Lewis Hamilton – 175 points – 3 wins5. Carlos Sainz – 147 points – 1 win
It was Ferrari’s Leclerc and McLaren’s Norris who emerged as the form drivers in the second half of the season, with Verstappen winning just twice in the final 12 races and Hamilton, despite securing three victories in that time, falling further behind in the championship standings.
Leclerc and Norris were the only drivers to score over 200 points in the final 12 races, with Verstappen notching 182 and Hamilton 175. It was a marked contrast to the opening half of the season where Verstappen had been the class of the field.
While it was ultimately Verstappen who clinched the title in style in Abu Dhabi, the closing stages of the season showed that the Dutchman could be beaten and that a true multi-driver championship battle is on the cards for 2025.
With the new cars set to be unveiled and pre-season testing about to get underway, the stage is set for one of the greatest seasons in Formula 1 history.
Ferrari are as strong as they finished last season. Hamilton is at Ferrari and that will be an interesting match-up. Norris has been consistent, and Leclerc has been impressive. It’s shaping up to be an exciting season with a lot of potential contenders for the championship. Let’s see how it all plays out on the track.”