George Russell steals F1 title lead in bizarre circumstances

McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris have dominated the 2025 F1 season, but what would happen if they were removed from the championship?

Together, the McLaren duo has won 11 of the 14 completed grands prix, with Max Verstappen having secured two and George Russell one. Just twice this season, has Norris and Piastri each not even featured on the rostrum.

Heading into the summer break, Piastri holds a narrow nine-point lead over Norris, whilst Verstappen finds himself 97 points behind in third. However, if the McLarens were not in the championship, the Dutchman would still not be leading the standings.

The driver who would be leading the championship is Mercedes' George Russell, who is actually fourth in the actual drivers' title.

If the McLarens simply did not exist, Russell would have collected victories in China, Bahrain, Miami and Hungary, whilst the races in Australia and Saudi Arabia would have been won by Verstappen.

Without the McLaren pair, Russell would hold an eight-point advantage over Verstappen, with the two Ferraris in third and fourth, respectively.

Perhaps the craziest detail of imaging the current campaign without McLaren, is that Nico Hulkenberg's maiden podium in Silverstone would have actually been a race victory! Remarkably, without McLaren, his first F1 rostrum would have been secured in Barcelona. 

Elsewhere, a no-McLaren championship would have seen Fernando Alonso secure a podium in Hungary, Alex Albon in the top three in Miami and Imola, whilst Esteban Ocon would have achieved Haas' first F1 podium in China.

A final note, if Norris and Piastri were excluded, Lewis Hamilton would find himself on five podiums for Ferrari.

View the full F1 standings without the McLaren drivers below!