Formula 1 is now at the halfway point of the 2025 season.
With two race weekends left, there are still 12 races to go before the summer break. The Belgian Grand Prix is set to kick off this week’s double-header, followed by a race in Hungary next week.
After that, the attention shifts to the drivers’ contract negotiations, often referred to as the “silly season.”
In the meantime, there are still two races on the calendar, and a lot of interesting narratives to follow. Here are some key storylines leading into the Belgian Grand Prix:
How will Oscar Piastri bounce back from Silverstone?
The Canadian Grand Prix witnessed an expected showdown between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The real question, though, was how Norris would respond after the incident. Their clash saw Norris lose his front wing but, interestingly, he managed to continue the race and actually fell further behind Piastri in the championship standings.
Norris answered critics in a big way by winning the following two races: the Austrian Grand Prix and the British Grand Prix. Now, however, after incurring a 10-second penalty while leading at Silverstone, all eyes are on Piastri. Norris’s win at home has him closing in, now just 8 points behind Piastri.
Several Formula 1 legends have weighed in on the ongoing season. Jacques Villeneuve mentioned that Piastri’s penalty at Silverstone has led to a noticeable shift in attitude. “When you’re fighting for the championship, your mindset changes,” Villeneuve observed. He added, “I’ve seen all that Norris has to offer, but I’m curious to know how Piastri will react under pressure.”
This weekend should provide some answers.
Can Sauber move up the midfield rankings?
An interesting storyline is whether Norris and Piastri will both land on the podium in Belgium. Nico Hülkenberg finished third at the British Grand Prix, marking his first-ever top-three finish in 239 races.
Hülkenberg’s performance helped elevate his team in the constructors’ standings, landing them at sixth. The question remains: how far can they now climb?
He thinks they may now be “serious” contenders in the midfield.
“We’ve definitely made significant improvements since Barcelona,” Hülkenberg stated after the race. “We’re here to compete, and we strive to do better every weekend.”
Hülkenberg highlighted a recent equipment upgrade that improved performance, noting how the team has been successful in scoring points consistently since their enhancements. His recent races saw him finish fifth in Barcelona, and eighth in Canada, before scoring points again with a ninth-place finish in Austria.
Then there’s the impressive podium finish that followed. Hülkenberg and chief technical officer Mattia Binotto attributed the recent boost in performance to the new upgrades. “The car felt more responsive throughout the weekend,” Hülkenberg noted, giving credit to everyone involved in the upgrades.
The lingering question is how much higher Sauber can rise in the midfield based on this performance boost.
What about Ferrari’s upgrades?
Speaking of Binotto, his former team is also relying on upgrades to boost performance.
Ferrari introduced upgrades at the Austrian Grand Prix, modifying several components of the floor. This led to impressive P3 and P4 finishes, including Hamilton’s consecutive P4 at Silverstone.
There are reports about another major upgrade in the pipeline, with many predictions about the impact it could have. Some expect a significant suspension upgrade will roll out for the Belgian Grand Prix.
Ferrari has previously had to adjust their ride height to address problems, having found that their SF-25 was losing weight and Hamilton was struggling with excessive plank wear. The aim is to make the car more responsive to ride height, an essential aspect moving forward.
If they can couple this new suspension with the recent floor upgrades, there’s a chance Ferrari could close the gap with McLaren starting this weekend.
Red Bull’s uncertain future
Red Bull’s journey in Formula 1 began at the 2005 Australian Grand Prix, with the team since then racking up an impressive eight driver championships, six constructors’ titles, and numerous wins.
This week, they find themselves facing new challenges as they welcome a new team principal.
Christian Horner’s departure sees Laurent Mekie stepping up as the head of the team. However, the focus isn’t solely on that. There are pressing questions about Yuki Tsunoda’s performance—having scored only seven points in ten races—and whether the team can unlock better performance from their RB21 during a season filled with inconsistency.
And then, there’s the looming question regarding Max Verstappen’s future—specifically, if his next move could potentially be a switch to Mercedes next season.
It’s a critical time for Red Bull as pivotal weeks lie ahead, starting with the Belgian Grand Prix.
F1 Sprint Weekend Details
The Belgian Grand Prix will see the return of the F1 sprint race format.
Teams will only have an hour of practice time on Friday before the qualifying session for the sprint race on Saturday. After 19 laps, focus will then shift to setting the grid for the main Grand Prix.
This tight timeline means teams must be ready quickly, with limited practice before their laps start counting.
The final F1 sprint of the previous season was at the Miami Grand Prix, where Kimmi Antoneli achieved his first pole position, and Lando Norris won the sprint. Last season’s SPA saw Max Verstappen win both the sprint and the main race.
The future of the Belgian Grand Prix
At the start of the year, F1 announced an extension for the Belgian Grand Prix contract.
However, the race won’t be part of the lineup every season. It is scheduled for 2026 and 2027 but will take a break before making a comeback in 2029, followed by another year off before returning in 2031.
This move seems to be part of a broader strategy to rotate races within the European calendar. F1 President Stefano Domenicali has hinted at these changes, mentioning potential new venues and options during a call with investors.
“We’ll definitely share more details soon regarding what we’re considering,” Domenicali noted. “There’s a lot of demand for fresh venues, and our decisions will be balanced with the financial benefits they might bring to the sport.”
