This text is a part of “Behind the Wheel,” a collection concerning the extremely aggressive and high-tech world of System 1.
It has been an eventful yr for System 1.
Along with the drama that unfolds outdoors the observe, F1 followers have been handled to aggressive races and a legit battle for the drivers and constructors championships.
The season is getting into the house stretch — this weekend’s US Grand Prix kicks off the ultimate six races of the yr. Listed here are the seven main plotlines which have outlined the season and the way they might have an effect on the game for years to come back.
1. Lewis Hamilton joins Ferrari in a flashy partnership
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Driver shake-ups had been occurring earlier than the season even started. In early February, the System 1 champion Lewis Hamilton introduced he would depart Mercedes on the finish of the season to join Ferrari in 2025.
With Mercedes, the British driver captured six drivers championships, however a string of down years led him to take a danger by becoming a member of the famed Italian squad.
With Ferrari wanting pretty aggressive this season — and Hamilton having a resurgent yr, capturing two race victories — the pairing might present fireworks in 2025.
2. Pink Bull is not dominant
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For the previous three seasons, Max Verstappen and Pink Bull have annihilated the competitors. This yr began off equally: The Dutch phenom captured 5 victories within the first seven races.
Issues modified on the Miami Grand Prix in early Might, when McLaren’s Lando Norris comfortably bested Verstappen to seize his first profession win. Since then, Pink Bull has been on the again foot, and Verstappen hasn’t stood on the highest step of the rostrum for the previous eight races.
Preseason harassment allegations towards Pink Bull’s crew principal, Christian Horner, and the departure of its chief engineer, Adrian Newey, have contributed to a downturn for the crew. Although Verstappen nonetheless appears destined to win his fourth particular person title, McLaren has taken the lead within the constructors championship, and Ferrari and Mercedes appear to have caught up.
With rules staying put for 2025, subsequent season appears poised to be an open battle for each championships.
3. McLaren emerges as a legit contender
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No crew has been hotter in System 1 than McLaren, which is having a exceptional turnaround.
Final season, the famously papaya-colored squad seemed like a backmarker, ending close to the underside of the pack within the first few races. However beneath the steerage of a new team principal, Andrea Stella, McLaren has emerged because the crew to beat. Its drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have collected a mixed 5 race victories this yr.
McLaren has leapfrogged Pink Bull for first within the constructors championship and appears poised for continued success.
4. Aston Martin turns into a risk after signing the famed engineer Adrian Newey
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Maybe no title carries as a lot weight in System 1 as Adrian Newey. The 65-year-old British engineer wins in all places he goes.
Since starting his profession in System 1 in 1980, he has designed vehicles which have received 13 drivers championships and 12 constructors championships. He grew to become one of the sought-after free brokers when he introduced this yr that he’d depart Pink Bull. Aston Martin, owned by the billionaire Lawrence Stroll, finally snatched him up.
With new rules set to take impact in 2026, Aston Martin is already a transparent favourite to design a top-performing automotive. And with the two-time champion Fernando Alonso on its roster, the crew might be poised for main success in two seasons’ time.
5. The Daniel Ricciardo period ends
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In a shocking midseason driver swap, Daniel Ricciardo was cut from RB F1, Pink Bull Racing’s sister crew.
The choice got here after a largely down yr for Ricciardo, who couldn’t appear to maintain up together with his teammate, the Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda.
Ricciardo had come to signify the game in some ways due to his outsize role in the Netflix docuseries “Drive to Survive.”
The place Ricciardo goes subsequent might be a sizzling matter of dialog. Different racing disciplines — such because the US-based IndyCar and NASCAR collection — doubtless hope to grab him up and capitalize on his worldwide star energy.
6. F1 embraces a youth motion
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Changing Ricciardo is Liam Lawson, a 22-year-old from New Zealand. He is one in every of many younger drivers primed for achievement.
Mercedes introduced this yr that it could exchange Lewis Hamilton with Andrea Kimi Antonelli, an 18-year-old Italian driver who acquired his first style of F1 motion throughout a follow session at this yr’s Italian Grand Prix.
The Haas F1 crew, in the meantime, will carry on Oliver Bearman subsequent season. The 19-year-old English driver impressed this year whereas changing Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz for a race as he recovered from appendicitis.
The French crew Alpine will enlist the 21-year-old Australian Jack Doohan subsequent season — which means there might be at the least 4 full-time rookies on the grid subsequent yr.
7. Extra producers be a part of the game
Final week, Toyota introduced it could return to System 1, becoming a member of forces with the Haas F1 crew.
The Japanese producer beforehand competed for eight seasons in System 1 and has just lately had a substantial amount of success in rally and endurance racing. Toyota might assist revitalize a Haas crew that has typically struggled to attain factors persistently.
Different producers have introduced they’re becoming a member of the top of motorsports.
Audi is poised to affix System 1 in 2026, taking up the Stake F1 Staff Kick Sauber. The American producer Ford additionally plans to companion with Pink Bull in 2026 to offer the crew with energy models.
The inflow of producers factors to the game’s rising mainstream recognition, with big-name automotive corporations desirous to throw their hats into the ring.