Four teams vie for F1’s 30 million prize money

Nov 1, 2025 | Formula 1

What is this about?

McLaren has already secured the constructors' championship. Williams does not seem to be getting out of that fifth place. Alpine is at the bottom. Between those teams, however, there is a fierce battle. Four teams are just 12 points apart. The winner of that battle between them picks up about an extra $30 million. Ollie Bearman's fourth-place finish in Mexico has suddenly thrown that battle wide open again.

Haas: from behind to competing most

Haas made a strong development this season. The car became considerably faster. Initially, the team could not convert that speed into points. At Spa, chances were lost through a combination of wrong set-up, a small engine problem and unfortunate timed stops. That cost points.

In Mexico, it was different. The latest upgrade worked well. Both cars finished in the top 10. Bearman achieved his best result ever: fourth. He scored for the third race in a row. Team principal Ayao Komatsu cited a change in mentality as an explanation. The drivers are holding themselves back better and the team is running sessions more consistently.

Racing Bulls in a bad moment

Racing Bulls leads this compact group but is in a difficult period. The team has not scored any points for three races in a row. That is the worst run of the season and, as a result, Aston Martin, Haas and Sauber were catching up.

Isack Hadjar often shows strong qualifications. He made it to Q3 several times. In the races, however, the speed seems to be lacking. In Singapore, a powertrain problem played a part. In Austin, a crash during qualifying caused a lag. In Mexico, he lost positions after a big moment in Turn 6 and eventually spot 10 in the closing stages.

Liam Lawson had good weekends, but he too had mistakes. In Mexico, he was hit in Turn 1. There will be no more major upgrades. That puts pressure on Racing Bulls to improve race pace if they want to keep their position.

Which drivers make the difference?

In this battle, individual performances count heavily. A step up in the rankings earns almost $10 million. As a result, drivers almost literally become worth extra money.

• Nico Hülkenberg - 41 points
• Isack Hadjar - 39 points
• Fernando Alonso - 37 points
• Ollie Bearman - 32 points
• Lance Stroll - 32 points
• Liam Lawson* - 30 points
• Esteban Ocon - 30 points
• Gabriel Bortoleto - 19 points

*Lawson counting from race three

The group has clear lead drivers: Hülkenberg for Sauber, Hadjar for Racing Bulls, Alonso for Aston Martin and Bearman for Haas. Yet it is often small margins between teammates. All eight drivers mentioned achieved at least one top-six result. Hülkenberg and Hadjar already achieved podiums. That shows that a big points haul is possible if everything goes along.

Consistency is crucial. Last year, Alpine shot up thanks to a wet Interlagos race, scoring 33 points in a single weekend. Such a score can suddenly move a team up several places and earn tens of millions more.

Aston Martin underperforms

Aston Martin has the resources to rank higher than they do now. That makes their position remarkable. The team's main focus this season seems to be on 2026 and the new rules. Technical gains for the future are getting more attention than immediate upgrades this year.

The current car struggles at low speeds and has less aerodynamic efficiency on circuits where little downforce is needed. That explains the variable results: sometimes very strong, sometimes very weak. Fernando Alonso delivered good performances, but the car leaves too many stitches. Lance Stroll is in a scoreless run, despite his contribution to the team being relatively high this year.

Sauber: Sunday strong, Saturday less so

Sauber improved its car after an unstable start. The C45 was modified mid-season and has been performing better in the race ever since. The weakness is mainly in qualifying. Sauber achieved few Q3 starts. This is because the car is difficult to drive on low fuel and sometimes reacts unpredictably.

Still, Gabriel Bortoleto showed the pace in Mexico. He climbed from place 16 to place 10. Nico Hülkenberg even achieved a podium at Silverstone thanks to tactical tyre choices in wet conditions. If Sauber can improve in qualifying without further upgrades, without losing speed on Sunday, it will be a strong performer in the last four races.

Key points to follow

• Haas: will the form hold and both cars stay in the top 10?
• Racing Bulls: will they find race pace again or will their lead run out?
• Aston Martin: will they resolve inconsistencies or will focus on 2026 remain dominant?
• Sauber: can they find qualifying rhythm without losing Sunday speed?

Lock

The remaining four races will decide who walks away with those extra millions. The difference is small. Every mistake counts. Teams and drivers have to perform consistently. Those who are smart about opportunities will grab position and money. That makes this battle worth following.

