Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton had big moments in 2025
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As we pass the halfway point in the 2025 Formula 1 season, Katy Fairman picks out 12 of the biggest headlines from the first 12 races. From first podiums, to sacked team bosses, and dangerously close to a race ban, these are the headlines that have shaped the sport over the last six or so months.
The latest scandal to hit Formula 1 came days after the British Grand Prix, when Christian Horner found himself dumped from the team with immediate effect. Despite holding the position for 20 years, and managing to stay in power despite several controversies directed his way, Horner was finally axed as Red Bull Racing’s team principal and CEO.
He was replaced by Racing Bulls team boss Laurent Mekies, but many of us ask the same question: why now? Did the texting scandal finally catch up to him, is it performance-related, or did he lose Max Verstappen to Mercedes? All answers we will find out over time.
We’ve seen it time and time again; two individuals in equal machinery, knowing their biggest threat to the title belongs on the other side of the team garage, and only one will become champion. That is the story of McLaren this season, and after Saudi Arabia big boss Zak Brown said, “I know everyone is waiting for that big moment, but I think it is going to be a bit of a non-event, and internally we know it’s more of a ‘when’ than an ‘if’.”
Well, it finally happened in Montreal when Lando Norris made a daft move for the final podium spot on Oscar Piastri as they approached Turn 1. In a crash that was almost identical to the 2011 Lewis Hamilton–Jenson Button incident, the drivers hit the pit wall and Norris was instantly out.
McLaren has always boasted about the fact their drivers can race one another, but this was the first time that mentally came back to bite. The two have come close again, Piastri almost wiping out Norris in Austria, and as the title fight heats up you can’t help but wonder how long before history repeats itself in these remaining 12 rounds…
It feels like a lifetime ago now, but we have technically seen Lewis Hamilton’s first win in red. The seven-time champion made the historic move to Scuderia Ferrari this season, but things haven’t quite started in the way both Hamilton and the tifosi hoped for.
He’s failed to finish on the podium for a grand prix with the Scuderia so far, but has come close, finishing fourth in the last two races, with his 106th Formula 1 win looking just out of reach for now.
But, Hamilton does technically have a win with Ferrari under his belt after converting the Sprint pole into the Sprint win in Shanghai, China. It looked to be the start of something special, but the dream has been put on hold for now. Can he finally stand on the top step of the podium for a grand prix victory in the remaining 12 races? Let’s see.
Reigning champion Verstappen could have 12 stories to himself in this listicle: from his takes on the FIA swearing ban, a controversial clash with George Russell in Spain or the talks of him leaving Red Bull for Mercedes next season, he’s keeping us journalists busy.
However, the standout factor here is that he is currently sitting on 11 penalty points – just one away from a race ban. We’ve seen drivers come close, and Kevin Magnussen got himself banned in Baku last season for exceeding the number of points, but this was a big talking point after his deliberate shunt with Russell in Barcelona.
He was handed three points, pushing his total to 11 and had to stay out of trouble in Canada and Austria to avoid a ban, which he did. Verstappen finished second in Canada, and was out by the first lap after contact with Kimi Antonelli in his Mercedes, meaning his points have gone down to nine. The next are due to expire in October, so there’s a chance Verstappen could still get himself a ban up until the Brazilian Grand Prix.
We’ve heard it year after year ‘F1 has outgrown Monte Carlo’, and to an extent it’s true. The cars are too wide and the track too narrow for good racing – although that doesn’t stop other series – but there’s denying that qualifying day is one of the highlights of the racing calendar.
This season, the big brains at F1 and the FIA introduced a new rule to spice up Sunday’s spectacle: a mandatory two-stop strategy. It sounded promising, with teams needing to dip into the pitlane at least twice across the race distance. Unfortunately, what followed was a pointless and processional parade, which delivered a very mixed response from the drivers.
Several drivers used the fact that overtaking is a challenge in Monaco to play team games, including the Racing Bulls of Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson. George Rusell was also smacked with a drive-through penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage when he passed Alexander Albon off track, stating he’d rather serve a penalty than be stuck behind the Williams.
