F1 summer report as Lewis Hamilton woe hurts Ferrari and sleeping giant awakens

Daily Mirror

2 days ago

After 14 rounds of the Formula 1 season, the summer break is here and Mirror Sport has taken the opportunity to have a closer look at how all 10 teams are getting on
It has been another Formula 1 season dominated by a single outstanding outfit. But this time it has been McLaren wiping the floor with the opposition, rather than Red Bull. And yet there remains plenty of excitement about what the final 10 events of the year might hold.
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When Max Verstappen was dominating the sport, not even his team-mate could get close to him. But this year we have two evenly-matched superstars in Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri who are putting on a real show. They won all but three of the Grands Prix held so far and, while it's a shame that no other team has been able to put up a real fight, this has all the makings of a title race to remember.
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Just nine points separate them, Piastri on top but Norris piling on the pressure having won three of the last four races. The only thing missing has been some needle – they are getting on extraordinarily well for two team-mates fighting for individual glory, even quickly forgetting Norris bashing into the back of Piastri in Canada.
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Surely, as the trophy gets closer, things between them will get more tense. But even though they've resisted the urge to take chunks out of each other, it's been a thrilling duel up to now and will be a great watch for the rest of the year.
For those behind them, it's all about the race to be second best. Ferrari are currently winning that fight, though Charles Leclerc has done most of the work so far with Lewis Hamilton still struggling to adapt.
He hit the nadir of his Ferrari career to date last weekend when he called himself "useless" and suggested the team might be better off replacing him. Hamilton desperately needs to find some confidence in the next few months to take into what could be his final F1 season next year.
READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton and his Ferrari turmoil – the dream F1 move quickly becoming a nightmare
Elsewhere, George Russell is shining for Mercedes despite all the speculation over his future this year, while Verstappen is helplessly watching his Red Bull team fade. And the midfield is delightfully tight with all of them, except perhaps Alpine, in points contention at most races. Here's how each of the 10 teams on the grid have got on so far this term:
McLaren - 559 points
The teams' title basically sewn up, 299 points clear of Ferrari, and drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in a two-horse race for the drivers' crown. It couldn't have gone much better for McLaren who could break the all-time points record if they keep up their current pace. Top Gear: Seven one-two finishes puts McLaren in with a shout matching Mercedes' record of 12 in a season. First Gear: Norris' crash into the back of Piastri in Canada set back his title bid.
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Ferrari - 260 points
Lewis Hamilton's struggles have cast a dark cloud over Ferrari as that dream partnership threatens to go horribly wrong. But it's not all doom and gloom with five podiums for Charles Leclerc, while they are second which is the best anyone other than McLaren can hope for this year. Top Gear: Lewis' surprise Sprint win in Shanghai was one of few bright spots for the Brit so far this year. First Gear: Just a day later, Ferrari saw both their cars disqualified for the first time ever in a Grand Prix.
Mercedes - 236 points
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Started strongly with George Russell on the podium in four of the first six races, and rookie Kimi Antonelli finding his feet quickly in F1. But upgrades have not improved their car and Antonelli has suffered a crisis of confidence amid a barren run of one point scored in seven European races. Top Gear: Russell won while Antonelli got his first podium on a red-letter day in Canada. First Gear: They left Monaco empty handed after a qualifying disaster left both outside the points.
Red Bull - 194 points
Christian Horner was shown the door, Max Verstappen's title streak is going to end and now even the Dutchman is struggling to get their wretched RB21 to perform. Add to that the ongoing crisis in their second seat and whispers that their 2026 engines may struggle to compete, and new boss Laurent Mekies has quite the job on his hands Top Gear: Successfully keeping Verstappen for another year amid interest from Mercedes was important. First Gear: Just 10 points scored by Yuki Tsunoda in the second seat is an abysmal return.
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Williams - 70 points
F1's sleeping giant is stirring into life under James Vowles who has got this grand old team performing again after years at the back. Alex Albon has stepped up another gear since Carlos Sainz was recruited and is a target for top teams again, though the Spaniard's slow start has been disappointing. Top Gear: Albon fifth and Sainz eighth at Imola where the former outpaced the Ferrari of Leclerc and Russell in the Mercedes. First Gear: June saw Williams suffer a reliability nightmare and score just one point in three races, losing ground to their midfield rivals.
Aston Martin - 52 points
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Testing suggested it would be a tough year for Aston and their start to the season proved it, though they have found more pace with upgrades in the European season. Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll have contributed evenly with 26 points each, though the real focus at this team is on what Adrian Newey can cook up for them next year. Top Gear: Fifth and seventh in Hungary last weekend catapulted them up to sixth in the championship with by far their best haul of the year. First Gear: It took double F1 champion Alonso NINE races to get a point on the board.
Sauber - 51 points
The surprise package of the season so far. New boss Jonathan Wheatley has had a massive impact since starting work in April after 18 years as sporting director at Red Bull. They made a slow start but have scored points in each of the last six races with veteran Nico Hulkenberg leading by example and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto turning heads. Top Gear: Hulkenberg's first ever F1 podium at Silverstone, at the 239th attempt, was one of the feel-good stories of the year so far in all of sport. First Gear: Seven pointless races in a row between China and Monaco had Audi fearing the worst about the team they formally take over next year.
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Racing Bulls - 45 points
Strategy calls and bad luck have cost them at times, but Red Bull's second team has had a good car for most of the year and has been in points contention at most races. Liam Lawson has found his feet since he was brutally axed by the top Red Bull team, while Isack Hadjar has a strong case for rookie of the year so far. Top Gear: Sixth place in his first Monaco F1 race earned Hadjar plenty of admirers. First Gear: Both drivers showed their inexperience by crashing out early on in difficult conditions at Silverstone.
Haas - 35 points
They may be second-to-last, but there is a buzz again at Haas under Ayao Komatsu after things turned sour towards the end of Guenther Steiner's long reign. Their car has been wildly inconsistent but new team leader Esteban Ocon has usually delivered when he can, while British rookie Oliver Bearman is quick but still very raw. Top Gear: Ocon made a swift impact with fifth in China, just his second race with the team, while Bearman was also in the points. First Gear: Their car was by far the slowest in the Melbourne opener thanks to a design flaw and fixing it set back their upgrades plan for the whole season.
Alpine - 20 points
Renault's disastrous F1 project continues to tread water until 2026 when they hope Mercedes engines will power them further up the grid. Pierre Gasly is doing the best he can and has scored all their points, with Franco Colapinto floundering since replacing the pointless Jack Doohan. Top Gear: Gasly saw his opportunity amid the Silverstone chaos and steered his Alpine to sixth. First Gear: Ferrari's double disqualification in China masked the fact Gasly was also kicked out of the race because his car was underweight.