The season that was brought fresh air and challenged monopoly.

• Maximized his car’s advantage in the class of the field, winning four out of the first five races.

• Despite a lack of wins for 10 races, Verstappen managed to secure his fourth straight drivers’ crown.

• The victory in Brazil in challenging conditions was the highlight of the season.

Charles Leclerc (3rd, 356):

• The Ferrari driver’s best season since his 2018 debut.

• Won three races and scored 12 podiums to finish third in the championship.

• Won at two iconic venues, including Monaco.

• Showed excellent tyre management skills to win from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri at Ferrari’s home race in Monte Carlo.

• Closed the season strong, winning in Austin, followed by podiums in Mexico, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.

Lando Norris (2nd, 374):

• Realized his dream of becoming a Grand Prix winner and found himself in a title fight against Verstappen.

• Despite having the fastest car for most of the season, Norris had major misses and seemed timid against Verstappen.

• The 25-year-old needs to draw a line quickly and not let Verstappen bully him on track.

Australian Drivers’ Performance in 2025 Formula One

Australian Driver:

• Piastri improved on weaknesses in his maiden season, winning two races and improving race pace and tyre management.

• He collected the most points in seven races and was crucial in McLaren winning the constructors’ championship for the first time since 1998.

• He aims to improve his qualifying record against his teammate for 2025.

Teammate:

• George Russell defeated Lewis Hamilton for the second time in three years, particularly in qualifying.

• Russell is now the clear team leader for Mercedes and needs to prove his ability to be Hamilton’s successor.

Carlos Sainz:

• Sainz had a challenging job in the top four teams, showing excellent account of himself.

• His win in Australia, following an appendix surgery, showed his tenacity.

Lewis Hamilton:

• Hamilton joined Ferrari in 2025, signaling he had lost faith in Mercedes’ ability to give him a car that could fight for the championship.

• Russell outperformed Hamilton at the start of the year, but momentum swung back to Russell post the summer break.

Nico Hulkenberg:

• Hulkenberg has found a second wind at Haas, demolishing his teammate Kevin Magnussen and almost helping Haas move up the table in the constructors’.

• He will race for Sauber in 2025 before it becomes the works Audi team in 2026.

Fernando Alonso:

• Alonso had a miserable second year at Aston Martin, wringing consistent points finishes out of uncompetitive machinery.

• He contributed nearly 75% of the team’s tally, contributing nearly 75% of the team’s tally.

Yuki Tsunoda:

• Tsunoda comfortably saw off Daniel Ricciardo, scoring points consistently and ending his career.

• Despite his efforts, it is not clear if he will be considered for promotion to Red Bull Racing.