Introduction: An evolving title fight
Halfway through the 2025 Formula 1 season the standings look very different to the same point last year. Real‑time points updates in our F1 watch companion app have kept fans on the edge of their seats as positions swap during every race. But looking at the championship tables in isolation can be misleading; the context of how the f1 points system works and how drivers are performing relative to 2024 is just as important.
This article dives into how the 2025 F1 drivers’ and constructors’ standings stack up against the 2024 tables after 14 races. We’ll explain the formula 1 points system for both standard and sprint race weekends, recap the 2024 mid‑season state of play, analyse who has improved or fallen back this year and highlight the emerging rookies. If you want a deeper dive into sprint scoring, shortened race rules or how fastest‑lap bonuses have evolved, check out our core explainers on sprint race points, standings in shortened races, fastest lap points history and the constructors’ points system.
How F1 awards points
At the heart of any standings comparison is the F1 points distribution, which rewards race‑long consistency over occasional brilliance. In a standard grand prix the top ten finishers score: 25 points for the winner, 18 for second, 15 for third, then 12‑10‑8‑6‑4‑2‑1 down to tenth. Sprint races use a scaled system — eight points for the sprint winner, then 7‑6‑5‑4‑3‑2‑1 down to eighth. Drivers must complete at least 75 % of the scheduled distance to receive full points; half points are awarded when less than 75 % but more than two laps are completed, and no points when fewer than two racing laps are run. Tie‑breakers for drivers level on points use countback: most wins, then most second places and so on.
The F1 qualifying explained article covers how grid positions are set, while our sprint guide details how Saturday races fit into the weekend. Understanding these nuances clarifies why some drivers accumulate large totals early and why fastest‑lap bonuses or sprint results can influence the table.
Recapping 2024 after 14 races
The 2024 season was dominated by Max Verstappen and Red Bull in the opening rounds, but by the summer break a closer picture had emerged. After the Hungarian Grand Prix – the 14th race – the drivers’ standings looked like this:
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Max Verstappen – 277 points and around eight grand prix wins, leading the f1 drivers championship by a commanding margin.
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Lando Norris – 199 points thanks to his maiden victory in Miami and consistent podiums. McLaren’s upgrades brought the Briton into title contention late in the spring.
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Charles Leclerc – 177 points and three wins for Ferrari, including an emotional victory at home in Monaco. Ferrari’s form fluctuated, but Leclerc remained within striking distance.
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Oscar Piastri – 167 points. The Australian rookie had two wins (Bahrain and Hungarian Grands Prix) and multiple podiums, but a retirement in Austria and contact in Miami left him trailing his team‑mate.
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Carlos Sainz – 162 points with wins in Australia and Britain. The Spaniard consistently outscored team‑mate Lewis Hamilton, who sat on 150 points with a win at the British Grand Prix.
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George Russell – 116 points. Mercedes were struggling for outright pace, yet Russell’s podiums kept them within reach of Ferrari for second in the f1 constructors championship.
Behind the top six the field spread out: Sergio Pérez had 98 points, Fernando Alonso 49 and Lance Stroll 24. Midfield teams like Alpine, Sauber and Haas collected occasional points but had little impact on the title fight. Overall the narrative was one of Red Bull’s f1 points system exploitation and minimal opposition – Verstappen led Norris by 78 points at the break and looked well on course for a fourth consecutive crown.
The 2025 picture after 14 races
Fast‑forward to the 2025 season and the order has been shaken up. After 14 races the drivers’ standings are remarkably tight:
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Oscar Piastri – 284 points (6 wins). The McLaren driver leads the 2025 F1 drivers championship thanks to victories in China, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Miami, Spain and Belgium. His controlled drives and strategic mastery have delivered a 117‑point improvement on his 2024 total at this stage.
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Lando Norris – 275 points (5 wins). Norris opened the year by winning in Australia and later triumphed in Monaco, Austria, Britain and Hungary. He is just nine points behind his team‑mate, an increase of 76 points compared to last year and firmly in the hunt for his first Formula 1 title.
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Max Verstappen – 187 points (2 wins). Red Bull’s form has dipped dramatically. Verstappen’s wins in Japan and Emilia Romagna are his only victories; penalties, technical issues and a more competitive field leave him 90 points down relative to 2024.
