2025-26 Formula 1 Season Recap

The 2025/26 season came to an end following the last race in Abu Dhabi, where Lando Norris obtained his season championship title. The dramatic year was shaped by a thrilling title battle that remained undecided until the final day, declines in performance by previously formidable teams, and several officiating controversies. 

Oscar Piastri must be mentioned in any discussion about the highlights of this season. The Australian driver for McLaren started the season by quickly establishing himself as one of the top performers in the field, winning seven of the first 15 races. By the Dutch Grand Prix, held at the Zandvoort Circuit in the Netherlands, Piastri held a lead of more than 100 points against Max Verstappen, who seemed all but out of contention. 

This early dominance was solidified at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, one of Formula 1’s (F1) oldest and most famous races. It began with Verstappen claiming pole position, the first starting spot on the grid. However, irregular weather conditions forced drivers to alter their approach going into the race. Since all tires provide varying levels of grip, drivers must constantly switch between tires to maintain their pace across wet and dry sections of the track. Drivers who avoided mistakes and timed their tire changes correctly were rewarded; Lando Norris celebrated a first-place win at his hometown race, while Piastri and Nico Hülkenberg joined him on the podium. The result marked a career milestone for German Audi driver Hülkenberg, since it was the first time he reached the podium in 239 races. 

However, the season took a sharp turn after the Dutch Grand Prix, since Piastri failed to win another race. Crashes in Baku, Singapore, and Austin caused him to fall behind Norris in the standings after the Mexican Grand Prix. This was followed by a setback in Las Vegas when Verstappen passed Piastri after both McLaren cars were disqualified for excessive plank wear. The wooden plank beneath each F1 car must remain within legal limits since running the car too low provides an illegal advantage under FIA regulations.

Beyond these setbacks, Piastri’s confidence in his McLaren car declined in the second half of the season. “I haven’t felt comfortable with the car really…when you don’t have the confidence in the car around a place like this with so many corners, you can lose a lot of time in or a little bit of time in a lot of corners. That’s what it felt like,” Piastri said after the qualifying race at the United States Grand Prix. His struggles in the corners reflected a wider issue: McLaren ran stiffer suspension and lower ride heights to gain speed on smooth tracks, but this made the car twitchy over bumps and difficult to handle in fast corners. These setup choices left McLaren quick in qualifying but unstable during races. Verstappen and Red Bull stayed consistent, capitalizing on McLaren’s struggles.

While Piastri managed to climb back up the standings later, it wasn’t enough to capture the championship. While F1 journalist Lawrence Barretto noted that Piastri “has gone from highly-rated rookie to a genuine contender for his first Formula 1 World Championship,” his inability to sustain his early-season form was one of the year’s most surprising outcomes. 

Even as Piastri’s performance declined, McLaren remained a competitive force in the championship, largely due to Lando Norris’s consistency. While Piastri’s season began to unravel, the momentum shifted across the garage. Norris scored 18 podium finishes over the course of the season, including seven wins, helping him erase his early-season struggles and emerge as McLaren’s lead contender.

This shift was most evident at the Mexico City Grand Prix, where Norris put his skill on full display by winning by a 30.3-second margin—the largest of the season. This dominant performance allowed Norris to officially overtake Piastri in the standings and set the stage for a three-way showdown. With the points gap narrowed after a turbulent second half, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix became the decisive race in the 2025 Drivers’ Championship between Verstappen, Piastri, and Norris.

Just as Norris seemed poised to secure the championship, Verstappen began his resurgence. Strong performances in Italy, Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi lessened the points gap. Strategic pit stops and consistent podium finishes kept him in contention, turning the championship into a nail-biting duel that went down to the final rounds. 

In Abu Dhabi, Verstappen finished first, ahead of Piastri, Norris, and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, earning 25 points and bringing his total to 421. Norris finished slightly behind with 15 points, reaching 423 and securing his first Drivers’ Championship. While Norris ultimately claimed the title, Verstappen’s comeback from a significant deficit was one of the season’s most remarkable storylines.

The 2025-26 season showcased just how unpredictable and competitive Formula 1 can be. From Oscar Piastri’s early dominance and mid-season struggles to Lando Norris’s consistency and Max Verstappen’s late-season comeback, the championship fight remained intense until the final weekend. Looking ahead to 2026, fans can expect major changes, including new fuel, new regulations, revised track structures, and the debut of the Madrid Grand Prix, alongside a possible Ferrari resurgence. With these developments and continued fierce competition, the next season promises even better races, standout performances, and storylines that could redefine F1 history.