Biggest Moments of the 2025 Formula 1® Season

The 2025 Formula 1 season was not defined by long winning streaks or a single dominant force. Instead, it was shaped by a series of pivotal flashpoints –  moments where pressure, misjudgement, brilliance or circumstance shifted the competitive balance entirely. Across an unusually volatile calendar, the championship narrative swung repeatedly between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, while major teams endured unexpected swings in form.

McLaren Racing made it back-to-back Constructors’ Championship wins this season!

From strategic collapses to breakthrough performances, from shocking crashes to rare team penalties, these incidents collectively dictated the path to Norris’s maiden World Championship. Below, we break down the ten defining turning points that ultimately shaped one of the most unpredictable seasons in modern Formula 1!

Formula 1® STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Norris Crashes in Qualifying, Piastri Takes the Win

Jeddah delivered another major turning point when Norris – under pressure to strengthen his early title position – crashed in qualifying. Starting out of position on a high-speed street circuit left him unable to mount a recovery drive.

Oscar Piastri stepped up for McLaren, winning the race and preventing Verstappen from seizing a maximum-damage weekend. However, Norris’s Q3 crash was one of the few moments where visible nerves crept into his campaign – a reminder that the title fight demanded absolute precision every weekend.

Formula 1® Spanish Grand Prix: Verstappen’s Rage-Crash With Russell

The Spanish Grand Prix delivered one of the most dramatic moments of the season when Max Verstappen, locked in an intense battle with George Russell, misjudged the fight and collided with the Mercedes. Verstappen’s frustration spilt over both during and after the race, and the incident proved enormously costly for his championship momentum. He left Barcelona with zero points – a loss that would loom larger as the season tightened.

For Lando Norris, this was an unexpected gift. Norris finished strongly and quietly banked crucial points that helped keep him within touching distance of Verstappen. In a season decided by fine margins, Spain was one of the earliest signs that Verstappen’s campaign would be defined by volatility rather than control…

Formula 1® MSC Cruises Austrian Grand Prix: Verstappen’s Costly DNF & McLaren’s Strategy Mastery

Austria proved to be one of the most consequential rounds of the year. Verstappen’s race unravelled after a rare mechanical issue forced him to retire, a blow made even more severe by McLaren’s perfectly executed strategy for Norris.

With Verstappen scoring zero and Norris maximising his haul, the points swing in Spielberg played a major role in the final championship arithmetic. Analysts later noted that Austria alone accounted for a decisive shift in the standings – one that Verstappen would never entirely recover from.

Formula 1® Qatar Airways British Grand Prix: Norris’ Commanding Home Victory

Lando Norris delivered one of the standout performances of his career at Silverstone, producing a calm, controlled drive in front of a roaring home crowd. While Verstappen struggled with balance and tyre behaviour, Norris was precise, composed and completely unshakeable under pressure.

Lando Norris winning on home soil at Silverstone Circuit – a moment that will forever stand tall in British motorsport history!

Silverstone was more than a race win – it was a defining marker of Norris’s championship credentials. It showcased his ability to shoulder expectation, convert opportunity and manage a race flawlessly over 52 laps. With the British public behind him, Norris walked away from his home Grand Prix as the title favourite for the first time all season.

Red Bull Racing’s Turbulent July

Midway through the season, the 2025 campaign was hit by one of its biggest off-track shocks: Christian Horner, after 20 years at the helm, was suddenly sacked by Red Bull Racing.

Horner’s removal ended a remarkable tenure that had delivered multiple world titles under his leadership. The departure came after a turbulent period for Red Bull: internal upheaval, key personnel exits, growing performance problems, and rumours of friction inside the garage. The team promoted Laurent Mekies – previously boss of the sister team – to CEO and team principal of Red Bull Racing. For the championship fight, it was more than a headline. At that point, Red Bull was already struggling relative to rivals, and the shake-up intensified the uncertainty. With leadership in flux, car performance patchy, and trust shaken, the team lost momentum right when consistency and coordination were most needed.

Formula 1® Gran Premio de la Ciudad de México: Bearman’s Breakout Drive & Norris Retakes the Lead

The Mexico City Grand Prix became the event where teenage Ferrari driver Oliver Bearman delivered a breakthrough performance, finishing an extraordinary fourth after a flawless, composed race. Bearman’s surge through the field made headlines worldwide and established him as one of the most exciting young drivers in the sport.

At the front, the race carried enormous championship weight. With Verstappen failing to maximise his result, Norris reclaimed the championship lead by the slimmest of margins. The psychological momentum shift was substantial – from that moment on, Norris never appeared rattled under pressure again.

Formula 1® Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix: McLaren’s Disqualification & Verstappen’s Revival

The Las Vegas Grand Prix became one of the most controversial weekends of 2025 when McLaren was disqualified for a technical breach linked to plank wear. Norris had originally finished ahead of Verstappen – a massive result in the title fight – but the stewards’ ruling wiped out both McLarens entirely.

