F1 news: Winners and losers from the 2025 Formula 1 season as Lando Norris is crowned champion

Lando Norris came out on top at the end of the 2025 Formula 1 season, winning both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships with McLaren to end the four-year reign of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

Here, Sports News Blitz writer Eloise Stevens breaks down the winners and losers from a campaign that saw the crowning of a new world champion.

Winner – Lando Norris

Norris finally fulfilled a lifelong dream by claiming his maiden Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship, becoming the sport’s 35th world champion.

After a slow start to the season, the Briton gathered momentum in the second half of the year, delivering a remarkably consistent run of performances to overhaul team-mate and main rival Oscar Piastri at the top of the standings.

Ultimately, he had to wait until the final race to secure the title, where he withstood immense pressure to silence the critics and cement his status as Formula 1’s new number one.

Loser – Oscar Piastri

Up until Monza, Piastri appeared destined for his first championship, delivering a near-flawless campaign and building a commanding 34-point lead in the standings.

However, as the pressure intensified, particularly from team-mate Norris, the magnitude of the moment seemed to take its toll.

Costly errors followed, most notably a DNF at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and a dramatic clash with Norris in Austin that eliminated both McLarens – mistakes that ultimately derailed his title challenge.

Despite the disappointment, Piastri is only in his third season in Formula 1 and can take pride in the remarkable progress he has made in such a short space of time.

Few will doubt that he is destined to return to the top of the championship.

Winner – McLaren 

McLaren have gone from strength to strength since reclaiming the Constructors’ Championship for the first time in 26 years last season, amassing an impressive 833 points and outscoring second-placed Mercedes by a staggering 364-point margin.

The season was not without its challenges, however.

McLaren’s commitment to treating their drivers as equals, coupled with a handful of questionable strategic calls, allowed the Drivers’ Championship battle to stretch all the way to the final round.

Despite the tension, McLaren delivered when it mattered most and can now savour the reality that having two highly successful drivers is a rather nice problem to have.

Loser – Ferrari

The 2025 season proved to be largely forgettable for Ferrari.

Their star signing, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, endured one of the most difficult campaigns of his Formula 1 career, never quite appearing comfortable in a car that consistently failed to suit his driving style.

The team’s struggles were compounded by a significant drop-off in performance, slipping to fourth in the Constructors’ Championship after narrowly missing out on the title last year.

Ferrari, however, have pointed to the extensive resources and development time invested in preparing for next season’s new regulations, offering hope that brighter days lie ahead for the Scuderia.

READ MORE: F1 news: What’s next for Lewis Hamilton after a difficult first season at Ferrari?

Winner – Williams

Williams have shown clear signs of resurgence, finishing fifth in the constructors’ battle for the first time since 2016.

Their haul of 137 points was largely driven by new signing Carlos Sainz, who delivered two podium finishes for the team – a feat his successor at Ferrari was unable to replicate.

Alex Albon also played a crucial role, contributing a significant portion of the team’s points early in the season while Sainz was still settling into his new surroundings.

While Williams can savour their recent progress, though, there remains considerable work to be done before the team can truly return to winning ways.

Loser – Alpine

Alpine never really managed to climb up from the bottom of the standings, scoring only 22 points over the course of the season, all of which came courtesy of Pierre Gasly – with Franco Colapinto failing to score any points after replacing Jack Doohan.

Team principal Flavio Briatore promised a return to championship-winning form, but those ambitions appear a long way from being achieved.

Indeed, Alpine managed just five top-five finishes across the 24-race calendar, underlining the scale of the challenge still facing the team.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: F1 news: Motorsport advisor Helmut Marko to leave Red Bull ahead of 2026 Formula 1 season

Winner – Nico Hülkenberg

After competing in Formula 1 since 2010, Nico Hülkenberg finally secured the first podium of his career, finishing third at the British Grand Prix on his 239th attempt.

The result marked Sauber’s first podium finish in over a decade and served as a fitting send-off ahead of the team’s transition to Audi ownership for the 2026 season.

With regulation changes and a new era on the horizon, Hülkenberg will hope that his long-awaited first podium won’t be the last.

Loser – Red Bull

Red Bull endured what was arguably their most difficult Formula 1 season in recent years, finishing third in the Constructors’ Championship for the second consecutive year and seeing Max Verstappen fall short in his bid for a fifth drivers’ title, despite mounting a remarkable late comeback.

Their resurgence in the second half of the season, which dragged Verstappen back into championship contention, demonstrated that Red Bull remain a formidable force at the front of the grid.

However, continued underperformance from the team’s second seat once again exposed a key weakness that still needs addressing.

With the departures of Adrian Newey, Christian Horner, and Helmut Marko, Red Bull now stand on the brink of a new era in Formula 1 – one which could make or break the team.

MORE FROM ELOISE STEVENS: F1 news: Winners and losers from the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as Lando Norris secures world title