McLaren

McLaren has clearly been the standout team of the season. The MCL39 works on every circuit, whether it is slow and twisty, fast and flowing, wet or dry. The key strength is how well it manages its rear tyres, which means the car always has strong race pace. Strategic calls at the track have been sharp, and the development programme back at the factory has been handled with precision. Nothing is added to the car until it is fully understood, and once the upgrades are fitted, they stay. This stability has allowed McLaren to move forward without looking back.

The team is already 299 points ahead of its nearest rival, which means even if it failed to score in several races, the constructors’ title would still be safe. Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are both scoring heavily, and together they form the most balanced line-up on the grid. There has been no need for team orders because both championships are comfortably in McLaren’s control, and whichever driver stays the cleaner will likely emerge as world champion.

Ferrari

Ferrari sits second in the championship, though the team does't actually have the second-fastest car. This is mainly thanks to consistent points scoring by Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Neither driver has had a perfect season, but by avoiding major mistakes and always bringing the car home, Ferrari has taken advantage of the problems suffered by Mercedes and Red Bull.

The car has shown stronger form in races than in qualifying, but the lack of progress from upgrades has been frustrating. Leclerc remains spectacular over one lap, while Hamilton has had highs and lows, such as the China sprint victory followed by a poor Sunday. Ferrari’s driver pairing is the most expensive on the grid, but it has not yet delivered the magic combination the team hoped for.

Mercedes

Mercedes is third in the constructors’ championship, which shows the car is doing about as well as it can. The results have been a bit unpredictable, though. One weekend they are strong, like in Montreal, and the next they struggle, like in Austria.

The team isn’t as confident as McLaren when it comes to developing the car. Simulations and data are useful, but sometimes the team needs to trust its instincts more. Team principal Toto Wolff has said the car struggles in hot conditions, on rough tracks, and through long corners. Knowing the problems is one thing, but fixing them consistently is another.

George Russell has carried most of the workload this season and but his contract extension still hasn't been announced, which combined with Max Verstappen spending time with Toto Wolff during the summer break, simply doesn't look good, Kimi Antonelli, even though he is less experienced, will need to step up in the second half of the season. Across all the European races, he has only scored one pointin Hungary. Although he has shown flashes of speed, he has also made more mistakes than the team would like, which definitely needs to change.

Red Bull

Red Bull is fourth in the standings despite still being the second-fastest car at times. The team has suffered its weakest season since 2020. Four pole positions and two wins have come only thanks to Max Verstappen’s brilliance, not the car itself. The RB21 is unstable and difficult to drive, and Verstappen’s exceptional performances have papered over these problems.

The second seat has been a major weakness. Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson are competent drivers, but they have not been able to handle the pressure of racing alongside Verstappen in a tricky car. Red Bull has therefore become a one-car team, and that is not enough to challenge McLaren. The removal of Christian Horner as team principal has shaken the team, though it may also serve as the wake-up call it needed. Technical director Pierre Wache has continued to tweak the car in search of consistency, but the balance problems persist. Until Red Bull produces a car that works for both drivers, it will remain reliant on Verstappen alone.

Williams

Williams is best of the rest in fifth place, though it is far behind the top four. Alex Albon began the season strongly but has since been held back by reliability problems, particularly mysterious cooling issues. On its day the car can qualify in the top ten and score solid points, but at other times it struggles badly, even falling out in Q1.

The team has often said the car does not suit certain circuits, especially those with long corners, but in Formula 1 every race counts. To be a true contender, the car must work everywhere, not just on selected tracks. Carlos Sainz has not yet shown the form that made him a race winner with Ferrari, while Albon continues to deliver consistent speed. Williams insists it is still in a rebuilding phase, but with the 2026 rule change coming, it must soon decide how much to commit to this project and when to switch focus.

Kick Sauber

Sauber is sixth in the standings thanks largely to Nico Hulkenberg’s outstanding podium at Silverstone. Without that result the team would be much lower, as the car still lacks consistency and outright pace. However, the direction under technical director James Key and team principal Jonathan Wheatley is encouraging. Upgrades made to the C45 before the summer break have not only added downforce but, more importantly, made the car’s performance more predictable. A stable car builds driver confidence, which is vital.

Hulkenberg has been an excellent leader, scoring crucial points and showing his experience. Gabriel Bortoleto has had poor luck but has shown speed, and with Fernando Alonso as his manager he has valuable guidance. Sauber still has a long way to go before it can fight regularly in Q3, but the Audi takeover is looming, and expectations will only grow from here.

Racing Bulls

Racing Bulls has been one of the most consistent surprises. Unlike Red Bull, it has a car that is stable and inspires confidence, even if it does not have the highest downforce levels. This makes it easier for the drivers to extract the maximum from it.

Isack Hadjar has been the star rookie of 2025, impressing with his speed and maturity. Liam Lawson has struggled at times, especially early on, but he showed signs of recovery with a strong drives in Austria, Belgium and Hungary. The driver swaps between Tsunoda, Lawson and Hadjar could have disrupted the team, but Racing Bulls has managed to stay focused. With Laurent Mekies moving to Red Bull, Alan Permane has stepped in to lead, bringing plenty of experience, which should help the team in the second half of the season.

Aston Martin

Aston Martin sits eighth in the standings. The results have been poor considering the scale of investment. The team has at least begun to understand its problems, and recent upgrades have started to improve the car rather than making it worse. The arrival of Adrian Newey has changed the atmosphere, and while egos may have been bruised, the technical direction is now clearer.

The team faces a huge task in designing a new car, building its own gearbox for the first time since 2008, and integrating with Honda ahead of 2026. Fernando Alonso has continued to show flashes of brilliance, while Lance Stroll has been steady but not spectacular. In a competitive car Alonso could still challenge the younger generation, but his career may not extend beyond 2026.

Haas

Haas is ninth, which is about right for its car. The season began poorly with porpoising problems, but a new floor solved much of that and the team has improved since. Still, both drivers have thrown away points with mistakes at key moments.

Ollie Bearman has speed but has been guilty of unnecessary errors, such as his costly mistake at Silverstone. Esteban Ocon has experience but still lets his emotions get the better of him. For Haas, clean finishes are the only way to capitalise when other teams falter, but too often the opportunities have been lost. The team operates across several locations, including Italy, the USA and the UK, which makes coordination difficult. With 2026 coming, managing that complexity will be an even greater challenge.

Alpine

Alpine is last in the championship and its problems are deep-rooted. Constant changes in management and drivers have created chaos and instability. The car lacks grip, struggles over bumps, and is only competitive at a handful of circuits. Testing in Bahrain gave false hope, as that was one of the few tracks where the car performed well.

Pierre Gasly has driven hard and occasionally mixed with the top teams, but he cannot carry the team alone. Jack Doohan showed flashes of pace but was dropped after six races for Franco Colapinto, who has not made an impact either. These decisions reflect the lack of stability at Renault, and the constant reshuffling has only made matters worse. The team’s potential remains wasted until it can establish a clear direction and stick to it.