Max Verstappen’s win in Qatar kept the 2025 F1 title fight alive and turned a strong McLaren weekend into a missed opportunity. Several drivers and teams left Lusail with momentum, while others lost points and confidence at a critical stage of the season.
Ferrari endured another punishing weekend in Qatar, with Lewis Hamilton eliminated in Q1 again and Charles Leclerc labelling the SF 25’s pace as “zero performance” after a difficult sprint and qualifying session.
Lewis Hamilton endured the worst qualifying session of his career in Las Vegas, finishing last in Q1 after misreading the timing line signals and losing his final lap. A bollard strike and yellow flags added to the chaos, ending a day that had begun with optimism after a strong FP3.
Ferrari chairman John Elkann has publicly criticised Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, urging them to speak less and focus more after the team slipped to fourth in the constructors’ standings.
Lewis Hamilton received a reprimand for failing to reduce speed under double yellow flags during sprint qualifying in Sao Paulo. The FIA ruled that while he did not slow sufficiently, the short reaction window justified avoiding a grid penalty.
Lando Norris edged Andrea Kimi Antonelli by under a tenth to take sprint pole at Interlagos, while Yuki Tsunoda’s disrupted preparation led to an SQ1 exit. Ferrari struggled, Aston Martin impressed, and a tight midfield battle defined the session.
The FIA defended its decision to deploy a late Virtual Safety Car in the Mexican Grand Prix, which froze battles between Verstappen and Piastri in the closing laps. While Lando Norris cruised to victory, the timing of the call has reignited debate about race control’s impact on the 2025 title fight.
Lando Norris delivered a masterclass in control at the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix, leading from start to finish to claim victory and the championship lead. McLaren’s flawless strategy and Norris’s precision left Ferrari and Red Bull battling for scraps in a race that saw Yuki Tsunoda lose out after a slow pit stop.












