Max-Verstappen-f1-Imola
The 2025 formula 1 season has in a handful of races has already delivered plenty of excitement for fans with thrilling battles and unexpected performances up and down the grid. From a rain-soaked sprint race that saw Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc aquaplaning into the wall, to a fiercely contested main race qualifying session led by reigning champion Max Verstappen, the Miami Grand Prix kept fans on the edge of their seats.
As the teams now prepare to tackle the first of the European circuits at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, let’s dive into the key storylines and current standings across the paddock.
BWT Alpine Formula One Team
Following the Miami Grand Prix, rumors began swirling around the French team’s driver lineup, with rookie Jack Doohan’s seat reportedly under scrutiny. However, before any official word on Doohan’s situation could surface, the team dropped a bombshell announcing the unexpected departure of team principal Oliver Oakes.
Not to be outdone by any other piece of news, Alpine confirmed the replacement of their rookie driver Jack Doohan with Franco Colapinto. The Argentinian driver gets five races to prove his worth to the higher ups at Alpine. The Australia driver, Doohan has failed to score a point in all six races of the 2025 season despite flashes of potential. It is unclear is Doohan will get another crack at the second Alpine seat if Colapinto fails to perform.
Team Points: 7
Driver Points
- Pierre Gasly : 7
- Franco Colapinto: 0
- Jack Doohan: 0
McLaren Formula 1 Team
The Surrey based team has had a dream start to their 2025 championship campaign with both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri securing top spot of the podium. Leading the standings is Oscar Piastri, who has already notched up five wins this season, the latest coming at the Miami Grand Prix, where he sealed victory in spectacular fashion by overtaking Max Verstappen on lap 14.
Going into the European stint at Imola, Lando Norris will look to get himself back in the championship lead by beating his Australian teammate who has in recent races looked to be in exceptional form.
Team Points: 246
Driver Points
- Oscar Piastri : 131
- Lando Norris: 115
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team
George Russell and rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli has performed decently in the first quarter of the 2025 season so far. Sitting P2 in the championship standing with 141 points courtesy of Russell’s brilliant drives in Australia, China, Bahrain and Miami.
The young Italian rookie, Kimi has shown flashes of brilliance but has yet to convert that into a podium finish. In Miami Antonelli looked ready to secure a maiden podium when he qualified in pole position for the sprint race. Unfortunately a messy pit stops from Max Verstappen lead to a collision in the pitlane, essentially destroying Antonelli’s race.
Team Points: 141
Driver Points
- George Russell : 93
- Kimi Antonelli: 48
Scuderia Ferrari HP
If Formula 1 were a soap opera, Ferrari would undoubtedly be the drama queen of the cast. The iconic Italian team has struggled for form over the past few seasons, and 2025 has been no exception. This year has unveiled a comedic and at times exasperated side of their drivers, with frequent radio banter highlighting ongoing issues with communication and questionable team strategies.
Notably, during the Miami Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton grew visibly frustrated with Ferrari’s strategy, which left him stuck behind his teammate despite being on fresher tires. The seven-time world champion didn’t hold back, openly criticizing the team for their lack of proactive decision-making. Both drivers will be hoping the start of the European leg sparks a more decisive and focused Ferrari operation if they’re to have any chance of challenging Mercedes for second place in the Constructors’ Championship.
Team Points: 94
Driver Points
- Lewis Hamilton : 41
- Charles Leclerc: 53
Atlassian Williams Racing
Williams left Miami with a solid points haul, as both drivers finished inside the top 10. A strong P5 finish saw Alex Albon increase his points tally to 30, placing him eighth in the Drivers’ Championship. Meanwhile, teammate Carlos Sainz has faced a slower start as he adapts to life behind the wheel of the Williams, but he’s managed to score points on three occasions so far, the latest coming with a respectable showing in Miami.
Overall, James Vowles’ team has come a long way from the days of tracking inventory with spreadsheets. The revamped outfit has steadily transformed into a sharp, opportunistic force, capable of seizing on the slightest mistakes from the front-runners to bring home valuable points.
