F1 season so far: Verstappen playing catch up as McLaren lead the way

The 2025 Formula One season is now eight races old and the standings are beginning to take shape. It’s good news for F1 fans that have been clamouring for a competitive title race in recent years, with a pair of in-form drivers slowly edging ahead of the chasing pack.

Yet before the campaign started, few would have predicted Max Verstappen wouldn’t be in the driving seat. The Red Bull driver has stormed to glory in each of the last four seasons but after a difficult start to the 2025 schedule, he’s playing catch up.

Dynamic McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are dominating so far and both are making a claim for their maiden Drivers’ Championship. But there’s still plenty more racing action to look forward to and based on previous seasons, it would be dangerous for Piastri and Norris to take Verstappen lightly.

F1 standings after five races

Since our last F1 update, there have been three races and each of our leading trio have claimed one win each. Piastri came out on top in Miami, clearing teammate Norris by more than four seconds, meaning he’s now finished on the podium in every race except the opener in Australia.

Verstappen rolled back the years by winning the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix for the fourth race on the trot but he’s got a lot of work to do if he wants to secure a fifth consecutive title. The reigning champion hit patches of bad form last year but ultimately there were no rivals consistent enough to capitalise.

This time around, that’s certainly not the case. Piastri has exceeded all expectations in his table-topping performances so far. Meanwhile Norris, who finished as the runner-up in the 2024 season, has continued where he left off. The 25-year-old was on top form once again at the weekend as he manoeuvred around the idyllic streets of Monaco to secure his second win of the season.

Just like his teammate, Norris has only failed to podium once so far and with the final Spanish Grand Prix at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya taking place this weekend, he’ll be looking to become the first person not named Verstappen or Lewis Hamilton to win the race since 2015.

Last three F1 Podiums

Who will win the Spanish Grand Prix?

Much like many of the races on the circuit, the Spanish Grand Prix has been Verstappen’s playground in recent years. He’s won it in each of the last three seasons and he’ll be desperate to continue that trend and secure just a third win and fifth podium finish of the 2025 campaign.

Historically, Hamilton leads the way in Spain alongside the legendary Michael Schumacher. They’ve both won the iconic race six times and Hamilton will be looking to roll back the years this weekend.

Despite a difficult start to life at Ferrari, he’s made steady progress in recent weeks, finishing in the top five in each of the last two races. But with Piastri and Norris leading the charge and Verstappen inevitably going to step things up a gear, Hamilton’s dreams of a record eighth Drivers’ Championship may already be over for another year.

Upcoming F1 races

We’re not even halfway through the 2025 season so there’s plenty more to come. If you’ve been enjoying the races so far and fancy seeing them in person, why not join us in one of our exclusive hospitality facilities?

We offer luxury packages for every single race on the calendar, including the British Grand Prix in July. Enquire today to reserve your place.

Spanish Grand Prix– Sunday 1st June
Canadian Grand Prix– Sunday 15th June
Austrian Grand Prix– Sunday 29th June
British Grand Prix– Sunday 6th July
Belgian Grand Prix– Sunday 27th July
Hungarian Grand Prix– Sunday 3rd August
Dutch Grand Prix– Sunday 31st August
Italian Grand Prix– Sunday 7th September
Azerbaijan Grand Prix– Sunday 21st September
Singapore Grand Prix– Sunday 5th October
USA Grand Prix– Sunday 19th October
Mexican Grand Prix– Sunday 26th October
Brazilian Grand Prix– Sunday 9th November
Las Vegas Grand Prix– Saturday 22nd November
Qatar Grand Prix– Sunday 30th November
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix– Sunday 7th December

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