While the 2025 Formula 1 championship might not have delivered the most astonishing outcomes in history, several occurrences nonetheless sparked considerable surprise, and deservedly so.
Presented here are the incidents we pinpointed as the most unexpected developments of the season.
Red Bull sacks Christian Horner – Jake Boxall-Legge
Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Christian Horner’s removal and the ensuing transformation at Red Bull represented a seismic shift. The fact that Horner had maintained his position of authority at Red Bull after the 2024 controversy – involving allegations of improper conduct with a female employee – indicated he had survived the turmoil, particularly after an internal inquiry absolved him of any misconduct.
The downturn in Red Bull’s performance throughout 2024 and extending into early 2025 had not outwardly signaled concerns regarding Horner’s longevity; indeed, greater speculation revolved around Max Verstappen’s potential transfers after an erratic start to his season. However, Horner was dismissed after the British Grand Prix, astonishing not only the Red Bull team members but also observers outside the organization.
Currently led by Laurent Mekies, Red Bull is experiencing its most profound organizational change since its debut in the championship during 2005. The masterminds behind its earlier triumphs – Horner, Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley, and more recently Helmut Marko – have all departed, and Mekies is fostering an environment for internal personnel to advance into critical roles. The adage advises against altering a successful team, yet there invariably comes a moment when even a dominant squad loses its freshness.
Isack Hadjar shines as a rookie – Ed Hardy
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Early in the year, I recall my assumption that Isack Hadjar was merely occupying the Racing Bulls cockpit temporarily, awaiting Arvid Lindblad’s arrival in 2026. This French driver’s promotion was unanticipated, given he hadn’t secured a single junior-level title and concluded his inaugural F2 season in 14th place, with his sole victory coming in the Zandvoort sprint event.
Such a record hardly suggested a contender destined for the pinnacle of motorsport, let alone someone capable of holding their own in Formula 1. This perception solidified further during the Australian Grand Prix when Hadjar retired after an accident on the formation lap, leading to public criticism from Helmut Marko regarding his emotional response to the withdrawal.
Nevertheless, the 21-year-old’s subsequent performance, marked by an exceptional season, proved my initial judgment entirely mistaken. Highlights included five points-scoring finishes in eight races following Melbourne, the undeniable podium achievement at Zandvoort, and a commanding 21-6 qualifying advantage over his teammate, Liam Lawson.
Predictably, Hadjar has earned an advancement to Red Bull for the 2026 season, thereby achieving more in his Formula 1 journey than I had ever anticipated. Credit is certainly due to him; he stands out as unequivocally the most astonishing revelation of the 2025 championship.
Oscar Piastri misses out on the title – Owen Bellwood
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Photo by: Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Following only a few opening events, it became apparent that McLaren was poised to secure the 2025 constructors’ championship, with its grasp on the drivers’ championship tightening with every subsequent race. By the conclusion of the Dutch Grand Prix, it felt absurd to propose any driver other than Oscar Piastri would claim the title, given he had triumphed in seven of the fifteen Grands Prix by then.
At that juncture, his advantage over teammate Lando Norris had expanded to over 30 points, and he held a lead exceeding 100 points over Red Bull’s Max Verstappen – who was virtually eliminated from contention by the checkered flag at Zandvoort. However, Piastri failed to secure another victory thereafter, and his significant decline in performance was monumental.
Collisions in Baku, Singapore, and the Austin sprint race caused his hold on the championship lead to weaken, and he dropped behind Norris once the Briton claimed victory at the Mexican Grand Prix. The unimaginable occurred in Las Vegas when Verstappen also overtook the Australian following the disqualification of both McLarens due to excessive plank degradation.
However, this was not Piastri’s sole predicament; his assurance in his McLaren vehicle diminished during the latter half of the season. Although he succeeded in regaining some of it in the concluding rounds, his efforts ultimately proved insufficient and untimely.
Piastri’s inability to maintain his championship advantage and secure the victory was astonishing. His regression to third place by the time the final flag waved in Abu Dhabi was truly astounding.
Williams finishes fifth in the championship – Filip Cleeren
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Photo by: Erik Junius
It was largely understood that Williams would, at a minimum, avoid regressing this year, especially after a dismal 2024 season that commenced with a delayed and overweight car, subsequently resulting in a scarcity of spare components as repair expenses escalated.
Those past issues were behind them, and numerous easily achievable improvements were expected to benefit the Grove-based squad, such as refining its trackside logistics. Yet, given Williams’s clear prioritization of 2026 and minimal wind-tunnel allocation for its 2025 vehicle this year, I did not anticipate Williams clinching fifth position with such conviction.
Certainly, this achievement was partly attributable to the underperformance of some rival teams, particularly Aston Martin, but Williams genuinely succeeded in deploying its assets effectively to ensure its 2025 introductory car was sufficiently robust to establish a foundation for a prosperous season. Incorporating Carlos Sainz’s pace and skill alongside Alex Albon creates an exceptional driver lineup poised to guide the team forward. While some fortuitous circumstances might have contributed to Sainz’s pair of podium finishes, both he and the team genuinely earned those results.
