Champion Norris leads the way, as F1 gets set to power into a new era

Verstappen wins more

Norris did not win the most races, nor did he lead the championship longest, with Verstappen taking eight wins — including the last three of the campaign — to the McLaren drivers' seven apiece.

Piastri topped the leaderboard from April to the end of October.

The Australian will be even more determined in 2026, after a massive learning year that, at one point, looked sure to crown him Australia's first champion in 45 years.

Mercedes, which powers McLaren, and is the factory team which finished runner-up with two wins from George Russell, could also provide far stiffer opposition.

The last time the sport had a major engine change, in 2014, Mercedes went on a dominant run of eight successive constructors' titles.

Winless Ferrari, without a title since 2008, will be under pressure to deliver with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton absent from the podium in a disappointing first year at Maranello.

Next year also sees the first Adrian Newey-designed Aston Martin, Verstappen racing a Red Bull powered by the energy drink company's own engine in partnership with Ford, while Audi replaces Sauber.

Frenchman Isack Hadjar joins Verstappen at Red Bull after an excellent rookie season at Racing Bulls, with a first podium at the Dutch Grand Prix.

How the 21-year-old matches up, as Verstappen's fourth teammate since the end of 2024, will be another fascinating storyline when the season revs back up in Australia on March 8.

Reuters