The 2025 Formula 1 season will be remembered as one of the most intense and unpredictable championship battles in modern history.<\/p>\n
A fierce three\u2011way duel between Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri fluctuated from race to race, lap to lap.<\/p>\n
Although Verstappen\u2019s collision with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix \u2014 which resulted in him dropping nine points \u2014 was widely seen as a decisive swing given he ultimately lost the title by two points, a host of other swings throughout the season shaped the title fight.<\/p>\n
Here are 10 other defining moments, in chronological order, with what happened and how they affected the championship.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t1. Oscar Piastri spins in the Australian Grand Prix<\/p>\n
In the season opener at Melbourne\u2019s Albert Park, Piastri looked set for a podium behind team-mate Norris and ahead of Verstappen.<\/p>\n
However, he lost control late in the race, spinning while running second. He dropped back through the field and ultimately recovered only to ninth.<\/p>\n
Points swing: Lost approximately 16 points relative to a podium finish (he lost the title by 13).<\/p>\n
Impact: Set an early buffer for Norris and Verstappen in a season where every point mattered.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t2. Norris crashes into Piastri in Canada<\/p>\n
At the Canadian Grand Prix, engaged in a close intra\u2011team battle, Norris misjudged a move on Piastri when fighting for fourth position.<\/p>\n
Contact heading toward the first corner ended the Briton’s race ended their races, leaving him to take home zero points. Piastri managed to retain his place, collecting 12 points.<\/p>\n
Points swing: Norris lost 10 points.<\/p>\n
Impact: Cost Norris in the fight against Piastri. Verstappen finished second, so he picked up 18 more points than him.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t3. Piastri penalised at the British Grand Prix<\/p>\n
At Silverstone, Piastri was penalised for erratic braking during a safety car restart. Although he still finished second, the 10\u2011second penalty arguably cost him victory over his team-mate.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Verstappen spun later in the race but still collected solid points.<\/p>\n
Points swing: Piastri lost roughly seven points to Norris; Verstappen’s is harder to quantify.<\/p>\n
Impact: Allowed Norris to strengthen his position with a 14-point swing and claim a crucial home\u2011race result.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t4. Norris retires from the Dutch Grand Prix<\/p>\n
Running second at Zandvoort, Norris suddenly slowed due to an oil leak and was forced to retire, with Piastri \u2014 and Verstappen \u2014 capitalising.<\/p>\n
It boosted the Australian’s championship lead from a would-be 16 points to 34.<\/p>\n
Points swing: Norris lost 18 points more to his team-mate, Verstappen gained three.<\/p>\n
Impact: Handed Piastri a healthy advantage, leaving Norris with a lot of work to do.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t5. McLaren switches positions at the Italian Grand Prix<\/p>\n
At Monza, McLaren used team orders to invert Piastri and Norris’ track positions after a slow pit stop disadvantaged the latter.<\/p>\n
Norris had been ahead, in second, but McLaren pitted Piastri, from third, first to cover Charles Leclerc behind.<\/p>\n
Points swing: A six-point swing in Norris’ favour, with him getting three extra points and Piastri the opposite.<\/p>\n
Impact: McLaren’s most blatant attempt to balance the scales seeded frustration in the Piastri camp which bled into the next weekend, in Baku.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t6. Piastri\u2019s Azerbaijan Grand Prix nightmare<\/p>\n
Piastri\u2019s weekend in Baku collapsed completely: after a qualifying crash that dropped him down the grid, he jumped the start in the race, activated anti\u2011stall, stalled and fell to the back, then crashed out on the opening lap.<\/p>\n
Points swing: More difficult to quantify, as how much Piastri could have earned is academic, but Norris scored six points and Verstappen 25 for the win.<\/p>\n
Impact: The hangover from Monza, this catastrophic round immediately eroded Piastri\u2019s comfortable points buffer \u2014 but it could have been worse from a Norris perspective, who only finished seventh.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t7. Piastri and Norris crash in Austin sprint<\/p>\n
At the United States Grand Prix sprint race, Piastri clashed with Norris on the first lap after being hit by another car, taking both McLarens out of the sprint.<\/p>\n
Neither scored sprint points, while Verstappen dominated both the sprint and the main race at the Circuit of the Americas.<\/p>\n
Points swing: Each driver lost up to six or seven points they otherwise might have scored.<\/p>\n
Impact: Verstappen continued to erode the advantage the McLaren pair held over him.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t8. Piastri\u2019s Brazil Weekend Woes<\/p>\n
In S\u00e3o Paulo, Piastri crashed out of the sprint race whilst running third.<\/p>\n
In the grand prix, he was controversially penalised for his incident with Kimi Antonelli and Leclerc, dropping him several places are serving his 10-second time penalty.<\/p>\n
Points swing: Piastri lost six points in the sprint and arguably another eight in the grand prix, finishing fifth not second.<\/p>\n
Impact: Norris claimed victory in both the sprint and grand prix, consigning Piastri to a huge loss in points, going from one point adrift to 24.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t9. McLaren\u2019s Double Disqualification in Las Vegas<\/p>\n
In Las Vegas, Norris finished second and Piastri fourth on track behind race winner Verstappen.<\/p>\n
However, both McLarens were disqualified after the race due to excessive plank wear, removing all points from both cars and dramatically tightening the championship.<\/p>\n
Points swing: Norris lost 18 points (P2) and Piastri 12 points (P4).<\/p>\n
Impact: The sudden zero score allowed Verstappen to close right back into the title fight.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t10. McLaren’s strategic blunder at the Qatar Grand Prix<\/p>\n
At the Qatar Grand Prix, McLaren locked out the front row but misjudged its tyre strategy when the safety car came out on lap seven, the earliest point a car could pit and still complete the race in only two pit stops on a weekend with mandated tyre stint lengths.<\/p>\n
Verstappen won the grand prix while Piastri and Norris finished second and fourth, respectively. It should have been a one-three at least for McLaren.<\/p>\n
Points swing: Piastri lost seven points, and Norris lost at least three. Verstappen gained seven \u2014 or even 10 \u2014 points.<\/p>\n
Impact: This error shaved critical points from Norris’ championship buffer and kept Verstappen in the hunt entering Abu Dhabi, with the Dutchman leapfrogging Piastri in the standings.<\/p>\n
Don’t miss out on any of the Formula 1 action thanks to this handy 2026 F1 calendar that can be easily loaded into your smartphone or PC.<\/p>\n