FIA does not hold Lawson liable after Mexican GP

Oct 31, 2025 | Formula 1

FIA responds to criticism after dangerous situation

The FIA has stated that Liam Lawson is not at fault after a near-miss with marshals during the Mexican Grand Prix. An internal investigation is still ongoing, but initial analysis does not point to faulty driving by Lawson.

What happened

Lawson had made a pit stop early in the race and was therefore loose from the pack. While recovering debris on the track, he had to dodge two marshals at Turn 1. In the car, he said he could have almost killed them. After the race, he called the situation unacceptable and asked for measures to be taken so that this does not happen again.

Criticism from Mexican motorsport federation

Mexican motorsport federation OMDAI later released a statement criticising Lawson. They argued that the marshals should have been clearly visible and that Lawson would not have adjusted his line. That statement consisted of 10 points and only received attention later. The FIA has not officially confirmed this statement.

FIA's own reaction and investigation

The FIA apologises to Lawson for the incident and says it is conducting a thorough internal investigation. In doing so, it is working with OMDAI and Lawson's team. The aim is clear: to improve the safety of the sport.

• What the FIA is collecting and investigating: telemetry, radio traffic in multiple languages, footage and on-site procedures.

What the telemetry shows

Initial telemetry analysis shows that Lawson slowed properly. He reacted to double yellow flags, braked earlier than in other laps and entered the corner much slower than at race pace. The FIA therefore concluded that he was not guilty of the incident.

Finally, the FIA expressed its appreciation to the marshals and volunteers. Without them, the sport cannot function safely. Full findings will follow when the investigation is complete.

Who should Verstappen have next to him in 2026?

Oct 31, 2025 | Formula 1

State of play

Red Bull has not yet made a final choice for the three remaining seats in 2026. Only Max Verstappen is fixed. The rest are subject to debate. There are clear preferences and counter-arguments. Key names include Isack Hadjar, Yuki Tsunoda, Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad.

Arguments for Hadjar at Red Bull

Hadjar impressed as a rookie this year. He was consistently fast and showed good qualifying performances. That raised hopes that he could support Verstappen well in the long run. Many experts think he should now be given a chance in the main formation. The thinking is: give Hadjar a serious chance and build around him for two years.

Key points pro Hadjar

• Consistent speed as a rookie.
• Potential to grow alongside Verstappen.
• A promotion can bring calm to the staff if the plan is fixed for two years.

Why some want to keep Tsunoda or Lawson

Yuki Tsunoda has more F1 experience. That could be valuable in a season with new regulations. Some opinion leaders think Tsunoda should be given a complete preparation first. If his data is insufficient, that should show he is not fit. That would be a fair way to make a final judgement.

Liam Lawson was given few chances at the top level earlier this year. Supporters believe he deserves a re-match. They cite his potential and the fact that he has already had a difficult start to the season. A second chance could help him regain confidence.

The Lindblad dilemma

Arvid Lindblad shows a lot of speed and has impressed in free practice. Some experts think he has the mental and technical qualities to make a difference. A possible scenario is to put Lindblad in Racing Bulls to grow further there. If he does well, he could move on quickly.

Problems in Red Bull's approach

Many commentators point to structural flaws in Red Bull's talent management. The criticism revolves too much around short-term solutions. No experienced free agent was extracted. There were wrong contract decisions and a lack of oversight. As a result, the organisation now stands with fewer options than desired.

The recommendation is clear: fewer impulsive changes and a clear long-term plan. Red Bull needs to decide whether it can fill two full A teams from its own breeding. If that is not realistic, another strategy is needed. For example: one upstart from its own racing stable and one experienced driver from outside.

Three practice scenarios

Based on the different opinions, here are three viable options:

• Promoted Hadjar to Red Bull. Lindblad to Racing Bulls. Let Racing Bulls choose between Lawson and Tsunoda.
• Leave Hadjar at Racing Bulls for another year. Do give Lawson a second chance with the senior squad.
• Give Tsunoda a normal pre-season and reassess both (Tsunoda and Hadjar) mid-season.

Opinion and conclusion

The least risky choice seems: promote Hadjar and deploy Lindblad structurally in the junior formation. Let Racing Bulls decide who fits best there, Lawson or Tsunoda. At the same time, it is essential that Red Bull changes its approach. Less panic football and more long-term planning. That way, the formation can become stable again in the longer term and Verstappen will actually keep a supportive teammate.