Racing legend and F1 commentator Graham Duxbury takes a closer look at the changing times in F1.
Formula One has always been defined by its rivalries, and the 2025 season is no exception. With the championship now reaching a critical phase, it’s abundantly clear that we’re witnessing another fascinating battle – one that blends cutting-edge technology with timeless human drama. Fans are once again being treated to a highly-charged contest between top drivers, just as they were in the sport’s most iconic eras. But are we seeing a modern classic unfold, or has the nature of the fight changed beyond recognition in a F1 world driven by technology, data and strategy?
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Driver Instinct
Historically, F1 placed a premium on driver instinct, mechanical sympathy and – dare we say it – race-day courage. There was less margin for error and fewer opportunities for a recovery. In the days before power unit management and live data telemetry, a driver’s feel for track conditions, tyre wear, suspension settings and brake balance conditions could make or break a race.
For example, Ayrton Senna’s legendary 1991 Brazilian GP win – which saw him wrestle a car stuck in sixth gear and on the point of stalling in low and medium-speed corners – demonstrated how individual brilliance could triumph over technical challenges.
Data Driven
Today, while raw talent remains essential, success hinges equally on strategic execution. A modern race weekend is a high-speed chess match. Tyre management, fuel targets, DRS deployment, Safety Car windows, pitstop strategies – underpinned by huge volumes of data relating to every aspect of performance – play vital roles. Many teams use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to predict scenarios and shape strategy in real time.
Now, engineers search endlessly for the much-vaunted ‘sweet spot‘ – the perfect blend of grip, aero efficiency and tyre temperature. It has become the holy grail for teams, but it is as elusive as ever. This shift in priorities for F1 drivers and teams over the years isn’t a regression, it’s natural evolution. Compared to the turbocharged cars of the ’80s or the V10s and V8s of the 2000s, modern F1 cars are far heavier, more complex, but arguably offer greater parity and a more consistent spectacle across the field. This is supported by the closeness of today’s midfield.
Unprecedented Reliability
Another critical evolution lies in mechanical advancement. Reliability has vastly improved. Gone are the days when a dominant car might retire from the lead with a blown engine or a gearbox failure. In the past, mechanical attrition played a major role. For example, at the 1968 Mexican GP, the final round of the season, one of three drivers could claim the Drivers’ Championship – Denny Hulme, Jackie Stewart or Graham Hill.
In the race, Hulme’s McLaren broke a rear suspension member, crashed and caught fire. And Stewart fell back plagued by an engine problem with his Matra. These failures gave Hill a clear path to victory and his second title. Today, championship contenders can usually count on finishing races, which means strategic execution is more important than ever. Teams must think across a 24-race season, balancing performance peaks with upgrade plans and managing engine penalty risks while ensuring intra-team driver harmony.
Intra-team Rivalry
This brings us to one of the all-time challenges facing team principals. Nowhere are tensions more evident than within the same pit garage. In 2025, one of the most compelling subplots is unfolding at McLaren, where Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are both chasing wins and challenging for the title. Their growing rivalry – which remains low-key for now – echoes some of F1’s most tense internal battles. Are future flashpoints inevitable?
In 1989, Senna and Alain Prost dominated the season at McLaren, but their relationship soon soured, leading to an infamous feud and on-track contact. In 2007, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso’s partnership at McLaren imploded in the wake of accusations, team politics and pit-lane dramas.
Emotional Weight
What remains unchanged through the decades is the emotional weight of a championship season – witness Hamilton’s breakdown in Hungary. Then there are the media narratives – think of the Italian press’ attack on Fred Vasseur. For many, they contribute to the allure of F1 in the ‘Netflix era’. Whether 2025 ends in a final-lap showdown like Felipe Massa and Hamilton in 2008 or a controversial collision such as the Damon Hill – Michael Schumacher clash in 1994, it’s clear that 2025 carries the pressure and theatre that define F1 at its best.
In that sense, no matter how much the sport evolves, the heart of an F1 championship fight remains constant – fast cars, faster minds, and the unrelenting pursuit of greatness.