MCLAREN NEARLY PERFECT, FERRARI A DISASTER: END-OF-SEASON REPORT CARDS

With the 2025 season concluded, it’s time to take stock of what each team has achieved. McLaren are World Champions, with Lando Norris writing his name on the wall of F1 winners. Verstappen misses out on the title by just two points. Ferrari finish fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, failing to meet all the objectives announced at the start of the year. A great season for Haas, Racing Bull, and Williams. Alpine sink into oblivion, seemingly unable to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

GIOVANNI’S END-OF-SEASON REPORT CARDS:
McLaren 9.5. The papaya team delivered an excellent season, winning the Constructors’ Championship well ahead of time. The missing half-point to reach ten is due to their only flaw: driver management. Allowing both drivers to fight freely gave Verstappen the chance to get back into the title fight, which luckily for them still ended with Norris winning. The Woking team triumphs, but must now turn all its attention to 2026 and the regulation changes.

Red Bull 8. The team is left with a bitter taste despite a positive season and a Drivers’ Championship lost by only two points. In terms of Constructors’, they disappoint. Red Bull do not allow their second driver to achieve strong results, sacrificing him and effectively fighting the entire season with only one arrow.

Mercedes had a major step forward, though without managing to establish themselves fully. The technical regulation changes could bring them back to the level of a few years ago, fighting at the top. Russell had a very good season, though less sharp at certain points. Antonelli, in his rookie year, secured two podiums and many points. The driver from Bologna will now have to work hard to confirm himself and be a contender next year as well. Overall grade for the Brackley team: 9.

Ferrari finish fourth in the Constructors’ Championship. Hamilton disastrous, with three Q1 eliminations in the last three races of the year. The winter and the regulation change must be the turning point for the Maranello team. They must now work to provide their two drivers with a car capable of competing. The team is barely sufficient, thanks only to Leclerc, who saves what little there is to save. Grade: 6.

Williams 7. The British team had a very strange season. In the first half they were extremely competitive, with Albon as the lead driver, always fighting at the front, unlike Sainz. After the summer break, the situation flipped: the Spaniard scored two podiums, while Albon became increasingly anonymous. If next year’s growth continues steadily, the team may achieve several satisfying results.

Racing Bull 8. The Faenza team started strong, with both drivers consistently in the top ten. Hadjar even achieved a podium at Zandvoort. The driver swap between the Japanese and the New Zealander did not produce the desired results and cost the team some points. Looking ahead to 2026, the driver lineup does not inspire confidence. Lawson, in my view, is not at the level of the 22 drivers on the grid and is paired with rookie Lindblad.

Sauber 8. Starting as backmarkers last season, the team grew significantly, scoring many points and achieving Hulkenberg’s first career podium. Bortoleto had a very positive season, though he declined slightly in the final races.

Aston Martin 6. Stroll’s team was very inconsistent throughout the entire season. Alonso had to fight with all his strength to try to bring home important points. Stroll was lost, absolutely insufficient. It will be interesting to see what kind of car the drivers will have next year, given the very high expectations.

Haas 8. Bearman delivered an impressive season, helped also by the improvements of the car. As a rookie, the British driver beat his teammate despite the latter having several years of F1 experience. I did not expect these results, partly because I was unsure of the driver’s true value, given that he had not won much in his career, and partly because of the team he was driving for.

Finally, Alpine 4. The French team was disastrous throughout the season. The only one salvageable was Gasly, capable of extracting the maximum from the car whenever possible. Flavio Briatore does not know where to start and once again shows that he does not understand much about drivers, as demonstrated by the choice made between Colapinto and Doohan. Expectations for next year are extremely low, despite having a Mercedes engine. In my opinion, a manufacturer like Alpine relying on another team for engines makes no sense and is completely out of place. If next year also ends in technical failure, it will not be well regarded by the French press, already displeased with the switch to Mercedes power units.

Author: Gabriele Bovio