Team Points: 37
Driver Points
- Alex Albon : 30
- Carlos Sainz :7
MoneyGram Haas F1 Team
Haas 2025 driver line-up is as impressive as their performance. With Esteban Ocon leading the charge as the more experienced driver alongside rookie teammate Oliver Bearman, the duo has combined to score 20 points so far in what’s become a fiercely competitive midfield scrap against Racing Bulls, Williams, and Alpine.
With a high-speed circuit like Imola up next, Haas will be aiming to extract every ounce of performance from their car as they look to close the gap to midfield rivals Williams by securing as many points as possible.
Team Points: 20
Drivers Points
- Estaban Ocon : 14
- Oliver Bearman :6
Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team
Aston Martin is enduring one of the weakest starts to an F1 season since their rebranding from Racing Point in 2021. So far this season, Lance Stroll has outperformed the car to score all 14 points of the team. Meanwhile, his veteran teammate and perennial ‘rookie’ Fernando Alonso has looked a shadow of his former competitive self, struggling to make any significant impact on race weekends.
Perhaps the former champion is finally feeling the impact of age on his performance or lacks the motivation to push the Aston Martin. Nonetheless, Alonso will be looking to put in a fantastic drive at Imola to finally get some points under his belt.
Team Points: 14
Driver points
- Lance Stroll : 14
- Fernando Alonso: 0
Oracle Red Bull Racing
Prior to the departure of Sergio Perez in the second RedBull seat, the team was essentially fielding a one man team with Max Verstappen outperforming the temperamental RB21. In a surprising move, Red Bull overlooked long-time junior team lead Yuki Tsunoda in favor of Liam Lawson only to swiftly demote Lawson after poor performance in the first two grand prix of the season.
With Yuki Tsunoda finally stepping into that second Red Bull seat, all eyes will be on the Japanese driver at Imola to see what he can deliver for the team. The Honda-backed driver has faced a tough adjustment period with the RB21 since taking over from the Japanese Grand Prix. So far, Tsunoda has managed to score six points in four races, bringing his total tally to nine.
Team Points: 105
Driver Points
- Max Verstappen : 99
- Yuki Tsunoda: 6
Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Formula One Team
Having been given the boot at the senior team, Liam Lawson returned to Racing Bulls to a competitive car that Christian Horner believed will suite his driving style. However, the New Zealander has yet to put together a point scoring race run with a best finish of P12 at the Saudi Arabian grand prix. Rumor around the F1 media suggest Liam Lawson could lose his Racing Bulls seat if he fails to improve his performance by midseason.
To make matters worse, rookie teammate Isack Hadjar has already made an impression, securing five points from two standout drives in Japan and Saudi Arabia. Given Lawson’s prior F1 experience and the hype that once surrounded his rapid rise to and subsequent fall from the senior Red Bull team, the stakes couldn’t be higher. If he fails to turn things around, Lawson risks being sidelined from Formula 1 for the foreseeable future.
Team Points: 8
Drivers Points
- Liam Lawson : 0
- Isack Hadjar : 5
- Yuki Tsunoda @ Racing Bulls : 3
Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber
The 2026 season sees Sauber complete the transition to become Audi F1 team. For now, the German outfit is taking its poor performance on the chin, focusing on the long game as they eagerly prepare for a fresh start next year. With a brand-new chassis and power unit in development, Audi has set its sights on becoming a competitive force in the midfield in 2026.
In the meantime, both Nico Hülkenberg and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto are making the best of what little the Sauber C45 has to offer. While the chances of a points finish at Imola remain slim, the weekend provides another valuable opportunity to address the car’s weaknesses. On a brighter note, Bortoleto has impressed in his debut season, showing flashes of promise that hint at a bright future once he’s armed with a more competitive machine.
Team Points: 6
Driver Points
- Nico Hülkenberg: 6
- Gabriel Bortoleto : 0
