P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Oscar Piastri’s troublesome run of misfortune and error got us thinking – how many times did champions have mid-season wobbles and still win the title? Our writers pick out eight, from Senna to Hakkinen, from Schumacher to Verstappen and more
Oscar Piastri’s lead in the 2025 F1 drivers’ championship has significantly dwindled due to recent race results, particularly the intense competition with his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris and the looming threat of Max Verstappen.
The series of events, including team orders at Monza, Norris’s hit in Singapore, and a challenging weekend in Azerbaijan, have tightened the championship race as Norris has reduced Piastri’s lead to 22 points before the United States Grand Prix.
Despite George Russell’s strong performance and Mercedes’ inconsistent season, Piastri still holds a points advantage, but Verstappen’s impressive performance is closing the gap.
Past examples like Nico Rosberg’s 2016 comeback against Lewis Hamilton and Mika Hakkinen’s tense championship wins showcase that even favorites can face challenges and turn the tide in the latter stages of the season.
