early races saw Williams outperform their midfield rivals — particularly up to the Monaco Grand Prix — the hierarchy has since shifted.
From Barcelona onward, Aston Martin and especially Sauber have made surprising progress. Nico Hülkenberg’s podium at Silverstone was a standout moment for the Swiss team, even if it benefited from unusual circumstances. More importantly, Sauber has shown real consistency, scoring points in the last four races after starting the season with seven scoreless weekends. They’ve clawed back 30 points on Williams.
Currently, just 18 points separate Sauber from Williams. Close behind, only five points adrift of Sauber, are Aston Martin and the Racing Bulls. The prize is significant: the difference in prize money between fifth and ninth place exceeds 40 million US dollars. Teams involved in this battle are expected to continue car development longer than the rest.
5. Where will Max Verstappen race in 2026?
This question is likely to dominate headlines throughout the summer break and beyond. While Christian Horner’s departure initially seemed like a move that favored Max Verstappen and Helmut Marko, it’s still unclear whether the reigning world champion will stay with Red Bull.
As with many top-tier drivers, Max Verstappen will evaluate his long-term career prospects before making a decision. Numerous opportunities could emerge, particularly as most top teams will have driver contracts expiring by the end of 2025. A clearer technical picture of the 2026 regulations will also inform Verstappen’s decision-making.
One scenario that could complicate a potential move to Mercedes is if George Russell leads the championship in 2026. In that case, Mercedes may no longer view Verstappen as a necessary addition.
6. Is it time for Andrea Kimi Antonelli to step up?
The first half of Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s rookie Formula 1 season has been a mixed bag. In his first six races, he scored 48 points and finished in the top ten five times. However, in the subsequent six Grands Prix, his only meaningful result was a third-place finish in Montreal.
Several technical issues have hindered his performance, causing three retirements and disrupting his momentum. As is typical with rookies, gradual improvement is expected over time. For the second half of the year, Antonelli must narrow his qualifying deficit to teammate George Russell, avoid costly errors like the one in Spielberg, and stay within reach of opportunities that may arise.
With much of the media attention shifting to Russell’s future — and ongoing rumors of a potential move by Verstappen to Mercedes — Antonelli may benefit from a less intense spotlight. That calm could help unlock his best performances. The best version of Kimi has yet to be seen, but it may emerge soon.
7. Does Franco Colapinto have a future in Formula 1?
Opportunities long dreamed of can look very different in reality. Yuki Tsunoda learned this the hard way after Red Bull chose Liam Lawson over him last year. Tsunoda has since faced one of the toughest periods of his career, ironically after being called up to partner Verstappen.
Franco Colapinto, who replaced Jack Doohan at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, is facing a similar situation. His performances so far have fallen well short of teammate Pierre Gasly’s level. After just six weekends and one too many incidents, Colapinto’s position is already under threat.
There was once widespread sentiment that Colapinto’s talent deserved an F1 seat, but now the countdown to his possible exit has begun. Rumors suggest Doohan could return or that Valtteri Bottas could be brought in for a part-time role. However, internal changes at Renault’s executive level may temporarily shield Colapinto from immediate replacement.
The next two races — at Spa-Francorchamps and the Hungaroring — will be decisive. If Colapinto shows tangible improvement, he may retain his seat after the summer break. If not, his vacation could be far longer than the three weeks listed on the official Formula 1 calendar.
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