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George Russell – 172 points (1 win). Mercedes have made strides with their W16. Russell seized a shock victory in Canada and has scored consistently, gaining 56 points relative to last season.
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Charles Leclerc – 151 points. Now paired with Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, Leclerc has yet to win in 2025 but has collected podiums in Saudi Arabia, Spain and Belgium. His tally is 26 points lower than this point last season.
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Lewis Hamilton – 109 points. The seven‑time champion’s first year back at Ferrari has been steady rather than spectacular. He lies 41 points down on his 2024 haul, his best finish a second place in Saudi Arabia.
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Kimi Antonelli – 64 points (rookie). Promoted to Mercedes, the Italian prodigy took a podium in Canada and has impressed with mature drives. As a debutant he adds 64 points to the table that did not exist last year.
Other notable figures include Alex Albon (54 points) – a remarkable improvement of 50 points for Williams – and Nico Hülkenberg (37 points), who has scored Sauber’s only podium and is 15 points up on 2024. Esteban Ocon’s switch to Haas has netted him 27 points and a 22‑point improvement. Conversely, Carlos Sainz has slumped to just 16 points since moving to Williams, a drop of 146 points, while Fernando Alonso (26 points) and Yuki Tsunoda (10 points) have slipped backward.
Race winners and key moments
The story of the season has been McLaren’s dominance. Piastri and Norris share 11 wins in 14 grands prix, a stark contrast to 2024 when Red Bull claimed nine of the first 14. Highlights include:
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Australian Grand Prix – Lando Norris masterfully controlled tricky mixed conditions to claim his home race, halting Verstappen’s long run of days leading the championship.
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Chinese Grand Prix – Oscar Piastri converted his maiden F1 pole into victory, leading a McLaren 1‑2. Post‑race disqualifications for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc underlined the importance of abiding by technical rules.
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Japanese & Emilia Romagna Grands Prix – Max Verstappen showed glimpses of his old form with aggressive wins, including a Red Bull milestone 400th Grand Prix start in Imola.
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Monaco – A new mandatory two‑stop format produced strategic intrigue; Norris dominated from pole while Piastri and Leclerc followed. Ferrari’s power‑unit gremlins cost Hamilton a shot at the podium.
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Canadian Grand Prix – In a race defined by strategy and a late safety car, George Russell took Mercedes’s first win since 2022. Norris and Piastri collided, giving Russell the opportunity to capitalize.
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Austria & Britain – Norris scored back‑to‑back wins after fierce on‑track fights with Piastri and Verstappen. A penalty for Piastri at Silverstone allowed Nico Hülkenberg to grab a career‑first podium for Sauber.
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Belgium – Heavy rain delayed the start. Piastri overtook Norris on the first green lap and never looked back, with Leclerc finishing third.
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Hungary – Norris risked a one‑stop strategy and beat Piastri as McLaren locked out the front row for the second time this season.
Heading into the Dutch Grand Prix, McLaren lead the constructors’ race comfortably while their drivers fight tooth‑and‑nail for the drivers’ crown. The contrast with 2024 could not be sharper.
Who’s improved since 2024?
Analysing the points swing relative to last year highlights the biggest movers:
| Driver | 2025 points | 2024 points | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oscar Piastri | 284 | 167 | +117 |
| Lando Norris | 275 | 199 | +76 |
| George Russell | 172 | 116 | +56 |
| Alex Albon | 54 | 4 | +50 |
| Esteban Ocon | 27 | 5 | +22 |
| Nico Hülkenberg | 37 | 22 | +15 |
Piastri’s huge leap underscores his growth in only his second year. He now executes races with the poise of a veteran, rarely making unforced errors. Norris has eliminated the slow starts that plagued him in 2024, qualifying on the front row more often and translating opportunities into wins. Russell has benefited from Mercedes’ improved car and his own mistake‑free consistency; he has out‑qualified team‑mate Kimi Antonelli at most rounds. Albon and Ocon have taken advantage of machinery leaps — Williams’ FW47 and Haas’s VF‑25 have stable aerodynamics and strong race pace — giving these midfielders opportunities to score when the front runners falter.
