The 2025 Formula One Season So Far: The Midfield Rises while the Top Order Stagnates

ROHAN SINGH - STAFF WRITER

Photo Credit: the-race.com, 2025

At the start of the 2025 season, one thing was clear, Formula One fans were going to witness the resurgence of McLaren. The Papaya outfit was able to snatch away the constructor’s championship from Red Bull Racing in 2024, and were already looking forward to the upcoming season.

In comparison, the other power teams - Ferrari, Red Bull Racing, and Mercedes - had dropped down the order. From the opener, it was evident that the Papaya cars were ahead of the pack. The other three teams could barely stand up to the superior speed of the McLarens. While fans lamented with the idea of yet another single-team-dominant season, there has been a lot of chaos in the midfield.

The Dark Horses from Midfield Teams Capitalize on Action!

The very first Grand Prix in Australia made something clear. This season, the bulk of the action would be seen amongst the midfield teams. Constructors like Haas, Racing Bulls, Williams, and others, which were unable to bring forth acceptable results in the previous seasons, have suddenly looked immensely impressive and shown flashes of brilliance throughout the year.

Nearly every midfield team has been able to put at least one car in the top-10 during the qualifying sessions. Even though their race pace may be inconsistent, teams like Williams and Haas were able to bring forth multiple points finishes. The credit for this sudden resurgence also goes to the rookies and veteran drivers handling these teams. The likes of Esteban Ocon and Nico Hulkenberg have been great mentors to their rookie teammates.

As the Formula 1 2025 season reaches its final stages, teams like Racing Bulls and Sauber have already been able to create history by scoring podiums. These include the legendary first podium for Nico Hulkenberg and the magical first top three for rookie Isack Hadjar. Previously, these same teams were out of the mix languishing at the back of the pack. But the advent of the 2025 season has asserted the fact that in Formula One, the racing scenario can change pretty quickly.

The Top Order Succumbs to the McLarens

It has been more than a decade since fans witnessed real racing action between teams for the championship. The last time multiple teams had a legitimate shot at the constructors’ championship was in 2012. Since then, the championships have been dominated by a single team almost every season.

For the entirety of the turbo-hybrid era, Mercedes AMG F1 were the frontrunners. There was no team which could seriously challenge them for the title. Later on, Red Bull Racing took charge with the start of the ground effects era in 2022. As Formula One is in the midst of its final year before the new regulations kick in, McLaren is the benchmark for all performance.

This scenario unfolding in Formula One is certainly exciting for fans of Norris, Piastri, or McLaren altogether, but in the grand scheme, it is currently driving away the audience. They have been bored and frustrated with lack of competition for a long time, especially since the battle between Verstappen and Hamilton for the 2021 crown. Needless to say, the midfield teams are currently upholding the mantle of cut-throat racing in the 2025 season.

The new regulations for 2026 make many big promises, however, there are still doubts about their actual impact on results. This begs the question, do you think Formula One is slowly dying from inside as the “pinnacle of motorsports?”