F1 2025 Mid-Season Driver Review
- Mike Stamp
- Sep 9
- 9 min read
Twenty-one drivers. One grid. Enough drama to keep Netflix’s editing interns in therapy for a decade. From title favourites carving their names into history to rookies still figuring out which way the pit lane goes, here’s the brutally honest, occasionally unfair, and entirely necessary mid-season verdict on the lot of them. If you’re expecting diplomacy, you’ve clicked the wrong paddock gate.
Oscar Piastri
Oscar’s turned 2025 into a personal highlight reel: seven wins, ten podiums, and a Zandvoort grand slam that felt like a Netflix drama with only one cast member. Calm, efficient, ruthless — he drives like a surgeon with a grudge. Even when McLaren asked him to hand Monza to Norris, he played along with all the joy of lending your drill to a neighbour who’ll never return it. Still, 34 points clear in the title race, Piastri is treating F1 like an Excel spreadsheet he’s already balanced. The rest of the grid? Just rows beneath his name.
Lando Norris
Norris has delivered brilliance with occasional chaos — like winning a pub quiz while spilling three pints in the process. Victories in Australia, Hungary, and Silverstone show he can handle pressure and home-crowd hysteria without blinking. But crashes in Canada and a Dutch DNF remind us he’s not flawless. Second in the standings, chasing Piastri, Norris feels like the fan-favourite who’s desperate to turn popularity into silverware. Trouble is, his teammate’s already rewriting the record books. If Norris wants this title, he’ll need fewer mistakes and a bit of bloody ruthlessness. Otherwise, he risks being the best man at his own wedding.
Max Verstappen
Verstappen’s season is like a Rottweiler forced to wear a tutu: still terrifying, but oddly restrained. Wins at Suzuka, Imola, and Monza remind everyone he’s still the sport’s most feral competitor. But third in the standings? That’s unfamiliar territory. McLaren’s papaya brigade keep pinching points, leaving Max glowering like someone’s parked a Kia outside his Monaco penthouse. Still, don’t be fooled. Give him half a sniff of dominance and he’ll turn 2025 into a demolition derby with himself as the only survivor. For now, though, he’s hunting rather than executing — which, frankly, is even scarier.
George Russell
Russell’s 2025 drive has been less “rock star show-off” and more “Swiss watch: silent, precise, and annoyingly reliable.” He thundered to pole and a win in Canada — his first of the season — with teammate Antonelli sneaking onto the podium alongside him. That win, plus five podiums, has propelled him into fourth in the standings with 194 points, just behind Verstappen. Despite Mercedes’ gremlins in the W16, Russell’s consistency is their lifeline. He’s not flashy — he doesn’t drift or do celebratory donuts — but he quietly reminds everyone that methodical brilliance wins races. If McLaren or Red Bull wobble, Russell will be there, quietly tidy and dangerously effective.
Charles Leclerc
Leclerc’s 2025 season has been the definition of valiant but frustrating — like trying to win MasterChef with a broken oven. He’s hustled Ferrari to a string of podiums: Saudi P3, Monaco P2, Spain P3, Austria P3, Belgium P3. Not bad for a car that sulks whenever it rains. He drives every lap like he’s dragging the Scuderia by the scruff of its neck, yet the top step keeps slipping away. The tifosi cheer, the stopwatch nods, but champagne celebrations remain strictly sparkling-water level. If Ferrari finds Sunday pace, Charles could flip the script. Until then, he’s F1’s bridesmaid — fast, furious, and still waiting for his turn at the altar.
Lewis Hamilton
Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari has been more ‘pub quiz disaster’ than headline splash. Zero wins and zero podiums so far — a shock for a seven-time champion. His best haul? Sixth at Monaco. A bizarre lap in Hungary knocked him out of qualifying early, and Monza delivered no fairy-tale welcome — instead a strained sixth under a cloudy tifosi sky. Yet flashes remain: that speed in Bahrain, a gritty drive when the car lets him. He’s sixth in the standings, trailing even Leclerc — a chastening place for The Great Ham. If he wants to rekindle fire, he’ll need more than charm; he’ll need miracles. But then again, he’s Lewis Hamilton.