Going into the season, it was clear that Jack Doohan’s seat was at threat before he’d had time to familarise himself with Formula 1. With an ever-growing pool of junior talent being selected by Flavio Briatore, Doohan was dumped by the Enstone-based team just six races into the season. He was replaced by popular Argentine Franco Colapinto, but even now his place at the team seems under threat after a disappointing run of results.
One person who we didn’t expect to depart so soon was team principal Oliver Oakes, who vanished from the team under unusual circumstances with immediate effect just hours before Alpine announced Doohan was out. Nothing more has really been heard about Oakes, with Briatore taking over his responsibilities at the team.
The day motor sport fans thought would never happen: Nico Hülkenberg stands proud on a Formula 1 podium. It was a running joke for so long, and after 15 years of no top-three silverware the idea seemed more and more impossible. Nevertheless, the Hulk made history at the British Grand Prix to earn his maiden podium, and the first for the Sauber outfit since the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix.
It is one of motor sport’s most wholesome stories, made amusing by the fact Hülkenberg’s trophy was made entirely of LEGO due to a partnership with the championship. The scenes were awesome, and is a reminder to expect the unexpected when it comes to this sport.
After 239 stars, Hülkenberg was finally able to stand on the F1 podium
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One of motor sport’s biggest brains, Adrian Newey, officially started at Aston Martin in March of this year. After departing Red Bull Racing, the legend was snapped up by the Silverstone-based team to work on their 2026 car. It remains one of the most high profile signings in Formula 1, with Aston Martin hoping that it will totally transform them when new regulations come into effect next season.
He’s been to races in his new green kit, keeping a close eye on the competition with his iconic notebook never far away, but the proof will be in the pudding when cars hit the track in 2026.
Ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, all talk was on the clamp down on flexi-wings in Formula 1. Would it change the order? Should McLaren be worried? What impacts will this have?
This technical directive left many questioning the running order of the pack, with several teams claiming it could mark a turning point in their season. The rules reduced the amount that front wings can flex under load, aiming to cut excessive distortion, which can reduce drag at high speed, to ensure a level playing field.
The reality? Not much changed.
Some have labelled it as the harshest driver swap in recent times, but Liam Lawson was demoted from Red Bull Racing after just two races at the start of the season. After surviving a very wet Australian Grand Prix followed by Shanghai, he was shown the door in favour of Yuki Tsunoda.
It turns out going back to Racing Bulls could have been the best thing for Lawson, as Tsunoda and even Verstappen have struggled with the temperamental RB21 machine. Lawson actually sits above Tsunoda in the drivers’ standings ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, with 12 points to Yuki’s 10.
Red Bull certainly feels like a cursed seat, but it will be interesting to see how the rest of the season pans out with Hadjar impressing and junior Arvid Lindblad now waiting on the sidelines with a superlicence.
Going into this new season, there was a big wave of fresh talent behind the wheel. Although some drivers weren’t technically ‘rookies’ when they got behind the wheel in Melbourne – with Doohan, Ollie Bearman, and Lawson all participating in races before – there was still a lot of pressure on their shoulders.
Things started the worse way for Hadjar, who crashed on the wet formation lap in Australia, before being comforted by a supportive Anthony Hamilton. However, the only way was up and the 20-year-old has continued to impress at Racing Bulls this season with a best result of sixth in Monaco.
Antonelli has also been a bright talent, securing his first Formula 1 podium in Canada with a third place. He also achieved his maiden F1 pole position during Sprint qualifying over the Miami Grand Prix weekend, and even came close to silverware in his first race when he finished fourth at Albert Park.
With McLaren the clear favourite this season, it was always going to be a case of Norris versus Piastri for the drivers’ title in 2025. However, at this point in the season it’s Piastri who has the upper hand on 234 points to Norris’ 226.
Piastri has also shown a new side to him; a cool, calm and collected approach that reminds me of the traits once shown by the likes of Kimi Raikkonen or Mika Hakkinen. He also has five wins to Norris’ four, but it’s been a big case of momentum for the two papaya racers.
The rest of the season will be a fascinating battle, but which of the two will come out on top to take their first Formula 1 drivers’ world championship?
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