Remaining Battles in the 2025 F1 Season After McLaren Secures Constructors' Title

McLaren has clinched the 2025 constructors' championship at the Singapore Grand Prix, but the battle for the drivers' title—and crucial constructor standings for other teams—remains fiercely contested. The final quarter of the season will determine whether Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, or Max Verstappen lifts the coveted drivers' trophy. Beyond the prestige of the drivers' championship, significant financial incentives and team pride drive the competition for every constructors' position.

Why it matters:

While McLaren secured the constructors' crown, the F1 season is far from over. The drivers' championship is still up for grabs, promising thrilling races as Piastri, Norris, and Verstappen vie for glory. Furthermore, the constructors' standings are crucial for financial payouts, with differences of $8-9 million per position, and teams are unwilling to sacrifice higher placements for minor technical advantages like wind tunnel time. Every team and employee is driven to finish the year strong, leading to intense battles throughout the grid.

The battle for second:

• Key competitors: Mercedes (2nd, 325 pts), Ferrari (3rd, 298 pts), Red Bull (4th, 290 pts)
• Mercedes currently holds a 27-point lead over Ferrari, propelled by George Russell's win and Andrea Kimi Antonelli's fifth place in Singapore. This moved them back ahead of Ferrari after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
• Ferrari's SF-25 has shown instability and a lack of recent podiums since Belgium, leading to a precarious position. The team needs a breakthrough to fend off Red Bull, which is only eight points behind.
• Red Bull, despite effectively being a one-car team with Verstappen scoring almost all points, has found a strong vein of performance with recent RB21 updates, allowing for better baseline car operation from the start of race weekends.
• Mercedes has performed well in recent street circuits, mitigating rear tire overheating. However, the upcoming Austin race with its longer-radius corners will be a true test of their rear tire management.

The battle for sixth:

• Key competitors: Racing Bulls (6th, 72 pts), Aston Martin (7th, 68 pts)
• Outside bet: Sauber (8th, 55 pts)
• Williams, with Carlos Sainz's Azerbaijan podium, appears to be too far ahead for Racing Bulls or Aston Martin to catch easily, holding a 30-point lead. However, a surprise podium in mixed conditions could still make a difference.
• Racing Bulls' VCARB 02 has been a strong all-rounder, while Aston Martin has improved after a tough start. Fernando Alonso has consistently delivered points despite the AMR25's limitations, particularly on slower circuits.
• Isack Hadjar's podium at Zandvoort highlights Racing Bulls' potential, and Liam Lawson can also chip away at top-10 finishes when qualifying well. Sauber remains an outside contender, 17 points behind sixth.

The battle for eighth:

• Key competitors: Sauber (8th, 55 pts), Haas (9th, 46 pts)
• (Very) outside bet: Alpine (10th, 20 pts)
• Sauber has shown strong recovery in 2024, with floor updates and even a podium during the European leg of the season. They hope for more opportunities on conventional circuits.
• Haas plans a final update for Austin, aiming for a strong finish. Oliver Bearman has consistently been close to points, while Esteban Ocon needs to regain qualifying form.
• If Haas's update boosts Ocon's confidence, he could secure more top-10 finishes. Sauber relies on Gabriel Bortoleto's occasional Q3 forays and Nico Hulkenberg's consistency.
• Alpine, though currently last, cannot be entirely discounted. Their dramatic 2-3 finish in Brazil last season, combined with late-season updates, allowed them to jump from ninth to sixth in the constructors' championship, proving that a 35-point gap to Sauber is not insurmountable.

What's next:

The remaining races will be crucial for determining the drivers' champion and the final constructors' standings. Each position in the constructors' championship carries significant financial implications, ensuring that every team will push for maximum performance. The varying circuit characteristics will test different teams' strengths and weaknesses, potentially leading to unpredictable results and exciting battles down to the wire.