One Bold Prediction for Every Team for the F1 Miami Grand Prix
- Matt Hylen
- 3 hours ago
- 10 min read
Round 6 of the 2025 F1 season is officially underway in Miami! With this weekend being another Sprint-style weekend, we should be in for a lot of competitive racing. This high-speed track features 19 corners and 3 DRS zones, but with rain on the horizon during the weekend, all is to play for. The atmosphere is electric, the vibe is unmatched, and the drivers are absolutely ready to give fans a show.
As I mentioned, this weekend's race is a Sprint-style format. A Sprint race is a race with fewer laps that gives the drivers an opportunity to score some extra points. It is meant to not only help the drivers, but also give the fans more racing action. Instead of the normal weekend format (three practice sessions, qualifying, and the race), a sprint weekend format is a little different. There will be only one practice session, and two qualifying sessions (one for the sprint race and one for the main race). The sprint race will occur between the sprint qualifying session and the main race qualifying session.
Now, before we get into my predictions, here is a look at how both Championships are shaping out, and a reminder on how they work:
Formula One has two main championship competitions. The first is the Drivers' Championship, which is a competition between the drivers' individual performance. On a non-Sprint style weekend, the drivers who finish in the top 10 in each race will score points (the higher you place, the more points you get). These points are added up, and whichever driver finishes with the most points at the end of the season will win the Drivers' Championship.
The next is the Constructors' Championship, a competition between the teams. The number of points the drivers within a team get each race is combined, creating the total points for the team (e.g., Lando Norris has scored 89 points, and Oscar Piastri has scored 99 points, giving the McLaren team 188 points in the Constructors' Championship). The team whose drivers accumulate the most points combined for their team will win the Constructors' Championship.
Now here is a look at the standings for both Championships:
Drivers' Championship Standings:
Oscar Piastri 99 points
Lando Norris 89 points
Max Verstappen 87 points
George Russell 73 points
Charles Leclerc 47 points
Andrea Kimi Antonellii 38 points
Lewis Hamilton 31 points
Alexander Albon 20 points
Esteban Ocon 14 points
Lance Stroll 10 points
Pierre Gasly 6 points
Nico Hulkenberg 6 points
Oliver Bearman 6 points
Isak Hadjar 5 points
Carlos Sainz 5 points
Yuki Tsunoda 5 points
Fernando Alonso 0 points
Liam Lawson 0 points
Jack Doohan 0 points
Gabriel Bortoletto 0 points
Constructors' Championship Standings:
McLaren 188 points
Mercedes 111 points
Red Bull 89 points
Ferrari 78 points
Williams 25 points
Haas 20 points
Aston Martin 10 points
Racing Bulls 8 points
Alpine 6 points
Kick Sauber 6 points
Standings were found at F1.com.Â
DISCLAIMER: These predictions are educated guesses based on each team's performance thus far this year, and the upgrades they have brought to their car. As we all know, anything can happen on race day!
Alpine Score Zero Points in Both Races
Now, this may not be a crazy prediction, however, I am not expecting much from Alpine this weekend.
With no new upgrades declared for this weekend, Alpine could struggle for pace in Miami. Even with the crash last time out, Pierre Gasly has been looking solid and comfortable with the car. The issue is that if there is rain this weekend, which it looks like there will be, I just do not think Alpine will adjust accordingly.
Gasly's teammate, Jack Doohan, has also been mediocre at best this season. Coming off a 17th place finish in Saudi Arabia, Doohan just cannot seem to figure out the car. Considering Doohan's lackluster pace, and the face the car has been extremely inconsistent this year, I think Alpine will come up just short in both the Sprint and the main race this weekend. I would not be surprised if they finish near the points, but the likes of Williams, Racing Bulls, and even Haas look quicker right now.
Aston Martin's Nightmare Continues
After yet another weekend without scoring a point, Aston Martin look abysmal in every facet. Though Fernando Alonso somehow keeps putting himself in a position to fight for points, the pace of the car has been far from competitive.
Heading into this weekend, Aston Martin has implemented several minor, circuit-specific upgrades. These include a less aggressive front wing profile to better balance the car, along with a lower rear-downforce wing/beam wing combination. The team has also implemented an increased cooling exit area for the rear bodywork of the car.
Though the upgrades should help the car, they are only minor adjustments, and Aston Martin are going to need a lot more if they want to compete in the midfield. As we all know, Aston Martin is fully committing to the 2026 car, which only fuels my belief that the team will not be good at all this weekend.
Ferrari Produce a Podium Finish
Ferrari looked much improved last weekend and produced a performance that I think they can replicate in Miami. The upgrades they brought worked tremendously, and with Miami being another high-speed kind of track, it is likely we will see another competitive Ferrari car.
No new upgrades to discuss for Ferrari this weekend, but I do not think they will need them. If I were to pick which driver will take that podium this weekend, I would have to say Charles Leclerc. Leclerc looks like the much more comfortable driver right now and is coming off his first podium finish last weekend. Lewis Hamilton, on the other hand, has struggled mightily to start the season. I think last race weekend was the start of Ferrari's turnaround. Are they as fast as the McLarens? No, not yet, but I still fully expect Leclerc, and possibly Hamilton, to compete amongst the top of the grid.
Let's just hope their result is not as bad as their livery for this weekend...
Both Haas Drivers Make it Into Q3 in Either the Sprint and/or Main Race
I am considering this to be a bold prediction because, believe it or not, this has not happened all year long!
Considering how solid Haas has looked in terms of race pace, it has been very weird to see that their qualifying pace is nowhere near it. There has also yet to be a weekend where both Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon have put together a good qualifying result at the same time. So far, it has pretty much been a case where one of Hass' drivers looks quick, while the other finishes qualifying in the bottom 5.