This opened the door for Verstappen to claw back points he would have otherwise lost, keeping him alive in the championship fight at a moment where Norris was threatening to build an unassailable lead. The ruling was widely debated, and for Norris, it marked one of the rare weekends when circumstances outside his control directly damaged his title campaign.

Lewis Hamilton’s Run of Q1 Exits ❌

A surprising storyline throughout 2025 was Lewis Hamilton’s qualifying form. The seven-time World Champion suffered a run of unusually poor Saturdays that became a key talking point across the paddock:

• Qatar Grand Prix 🇶🇦: Third consecutive Q1 exit, qualifying 18th. Hamilton also exited early in Sprint Qualifying, marking a particularly challenging weekend.
• Las Vegas Grand Prix 🎲: Qualified last (19th before penalties), calling it a “very poor performance” – one of the toughest single-lap showings of his career.
• Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 🇦🇪: Ended the season with a fourth straight Q1 elimination, qualifying 16th at the finale.

While Hamilton’s race craft remained sharp, the inability to escape Q1 repeatedly put him on the back foot, contributing to Mercedes’ inconsistent season and their difficulty scoring meaningful points. The slump was one of the most unexpected declines of 2025.

Lewis Hamilton will be hoping for better fortunes next season as he enters his 2nd season with Ferrari

Meanwhile, for contenders like Lando Norris, the turmoil offered breathing space. As Red Bull navigated internal change, McLaren could focus on a steady pace, strategy, and finishing races – giving Norris a clearer path to build his title challenge. Horner’s exit sent shockwaves through the paddock and reshaped perceptions. What had looked like a two-horse fight now felt vulnerable. For Red Bull, the summer proved that past success offers no immunity – and for Norris and his rivals, the championship prize suddenly seemed more within reach.

Formula 1® Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Decider in the Desert

The 2025 F1 finale in Abu Dhabi delivered exactly the drama everyone expected. Three drivers – Norris, Verstappen and Piastri – arrived with a real shot at the championship, and the title maths meant every position mattered. Verstappen did his job in qualifying, taking pole and giving himself a genuine chance to snatch the crown, while Norris and Piastri lined up just behind him, knowing a podium would be everything.

From the start, Verstappen led confidently, Piastri attacked early, and Norris’s title hopes briefly wobbled. An early pit stop dropped him into traffic, turning the race into a tense recovery mission. His comeback included a controversial overtake completed after running off track – a moment that immediately sparked debate over whether he should’ve been penalised with the championship on the line.

One of the most beautiful scenes in all of sports – the post-race fireworks at Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi

As Verstappen controlled the race and Piastri held second, Norris slowly dragged himself back into the top three. Crossing the line in third was enough to secure the title by just two points, giving McLaren their first Drivers’ Championship in 17 years.

The final lap, the off-track move and Verstappen’s near-perfect weekend will all keep the discussion alive, but Abu Dhabi ultimately belonged to Norris – the newest British world champion.

2025 Formula 1® Constructors Championships Final Standings 🏆

The 2025 Constructors’ Championship wrapped up with one of the most dramatic point spreads in years:

• 🥇 1st – McLaren: 833 points
• 🥈 2nd – Mercedes: 469 points
• 🥉 3rd – Red Bull Racing: 45 points

2025 Formula 1® World Drivers’ Championship Final Standings 🏆

1. Lando Norris, racing for McLaren, with a finishing of 423 points.
2. Max Verstappen, racing for Red Bull, with a finishing of 421 points.
3. Oscar Piastri, racing for McLaren, with a finishing of 410 points.

The 2025 Formula 1 season will be remembered as a campaign shaped by decisive moments rather than sustained dominance. McLaren’s operational sharpness, Norris’s consistency, Verstappen’s costly setbacks and several unexpected storylines across the grid all contributed to a year defined by volatility and high-stakes drama.

In the end, Lando Norris emerged as a deserving World Champion – not because he avoided adversity, but because he managed it better than anyone else. The season’s defining moments highlight just how fine the margins were, and why 2025 stands as one of the most compelling championship narratives of the modern era.

The 2026 Formula 1® Season Is Approaching Fast – Secure Your VIP Tickets Now!

As the dust settles on a thrilling 2025 season, the anticipation for 2026 is already building – and there’s no better way to experience every high-octane moment than with Corinthian Sports in The Pegasus Lounge.

With Lando Norris crowned Drivers’ World Champion and rivalries set to ignite again, next season promises edge-of-your-seat action, unforgettable race weekends, and the ultimate Formula 1 hospitality experience. From premium seating and gourmet dining to exclusive views of every overtake and pit-stop drama, The Pegasus Lounge puts you at the heart of the action.

Join Corinthian Sports in The Pegasus Lounge at:

• Formula 1® Pirelli British Grand Prix
• Formula 1® TAG Heuer Grand Prix de Monaco 
• The Podium Suite at Etihad Airways Formula 1® Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 

And all other Formula 1 Grand Prix’s. 

Join us in 2026, soak up the atmosphere, and celebrate every twist and turn of the championship in style. The fight for the next crown is on – and the best seat in the house is waiting for you!