Skip to content
The Drift
F1's Brave New World: 2025 Verdict & 2026 Preview
The 2025 season concluded as a historic landmark for McLaren, with Lando Norris securing his first World Drivers’ Championship by a razor-thin two-point margin over Max Verstappen after a 24-race war of attrition. While Red Bull suffered a developmental plateau, McLaren's technical consistency allowed Norris to clinch the title with a P3 finish in the desert, as Lewis Hamilton’s podium-less debut at Ferrari signaled a strategic shift toward the impending 2026 regulations. These new rules represent a total "nimble car" reset, slashing vehicle weight by 30kg and introducing active aerodynamics (X-mode and Z-mode) to replace DRS, all powered by a 50/50 hybrid split that triples electrical output. This technical revolution coincides with a political one: the grid expands to eleven teams with the arrival of Cadillac, who enter the fray using Ferrari power units and the veteran pairing of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez.
Night Fight in Singapore: McLaren's Coronation on Hold as Verstappen's Revival Faces Its Ultimate Test
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".
The History of F1: A Retrospective
Amid the exhilaration of team victories and the angst of driver rivalries, the rich history of Formula One (F1) racing is built on adrenaline, new technology, and the power of aerodynamics.
Let’s explore 75 years of F1, including its creation 75 years ago, several milestone achievements in the sport, and how the past is shaping the future of Formula 1 for years to come.
