The second triple-header concludes: the 2025 season begins to take shape
With the end of the second triple-header of the year, the 2025 Formula 1 season is beginning to take shape. McLaren has established itself as the team to beat, surprising the world with its adaptability following the front wing regulation changes. While many thought these modifications would affect its performance, the British team has proven otherwise.
With an exceptionally fast driver lineup of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, McLaren continues to rack up wins and score the most points, leading both the drivers' and constructors' championships.
Photo: McLaren F1
Max Verstappen, meanwhile, hasn't had it easy. Complications at Red Bull, especially with race strategy, have halted his usual dominance. However, the Dutchman continues to fight for every point, clinging to the title fight with his usual determination.
Mercedes, which had started the year with good feelings, has seen its performance plummet in recent rounds. Recurring mechanical problems are causing concern within the team, which needs to regain reliability if it wants to remain competitive. At Ferrari, the story is different. The Maranello team continues to struggle to get fully into the fight for victories. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have shown flashes of speed, but they still lack consistency to make the definitive leap to the front.
Now, after these three consecutive races in Imola, Monaco, and Spain, it's time to look at the overall picture for the teams.
McLaren, the new grid boss
The Woking-based team has established itself as the powerhouse of the 2025 season. After winning the constructors' championship in 2024, McLaren entered this year as the favorite, and so far it has lived up to expectations.
Oscar Piastri, the firm leader of the championship, has now won five victories so far this season, including one in the last three rounds (Spain), and continues to show a level of maturity and consistency worthy of a champion. At his side, Lando Norris maintained his consistency and performance, achieving victory in Monaco and two second places in Imola and Spain. With this, he became the driver with the most points in this second triple-header, earning a total of 61 points.
Overall, McLaren was the team that accumulated the most points in these three consecutive races, with an impressive total of 116 points. Their qualifying performance, race pace, and near-flawless strategic execution cement them as the strongest duo and team in the championship.
If anyone had any doubts about their ability to stay on top following this season's aerodynamic changes, McLaren has completely dispelled them. They are, without question, the favorites for the 2025 title.
Red Bull: Complications and Internal Tensions
Red Bull is going through a difficult period in the 2025 season. Four-time world champion Max Verstappen is not having the best of times. His aggressive maneuver against George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix sparked controversy and left him on the verge of a points penalty on his superlicense, adding tension to an already difficult year for the Dutchman.
Although he still holds third place in the championship, his results have been inconsistent and his performance has been clearly outperformed by the McLarens, despite producing out-of-this-world maneuvers and performances in several races, such as Imola. Added to this are a series of questionable strategic decisions and a car that, at certain circuits, has not been up to par.
The situation of the second driver has not contributed to the team's stability either. Yuki Tsunoda, who was promoted from Racing Bulls to replace Liam Lawson, has still not fully adapted to the RB21. The Japanese driver has been involved in incidents, such as the accident at Imola, and continues to express his discomfort with the car's handling, especially in race conditions.
Ferrari: good pace, poor consistency
Lewis Hamilton's arrival at Ferrari provided a media and morale boost for the Scuderia, but on-track results have yet to fully reflect that potential. While the team has shown improvements in race pace, a lack of consistency remains its biggest challenge.
Charles Leclerc has been the most solid of the duo, achieving important podium finishes in Monaco and Spain, and remaining the team's mainstay in the fight for the top five in the championship. Hamilton, on the other hand, is still adapting to the Maranello environment and the SF-25, although he has already shown glimpses of his experience and speed.
Ferrari's biggest weakness this year has been qualifying. While their race pace is competitive and allows them to climb positions on Sundays, the car fails to fully exploit its potential over a single lap, which compromises their strategic options from the start. Ferrari has the pace, it has the drivers, but it urgently needs to convert that performance into more consistent results if it wants to truly challenge for wins this year.
Mercedes: Performance in Freefall and Problems to Solve
Mercedes began the 2025 season with promising signs. George Russell assumed the leadership role with maturity, scoring podium finishes and keeping the team in contention during the opening rounds. The big news was the emergence of youngster Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who, at just 18 years old, has already demonstrated his talent and potential in Formula 1.
However, the outlook has darkened for the Silver Arrows in this second triple-header of the year. In the last three races, the team has noticeably declined in performance: they stopped making podiums, fell away from the top positions, and began to suffer constant mechanical problems that affected both the reliability and overall pace of the W15.
Added to this is a worrying drop in performance in both qualifying and the race. The car, which at the start of the year seemed to be one of the few capable of challenging McLaren, now appears to be a step behind, with no clear answers to its shortcomings.
Aston Martin: Small Improvements, Big Challenges
Aston Martin has shown some signs of recovery in the last three rounds of the calendar, but progress remains limited compared to the team's expectations. Fernando Alonso finally managed to score his first points of the year at the Spanish Grand Prix, a well-deserved reward for the veteran Asturian who, at 43 years old, continues to demonstrate that his talent remains intact.
