By Ryan Wu
With 24 races on the schedule, the Formula 1 season is both long and demanding. Tensions rise and narratives shift as drivers contend with securing their legacy, earning a seat for the next season, and competing for millions of dollars in the constructors' standings.
With four wins in the first five races and seven in the first ten, Max Verstappen appeared impervious to shifting narratives. He seemed poised to extend the dominance he and his team (Red Bull Racing) had showcased in 2023, when they secured both drivers' and constructors' championships before the summer solstice.
However, upgrades introduced by McLaren in Miami, along with Mercedes' improvements during the Monaco and Canada weekends, began to cast doubt on Red Bull's ability to secure a fourth consecutive championship in both categories. While Verstappen claimed consecutive victories in Canada and Spain, extending his points lead to 69, he wouldn't win again for nearly five months, until November in Brazil.
During this 10-race winless streak, McLaren and Mercedes both secured important wins. However, the closest any driver got to Verstappen was Lando Norris after Round 20. His P2 performance at the Mexican Grand Prix brought him to within 47 points of the eventual World Champion, Verstappen.
In Brazil, Norris put in a valiant effort, but a costly sixth-place finish, combined with Verstappen’s masterful performance, set the stage for the championship to be decided under the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip. Starting from 17th place, Verstappen delivered what might have been the race of his life, storming through the field in wet conditions to win by nearly 20 seconds.
The city of high stakes, Las Vegas set the stage for a high-pressure showdown on the track, but Verstappen didn’t fold. Needing only to finish one spot ahead of Norris to secure his fourth consecutive title, he rose to the occasion and delivered, finishing in 5th place – directly ahead of Norris.
Heading into the Abu Dhabi finale, Ferrari trailed McLaren by 21 points in the constructors’ standings, but with Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri locking out the front row, the odds seemed in McLaren's favor.
The race, however, was far from straightforward. Piastri's collision with Verstappen on the opening lap, followed by another incident with Williams' Franco Colapinto, dropped him as far back as P18. Despite the chaos, Norris demonstrated remarkable racecraft, delivering a flawless drive to claim victory for himself and secure McLaren’s first Constructors’ Championship since 1998, ultimately beating Ferrari by 14 points.
The race was also an emotional day for Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who will join Alex Albon at Williams next season. Sainz capped his Ferrari tenure with a podium finish, celebrated by an emotional tribute within the Ferrari paddock.
Next season promises even more drama, with seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari in his quest to surpass Michael Schumacher and stand alone at the top of the all-time championship leaderboard.
The 2025 season also raises intriguing questions: Who will claim the second seat at Red Bull? Can Lando Norris build on the seismic growth he and McLaren showcased this year? While the answers remain uncertain, one thing is clear—I can’t wait to see it all unfold.
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