McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has highlighted Lewis Hamilton as a leading Formula 1 victory contender alongside Charles Leclerc for the remainder of the 2025 season. Speaking ahead of the mid-season break, Stella emphasized that despite McLaren’s dominance so far, both drivers remain formidable challengers, with fierce competition expected in the coming races.
McLaren has controlled much of the season, winning 11 of the first 14 races, but the competitive landscape has included key victories from other drivers like Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, and George Russell. Verstappen, although not dominant in recent events, has managed to break McLaren’s winning streak, while Hamilton secured a Sprint race win and Russell claimed victory at the Canadian Grand Prix.
Stella, addressing the media during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, acknowledged the ongoing threat from teams such as Ferrari and Mercedes. He indicated that the middle and latter stages of the season would likely see more intense battles for race victories, as rivals close the gap to McLaren’s performance.
McLaren’s perspective on fierce competition from Ferrari and Mercedes
Andrea Stella noted Ferrari’s resurgence in recent races, pointing out their competitiveness in various dry-weather conditions like at Silverstone and Belgium. Although these performances weren’t always reflected in race results, Stella believes Ferrari will continue to contest wins throughout the final races of the season.
He said, “Ferrari has been competitive over the last few races. They were competitive in dry in Silverstone, they were competitive in Belgium. Somehow, this wasn’t expressed fully….So, I’m not surprised. I think Ferrari is going to be a contender for victories for the remainder of the season.’’ —Andrea Stella, McLaren Team Principal
Stella further underlined the challenges from Mercedes and Max Verstappen, despite Verstappen being slightly off the pace recently. He expects Verstappen to regain his winning form and add to the competition for victories as the season progresses.
“Anytime we go racing for the second part of the season, we will have to take into account that in qualifying and in the race, we will have to deal with Ferrari, we will have to deal with Mercedes, and today Max was a bit out of contention, but Max, I’m sure, will find a way to fight for victories,”
he said. —Andrea Stella, McLaren Team Principal
Lewis Hamilton signals determination for the latter half of the season
Lewis Hamilton, responding to a difficult weekend at the Hungarian Grand Prix, sent a clear message to his competitors that he remains a strong contender despite setbacks. The British driver expressed resolve to come back stronger after the mid-season break, showing confidence in his ability to challenge for wins.
Hamilton said,
“It’s been a challenging weekend and one to move on from. We weren’t able to make the progress we hoped for but I’m grateful for the effort everyone in the team put in throughout the weekend. Now we head into the break. I’ll be using the time to reset, recharge, and come back stronger. I’m not where I want to be yet, but the fight’s not over – don’t count me out.”
—Lewis Hamilton, F1 Driver
The 40-year-old driver has an established pattern of strong performances during the second half of the Formula 1 season, often rebounding from early challenges. His experience and skill make him a significant factor in the championship fight as the season resumes at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort later this summer.
Upcoming challenges and the outlook for the remainder of the F1 season
As Formula 1 enters its mid-season break, teams and drivers are preparing for a competitive second half. Ferrari aims to build on their recent improvements and mount a stronger challenge for race wins. Meanwhile, McLaren hopes to maintain their strong form amid growing pressure from Mercedes and Red Bull.
The intense rivalry between Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen, and other top drivers sets the stage for an exciting conclusion to the 2025 championship. With 10 races left, the battle for victories and ultimately the championship promises to be fiercely contested across a variety of circuits. The developments in Zandvoort and beyond will be critical in shaping the final outcome of the season.