Five rounds in, the 2025 Formula 1 season is living up to the expectations that it would prove one of the closest contests of recent years.
Just 12 points – the equivalent of a fourth-place finish – covers the top three drivers in the points standings. It’s a far cry from last year when the gap between first and second in the standings was more than twice as much.For the last time three drivers were separated by as little as 12 points you have to go back more than a decade to 2012. That was an extraordinarily competitive season in which a different driver won each of the first seven races.
After the first five races, eventual champion Sebastian Vettel was tied at the top of the standings with the driver who would take the title fight to the last lap of the season, Fernando Alonso. Lewis Hamilton was 12 points behind in third.
But what a finale that was. In a tense race where periodic showers ratcheted up the drama, the title contenders’ fortunes swung back and forth while the battle for victory was fought between the McLaren drivers and, most improbably, Nico Hulkenberg’s Force India.
It’s no surprise the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix remains the top-rated race by RaceFans readers. With an average score of 9.45 out of 10, it may never be beaten.
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Could the 2025 season produce a drama to rival that? There are many factors still to determine how competitive this season turns out to be.
The most significant of these will be at what point each team calls time on its 2025 car development and switches its focus to next season. This is a major point this year because next season will bring a massive change in the technical regulations, but it was not the case in 2012.
McLaren and Red Bull have made the early running so far and will surely do everything they can to deliver a championship this year. But Mercedes and (to a greater extent) Ferrari have already lost enough ground that if they don’t make gains over the coming races, a shift of focus to 2026 will be the obvious strategic move.
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Tied in with this is the much-vaunted change in the FIA’s front wing deflection test, scheduled to come into force at round nine, the Spanish Grand Prix. Some drivers, such as Charles Leclerc, already see this as a potential opportunity. But Leclerc, Ferrari’s best-placed driver, is already 52 points behind and can scarcely afford to drop many more between now and then even if that race proves a turning point.
Verstappen, though, is never to be underestimated. Unlike the McLaren drivers he can take it for granted that Red Bull will operate as a one-car team around him – Yuki Tsunoda was deployed to give him the benefit of a tow in qualifying at Jeddah. The RB21 may not be quite as competitive as an MCL39, but Verstappen has the strategic advantages which come with knowing his team mate is not a rival for the world championship.
The F1 field of 2025 may not be as broadly competitive as it was 13 years ago, but the ingredients for another down-to-the-wire title fight are there. A repeat of that spellbinding 2012 race is surely too much to expect of the venue for this year’s finale, Yas Marina, where rainfall is as (in)frequent as exciting races.
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Yes (@come-on-kubica)
1st May 2025, 7:34
It’s always a shame that the last race is in Abu Dhabi – it does not lend itself to tense races.
Broderick Harper (@banbrorace)
1st May 2025, 21:57
Always puzzled why Abu Dhabi in the neck (actually I’m not western sports fans have a very glass half empty opinion about all sporting events in the middle east) when the reality is, since 2010, there’s never been more than two fighting it out in the final round.
Love to know which event should be the last one. The much loved Monaco perhaps!!
Yes (@come-on-kubica)
2nd May 2025, 12:03
@banbrorace I’m not quite sure what you are referring to. The Brazil 2012 race was one of the greatest ever. 2008 and 2007 were up there as well. 2010 Abu Dhabi gp created DRS and a very boring end to the season. 2016 and 2021 are the only season enders with a chance of a title change in the last decade and both races in some ways were farcical and dull for the most part. Brazil is inherently a more interesting final track of season because of the potential for racing.
Trayambak Chakravarty (@major-dev)
1st May 2025, 9:19
If they switched around Brazil and Abu Dhabi as the last race, it would be a much better season. With Australia back as the opener, we’d have the classic season starting in Australia and ending in Brazil.
Broderick Harper (@banbrorace)
1st May 2025, 22:00
How would Brazil solve the problem of the fact that, since 2010, there is never more than two drivers in contention for the WDC on the last race?
I find the love in for Brazil just as perplexing as the dislike of Abu Dhabi. 2008 was exciting, but so was 2021
i.e. it’s having a last race that means something as opposed to where it’s held.
sebrhh
2nd May 2025, 14:46
Because Abu Dhabi is a dreadful track that has only ever has dull races. Until those final few laps where the race director intervened and turned it into a dramatic farce, 2021 would have been the dullest way possible to end that amazing battle between two all-time greats.
It’s also not helped by the climate meaning rain is an almost impossibility, which adds another variable.
Brazil is a phenomenal track that barely ever has a boring race, as well as having a rich F1 heritage (not that the latter point should matter necessarily as it’s net good to get the sport into new places, but helps with the atmosphere certainly).
S
1st May 2025, 9:55
Ah, 2012. The best start to the F1 season in modern history, thanks to the tyres and how little the teams knew about them.
There’s a valuable lesson in that which F1 has, unfortunately, vowed never to repeat.
Broderick Harper (@banbrorace)
1st May 2025, 21:54
But that season still ended up with the thick end of 100 points between 2nd and 3rd.
I’ll be honest, it’s a season I don’t really remember – other than Ferrari blowing it for Alosno that is.
Surely 2010, when, what was it five were still in the race at Abu Dhabi