F1's summer break has concluded. Who will dominate the second half?

      Jayce Illman

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      Welcome back! It's time for class again. While younger Formula 1 fans are keen to see what their favorite drivers have been up to during the summer break—eager for influencer-style photos of yacht trips and private jet escapades—the real focus should be on how the rankings will evolve in the second half of the 2025 season.

      Before diving into that, let's quickly recap the last few races before the summer hiatus. Three words: The McLaren Show, thanks to Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri (or perhaps that should be ten?). The Woking team has captured victory in the last four races—Norris in Austria, Norris in Great Britain, Piastri in Belgium, and then Norris again in Hungary. The last non-McLaren win was back at the Canadian GP in June, which saw Mercedes' George Russell take the checkered flag.

      This year, only three drivers have won apart from McLaren: Russell in Montreal, and Max Verstappen in Japan and Emilia Romagna. Will we see a new name emerge at Zandvoort this weekend?

      The likely answer is no. In terms of performance, McLaren is operating on a completely different level than the competition, and unlike most teams that occasionally have fortunate breaks, they've truly learned how to capitalize on their advantages.

      Nevertheless, despite the mandatory summer break, several teams introduced minor updates at Zandvoort along with a dose of optimism. For instance, Red Bull has brought a modified front wing with extended chords, which is said to be tailored for the distinct Dutch circuit, according to Planet F1. Alpine has also installed a new rear end on their car featuring updated ducts and winglets for enhanced brake cooling and airflow management.

      Additionally, Sauber is debuting some new components, including a revised rear brake duct vane aimed at improving airflow through the diffuser and around the rear wheels. Speaking of Sauber, I recently spoke with team principal Jonathan Wheatley, who will take over as Audi F1's team boss next year. You can read the interview here.

      An unexpected indication that McLaren may continue to dominate is that, unlike many drivers currently, both Norris and Piastri have kept their cars on the track. Lewis Hamilton had two spins in FP1 but managed to avoid crashing into the wall, while Verstappen got stuck in the gravel outside Turn 1 after locking up. FP2 saw a similar trend, with two red flags—one due to Williams’ Alex Albon and another resulting from a serious crash involving Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll.

      With Norris and McLaren setting the pace in both practice sessions and Piastri also frequently finishing in second or third, it’s hard to envision a different outcome for the remainder of the season. While many fans may be looking forward to the end of Red Bull’s dominance, I can only hope for an exciting second half of the year, no matter which teams or drivers are involved.

      What are your thoughts?

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