However, the team's overall performance remains far from the level shown in previous seasons. The situation was further complicated by the exclusion of Lance Stroll at Montmeló, following an internal altercation that generated tensions within the garage and medical problems, highlighting the need for greater team cohesion.
On a technical level, Aston Martin has managed to improve its qualifying performance: in this second triple-header, its cars positioned themselves more frequently in the top half of the grid. But the real problem remains race pace. Sunday after Sunday, the team is losing ground on its direct rivals, unable to maintain the position it gained on Saturday.
While the improvements are a positive sign, Aston Martin needs much more than flashes in qualifying to regain prominence in the midfield. Consistency, strategic performance, and internal stability will be key if they want to consistently challenge for points again.
Alpine: Changes in Search of Stability
Alpine is experiencing one of its most difficult seasons in recent years. After a disappointing start, the team opted for the debut of Argentine Franco Colapinto, who replaced Jack Doohan starting at the Imola Grand Prix. Although Colapinto has shown attitude and potential, he is still adapting to the demanding premier class.
Pierre Gasly, meanwhile, has remained the team's mainstay, occasionally managing to keep them in the fight for points. However, structural problems continue to weigh heavily: a lack of development in the car, poor pace in both qualifying and the race, and constant mechanical failures have condemned Alpine to last place in the constructors' championship.
The team urgently needs to regain stability and performance if it does not want to be completely relegated in the standings.
Williams: A Pleasant Surprise in the Midfield
Williams has become one of the most welcome revelations of the 2025 season. With a notable improvement in its overall performance, the team has managed to score a significant number of points thanks to an Alex Albon in a state of grace and the arrival of Carlos Sainz, whose experience and meticulous approach have strengthened the team in multiple aspects.
The duo has demonstrated excellent synergy, especially visible in races like Monaco and Imola, where teamwork and shared strategies allowed them to maximize results. Sainz, although still adapting to his new environment, has already made his positive mark at Grove.
However, not everything has been positive in this second triple-header. The Spanish Grand Prix was a difficult weekend: from the start, they knew that the Barcelona circuit was not well-suited to the FW47's characteristics. Albon retired with a DNF, while Sainz finished outside the points. A weekend to forget, but one that doesn't tarnish the team's overall progress.
Williams has taken a significant step forward and is positioning itself as a solid contender in the midfield, with the potential to continue growing throughout the remainder of the championship.
Kick Sauber: A Step Forward with Hülkenberg
Nico Hülkenberg has been one of the positive surprises of recent races, especially with his fifth place in Spain. His experience has been key to keeping Kick Sauber in the fight. His teammate, rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, continues to adapt to the pace of F1, making steady progress but without any significant results yet.
Racing Bulls: A Promising Outlook
Racing Bulls has earned its place among the positive surprises of the 2025 season. Young Isack Hadjar, in his first year in Formula 1, has been a revelation. With great consistency and solidity, he has scored points in most races and established himself as the team's natural leader, showing maturity and pace on par with the best in the midfield.
For his part, Liam Lawson has had a more inconsistent performance, although his showing in Monaco was outstanding: he managed to qualify within the top 10 and finish in the points, collaborating strategically with Hadjar to maximize the team's results.
Racing Bulls is still in the midst of growth, but has taken firm steps. The potential is evident, and if they maintain this upward trend, they could establish themselves as one of the most competitive teams in the midfield.
Haas: Between Development and Expectations
Haas is approaching 2025 as a transition season, opting for a revamped lineup featuring Esteban Ocon and youngster Oliver Bearman. Ocon has been the team's most consistent performer, contributing experience and maintaining a stable performance. Bearman, meanwhile, in his first full year in Formula 1, continues to rack up valuable mileage and gain confidence on the track.
Although the American team has managed to score some points and deliver strong performances, its position in the standings remains delicate. Haas remains at the bottom of the constructors' championship, without major setbacks but with the clear objective of preparing for a leap in quality for 2026. The technical development of the car and Bearman's evolution will be key to defining the immediate future of a team that, for now, is competing more for consolidation than for distinction.
Overview
With nine races underway in the 2025 season, McLaren's dominance has been consolidated. Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris not only lead the drivers' championship, but have also confidently led the Woking team to the top of the constructors' championship.
Behind them, Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes are trying to stay in the fight, although each faces different challenges: from strategic issues to drops in performance and reliability.
In the midfield, Williams and Racing Bulls have emerged as the big surprises of the year. Both teams have shown solidity, good tactical decisions, and drivers in great form, allowing them to regularly compete for points.
In contrast, teams like Sauber, Haas, Alpine, and Aston Martin continue to struggle for consistency, performance, and development. Their immediate goal is to climb out of the bottom of the standings and move closer to the midfield to avoid being left behind in an increasingly demanding season.