Drivers Who Overcame Early Deficits in the Championship
Several Formula 1 drivers have proven that trailing in the championship standings doesn’t necessarily mean losing the title. Kimi Räikkönen, Sebastian Vettel, and Lewis Hamilton are among those who have overcome significant point deficits after 13 rounds to eventually claim the world title. These examples show that the race is far from over until the final checkered flag.
Lando Norris, currently 16 points behind his teammate Oscar Piastri, knows this well. Despite a challenging season where he has occasionally underperformed, Norris remains optimistic about making a comeback. His performance in the previous races, especially after a difficult start in Montreal, demonstrates his ability to bounce back. He managed to win the next two races in Austria and Britain, cutting the gap with Piastri to just eight points. This resilience could serve as motivation for him heading into the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Even though Norris finished second to Piastri at Spa, it wasn’t the end of the road. The Australian driver still has a chance to take the lead in the championship, and there’s no reason why he can’t do so in Hungary. A win last year would have been possible had McLaren made different decisions. Now, Norris must focus on turning things around and proving his capabilities once again.
Mercedes’ Struggles and the “Big Meeting”
Mercedes has experienced a mixed season so far, with George Russell securing four podiums in the first six races but only one in the following seven. Russell recently held what he called a “big meeting” with the engineering team to address the decline in performance. This situation raises questions about whether Russell is the right fit for F1’s current corporate landscape. His journey to a race seat involved a PowerPoint presentation, and now he hopes to help turn the team’s fortunes around through strategic discussions.
The challenges faced by Mercedes are not new. Last year, the team struggled with a mid-tier car that deteriorated after the summer break due to failed upgrades. They even reverted to an older floor specification in Baku. This time, the issue might be linked to the new rear suspension introduced at Imola or the response to the front-wing deflection tests starting in Spain. Russell noted that since the introduction of the new front wing in Barcelona, the team has taken a step backward, suggesting a potential need to revisit earlier setups.
Reverting to a previous specification would indicate that Mercedes’ aerodynamic research tools are not yet fully optimized. This issue needs to be addressed, even if Russell accidentally leaves himself on mute during the meeting.
Mid-Season Upgrades and the 2026 Rules
As F1 prepares for its summer break, teams are rolling out mid-season updates before the Zandvoort race. However, this year is different because the focus is shifting toward the revolutionary 2026 rules. With limited time and resources, teams are racing to introduce new parts before the break.
McLaren’s new low-downforce wing may not be beneficial this weekend, but the team is still considered a strong contender. Ferrari’s suspension update hasn’t significantly closed the gap, while Mercedes continues to struggle. Red Bull, on the other hand, has introduced new aerodynamic parts, showing that they haven’t given up on a 2025 recovery. Meanwhile, Aston Martin and Racing Bulls have brought new components that could add excitement to the midfield, where four teams are separated by just eight points.
If these upgrades bring improvements, teams might see a turnaround in their performance. However, if they fail, some teams may lose hope of achieving strong results in 2025.
Verstappen’s Future with Red Bull
Max Verstappen is expected to remain with Red Bull for 2026, both contractually and verbally. He will likely stay in the top three of the drivers’ championship by the summer break, fulfilling a contract clause. Meanwhile, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff aims to retain both George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Although nothing is certain in the F1 off-season, all signs point to Verstappen continuing with Red Bull. He will gain firsthand experience with the team’s Ford-backed powertrains and assess how the competition stacks up as the driver market opens wider. This gives him potential options at every team except McLaren.
While Red Bull has secured Verstappen for the short term, the challenge now is convincing him to stay long-term. The Hungarian GP onwards will be crucial in determining whether he remains committed to the team. Action and words must align if the team wants to avoid losing him again.