Who’s fallen behind?
Where some thrive, others struggle. The table below shows the biggest drops compared to the 2024 summer break:
| Driver | 2025 points | 2024 points | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Verstappen | 187 | 277 | –90 |
| Lewis Hamilton | 109 | 150 | –41 |
| Charles Leclerc | 151 | 177 | –26 |
| Fernando Alonso | 26 | 49 | –23 |
| Yuki Tsunoda | 10 | 22 | –12 |
| Carlos Sainz | 16 | 162 | –146 |
Verstappen’s decline is the headline. Red Bull’s RB21 is no longer the benchmark, with inherent under‑steer and a lack of straight‑line speed compared to the McLarens. The Dutchman has also suffered penalties for track limits and safety‑car infringements, which cost him podiums in Spain and Britain. Sainz’s move to Williams, triggered by Ferrari signing Hamilton, has left him marooned in the midfield with just 16 points – a 146‑point swing that effectively takes him out of contention. Hamilton is still adjusting to Ferrari’s unique setup philosophy; his peaks (such as second in Saudi Arabia) are offset by races stuck behind the McLarens or reliability gremlins. Leclerc’s dip is less severe but illustrates how the Scuderia has fallen behind McLaren in pure performance.
Constructors: McLaren surge, Red Bull slump
Just as striking is the shift in the constructors’ championship. After 14 rounds the numbers read:
| Team | 2025 points | 2024 points | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| McLaren | 559 | 336 | +193 |
| Ferrari | 260 | 345 | –85 |
| Mercedes | 236 | 266 | –30 |
| Red Bull | 194 | 408 | –214 |
| Williams | 70 | 4 | +66 |
| Aston Martin | 52 | 73 | –21 |
| Stake (Sauber) | 51 | 0 | +51 |
| Racing Bulls (AlphaTauri) | 45 | 34 | +11 |
| Haas | 35 | 27 | +8 |
| Alpine | 20 | 11 | +9 |
McLaren’s 193‑point jump is dramatic. The Woking outfit has not only produced the fastest car on most circuits but also executed races flawlessly – double‑stack pit stops, effective tyre strategies and 1‑2 finishes have maximised their haul. Red Bull, conversely, has haemorrhaged 214 points. Part of the loss is self‑inflicted: they replaced Sergio Pérez with Yuki Tsunoda, who has yet to adjust to the pressure of a front‑running seat and has collected just 10 points. Furthermore, the team’s RB21 concept appears to have reached its development ceiling just as McLaren introduced a highly efficient floor and diffuser package.
Ferrari’s 85‑point drop reflects the transitional nature of 2025. The SF‑25 has decent one‑lap pace but chews its tyres in hot conditions, leaving both drivers on the defensive late in races. Mercedes lose 30 points compared to 2024 yet have taken a victory and multiple podiums; they are in a better competitive position despite the smaller points total because the field is more condensed. Meanwhile Williams’ improved aerodynamics and Sainz‑Albon pairing yield a 66‑point gain, and Stake (formerly Sauber) end their points drought with 51 points thanks to Nico Hülkenberg’s podium and Gabriel Bortoleto’s consistent scoring. Alpine remain near the back but have nine extra points despite rotating Jack Doohan and Franco Colapinto.
Points distribution and strategic depth
One striking feature of the 2025 season is how close the championship battle is compared to a year ago. After 14 races in 2024, Verstappen had an 78‑point buffer over Norris; now Piastri leads Norris by just nine points and Verstappen trails by nearly 100. The distribution of wins underscores the shift: four different drivers have won in 2025 (Piastri, Norris, Verstappen, Russell) versus six by the same stage in 2024 (Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc, Hamilton, Sainz, Russell). With fewer winners and a tighter top two, every fastest‑lap bonus and sprint result could decide the championship.
Strategy has become a key differentiator. McLaren’s willingness to split strategies – such as Norris’s one‑stop in Hungary versus Piastri’s two‑stop – forces rivals into reactive calls. The new mandatory two‑stop rule introduced at Monaco added another layer of complexity. Points for the sprint race incentivise drivers to push on Saturdays: Piastri and Norris have shared four of the six sprint wins, while Antonelli and Hamilton have scored valuable extra points despite lacking race‑winning pace. Fastest‑lap points also matter: Russell’s late fastest lap in Canada deprived Verstappen of a potential extra point, demonstrating how slender margins can be.
