Three rounds stay within the 2025 Formulation 1 world championship, which is able to determine who turns into the drivers’ world champion, plus a couple of different key honours.
This weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix kicks off a triple-header finale, adopted by the Qatar GP (plus a dash race) after which the season nearer in Abu Dhabi. With a lot to play for, and little question some surprises nonetheless in retailer, right here’s what our writers predict from the ultimate rounds of the season.
Who will win the F1 drivers’ world title?
Ed Hardy: Lando Norris is doing all the pieces an individual would need from a title challenger. The McLaren driver has simply discovered that further step in current races, whereas Oscar Piastri has gone the opposite manner. Even when the Briton was to retire in Vegas, it’s uncertain that his team-mate would take full benefit given his present guise.
Owen Bellwood: If Norris can overcome a run of unhealthy outcomes to rework his championship, why can’t Piastri? The Australian had a torrid time just lately, and can little question have spent the previous weeks away from the observe engaged on his mindset to come back again all weapons blazing. Ought to he handle this, he has the abilities to overturn the 36-point poor he faces to his team-mate.
Ronald Vording: Norris has already taken two of the three key steps after his engine failure in Zandvoort. Mentally, he seems stronger than earlier than, with Q3 in Brazil because the clearest instance. The Briton didn’t have a banker lap on the board, and whereas that as a rule went fallacious previously, he now secured pole. Secondly, he feels much more snug with the entrance of the automobile in comparison with earlier this 12 months, which interprets into extra constant performances. The third remaining variable: is he calm sufficient to complete it off? It is the largest problem of his F1 profession to date, however together with his present kind, he ought to have the ability to get the job completed.
Ben Vinel: All of it factors to Norris. He’s 24 factors forward, he’s received the momentum, and he seems to be extra assured than ever. Norris has outscored McLaren team-mate Piastri by 58 factors over the newest six rounds, and Max Verstappen now appears to be too far to mount a reputable problem, except one thing stunning occurs.
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Yuki Tsunoda, Crimson Bull Racing Group
Photograph by: Mark Thompson – Getty Photographs
One daring prediction for the triple-header
EH: Yuki Tsunoda to face on the rostrum – although, I admit, it’s extra of a hope than a prediction. The 25-year-old is only a a lot better driver than his quick Crimson Bull tenure has proven and it’s unhappy to see, as a result of till then he was a really strong F1 racer on the sister squad. It’d be good for him to lastly declare a podium earlier than he probably leaves on the finish of 2025, giving Japanese followers one thing to have a good time earlier than their subsequent driver comes alongside.
OB: Lewis Hamilton will make the rostrum for Ferrari in one of many remaining three races – my cash is on Las Vegas, however any of the remaining races will do. This is perhaps wishful considering, however the Brit has historical past in Sin Metropolis, and final 12 months Ferrari took a robust third- and fourth-place end – so it’s not past the realms of risk.
RV: Andrea Kimi Antonelli to take his maiden F1 win. Granted: this will likely realistically be a prediction that must be pushed to 2026, however why not be a little bit daring? If Mercedes – similar to final 12 months – is the benchmark within the comparatively cool Las Vegas circumstances, then Antonelli can’t be dominated out. Sure, George Russell remains to be the favorite given his expertise, however Antonelli has undoubtedly proven flashes of his immense expertise. At Interlagos he additionally demonstrated notable maturity, each by staying off the moist kerbs in the course of the dash and by holding off the charging Verstappen on Sunday. So is the younger Italian prepared for the massive one?
BV: In all honesty, I don’t consider a lot out of the unusual will occur throughout these final three races, so I’ll go along with Piastri failing to succeed in the rostrum in all three Sunday races. This is able to be shocking from this 12 months’s seven-time grand prix winner, however Piastri hasn’t appeared too convincing of late, and I consider this prediction is… not unlikely.
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Who will end second within the F1 constructors’ world championship?
EH: It’s laborious to see Mercedes throwing away its 32-point benefit over Crimson Bull within the remaining races. Though Verstappen has each probability to win once more this 12 months, the Austrian outfit simply isn’t getting something from the second automobile whereas Mercedes has each drivers scoring. Unsure fourth-placed Ferrari is even price speaking about fairly frankly.
OB: Crimson Bull is flying with Verstappen, however with a purpose to catch and move Mercedes it can take a gargantuan effort from the Dutchman and a dramatic flip in fortunes for team-mate Tsunoda. I don’t see that taking place, so I feel second-place is all however safe for Mercedes at this level within the season.
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photograph by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
RV: Mercedes. Crimson Bull Racing – or Max Verstappen Racing, as Russell jokingly put it – has made main progress since Monza, however Mercedes’ present buffer ought to be sufficient. Much more so as a result of Las Vegas presents one other observe, or at the least climate circumstances, that ought to swimsuit them. If Russell and Antonelli keep away from foolish errors, it ought to be sufficient. Verstappen is scoring the factors nearly single-handedly at Crimson Bull, whereas Mercedes – if Antonelli continues his present trajectory – has two drivers able to scoring. Ferrari has stopped creating its 2025 automobile sooner than each Mercedes and Crimson Bull, making second place unlikely.
BV: One other not-particularly-bold take, however I’ll choose Mercedes. They now have a cushty buffer on Crimson Bull and Ferrari, and Antonelli’s kind has been ramping up. Including the truth that they’re anticipated to carry out strongly in Las Vegas, they need to have the ability to see this by means of – however no shock will be dominated out.
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Who will end sixth within the F1 constructors’ world championship?
EH: Haas. It has a 12-point deficit to sixth-placed Racing Bulls, which is quite a bit with so few races left, however the American squad is on an upward trajectory. It has scored factors within the final 4 grands prix and is able to persevering with that run with two sturdy drivers – it doesn’t take a lot for the scenario to flip.
OB: My head says sixth place is protected with the sturdy pairing of Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar, however current outcomes say that this may not be fairly so certain. Haas is popping issues round, and Oliver Bearman is effectively on his solution to difficult Hadjar for the crown of most spectacular rookie this 12 months. So, fingers crossed, this transformation in fortunes for the American outfit is sufficient to make up the 12 factors it’s presently missing.
RV: The battle for sixth within the constructors’ championship may really go in any course. Yet one more standout outcome from Hadjar or Lawson would probably put Racing Bulls in a protected place, and given the seasons these drivers (particularly Hadjar) have had, that can not be dominated out. Nonetheless, I would put my cash on Haas. With the Austin improve, the American workforce has made a big step, whereas most rivals had lengthy shifted their focus to 2026. The package deal works as anticipated and is proving to be a strong weapon – significantly within the palms of Bearman – making a 12-point hole removed from not possible to overturn.
BV: That’s the trickiest one. There have been so many swings in efficiency as this battle unfolded that no person can inform what’s going to occur. Everybody right here has guess on Haas, so I’ll diverge and predict Racing Bulls will grasp on. Momentum could also be with Haas with its current improve, however Racing Bulls has had higher kind total this 12 months and Lawson has picked himself up after his demotion from Crimson Bull. Nonetheless, it is going to be a decent one, and you may’t rule out Aston Martin if Fernando Alonso places in a few outstanding drives.
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