The 2025 Formula 1 Season: An In-Depth Look at the First Seven Races and Car Performance

The 2025 Formula 1 season has already proven to be a spectacle, with the first seven races providing a wealth of insights into the strengths and weaknesses of all 10 teams. From the complex dynamics of car handling to tire management and performance upgrades, the season’s early races have showcased how even marginal differences in performance can drastically affect the championship battle. Here’s an analysis of the 2025 F1 cars so far, breaking down the performance of each team and where they stand in this thrilling season.

1. Sauber – The Struggles of the C-45

The 2025 Sauber C-45 exemplifies just how competitive the F1 field is. On average, the car is 1.7% off the pace, about 1.4 seconds slower per 80-second lap. Despite this, the C-45 has a somewhat solid qualifying performance, managing to scrape into Q2, thanks to its better handling of fresh tires in qualifying. However, its primary issues lie in the race. The car suffers from an excess of understeer and a lack of downforce, which hampers its performance when in dirty air. Drivers like Gabrielle Bortalto and Nico Hülkenberg have had to be meticulous in their driving to avoid elimination in the early qualifying sessions. The C-45 is yet to make a significant impact on the championship, often finishing behind its competitors.

2. Alpine A542 – Speed Without Results

The Alpine A542 has shown potential, particularly in faster corners and traction zones, which could have made it a midfield leader. However, the car has failed to translate that potential into results. Despite being the seventh fastest car on average, Alpine struggles with a significant power deficit—around 20 brake horsepower, which equates to a 0.2-second disadvantage per lap. This power deficit, combined with inefficient energy harvesting under braking, limits the car’s performance in race conditions. Alpine’s strategy to move to Mercedes power units in 2026 should provide a much-needed performance boost. Until then, it remains a car that shows flashes of brilliance but is often outclassed by other midfield teams.

3. AlphaTauri – A Midfield Contender

AlphaTauri’s 2025 car, the AT05, has been a strong midfield contender, often finishing in the top 10, despite not having the same raw pace as some of its rivals. The car is generally easy to drive, which has allowed drivers Yuki Tsunoda and Isaac Hajar to consistently challenge for points. However, the car’s weakness lies in its performance in high-speed corners. The lack of downforce in these sections has been a challenge, though recent upgrades have helped address this. If the team can refine this area and convert more opportunities into points, AlphaTauri could become a consistent threat in the midfield.

4. Aston Martin AMR25 – A Mixed Bag

Aston Martin’s AMR25 has shown improvement over its predecessor, with a more stable balance and enhanced performance in fast corners. However, it still struggles in slower corners, where the car’s performance is notably weaker. Fernando Alonso has highlighted this, describing the car as “dying” in low-speed sections, which reflects the challenges faced by the team in optimizing the car’s setup. Recent upgrades have improved the car’s stability across the speed range, but it remains unclear whether Aston Martin can be a regular points contender without further significant changes.

5. Haas VF-25 – Stability Amid Challenges

Haas has managed to find a decent balance with its VF-25, making it a consistent midfield threat. The car’s aerodynamic stability has been one of its key strengths, although its overall performance is unremarkable, sitting in ninth place overall. Haas faced a serious challenge at the Australian Grand Prix, where aerodynamic oscillations, commonly referred to as porpoising, severely hindered performance in high-speed sections. However, the team responded quickly with upgrades in Japan and Imola to stabilize the car. If Haas can continue to manage this issue, it could see more consistent results as the season progresses.

6. Williams FW47 – The Surprising Midfield Standout

Williams has been one of the standout midfield teams in 2025, regularly challenging the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes. The FW47 shines in medium- and high-speed corners, and its performance in Imola was a testament to this strength. The car’s main weakness remains its struggle in slower, more technical corners, particularly where combination braking and turning are required. However, Williams has made considerable strides in addressing this weakness, and team principal James Vowles has indicated that it is no longer as significant a problem as it was in 2023. Williams’ improvement in this area makes it one of the most promising midfield teams heading into the remainder of the season.

7. Ferrari SF25 – A Strong Race Car, but Struggling in Qualifying

Ferrari’s SF25 has shown strong race pace, consistently performing well on Sundays despite struggling in qualifying. One of the main reasons for its race pace strength is its ability to manage tire degradation better than many competitors. However, the car’s qualifying performance is compromised by its inability to maintain an ideal ride height. The need to protect the plank wear has meant that Ferrari has struggled with low-speed corner performance. There are hints that a suspension modification could address this issue and unlock the car’s full potential, but as of now, Ferrari’s lack of qualifying pace remains a significant barrier to consistent podium finishes.

8. Red Bull RB21 – Dominance with Limitations

The Red Bull RB21 has been a dominant force this season, winning two races with Max Verstappen at the helm. The car’s strength lies in its grip through faster corners, particularly on tracks that don’t have a wide range of corner speeds. However, Red Bull has faced challenges on circuits with varied corner speeds, where achieving the right balance has proven difficult. Additionally, the car struggles with rear tire temperature management on certain tracks, which puts it at a disadvantage compared to some rivals. Despite these challenges, the RB21 remains one of the fastest and most competitive cars on the grid.

9. Mercedes W16 – Consistency with Weaknesses

Mercedes’ W16 is a solid all-around car, known for its ability to generate downforce across a wide range of corner speeds. It’s been a consistent performer, with George Russell securing four podiums and Kimi Anteneilli clinching sprint pole in Miami. However, Mercedes has struggled with tire management, especially in hotter conditions. This was a key issue in 2024, and despite efforts to resolve it, Mercedes still finds itself struggling when temperatures rise. The team’s inability to manage rear tire temperature in warmer climates is a significant concern as the season heads into the European summer.

10. McLaren MCL39 – The Car to Beat

McLaren has been the car to beat in 2025, dominating the season with five wins from the first seven races. The car’s strengths lie in its ability to produce significant downforce across a wide range of corner speeds, as well as its impressive rear tire temperature management, which has been crucial in races like Miami. However, McLaren’s biggest challenge has been its lack of front-end feel, which has caused issues for Lando Norris, particularly in qualifying. This has led to mistakes and compromised qualifying results. As the team develops and addresses these issues, McLaren could become an even more formidable force in the championship battle.

Conclusion: A Season of Evolution

The 2025 Formula 1 season has already delivered plenty of surprises and valuable insights into the relative performance of each car. While McLaren has emerged as the dominant force early on, teams like Williams, Ferrari, and Red Bull are still in the fight, each with their strengths and weaknesses. As the season progresses and further upgrades are introduced, it will be fascinating to see how the teams adapt to the evolving challenges and whether any of the midfield teams can break into the top tier.

With the championship battle wide open, it’s clear that every team has work to do, and the first seven races have only scratched the surface of what promises to be an exciting and unpredictable season. The evolution of these cars, as they continue to develop and refine their strengths, will be crucial in determining who ultimately emerges as the victor in 2025.