The Japan Times - Formula One: Winners and Losers in 2025

WINNERS

- Norris: boyhood dream -

Lando Norris had been dreaming of winning the world championship since he was five and finally fulfilled that dream 21 years later.

Scrappy at times during the season when many questioned his inner strength, the McLaren driver bounced back to win seven races, muscle past his teammate Oscar Piastri and do enough enough to hold off a rampaging Max Verstappen.

He was quick and, in the end, he was gutsy. And a champion.

For McLaren, this was their 13th driver's title and their first since Lewis Hamilton in 2008.

They also galloped to the constructors title for the second year running.

- Rookie style -

Of the six rookies who started the 2025 season, Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli had the most eye-catching year, his sprint pole in Miami making him the youngest ever pole-sitter in F1 history at just 18 years and 251 days old.

Isack Hadjar, who only turned 21 in September, scored 10 top-10 finishes, including his first podium when third in the Netherlands, and earned himself promotion from Red Bull's junior team Racing Bulls to a seat alongside Verstappen in the senior team.

- Max: all-time great -

Even though he didn't win a fifth successive title, Verstappen enhanced his reputation with a staggering lone battle against the McLarens of Piastri and Norris.

With an inferior car, the Dutchman scrapped and fought and on occasions simply outsmarted his rivals. He wrote himself out of the title race when he trailed by over 100 points and yet he nearly snuck it in Abu Dhabi and ended the season with eight wins, more than either of his rivals.

He also became a father in May which may be his greatest triumph in 2025.

- Formula One -

Odd one this but the sport itself has had a boom year, helped by the Netflix reality series 'Drive to Survive' and the release in June of the Brad Pitt vehicle 'F1 The Movie'.

The movie, which has Lewis Hamilton as a co-producer, roared on to screens and has already taken over $600 million at the box office, making it the biggest grossing movie of Pitt's stellar career.

- LOSERS -

- Hamilton & Ferrari -

Hamilton's departure from Mercedes and move to Ferrari was met with shock. In the end, although it promised much, it delivered little.

The seven-time world champion finished sixth in the title race but for the first time in his career failed to make the podium. His sprint win in China was no consolation.

Hamilton was seldom happy with his car and was at one point told to "talk less, drive more" by Ferrari F1 chairman John Elkann.

The Scuderia finished fourth in the standings without a single win or second-place.

- Poisoned chalice -

While Verstappen has been outstanding, the role of his number two at Red Bull has becoming an increasingly uncomfortable seat.

Afer Sergio Perez was dispatched, Liam Lawson started the season as Verstappen's sidekick but lasted just two races before being demoted to Racing Bulls with the more experienced Yuki Tsunoda stepping up.

It should have been a breakthrough moment for the Japanese driver but he posted just seven top-10 finishes and never threatened the podium, ultimately losing his seat to Hadjar.

- Horner in the corner -

From the moment that accusations of sexual misconduct (which he denied) were made against Christian Horner in 2024, Red Bull appeared to be floundering.

They closed that season on an ebb and Verstappen won just two of the first 12 races in 2025 as they appeared to cede the titles to McLaren.

With talk of a Verstappen move getting louder, Horner was replaced as team principal in July by Laurent Mekies.

The mood lightened, results improved and Verstappen came within a gnat's whisker of winning a fifth successive title.

After 20 years in charge, Horner received a pay-out in the region of £75 million and has been linked with a return to F1.

K.Inoue--JT