F1 Mid-Season Review - Which Drivers Have Stood Out?

We're just over halfway through the 2025 F1 season. As the drivers and teams take a break from the racetracks, I thought I would take the chance to do a mid-season review. My latest podcast episode runs through how all the teams have done, but I'm going to be taking a closer look at the drivers in this. In particular, the ones who have really stood out to me in the first half of the season.

Oscar Piastri

There was no way Oscar Piastri could have been kept off this list. In his third season in F1, Piastri is leading the World Championship ahead of his more experienced teammate, Lando Norris. He's tackled the first half of the season with his signature calm demeanour, and so far, it has paid off for him. Even when he hasn't won, Piastri has maximised his weekends as much as possible and is the only driver on the grid to score points on every race weekend.

There haven't been many mistakes during Piastri's season so far. There are two moments that really come to mind. The spin he had during the Australian Grand Prix in wet weather conditions where he still finished in P9. And the other is his penalty for erratic braking during the British Grand Prix, which saw him take a penalty. But even those mistakes haven't stopped him from leading the championship with 284 points.

Average statistics:

Qualifying	Race	Sprint Qualifying	Sprint
2.1	2.4	2.0	2.0

Lando Norris

It would be impossible to mention Piastri amongst the star drivers without mentioning his teammate, Lando Norris. Norris is currently trailing Piastri by just 8 points in the championship, even leading it at the start of the season. One thing is certain, Norris has risen to the challenges that have been put in front of him. In the moments where the media has sometimes been too harsh on him and the mistakes he has made, Norris has made sure to come back the following weekend fighting.

And the mistakes have come. The biggest one at the Canadian Grand Prix which hadn't been the best track for the McLaren car. As the team let the two drivers race against each other, Norris took one risk too many and caused a collision that ended his race. His one and only DNF of the season so far. But, in a way which has been the norm for Norris, he took the blame for the incident, apologising to his engineer straight away and finding Piastri in the media pen to apolgise to him. Norris has also risen to big occasions though, having won his home race. The first time he has been on the top step of the podium of the British Grand Prix. One of the most memorable wins for both himself and his fans. Even though it's his teammate that's currently leading the championship, Norris is not making it easy for him and will continue his attack during the second half of the season.

Average statistics:

Qualifying	Race	Sprint Qualifying	Sprint
3.3	1.9	4.0	4.0

Isack Hadjar

A rookie that had gone slightly under the radar for me when he was announced to be joining Formula One, I wasn't expecting Isack Hadjar to do a bad job but what he has done has impressed everyone watching. The beginning of his career was a nightmare, with Hadjar not even able to start the Australian Grand Prix. He bounced back at the next race, finishing not far from the points.

Hadjar has done a great job of blocking the movement of the seat next to him. Whilst Visa Cash App RB had to switch Yuki Tsunoda with Liam Lawson early in the season, Hadjar continued to focus on his own performance. With 22 points, he's the second highest scoring Red Bull associated driver. If you need anymore proof that Hadjar's career has gone off with a bang, then you only need to listen to the rumours that Red Bull want him to pair up with Max Verstappen next year. For all the accolades he's getting though, Hadjar isn't letting it get to his head. He's focused on what he can do this season and making sure he gets the most out of the car.

Average statistics:

Qualifying	Race	Sprint Qualifying	Sprint
9.9	11.2	11.0	10.3

Alex Albon

There were questions surrounding Alex Albon as we headed into the start of this season. Whilst at Williams, Albon hasn't really had a challenge when it's come to his teammates. In every head-to-head, he has come out on top. With Carlos Sainz having joined the team this year, people wanted to know how Albon would measure up against an experienced driver who had race wins behind him.

Albon has answered those questions quickly and is the top scoring Williams driver currently. With 52 points, Albon has helped his team to 5th place in the championship and has managed two top five finishes in the process. It hasn't been the most straightforward season for Williams, who had a strong start but have been struggling to find their feet. Through it all though, Albon has kept pushing to give the best performances possible, and it has been paying off.

Average statistics:

Qualifying	Race	Sprint Qualifying	Sprint
10.5	8.2	11.0	12.7

Gabriel Bortoleto

When Gabriel Bortoleto was announced for the Sauber seat in 2024, I wasn't sure what was going to happen. The Brazilian driver had already proven that he was extremely talented, having won both F3 and F2 in his rookie year, like Piastri. Sauber has had large issues with their car over the last couple of years and I wasn't sure whether it would give Bortoleto the chance to really let his talent shine through.

A DNF in his first race was not the way he would have wanted the season to start but as the races have gone on, Bortoleto has quickly gotten used to the power of an F1 car and there have been multiple times this season where Bortoleto has managed to out-qualify his very experienced teammate, Nico Hulkenberg. He's also managed to finish ahead of him in five races so far. The signs are looking good for Bortoleto, and the hope is that Audi can give him a competitive car next year.

Average statistics:

Qualifying	Race	Sprint Qualifying	Sprint
14.4	13.6	14.3	14.0

_{*Average statistics do not include DNFs, DNSs or DSQs.}