🏁 Who’s Now Favourite in F1’s Three-Way Title Race — and Who Has the Best Car for the Run-In?

As Formula 1 heads to Mexico City for another thrilling Grand Prix weekend, the spotlight has shifted squarely onto the Drivers’ Championship — and for good reason.

After a dramatic Sprint weekend in Austin, three names have emerged as the clear title contenders: Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, and Max Verstappen.

With only five races remaining, the 2025 season is shaping up to be one of the closest and most unpredictable battles in recent memory. But who really has the edge — and which team has built the car capable of sealing the crown?

Let’s break down the data, the strategy, and the psychology behind this three-way title fight.

⚙️ The 2025 F1 Landscape: A Season of Shifting Power

This year’s F1 season has been anything but straightforward. Red Bull’s early dominance gave way to a surge from McLaren, while Ferrari found flashes of brilliance but struggled with consistency. Meanwhile, the young guns — Piastri and Norris — have proven that the next generation is officially here.

Heading into the Mexican Grand Prix, the Drivers’ Championship standings read:

That’s a 20-point spread among three drivers — with five races and 130 points still up for grabs.
In Formula 1 terms, it’s anyone’s title.

🧠 How the Battle Has Evolved: From Red Bull Dominance to McLaren Momentum

The 2025 season started with familiar scenes — Max Verstappen dominating early rounds and Red Bull’s RB21 setting the pace. But as the European leg of the calendar unfolded, the momentum began to shift.

McLaren’s mid-season upgrades, particularly their rear suspension geometry and floor redesign, have transformed the car into a genuine title contender.
Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have adapted brilliantly, using the car’s newfound balance to challenge Verstappen head-on.

Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s advisor, even admitted in a recent interview that the team “underestimated McLaren’s pace evolution” — a rare concession from the Austrian camp.

Meanwhile, Ferrari’s inconsistency has allowed both McLaren and Red Bull to pull clear in the standings, leaving Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz as mathematical outsiders.

🔥 Oscar Piastri: The Calm Assassin Leading the Charge

Let’s start with the current points leader.
Oscar Piastri, in just his third season, has displayed a maturity and composure beyond his years. His driving style — smooth, strategic, and unflappable — has earned comparisons to the early days of Fernando Alonso.

Piastri’s biggest strength lies in race management. He rarely overdrives, avoids unnecessary risks, and capitalizes on opportunities.
While Norris and Verstappen often push the limits in wheel-to-wheel combat, Piastri quietly racks up podiums and consistent finishes — the mark of a true title contender.

McLaren boss Andrea Stella recently praised his driver’s discipline:

“Oscar has been flawless in his execution. He’s the kind of driver who maximizes everything from what he’s given — that’s championship material.”

However, some critics argue that while Piastri’s consistency is impressive, he lacks the raw race-winning aggression that could be crucial in the final stretch.

🧡 Lando Norris: The Emotional Contender with Something to Prove

Lando Norris has been on the verge of greatness for several seasons. In 2025, he’s finally turned potential into performance.

After securing back-to-back wins in Silverstone and Budapest, Norris emerged as a genuine championship force. But occasional strategic missteps and unlucky pit stops have cost him crucial points.

Still, Norris’s connection with the fans — and his aggressive, “never say die” approach — makes him one of the most exciting drivers on the grid.
His qualifying pace remains elite, and on pure one-lap performance, few can match him.

Yet, the key for Norris now is mental composure. In the final five races, every decision, overtake, and pit call will matter. The question is whether he can balance raw speed with the strategic calm that Piastri and Verstappen often display.

🔴 Max Verstappen: The Hunter Becomes the Hunted Again

It’s unusual to call Max Verstappen an underdog — but in 2025, that’s exactly what he’s become.

After dominating the past few seasons, Verstappen found himself chasing rather than leading.
But as we’ve seen countless times, that’s often when he’s most dangerous.

Following a rough mid-season patch, Verstappen has rediscovered his rhythm. Red Bull’s aero upgrade package before the Japanese GP dramatically improved rear stability — something Verstappen has since exploited to devastating effect.

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko said:

“We simplified our systems, and Max immediately felt the difference. The car now works with him, not against him.”

In Mexico, where Verstappen has historically thrived, he could strike a decisive blow to McLaren’s title hopes.

🧩 The Team Factor: Who Has the Best Car?

Now to the big question — who has the machinery to go all the way?

🚀 McLaren: Balance and Efficiency

McLaren’s MCL60-B is arguably the most well-rounded car on the grid right now.
It excels in medium-speed corners, has excellent tyre wear, and is adaptable across circuits.

The car’s biggest advantage lies in its predictability — both drivers trust its handling characteristics fully, allowing for aggressive setups and late-braking overtakes.

🐂 Red Bull: Raw Power, Slight Instability

The RB21 still boasts superior straight-line speed and race pace in clean air. However, its performance window has become narrower, especially on bumpy or high-altitude tracks — a concern ahead of the Mexico City GP.

Still, if Red Bull nails their setup, Verstappen remains the benchmark for consistency and execution.

🐎 Ferrari: Fast but Flawed

Ferrari’s SF-25 has flashes of brilliance — particularly in qualifying — but suffers from tyre degradation and heat management. It’s likely too late for a title push, but they could still play spoiler in the final rounds.

📈 Strategy Breakdown: How the Run-In Could Be Decided

With five races remaining — Mexico, Brazil, Qatar, Las Vegas, and Abu Dhabi — strategy and track characteristics will play a massive role.

If this prediction holds, the title may come down to the final race in Abu Dhabi — a fitting conclusion for what’s been a season-long thriller.

🧮 The Psychology of a Three-Way Fight

F1 titles aren’t just won in the garage or on the track — they’re won in the mind.
Piastri’s calm, Norris’s emotion, and Verstappen’s aggression form a fascinating contrast in mentality.

Experts say the key psychological factors now include:

• Momentum: Who can convert form into consistency?
• Pressure handling: Mistakes under pressure will define champions.
• Team dynamics: Will McLaren manage the intra-team tension between its two title contenders?
• Experience: Verstappen’s championship pedigree could prove decisive in crunch moments.

As former F1 driver Damon Hill put it:

“You can’t underestimate the mental warfare in a title fight like this. Every glance, every comment, every qualifying session is a statement.”

🏆 Predictions: Who Takes the 2025 Title?

Let’s look at the odds — metaphorically and literally.

Our forecast?
If McLaren maintains parity in development, Oscar Piastri has the inside line. But if Red Bull’s Mexico and Vegas packages deliver, Verstappen could yet flip the table.

Related Post

• Inside McLaren’s 2025 Transformation: How Norris and Piastri Changed the Game
• F1 2025 Calendar and Key Circuits That Could Decide the Title
• Verstappen vs Norris vs Piastri: The New Golden Era of Formula 1

🏁 Final Thoughts

The 2025 Formula 1 title race is a rare spectacle — three elite drivers, two powerhouse teams, and one crown that could define a generation.

In the high-altitude chaos of Mexico City, we may see the first crack in someone’s armor — or the defining drive of a champion.

Whether it’s Piastri’s precision, Norris’s passion, or Verstappen’s relentless pursuit of glory, one thing is certain: this is F1 at its absolute best.

As the engines roar under the thin Mexican air, the world will be watching — because history is once again being written in the language of speed.