Despite McLaren’s dominance, having won 11 of the first 14 races, multiple races have been decided by slender margins.
But which was the closest? Well, here is a rundown list of the top five closest race-winning margins of the season so far.
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5. Spain
- Piastri
- Norris +2.471
A finale more remembered for the battle and controversy between Max Verstappen and George Russell, where the Dutchman picked up a 10-second time penalty, a late race safety car allowed Lando Norris to close in on race leader Oscar Piastri.
But, at the safety car restart, Piastri simply drove away and comfortably bettered his British teammate to the race victory.
4. Japan
- Verstappen
- Norris +1.423
By a mere 0.012 seconds, Max Verstappen stunned the paddock when he revelled on the Suzuka tarmac and beat the two McLarens to pole position.
Many expected the evidently-quicker papaya cars to pass him on race day, but the lack of tyre degradation and the limited overtaking opportunities (given that Suzuka’s most plausible overtaking opportunities exist at high-speed turns, which makes it difficult to pass) meant that the closest that Norris came to spoiling Verstappen’s party was at the pit stops.
But for 53 flat-out laps, the Dutchman did just about enough and scored his first win of the year.
3. Australia
- Norris
- Verstappen +0.895
Two races prior, at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, the Red Bull driver could have scored an even more improbable win.
Though him not standing on the top step was not through his own errors, McLaren looked like they had opened the door.
Leader, Norris, and closer pursuer, Piastri, simply drove away from the opposition in the treacherous Albert Park conditions. But a safety car, deployed because of Fernando Alonso’s race-ending crash, allowed the field to close in again.
After, when rain started to fall again, both McLaren drivers headed off the road. Though Norris remained in the lead, Verstappen was his closest challenger.
Another safety car and a barrage of pressure later, Norris edged out Verstappen.
Piastri is OFF and Norris pits!
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 16, 2025
The rain is coming down and Piastri now gets back on track! ☔️#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/4TWZdi22lZ
2. Hungary
- Norris
- Piastri +0.698
After running fifth on the first lap, Norris wanted his name back in the top three. But the one-stop strategy that allowed him to execute that also gave him the lead.
Piastri, who pitted twice, closed in lap after lap, but could not find a way by, going into the circuit’s prime overtaking opportunity, the first turn.
That left Norris to take the win and close Piastri’s points lead to nine.
1. Canada
- Russell
- Verstappen +0.228
There probably should be an asterisk over this one. Why? Because the race ended behind the safety car.
George Russell led Verstappen by two and a half seconds when the two McLarens tangled, against the pit wall, leaving Norris to park his wounded car on the start/finish straight.
Out came the safety car and, given that just four short laps remained, it never came in until the chequered flag was waved.
Unable to overtake, Verstappen was glued to Russell’s rear axle and followed in the winner’s path.