F1, a three-way sprint decides the grand finale of the World Championship

If there is one thing the 2025 Formula One season can teach, it is to never give up. The championship has seen a succession of surprise events that has turned McLaren's technical dominance into an open challenge to the last race. Of course, the talent of Max Verstappen played a crucial role, but there is more.

First and foremost, a fair management of the drivers by McLaren (the Papaya Rules) that did not define precise hierarchies between driver A and B during the season. This balance, evidenced by the seven victories obtained by each of the two, has not allowed anyone to stretch in the standings. These are appreciable business choices, but who knows whether, at the very last race, a team order in favour of Norris could decide the world championship.

Secondly, the role of Red Bull strategy. On the podium at Losail, Hannah Schmitz, chief strategy engineer at Milton Keynes, went up to collect the award for the winning manufacturer. If Red Bull during the season almost always managed to maximise results with aggressive strategies, McLaren often appeared more clumsy, perhaps too careful to ensure that a choice in favour of one driver did not disadvantage the other.

Third point: the unforeseen events and bad luck that have plagued Norris. The world leader lost heavy points at Zandvoort due to engine failure and at Las Vegas due to disqualification for excessive bottom wear. Both episodes were out of the driver's control.

But with 'ifs' and 'buts' history is not written. What counts, in the end, will be the ranking: on such a broad horizon of races (24 plus 6 sprints), the winner will undoubtedly have been the best. Let us briefly look at the profiles of the three contenders.