The Drift

While the Constructors' title is a foregone conclusion, the Drivers' Championship has been unexpectedly blown wide open. In just two races, Verstappen has slashed his deficit to championship leader Piastri from 104 points to a much more manageable 69. This dramatic turnaround has forced the paddock to re-evaluate what seemed impossible. Commentary from BBC Sport and Sky Sports F1 has shifted from discussing the Piastri-Norris duel to seriously debating whether Verstappen is a legitimate title contender. While the paddock is abuzz, some analysts, like former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer, remain skeptical, pointing out that Red Bull's recent dominance came on low-downforce circuits. Singapore's high-downforce nature is seen as the "true test" of the RB21's all-around capability. The man himself remains characteristically pragmatic. "Seven races to go and it's still 69 points, it's a lot," Verstappen told Sky Sports F1 after his Baku triumph, adding in the official press conference, "I don't rely on hope". Yet, his rivals are taking the threat seriously. McLaren's Stella warned that Red Bull is now "a very serious contender," while Mercedes boss Toto Wolff cautioned, "Max Verstappen you always need to be wary of what he can achieve, especially if he's seeing that it's actually back on the cards".

As Formula 1 hits its 2025 summer break, McLaren leads with brutal efficiency—but beneath the surface, chaos brews. Hamilton’s Ferrari dream is cracking, Verstappen is holding Red Bull together with duct tape and ego, and Alpine is plunging toward historic failure. This is the moment where contenders dig in—or implode.

As F1 heads to the tight and technical Hungaroring, teams arrive on the back of a wild Belgian GP filled with rain-soaked drama and shifting momentum. McLaren looks to extend its form on a track favoring high downforce setups, while Red Bull scrambles for consistency and Ferrari sharpens its upgrades. With silly season rumors swirling and Spa’s fallout still echoing, Hungary becomes a litmus test before the summer break—and there’s no margin for error.

Ferrari’s 2025 season is unraveling not because of pace, but because of identity. While Lewis Hamilton is actively reshaping the team’s future—injecting his input into the 2026 car and publicly backing team principal Fred Vasseur—Ferrari’s leadership continues to entertain distractions, including rumors of Christian Horner joining the team. Such a move would undermine the fragile, functional alliance currently in place. Add in sponsor-driven livery missteps and strategic blunders, and it’s clear: Ferrari’s path forward depends not on dramatic shakeups, but on finally choosing stability, listening to its drivers, and building a racing-first culture.