Alexander Albon
Albon’s quietly turning Williams from mobile lawnmower into point-scoring machine. No wins, no podiums, but a solid seventh in the standings with 70 points. He’s bagged consistent top-10 finishes lately, helping Williams chase down Aston Martin for Constructors’ glory. While his teammate suffers spins or strategy gremlins, Albon just shows up — like a barista who never burns your brew. No fuss, no flash, just steady results. If Williams had two Albons, they might be punching up consistently. As it stands, he’s the dependable backbone of a team few expected to see this deep into the season. Solid, unglamorous, but utterly invaluable.
Kimi Antonelli
Just 18, Antonelli’s fledgling F1 career is already serving notice. His highlight? Podium in Canada — third place in only his tenth race, making him one of the youngest ever to do so. He’s ninth in the standings with 66 points. His consistency isn’t flash, but his presence is. While Russell mugs for Mercedes podiums, Antonelli sits there, unassuming but lethal. He’s not your diary doodle rookie — he’s the one writing the chapter. Expect him to be more than a footnote come season’s end; if he keeps this pace, the grid’s got a real problem on its hands.
Isack Hadjar
Hadjar’s mid-season has been rollercoaster with revelation. Rookie speed shown by a stubborn tenth place in Canada — after starting from the pit lane. Not bad for someone still learning not to staple himself to mechanics. He’s sitting ninth with 38 points, ahead of some better-funded names. He doesn’t drive clean — he fights ferociously for every tenth — but he’s making headlines where others whisper. If Red Bull can rein him in without killing his maverick spirit, he could be their next big ace. Young, hungry, and already willing to start from the garage just to prove he belongs.
Nico Hülkenberg
Hülkenberg’s season has been gruelling patience rewarded: first F1 podium… on his 239th start. Truly, it’s a masterpiece of perseverance. He’s snagged 10th overall with 37 points, pushing Sauber into occasional headlines. He’s not fast enough to be darling, not young enough to be exempt, but man, does he refuse to be ignored. A lifer finally on the podium — the sort of tale that warms the fibreglass hearts of motorsport purists. If F1 were a novel, he'd be the chapter everyone underestimates until the last page.
Fernando Alonso
Alonso’s 2025 has been more bruises than glory rolls. He scored his first points with a gritty P9 in Spain, followed by P7 in Canada and Austria, a rare P5 in Hungary, and a P8 in the Netherlands — totaling around 30 points, placing him 12th. Still, what he lacks in results, he makes up for in defiance. The guy’s racecraft is a war story — you don’t come here for finesse; you come for the ferocity. Aston Martin’s misfires have sidelined his Sunday sparkle, but he’s still the old warhorse barking at the post. Expect more elbow nudges and radio sass before his next charge.
Lance Stroll
Stroll may not be your favourite character, but he’s haunting the points board nonetheless. With 32 points, he sits 11th — just ahead of Alonso. His season has been about staying upright — trading stability for spectacle in exact measure. He’s got underwhelming qualifying stats (average around P16), but delivers enough weekend sense to keep the team semi-relevant. Sure, Steiner’s critique was harsh, but claiming Stroll lacks fight? Watch him survive where others spin. He’s a human Bollard: unspectacular, stubborn, and inexplicably still in the game.
Esteban Ocon
Ocon's year reads like faded tin: started promisingly, but now feels rusted. He picked up 28 points, placing 13th overall. No podiums, no fireworks — just the kind of consistency that makes midweek team meetings mildly pleased. He’s the bloke who quietly avoids chaos in a midfield dumpster fire, but also avoids limelight. Alpine remain underwhelming, and Ocon, for all his poise, hasn’t lunged at the chance. Solid without standout moments, he’s the dependable guy in a world craving drama.
Pierre Gasly
With 20 points, Gasly ranks 14th — reasonable given Alpine’s famine of pace. No podiums, no chaos — just steady graft. He manages his package wisely, extracting what little it has. In a grid chasing headlines, Gasly is back-channel commentary: unflashy, informed, and somehow still interesting. Not a title-contender by any stretch, but someone you’d back to finish races — and you know that often counts for more.
