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2025 F1 Power Rankings: Belgian Grand Prix Update
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- 2025 F1 Power Rankings: Belgian Grand Prix Update
We've reached the midpoint of the 2025 Formula 1 season and this week's F1 power rankings are full of fast risers and big fallers. It was a chaotic and messy British Grand Prix, with surprises galore and big names that are licking their wounds after a bad weekend. Here are the 2025 F1 Power Rankings heading into the Belgian Grand Prix in two weeks.
1. Lando Norris | McLaren
Lando Norris bolted to a big win at his home Grand Prix by winning at Silverstone for the first time and securing his second consecutive victory. He began in third position and showcased his racing skills, navigating the changing weather conditions with precision, making strategic pit stops and maintaining a high pace. Norris acknowledged that the race was stressful, despite his admission that he was not at his absolute best. He received his biggest bit of luck when Oscar Piastri's 10-second penalty was imposed. Add in Max Verstappen's spin, and things were just going the young Brit's way. Lando Norris made considerable inroads in the race to the driver's championship, reducing Piastri's championship lead substantially.
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2. Oscar Piastri | McLaren
Oscar Piastri had a good day and a very bad day at Silverstone, fighting with Lando Norris for first place and passing Max Verstappen to maintain his position at the front during two Safety Car periods. The Safety Car period ended his day when he received a controversial 10-second penalty for his erratic driving behavior, which included a sudden brake at the restart. The penalty resulted in a missed victory opportunity, leaving the Australian driver befuddled. His second-place finish maintained his championship lead, but teammate Lando Norris is fast on his heels.
3. Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton finished in a respectable P4, narrowly missing out on a podium finish at his home race. He described the British Grand Prix as a challenging race, admitting that his Ferrari was tough to drive in the mixed conditions, particularly struggling with understeer and tire degradation in low-speed corners. Despite an imperfect run, his performance was a good outcome compared to his teammate Charles Leclerc's struggles, as Hamilton outqualified and outraced him. He was in contention for third, chasing Nico Hulkenberg in the closing stages, but a slightly early pit stop for slicks likely cost him the podium.
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4. Nico Hulkenberg | Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg was undoubtedly one of the stars of the British Grand Prix, securing his maiden F1 podium in his 239th career start from an incredible 19th on the grid. His deep experience was on display in the treacherous wet-dry conditions, as he made perfect strategy calls, including a well-timed switch to fresh intermediates and later to slicks. His flawless pace and lack of errors allowed him to climb through the field, and he put up a gritty defense against Lewis Hamilton to cement his third-place finish. This momentous finish for Sauber and Hulkenberg was widely celebrated in the paddock, with many peers acknowledging his long-awaited shower of champagne on the podium.
5. Max Verstappen | Red Bull
Max Verstappen had a tough race at Silverstone, finishing fifth despite starting on pole position . His Red Bull, set up with a low-downforce wing for dry conditions, became undrivable in the wet, leading to him visibly fighting the car throughout. A rare and significant spin after the second Safety Car restart caused him to drop from second to tenth place. Although his recovery to P5 was described as a miracle given the car's struggles and Red Bull's rapid tire degradation, his Sunday performance was a painful contrast to his brilliant qualifying. He continues to drop further behind in the race for another world championship.
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6. Pierre Gasly | Alpine
Pierre Gasly delivered Alpine's best result of the year, finishing a strong P6. Despite difficult practice sessions , he secured a Q3 appearance and drove a formidable race, especially in the mixed conditions. His decision to stay on intermediate tires for the opening laps proved to be the right one, allowing him to run solidly in the top 10. He successfully battled with big names like Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, and Max Verstappen, ultimately passing Lance Stroll on the final lap to clinch sixth place. Gasly was understandably ecstatic after the race, proud to have seized the opportunity presented by the chaotic conditions.
7. Charles Leclerc | Ferrari
Charles Leclerc took a big dive in our rankings this week, after enduring what he called a "horror show" at the British Grand Prix , describing it as one of the most challenging races of his career. He finished a lowly 14th after struggling to keep his Ferrari on track from start to finish. His early gamble to pit for slick tires on the formation lap proved a mistake and he had multiple off-track excursions during the race. Leclerc also underachieved in qualifying and made contact with teammate Carlos Sainz, further compromising his race. His lack of race pace compared to Hamilton made it a weekend he'll want to forget.
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8. George Russell | Mercedes
George Russell had a frustrating home race, going as far as to say that absolutely nothing went his way throughout the entire weekend. Starting fourth, he finished 10th, salvaging only a single point. His race was severely impacted by two ill-timed decisions to switch to slick tires : first on the formation lap, which was hampered by a Virtual Safety Car, and again later in the race when the track wasn't ready, leading to a spin into the gravel. Despite a strong pace in the race, his dual slick gambles backfired, preventing him from converting his potential into a stronger result.
9. Alex Albon | Williams
Alex Albon P8 in a nice drive after beginning from the 13th spot on the grid while recovering from a difficult Saturday. Albon expressed his disappointment about not qualifying for Q3, yet he demonstrated superior speed to his teammate Carlos Sainz . The Williams team made an excellent decision to switch Albon to slick tires during his final pit stop, maintaining his position inside the top 10. Albon finished his race by overtaking Fernando Alonso during the final lap to claim eighth place while showing strong speed and rhythm throughout the final part of the race.
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10. Lance Stroll | Aston Martin
Yes, Lance Stroll . Stroll made a strong recovery to finish P7 after starting 17th, securing Aston Martin's first double points haul of the year alongside Alonso. He showed a bold early gamble for slicks that worked out, allowing him to run as high as third briefly. However, his pace faded later in the race due to high tire degradation , causing him to drop positions, including being passed by Pierre Gasly on the final lap. While his race performance was better than his qualifying struggles, where he was eliminated in Q1 due to car nervousness, his inability to maintain pace ultimately limited his final position.
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