2025 Formula 1 Team of the Year: None of them

On the surface, McLaren appeared to be the obvious choice. They secured the 2025 F1 Constructors’ Championship with races to spare and delivered a Drivers’ title, ending a drought that stretched back to 2008. Yet the deeper the discussion went, the more complicated the verdict became.

Strategic errors, controversial driver management, and moments of visible panic undermined what should have been a dominant campaign. Red Bull’s dramatic mid-season revival under Laurent Mekies added further complexity, while Mercedes quietly impressed without ever fully contending.

As Velasco and Mallak debate, the question shifted from who finished on top to what truly defines excellence. In a season where every leading team faltered in critical moments, the conclusion was as provocative as it was uncomfortable: perhaps 2025 produced no true Team of the Year at all?

Jad Mallak: "Team of the Year has to be McLaren. They weren’t perfect. They made strategy mistakes. They made errors in how they managed the drivers. Not everyone was happy with how Oscar and Lando were handled.

"But at the end of the day, they sealed the Constructors’ Championship with races to spare, and they put one of their drivers on top of the Drivers’ Championship. It was close. Red Bull pushed them to the end, and by Red Bull I mean Max pushed them to the end.

"But they brought the title back to Woking. It’s their first drivers’ title since 1999, when Mika [Hakkinen] won it. Combined with the Constructors’, they capped off a very strong season. They weren’t perfect, but who is? That doesn’t take away from what they achieved. For me, they are Team of the Year."

Paul Velasco: "All valid points, and I can’t argue them. But this award should recognise an exceptional team. And honestly, I don’t think any team deserves it.

"McLaren dropped the ball far too often. The papaya rules were a joke. They had a 104-point advantage over Max and ended up nearly losing it. They panicked badly. Got a double DQ in Las Vegas.

"That decision at Monza, telling Piastri to give the position back to Norris after the pit stop mistake, was outrageous. That alone disqualifies them for me. That’s not racing.

"Ferrari weren’t on the ball. Mercedes actually did a solid job. They brought Antonelli in properly, Russell took a big step, and when the car was decent, they won races. I venture that if Mercedes had McLaren’s package, I don’t think they would have messed it up as badly.

"For me, the real Team of the Year was Red Bull after Christian Horner was removed. Red Bull under Laurent Mekies. That’s crucial. The team was blown apart, senior figures gone, morale destroyed, and Mekies walked in with limited experience at this level and turned it around.

"If he’d arrived two or three races earlier, they might have won the championship. That’s teamwork. So for me, McLaren don’t deserve it. Red Bull under Mekies does."

JM: "I agree with you, but then you have to look at the whole season. Red Bull were a disaster in the first half."

PV: "That’s why I add the caveat: Red Bull under Mekies. But then you argue it’s not a full team effort because of the second driver."

JM: "Exactly. Driver management matters."

PV: "That’s my point. Every team had exceptional moments, but no one was consistently exceptional. So my conclusion is simple. If it were my call, Team of the Year goes to none of them."

JM: "I’ll give you that."

PV: "I don’t believe it!"

JM: "For me, my initial instinct was that we need to give it to someone. But then, after listening to your argument, I asked myself, why should we? If we absolutely have to pick one, then yes, McLaren, because despite all their mistakes, they emerged on top. But it’s our award. We decide."

PV: "I’m happy with no one getting it. If you or I, or anyone with more than basic knowledge of Formula 1, were running McLaren, we’d have wrapped up both titles. That’s how good that package was. So yes, we agree. No Team of the Year.

JM: "Agreed. The least bad team does not deserve an excellence award, which GrandPrix247 Team of the Year is."