Liam Lawson
Lawson sits 15th with 20 points. No wins, no shine — but definitely enough sparks to keep you awake. In chaotic races — read: nearly every grand prix this season — he’s popped up, scrapping with the big boys like a terrier in loafers. Still rough, still learning boundaries, but always circling for trouble. Not ready for prime time, maybe, but heading there with grit and tan lines from too many late-night scruts of wheel-to-wheel combat.
Carlos Sainz
Sainz’s 2025 has felt like trying to deliver a gourmet meal through a storm. Only 16 points and 18th in the standings — his worst mid-season slump since debut. A pair of P8 finishes added the bulk: one in Saudi, one in Imola, with the rest a tumble and grind. His season highlight? A collision and spin with Bearman at Monza, looking more like someone who lost his map in a roundabout. No podiums, no punches — just disappointment. Yet he claims no regrets about the Williams move. He may lack results, but not conviction. More like the scruffy underdog who refuses to stop fighting, even when he’s losing teeth.
Yuki Tsunoda
Tsunoda’s season is the sporting equivalent of wallpaper: hard to notice, but always there. 12 points, 19th in the standings. He’s scraped into the top ten just four times, best finish a P9, with one retirement sulking in the mix. Red Bull booted Lawson so Tsunoda could slide into the main seat — not exactly a triumphant promotion. He’s had flashes, like being denied by strategy or damage, but mostly he’s a whisper of potential that never quite hits the throttle. Still, the man’s staying visible — sometimes visibility counts for more than velocity.
Gabriel Bortoleto
Bortoleto’s rookie year is home-delivery proving: slow to start, now arriving hot. 18 points, 16th in the standings. His first came in Austria — P8 and Driver of the Day — the kind of drive that makes old-timers spit out their tea in awe. No podiums yet, but multiple top‑10 finishes and points in cluster — once he opens the door, he doesn’t slam it shut. He’s not flashy — but at Sauber, humility and pace go a long way. Soon, “rising star” might be too small to describe him.
Oliver Bearman
Bearman’s season is a live wire: sparks, slip-ups, and potential. 16 points, 17th overall. Best finish? A gritty P6 in the Netherlands — imagine driving through school gates to get there. But he’s racked up penalty points like cheap suitcases: a recent collision with Sainz at Monza pushed him perilously close to a race ban. No podiums, but plenty of noise. He’s not just a future star — he’s a combustible experiment. Just needs fewer off-days. Preferably without the spinning cars.
Franco Colapinto
Colapinto’s season has been more test crash than track hero. Still zero points in 21st place, despite showing early promise. He even took a hard hit in a tyre test at Hungaroring, prompting a medical check — and sending whispers that Alpine might be hunting for more seasoned alternatives. Once cast as the future, he’s now on thin ice. No shame in being rookied out, but his rear-view mirror is filling up with vultures. He’ll need more than speed — he’ll need survival.
Jack Doohan
Doohan wasn’t supposed to be in this movie — more an extra in the paddock coffee queue. Then a seat opened, and suddenly he’s the bloke parachuting into the plot halfway through. He’s scored points in three of his first five races, including a saucy P7 in Spa that made seasoned pros look like they’d left the handbrake on. He drives like he’s auditioning for the sequel — elbows out, no reverence for the established order, and just enough raggedness to keep team radio spicy. Not yet troubling the championship maths, but clearly more than a placeholder. If the big teams aren’t watching, they’re daft — Doohan’s turning a cameo into a recurring role.
And there you have it — twenty-one stories, some heroic, some tragic, some just plain bizarre. Half the grid is charging for glory, the other half is hanging on by its fingernails, and somewhere in the middle are the ones quietly plotting their next move. Titles aren’t won in July, but they can be lost — and with tempers fraying, contracts looming, and egos inflating like cheap paddock marquees, the second half of 2025 promises more chaos than a wet race in Monaco. Buckle up.
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