Rookies and fresh faces
The 2025 rookies have added excitement to the midfield battles. Kimi Antonelli is the headline act: aged 18, he debuted for Mercedes and already has a podium and 64 points. His smooth driving style and ability to handle wet conditions earned widespread praise. Isack Hadjar scored 22 points for Racing Bulls, including a run to seventh in Austria, proving his F2 success translates to F1. Liam Lawson, who missed most of 2024, returns full‑time and has 20 points thanks to gritty drives in Miami and Britain. Gabriel Bortoleto scored 14 points for Stake, while Oliver Bearman has eight points. Franco Colapinto stepped in at Alpine for Jack Doohan mid‑season but has yet to score. These rookies highlight the depth of talent on the grid and hint at future battles once the established stars retire.
Frequently asked questions
How many points do you get for winning an F1 race in 2025?
The grand prix winner earns 25 points, with 18 for second and 15 for third. Only drivers finishing in the top ten score points. An additional point goes to whoever sets the fastest lap, provided they finish in the top ten. The scoring system ensures consistency is rewarded across the season.
What are the sprint race points in F1?
Sprint winners score eight points, with the top eight classified drivers receiving 7‑6‑5‑4‑3‑2‑1 points. These points count towards both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships. For a deeper look at sprint formats and strategies see our sprint race points guide.
How are tie‑breakers decided in F1 standings?
If two drivers end the season on identical points, the tie‑breaker is decided by countback: the driver with the most race wins ranks higher. If they have the same number of wins, the number of second places is compared, then third places, and so on until the tie is broken. For teams, the same principle applies using the combined results of their drivers.
What happens to points in shortened or abandoned races?
When races finish with less than 75% of the scheduled distance completed, half points are awarded; if fewer than two racing laps occur, no points are allocated. For a comprehensive explanation of how half‑points are calculated and why some races in the past awarded a quarter of the usual points, read our standings in shortened races explainer.
Why are McLaren so strong in 2025?
McLaren invested heavily in aerodynamic development over the winter, refining the floor and diffuser to generate more downforce without sacrificing straight‑line speed. They also introduced a new braking system that allows Piastri and Norris to brake later into corners, improving overtaking capability. Consistent operations and strategic calls have maximised their points haul.
What caused Red Bull’s decline this season?
Red Bull’s RB21 uses a design philosophy that was an evolution of their dominant 2023‑24 cars. However, the competition closed the gap and some of the team’s advantages were reduced by regulatory tweaks targeting flexi‑wings. Replacing Sergio Pérez with Yuki Tsunoda also removed a proven point‑scorer. Combined with a few reliability gremlins and strategic missteps, the team now sits fourth in the constructors’ standings.
Which rookies are performing well in 2025?
Kimi Antonelli is the standout rookie, with a podium and 64 points for Mercedes. Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson have impressed for Racing Bulls with 22 and 20 points respectively, while Gabriel Bortoleto has scored 14 points for Stake. Franco Colapinto and Oliver Bearman are still adapting but showing promise.
How can I track live F1 points and standings?
Our RaceMate watch companion app offers real‑time tracking of the f1 drivers’ and constructors’ standings, showing how every overtake and fastest lap changes the championship picture. It uses the official points system and updates instantly, making it the perfect companion for watching races live or catching up with highlights.
Conclusion: A season in flux
Comparing the 2025 and 2024 championships after 14 races reveals a dramatic shift. McLaren have replaced Red Bull at the front, and Oscar Piastri leads a tight drivers’ battle with his team‑mate Lando Norris. The midfield has been energised by rookies and resurgent teams like Williams and Stake, while established names such as Verstappen and Hamilton find themselves chasing ground. With ten rounds left and the points gap between the top two drivers in single digits, the 2025 championship promises a thrilling run‑in. Keep your app open — every fastest lap and sprint result could decide who lifts the trophy in Abu Dhabi.