F1 2025: Top 10 moments that defined the season

As we enter the run-in to the season finale in Abu Dhabi, here we take a look at the top ten moments that defined the 2025 F1 season. 

From first podiums, sacked team bosses, intense intra-team rivalries, to ban on certain components, these are the headlines that have shaped the sport over the last seven and a half months. 

1 | Christian Horner shown the door at Red Bull

The latest scandal to hit Formula 1 came days after the British Grand Prix, when Christian Horner found himself dumped from Red Bull with immediate effect, having held the position for 20 years and managing to stay in power despite several controversies coming his way.

Horner was replaced by Racing Bulls boss Laurent Mekies, but many were left asking the same question: why now? Did the texting scandal finally catch up to him? Was it performance-related? Or did he lose Max Verstappen to Mercedes?

While the Austrian team have remained silent, multiple overseas reports have stated that lacklustre performances, the departure of key figures like Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley, as well as internal drama and Horner’s legal battle, have all played a part in their decision.

2 | The inevitable McLaren crash in Canada

We’ve seen it time and time again — two individuals in identical machinery, knowing their biggest threat to the title is on the other side of the team garage, and only one can become champion.

That is the story of McLaren this season. After Saudi Arabia, McLaren CEO Zak Brown said, “I know everyone is waiting for that big moment, but I think it is going to be a bit of a non-event, and internally we know it’s more of a ‘when’ than an ‘if’.”

That “big moment” finally arrived in Montreal, when Lando Norris made a daft move for the final podium spot on Oscar Piastri as they approached Turn 1, when the Brit clipped the back of the latter’s car as he tried to grab the inside line into the turn.

But Piastri had not left the space for the move to come off. Norris’s front wing and right-front wheel hit the back of his teammate’s car and broke his suspension, hitting the pit wall on the left. Piastri, though, was able to continue without damage.

It was a crash almost identical to the 2011 Lewis Hamilton–Jenson Button incident, where the drivers had to retire after hitting the pit wall. Thankfully for McLaren, only one driver had to retire this time.

3 | Lewis Hamilton’s Sprint win Shanghai

It feels like a lifetime ago now, but we have technically seen Lewis Hamilton’s first win in the Ferrari red. The seven-time champion made the historic move to the Scuderia at the start of this season, but things haven’t quite started in the way either Hamilton or the Tifosi hoped for.

The veteran Brit has failed to finish on the podium for a Grand Prix so far this season. He has come close, however, finishing fourth in four races, but his 106th F1 win looks just out of reach for now.

That said, Hamilton does technically have a win with Ferrari under his belt, having converted the Sprint pole into a Sprint win in Shanghai. At the time, it looked to be the start of something special, but the dream has been put on hold for now.

Will Hamilton stand on the podium at least once before the season is over? We’ll have to wait and see.

4 | The failed Monaco experiment

We’ve heard it year after year: “F1 has outgrown Monte Carlo.” And, to an extent, it’s true. The cars are too wide and the track too narrow for good racing — although that doesn’t stop other series. But there’s no denying that qualifying day is one of the highlights of the Monaco race weekend.

This season, some of the decision-makers at F1 and the FIA introduced a new rule to spice up Sunday’s spectacle: a mandatory two-stop strategy. It sounded promising, with teams needing to dip into the pit lane at least twice, but unfortunately what followed was a pointless, processional parade, which delivered a very mixed response from the drivers.

Several drivers leveraged the fact that overtaking is a challenge in Monaco to play team games, including Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson. George Russell was also smacked with a drive-through penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage when he passed Alex Albon off track, later stating that he would rather serve a penalty than be stuck behind the Williams driver.

Heading into the 2026 season, this is one of the rules that may need to be revisited.

5 | Musical chairs at Alpine

Going into the season, it was clear that Jack Doohan’s seat was in danger before he could familiarise himself with Formula 1.

With an ever-growing pool of junior talent being selected by Flavio Briatore, Doohan was dumped by the Enstone-based team just six races into the season. He was replaced by popular Argentine Franco Colapinto, but even his place is now under threat after a disappointing run of results.

One person who we didn’t expect to depart so soon was Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes, who vanished from the team under unusual circumstances just hours before Alpine announced Doohan’s departure. Nothing more has been heard about Oakes, with Briatore taking over his responsibilities.

6 | Nico Hülkenberg’s first F1 podium

The day motorsport fans thought would never happen, happened. Nico Hülkenberg finally stood proud on an F1 podium.

It was a running joke for long, and after 15 years of no silverware the idea seemed more and more improbable. Nevertheless, the “Hulk” made history at the British Grand Prix to earn his maiden podium — the first for the Sauber outfit since the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix.

It is one of motorsport’s most wholesome stories, made amusing by the fact Hülkenberg’s trophy was made entirely of LEGO due to a partnership with the championship. The scenes were awesome, and served as a reminder to expect the unexpected when it comes to this sport.

7 | A New(ey) chapter beginning at Aston Martin

One of motorsport’s biggest brains, Adrian Newey, officially started at Aston Martin in March of this year. After departing Red Bull, the British legend was snapped up by the Silverstone outfit to work on their 2026 car. It remains one of the most high-profile signings in Formula 1, with Aston Martin hoping that it will totally transform them when the new regulations come into effect next season.

Newey has been to races in his new green kit, keeping a close eye on the competition, with his iconic notebook never far away, but the proof will be in the pudding when cars hit the track in 2026.

8 | The ban on flexi-wings

Ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, all the talk was about the clampdown on flexi-wings in Formula 1. Would it change the order? Should McLaren be worried? What impacts would it have?

This technical directive left many questioning the running order of the pack, with several teams claiming it could mark a turning point in their season. The rules reduced the amount that front wings can flex under load, aiming to cut excessive distortion, which can reduce drag at high speed, to ensure a level playing field.

In reality, though? Not much changed. 

9 | The Lawson–Tsunoda swap at Red Bull

Some labelled it as the harshest driver swap in recent times when Liam Lawson was demoted from Red Bull just two races into the season. After surviving a very wet Australian Grand Prix, followed by Shanghai, he was shown the door in favour of Yuki Tsunoda. 

Turns out, going back to Racing Bulls was arguably the best outcome for Lawson, given that Tsunoda — and even Verstappen, to some degree — struggled with the temperamental RB21 in the first half of the season. Now, Lawson sits above Tsunoda in the Drivers’ standings, with 30 points to Tsunoda’s 28. 

The second Red Bull seat certainly looks cursed, but it will be interesting to see how the rest of the season pans out, with Isack Hadjar impressing with Racing Bulls and junior Arvid Lindblad waiting on the sidelines with a Super Licence.

10 | Rookies delivering in 2025

Going into the new season, there was a big wave of fresh talent behind the wheel. Some drivers weren’t technically rookies when they got behind the wheel in Melbourne, however, with Jack Doohan, Ollie Bearman, and Liam Lawson having all participated in F1 races before. There was still a lot of pressure on their shoulders, though.

Things started in the wrong direction for Isack Hadjar, who crashed on the wet formation lap in Australia, before being comforted by a supportive Anthony Hamilton. However, the only way has been up for the 20-year-old since, and he has continued to impress at Racing Bulls, including his maiden podium in Zandvoort.

Kimi Antonelli has also been a bright talent, having secured his first Formula 1 podium in Canada with a P3 finish. Moreover, the likes of Bearman and Gabriel Bortoleto have also done exceedingly well in their first full season.