This will finally be to weekend Haas breaks through in qualifying. With the team changing the shape of the diffuser and adding a small flap (called a gurney flap) to help the air flow of the car, this could help push Haas over the extreme hurdle that has been their qualifying pace. Both drivers have shown they can do it, so it is time they both do it on the same weekend.
Both Kick Sauber Drivers makes it into Q2 at Some Point this Weekend
Though this may be the most unlikely prediction I make this weekend, I am trying to have some sort of faith in Kick Sauber in Miami.
It is abundantly clear that Kick Sauber has the slowest car. Even with changes to their front and rear wing, the race pace is horrendous all season long, which I do not think changes. With that being said, Sauber has managed to show signs of life in qualifying this year. The team has managed to sneak into Q2 a couple of times so far this season (Gabriel Bortoletto in Australia and China and Nico Hulkenberg in China), which maybe leads me to believe they can do it again this weekend.
In all likelihood, Kick Sauber will likely be bottom dwellers again in Miami. Bortoletto and Hulkenberg would have to severely outperform the car if my prediction were to come to fruition, although I would not be shocked if a veteran like Hulkenberg has something up his sleeve.
Norris Takes the Drivers' Championship Lead Back
Lando Norris has gone far too long without competing for a race win; I think that changes at the race in which he won his first career race.
The gap from Norris to his teammate, and Drivers' Championship leader, Oscar Piastri is only 10 points. On top of that, the Sprint gives Norris another opportunity to cut into Piastri's lead. Yes, Norris has struggled severely the past couple of races, but he is far too talented to maintain this poor level of form. I believe he will figure it out at a track he loves in Miami, and produce a dominant kind of weekend we know he can produce.
McLaren have also brought major upgrades this weekend. They’ve redesigned the body of the car, including the engine cover and the sidepods, to help air flow more smoothly. They've also made changes to the car's underfloor. At the front, there’s a new wing, updated suspension parts, and improved brake ducts to better control how air moves around the car. At the back, the wing and other small parts near the brakes have also been adjusted to take full advantage of the improved airflow. Norris will be getting the full package, while Piastri is getting part of the package (he is expected to receive the full package next race weekend in Imola).
In short, Norris, on paper, should have the faster car than Piastri, giving him a head start already. Everything is pointing towards a bounce-back weekend for Lando.
Mercedes Win a Race
Now, a lot would need to happen in order for this prediction to come to fruition, however I absolutely see a world where Mercedes shock everyone this weekend and win either the Sprint or the Grand Prix.
First off, rain is expected this weekend. With rain comes a higher chance of chaos ensuing. With the standings being so close, I imagine the drivers at the top will fight hard and aggressively for a win. For Mercedes, one wrong move from an opponent could win them a race. The car as well as the driver have been consistent all year long, and i believe will be ready to pounce, should something happen in the front.
I also would not be shocked if Mercedes had elite pace this weekend. With significant upgrades made to the car's underfloor to help with drag, and a revised cooling system to account for the track's heat, Mercedes is a major dark horse to win this weekend. Again, something may need to happen at the top, but considering the form both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli have been on, the silver arrows could be in for a fantastic weekend.
Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson Outperforms his Teammate Isak Hadjar
First and foremost, that livery is incredible. VCARB have done it again!
Anyways, I think this is the weekend Liam Lawson finally gets it together and shows the world that he still has potential. Since rejoining VCARB in Japan, Lawson has improved his race results each week (17th in Japan, 16th in Bahrain, and 12th in Saudi Arabia). Though his teammate, Isak Hadjar, has been tremendous so far this season, I think we see Lawson outperform Hadjar. Granted, I think both drivers could be in for a solid weekend, yet my gut is telling me that we could see a Liam Lawson breakout in Miami.
With work being done on the car's underfloor and diffuser, VCARB's pace should look solid again. It is because of this consistency within the car that I believe Lawson has figured out how to get the best out of the car at a quicker rate than he did at Red Bull. Lawson has talent, we all know this, and was put in a position he was not ready for at Red Bull. However, his confidence seems to be returning with every race he drives in that VCARB car, causing me to believe he could be in for a better weekend than Hadjar.
Neither Red Bull Driver Finishes in the Top 5
Is betting against Max Verstappen, with the potential for wet weather, a good idea? No, absolutely not, yet I am going to do it anyway.
I just do not see things coming together for Red Bull this weekend. A Bahrain-like struggle could be on the horizon for Red Bull, even with the weight-reduction upgrades they are making to the car as well as underfloor upgrades. McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes look like quicker, more consistent cars to drive than Red Bull. It is hard for me to see a world where, considering the likely pace of the other three teams, Max Verstappen can save the team again.
Shoutout to Verstappen and his longtime partner Kelly Piquet, who welcomed their first child together this week!
Williams Score Points in Both Races
With Alex Albon still showing consistent pace and Carlos Sainz looking more and more comfortable every race, it is about time for Williams to put it all together this weekend.
With lots of points on the table in Miami, and the car receiving a track-specific front wing revision, Williams is primed for their best weekend to date. Now, scoring points in both races is a bit audacious, but with a driver lineup like Williams has, whose experience should shine through the wet conditions, it is very possible Williams come away with points in both races.
Sainz and Albon have looked very close in terms of pace the past two races, and are confident enough to help each other keep positioning by fending off cars behind. This newfound confidence in the car, as well as the car's preference for high-speed tracks and long straights, makes Miami a perfect time for Williams to score double points again this weekend.
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Until next time!
-Matt Hylen