As the 2025 Formula 1 season hits its halfway mark, the championship fight is
heating up, and the last two races have delivered no shortage of action. From the
unpredictable, rain-soaked asphalt track of Spa to McLaren’s triumphant performance at Hungaroring, teams and drivers alike have pushed to make their
mark before the summer break. With momentum shifting and rivalries sharpening,
here’s how the double-header unfolded, and what its implications are for the second half of the season.
Piastri Streaks Ahead In Spa
The Belgian Grand Prix saw rainy skies and plenty of drama. It was a successful weekend for McLaren, who secured a front-row lockout at qualifying and a double podium finish. Oscar Piastri took the lead, with teammate Lando Norris securing second place, and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finishing in third. Lewis Hamilton also brought points home for Ferrari, climbing up from his pitlane start to P7 and winning ‘Driver of the day’. However, it was disappointment for Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who narrowly missed out on a podium finish, with his teammate Yuki Tsunoda failing to finish within the top ten. Racing Bulls (VCARB) also suffered at Spa, with Isack Hadjar finishing last on the grid. Haas and Aston Martin also failed to secure any points at Spa.
Norris Claws Points Back At The Hungaroring
McLaren once again dominated at Hungaroring, securing yet another double podium finish and taking their win count to 200 wins. Despite efforts to overtake his teammate, championship leader Piastri came in second to his teammate
Norris, who finished P1. Mercedes’ George Russell joined the McLarens on
the podium to take P3. Although he qualified on pole, Leclerc narrowly
missed out on a podium finish due to a chassis issue and crossed the finish line in
P4. Celebration was in order for Kick Sauber, as Gabriel Bortoleto brought home
points through his P6 finish as well as ‘Driver of the day’. This marks his highest Formula One finish.
Hungaroring was a challenging weekend for Alpine, who failed to bring home any points, with Franco Colapinto finishing in P18 and Pierre Gasly crossing the line in P19 and receiving a ten-second time penalty for a collision with Williams’ Carlos Sainz. Haas’ Ollie Bearman also struggled, and retired from the race due to rear floor damage.
A Pause For The Summer Shut Down
As we enter the summer break, the championship battle rages on. The
championship gap is down to just nine points, with Piastri maintaining the lead
by a narrow margin. Verstappen is in third place, 88 points behind Norris, who currently occupies second place. With such tight competition, the second half of the season promises a thrilling battle, particularly between the two McLarens.
As for the Constructors’ Championship, McLaren continues to surge ahead,
commanding the standings with an impressive 559 points. Ferrari follows in second place, a substantial 299 points adrift, whilst Mercedes holds third place, just 24 points behind P2. As the teams regroup during the break, all eyes will be on upgrades and strategies that could shift the standings when racing resumes.
The next race will take place at Zandvoort at the end of August, and will see drivers
and teams return revitalised and eager to battle for vital points as the second half of the season heats up.
Written by Reo.
Edited by Alexandra.
Featured image credit: hungarianconservative.com
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