The 2025 Formula 1 season was one of the most competitive and dramatic campaigns in recent memory. As in 2024, it featured a record-equalling 24 races, which took place between March and December. There was one key difference, though: it delivered a rare three-way title fight that went down to the final round.
The last time we saw such a closely contested Championship involving three or more real challengers was back in 2010, a year in which Sebastian Vettel piped Fernando Alonso to first place following the final Grand Prix. With title contests rarely as exciting as this, fans had plenty to enjoy during the 2025 season.
On this page, we will cover all the results of this thrilling season and provide a review of how the Drivers’ Championship battle unfolded along the way.
2025 F1 Calendar & Race Winners
| Round | Grand Prix | Date (2025) | Pole | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australian GP (Melbourne) | March 16 | Lando Norris | Lando Norris |
| 2 | Chinese GP (Shanghai) | March 23 | Oscar Piastri | Oscar Piastri |
| 3 | Japanese GP (Suzuka) | April 6 | Max Verstappen | Max Verstappen |
| 4 | Bahrain GP (Sakhir) | April 13 | Oscar Piastri | Oscar Piastri |
| 5 | Saudi Arabian GP (Jeddah) | April 20 | Max Verstappen | Oscar Piastri |
| 6 | Miami GP (USA) | May 4 | Max Verstappen | Oscar Piastri |
| 7 | Emilia Romagna GP (Italy) | May 18 | Oscar Piastri | Max Verstappen |
| 8 | Monaco GP | May 25 | Lando Norris | Lando Norris |
| 9 | Spanish GP (Barcelona) | June 1 | Oscar Piastri | Oscar Piastri |
| 10 | Canadian GP (Montreal) | June 15 | George Russell | George Russell |
| 11 | Austrian GP (Spielberg) | June 29 | Lando Norris | Lando Norris |
| 12 | British GP (Silverstone) | July 6 | Max Verstappen | Lando Norris |
| 13 | Belgian GP (Spa) | July 27 | Lando Norris | Oscar Piastri |
| 14 | Hungarian GP (Budapest) | August 3 | Charles Leclerc | Lando Norris |
| 15 | Dutch GP (Zandvoort) | August 31 | Oscar Piastri | Oscar Piastri |
| 16 | Italian GP (Monza) | September 7 | Max Verstappen | Max Verstappen |
| 17 | Azerbaijan GP (Baku) | September 21 | Max Verstappen | Max Verstappen |
| 18 | Singapore GP | October 5 | George Russell | George Russell |
| 19 | United States GP (Austin) | October 19 | Max Verstappen | Max Verstappen |
| 20 | Mexico City GP (Mexico) | October 26 | Lando Norris | Lando Norris |
| 21 | São Paulo GP (Brazil) | November 9 | Lando Norris | Lando Norris |
| 22 | Las Vegas GP | November 22 | Lando Norris | Max Verstappen |
| 23 | Qatar GP | November 30 | Oscar Piastri | Max Verstappen |
| 24 | Abu Dhabi GP | December 7 | Max Verstappen | Max Verstappen |
As you can see, the leading trio really dominated in 2025, winning 22 of 24 races and securing 21 pole positions. They also accounted for 68% of podium finishes, creating a clear gap between Norris, Piastri, Verstappen, and the rest of the field.
World Drivers’ Championship Standings
After 24 rounds, the final standings were as follows:
| Position | Driver | Points | Pre-Season Betting Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris (McLaren) | 423 | 7/4 |
| 2 | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) | 421 | 3/1 |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri (McLaren) | 410 | 8/1 |
| 4 | George Russell (Mercedes) | 319 | 12/1 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) | 242 | 9/2 |
| 6 | Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) | 156 | 11/2 |
Pre-season expectations pointed to a Norris vs Verstappen battle, with Leclerc seen as a genuine contender too. While the first two names delivered, Ferrari underperformed, and this meant neither Leclerc nor Hamilton ever had a realistic shot of success. Piastri, meanwhile, emerged as a surprise package and remained in the title fight until the final race. Here’s how the 2025 season unfolded:
McLaren Take Control Early
After the opening round, McLaren and Mercedes were tied on 27 points in the Constructors’ Championship. This was not a sign of things to come, however, as McLaren quickly pulled away. After the Spanish GP (round nine), they had 362 points, with second-place Ferrari on just 165. To see such a gap at this point was a surprise, given the pair were tipped to be closely matched pre-season. With the constructors’ title seemingly done and dusted, the focus shifted to which McLaren driver would come out on top.
Piastri Continues to Impress
He may have been priced at 8/1 to win his first championship, but Oscar Piastri looked for much of the season like he might pull it off. By the end of the aforementioned Spanish GP, he held a 10-point lead over Norris and a 49-point advantage over Verstappen. Fast forward to the Dutch GP (Round 15), and the Australian was even better placed and enjoyed a 34-point lead over his teammate. In that race, Norris suffered an oil leak in the closing laps, resulting in an 18th-place finish, while Piastri recorded his seventh win of the season.
Verstappen Mounts a Comeback
At the Dutch GP stage, Verstappen trailed Norris by 70 points and Piastri by 104, so it looked very much like a two-horse race. However, in this Grand Prix, the four-time champion rediscovered his form and somehow worked his way back into title contention. Over the final nine races of the season, the Dutchman won six and never finished outside the podium places.
While much of the credit goes to Verstappen and his determination for this unlikely comeback, there was also a crucial slice of luck in round 22, the Las Vegas GP.
Las Vegas GP Rocked by Disqualifications
Max Verstappen was first to the chequered flag at the Las Vegas GP, followed by Norris in second and Piastri in fourth. These initial results meant Norris extended his Drivers’ Championship lead to 30 points over Piastri and was 42 clear of Verstappen. With just two races (and a sprint race) remaining, offering a maximum of 58 points, Norris appeared to have the title all but wrapped up.
However, both McLaren drivers were disqualified over four hours later for having excessively worn skid planks on the underside of their cars. Subsequently, they lost all their points from the race, and suddenly the title fight tightened significantly, with Piastri and Verstappen both trailing Norris by just 24 points.
Norris Clinches Title on Final Race
A faltering Piastri combined with a resurgent Verstappen meant that Norris entered the final race ahead, but with two serious challengers. A fourth-place finish in Qatar left the Brit leading by 12 points over Verstappen and 16 over his McLaren teammate. This meant a third-place finish or better would guarantee the title. Third is exactly where he finished, enough to secure a two-point lead over race winner Verstappen.
Over the course of a season, the best driver usually comes out on top, but this was a year of fine margins. How different things could have been had Verstappen not had his race abruptly ended on the opening lap of the Austrian GP when Kimi Antonelli drove into him from behind. The unfortunate points lost in that race proved decisive in the end.
Top Performers of 2025
Having provided a summary of the season, it is time to recap the standout performers. Norris is, of course, the headline act, having secured his first world championship. While Piastri will be disappointed to have let his lead slip, he should still be delighted with his efforts. The Australian recorded five more victories and 118 more points than the previous season, representing a huge improvement.
Credit should also go to a consistent George Russell, while Charles Leclerc comfortably outperformed his Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton by 86 points. Fernando Alonso recovered from a very difficult start to record a credible 56 points. Further down the field, rookies Gabriel Bortoleto and Isack Hadjar showed clear potential in underperforming cars, with more expected from them in 2026.