Our writers share their predictions

Three rounds stay within the 2025 Formulation 1 world championship, which can determine who turns into the drivers’ world champion, plus a number of different key honours.

This weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix kicks off a triple-header finale, adopted by the Qatar GP (plus a dash race) after which the season nearer in Abu Dhabi. With a lot to play for, and little doubt some surprises nonetheless in retailer, right here’s what our writers predict from the ultimate rounds of the season.

Who will win the F1 drivers’ world title? 

Ed Hardy: Lando Norris is doing all the pieces an individual would need from a title challenger. The McLaren driver has simply discovered that additional step in latest races, whereas Oscar Piastri has gone the opposite manner. Even when the Briton was to retire in Vegas, it’s uncertain that his team-mate would take full benefit given his present guise. 

Owen Bellwood: If Norris can overcome a run of unhealthy outcomes to rework his championship, why can’t Piastri? The Australian had a torrid time just lately, and can little doubt have spent the previous weeks away from the monitor engaged on his mindset to return again all weapons blazing. Ought to he handle this, he has the abilities to overturn the 24-point poor he faces to his team-mate.  

Ronald Vording: Norris has already taken two of the three key steps after his engine failure in Zandvoort. Mentally, he seems stronger than earlier than, with Q3 in Brazil because the clearest instance. The Briton didn’t have a banker lap on the board, and whereas that as a rule went incorrect prior to now, he now secured pole. Secondly, he feels much more comfy with the entrance of the automobile in comparison with earlier this yr, which interprets into extra constant performances. The third remaining variable: is he calm sufficient to complete it off? It is the most important problem of his F1 profession to this point, however together with his present kind, he ought to be capable of get the job achieved.

Ben Vinel: All of it factors to Norris. He’s 24 factors forward, he’s bought the momentum, and he appears extra assured than ever. Norris has outscored McLaren team-mate Piastri by 58 factors over the most recent six rounds, and Max Verstappen now appears to be too far to mount a reputable problem, except one thing surprising occurs.

One daring prediction for the triple-header 

EH: Yuki Tsunoda to face on the rostrum – although, I admit, it’s extra of a hope than a prediction. The 25-year-old is only a significantly better driver than his quick Purple Bull tenure has proven and it’s unhappy to see, as a result of till then he was a really stable F1 racer on the sister squad. It’d be good for him to lastly declare a podium earlier than he doubtless leaves on the finish of 2025, giving Japanese followers one thing to have fun earlier than their subsequent driver comes alongside.

OB: Lewis Hamilton will make the rostrum for Ferrari in one of many remaining three races – my cash is on Las Vegas, however any of the remaining races will do. This could be wishful pondering, however the Brit has historical past in Sin Metropolis, and final yr Ferrari took a robust third- and fourth-place end – so it’s not past the realms of risk.  

RV: Andrea Kimi Antonelli to take his maiden F1 win. Granted: this may occasionally realistically be a prediction that must be pushed to 2026, however why not be somewhat daring? If Mercedes – similar to final yr – is the benchmark within the comparatively cool Las Vegas circumstances, then Antonelli can’t be dominated out. Sure, George Russell continues to be the favorite given his expertise, however Antonelli has undoubtedly proven flashes of his immense expertise. At Interlagos he additionally demonstrated notable maturity, each by staying off the moist kerbs in the course of the dash and by holding off the charging Verstappen on Sunday. So is the younger Italian prepared for the massive one?

BV: In all honesty, I don’t consider a lot out of the peculiar will occur throughout these final three races, so I’ll go together with Piastri failing to succeed in the rostrum in all three Sunday races. This might be stunning from this yr’s seven-time grand prix winner, however Piastri hasn’t appeared too convincing of late, and I consider this prediction is… not unlikely.

Who will end second within the F1 constructors’ world championship?

EH: It’s laborious to see Mercedes throwing away its 32-point benefit over Purple Bull within the remaining races. Though Verstappen has each likelihood to win once more this yr, the Austrian outfit simply isn’t getting something from the second automobile whereas Mercedes has each drivers scoring. Undecided fourth-placed Ferrari is even value speaking about fairly frankly. 

OB: Purple Bull is flying with Verstappen, however with a view to catch and move Mercedes it is going to take a gargantuan effort from the Dutchman and a dramatic flip in fortunes for team-mate Tsunoda. I don’t see that occuring, so I feel second-place is all however safe for Mercedes at this level within the season.  

Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Photograph by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures by way of Getty Pictures

RV: Mercedes. Red Bull Racing – or Max Verstappen Racing, as Russell jokingly put it – has made main progress since Monza, however Mercedes’ present buffer ought to be sufficient. Much more so as a result of Las Vegas affords one other monitor, or at the very least climate circumstances, that ought to go well with them. If Russell and Antonelli keep away from foolish errors, it ought to be sufficient. Verstappen is scoring the factors nearly single-handedly at Purple Bull, whereas Mercedes – if Antonelli continues his present trajectory – has two drivers able to scoring. Ferrari has stopped creating its 2025 automobile sooner than each Mercedes and Purple Bull, making second place unlikely.

BV: One other not-particularly-bold take, however I’ll choose Mercedes. They now have a snug buffer on Purple Bull and Ferrari, and Antonelli’s kind has been ramping up. Including the truth that they’re anticipated to carry out strongly in Las Vegas, they need to be capable of see this by means of – however no shock may be dominated out.

Who will end sixth within the F1 constructors’ world championship? 

EH: Haas. It has a 12-point deficit to sixth-placed Racing Bulls, which is rather a lot with so few races left, however the American squad is on an upward trajectory. It has scored factors within the final 4 grands prix and is able to persevering with that run with two robust drivers – it doesn’t take a lot for the scenario to flip.

OB: My head says sixth place is secure with the robust pairing of Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar, however latest outcomes say that this may not be fairly so positive. Haas is popping issues round, and Oliver Bearman is properly on his technique to difficult Hadjar for the crown of most spectacular rookie this yr. So, fingers crossed, this transformation in fortunes for the American outfit is sufficient to make up the 12 factors it’s at the moment missing.  

RV: The battle for sixth within the constructors’ championship might really go in any course. Yet one more standout end result from Hadjar or Lawson would doubtless put Racing Bulls in a secure place, and given the seasons these drivers (particularly Hadjar) have had, that can not be dominated out. Nonetheless, I would put my cash on Haas. With the Austin improve, the American crew has made a big step, whereas most rivals had lengthy shifted their focus to 2026. The bundle works as anticipated and is proving to be a strong weapon – notably within the arms of Bearman – making a 12-point hole removed from not possible to overturn.

BV: That’s the trickiest one. There have been so many swings in efficiency as this battle unfolded that no person can inform what’s going to occur. Everybody right here has guess on Haas, so I’ll diverge and predict Racing Bulls will cling on. Momentum could also be with Haas with its latest improve, however Racing Bulls has had higher kind general this yr and Lawson has picked himself up after his demotion from Purple Bull. Nonetheless, will probably be a decent one, and you may’t rule out Aston Martin if Fernando Alonso places in a few outstanding drives.

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– The Motorsport.com Group