The halfway point of the season marks the ideal moment to take stock, especially for those drivers who have changed teams. Unexpected transfers, risky bets and new challenges: the new line-ups have not only reshaped the grid, they have brought with them expectations, pressure and big surprises. But who has really found their feet in their new adventure? Through a brief analysis, we evaluate all those drivers who have started a new chapter in their careers.
Great hype not lived up to?
Let's start with the most talked-about man, Lewis Hamilton. After the announcement of his move to Ferrari, there was much speculation about what he would be able to achieve, a sign of the great excitement surrounding F1 fans - and the media - who were eager to see the seven-time world champion dressed in red.
January 2025: the first photos begin to circulate and are already a success, as are his first laps in a Ferrari. At the presentation of the cars, Hamilton is moved: he feels ready for this new adventure and, together with the whole team, uses important words in view of the season. But the reality will prove to be anything but triumphant. The Prancing Horse finds itself still chasing, with fluctuating performances. While Charles Leclerc manages to squeeze the most out of the car, Hamilton struggles, partly due to his lack of knowledge of the Ferrari world and all those technical aspects that are so different from those used at Mercedes. The gap with his teammate is evident: if we look at the last Grand Prix, the Englishman leaves Budapest with mixed emotions.
Emotional, impulsive. Those who know Lewis Hamilton know that his words are often not dictated by objective truth. These three weeks of break will serve to raise that ‘Still I Rise’ that is so lacking at the wheel of the Ferrari #44.
Full throttle
Nico Hulkenberg has settled in well at Sauber. The German driver was chosen by Mattia Binotto to help the team climb back up the standings. After a difficult start, developments on the C45 allowed the German and rookie Bortoleto to put together some important races. The British Grand Prix was unforgettable, with Hulkenberg managing to climb onto the podium.
Sauber ends the first part of the season in seventh place, battling with Aston Martin for sixth. With Bortoleto in good form and Hulkenberg solid, the future of the Swiss team (which, remember, will become Audi in 2026) looks very promising.
It never rains but it pours
Carlos Sainz is going through a difficult period: in his first season at Williams, he has scored only sixteen points in fourteen races. This is a worrying statistic considering that his teammate, Alex Albon, has 54 points. The Thai driver's great performances have allowed the British team to take fifth place in the constructors' championship. Without Albon, Williams would be last.
The Spaniard's difficulties are more than evident, and many are wondering where the determination and, above all, the consistency that characterises #55 has gone, as he grapples with the darkest period of his career. After his excellent performances at Ferrari, everyone expects Sainz to build a glorious path at Grove, which at the moment is only full of potholes.
The light at the end of the tunnel
The one who has surprised everyone positively is Esteban Ocon, who ended his relationship with Alpine well in advance (not competing in the last race of the 2024 world championship), arriving at Haas in December. It is a new adventure for the French driver, who strongly believes in the project revolving around the American team. His immediate rapport with the whole team has led him to achieve important results, with Haas currently in ninth place in the constructors' standings, battling with Racing Bulls and Sauber for seventh place.
The inconsistency of the VF-25 has prevented Ocon and Bearman from regularly finishing in the points. However, of the 35 points scored, 27 were obtained by the French driver. The numbers speak for themselves: Ocon has been able to adapt quickly to the Haas environment, thanks in part to his work with Laura Muller, his new track engineer. The Alpine chapter is now closed for the Frenchman, who is moving swiftly towards new horizons.
Two victims of the system
We close the circle with Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda, both Red Bull men. The New Zealander partnered Max Verstappen in the first races of the championship. But his results proved disappointing, with too big a gap between him and the Dutchman. At Suzuka, he was replaced by Tsunoda, who gave way to Lawson, who returned to Racing Bulls.
The road ahead will not be without pitfalls for the Japanese driver either: since his debut with Red Bull, he has scored only four points. Without Max Verstappen, the Austrian team would find itself at the back of the constructors' standings. The arrival of Mekies and the new updates should give the young Tsunoda the confidence he clearly lacks at the wheel of his RB21, which is also causing Max Verstappen major problems.
In Faenza, on the other hand, Lawson is starting to regain his feeling lap after lap, forming a solid and profitable partnership with Hadjar, with several points scored. RacingBulls aims to build a season full of solid races and, with a similar line-up, has everything it takes to do so.
A look at what's to come
The new line-ups have shaken up the grid. For some, changing teams has been synonymous with rebirth, while for others, it has been a hard blow. The second half of the Championship is just around the corner, with ten stages still to go. The possibility of changing scenarios is still very high.
Read in the original language (italian): https://www.formula1.it/news/25882/1/cambio-di-casacca-chi-ha-vinto-la-scommessa-a-meta-stagione
Main cover photo as.com
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