As the 2025 Formula 1 season enters its final stretch, the championship battles at the top are grabbing the headlines — but the fight for sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship could prove just as pivotal.
With Racing Bulls, Aston Martin, Haas, and Kick Sauber separated by just 12 points heading into the final four races, every lap, pit stop, and strategy call will matter. Sixth place might not sound glamorous, but for midfield teams, it’s about prestige, prize money, and momentum going into 2026’s new regulations.
Current Standings
Here’s how the standings look heading into Brazil:
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Racing Bulls – 72 pts
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Aston Martin – 69 pts
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Haas – 62 pts
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Kick Sauber – 60 pts
With only four rounds left — Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi — the battle for the best of the rest is wide open.
Racing Bulls: The Midfield’s Quiet Success Story
Current position: 6th – 72 points
Drivers: Isack Hadjar & Liam Lawson
Racing Bulls have arguably been the most consistent of the midfield contenders this season. Their combination of solid qualifying form and strategic execution has kept them in control of sixth place for most of the campaign.
Isack Hadjar continues to deliver strong, dependable results, while fellow rookie Liam Lawson has shown flashes of potential despite some missed opportunities. Their points haul has often come through both cars finishing in the top ten — the kind of reliability and teamwork that define midfield success.
The RB01 might not be the quickest car outright, but it’s been versatile — competitive on street circuits and high-downforce tracks alike. Both drivers are learning quickly, Racing Bulls are well-placed to defend their position.
Verdict: The favourites for sixth. A solid all-round package with consistent racecraft should see them home.
Aston Martin: Searching for Lost Form
Current position: 7th – 69 points
Drivers: Fernando Alonso & Lance Stroll
Just two years ago, Aston Martin were podium regulars. Fast-forward to 2025, and they find themselves in a difficult position — with inconsistent pace, reliability issues, and increasing frustration.
Fernando Alonso’s experience has kept the team in contention for sixth, but a lack of top-end performance has held them back. He’s had flashes of brilliance, but the car’s race pace has often faded in longer stints. Meanwhile, Lance Stroll has struggled to match his teammate’s output, and a DNF for Alonso in Mexico summed up the team’s season — promising starts, but underwhelming finishes.
Aston Martin have the resources and experience to strike back, but with limited time left in the season and their form tailing off, a return to sixth looks unlikely without a standout result.
Verdict: Competitive on their day, but too inconsistent to climb. The team may already be focusing on 2026.
Haas: From Underdogs to Genuine Midfield Players
Current position: 8th – 62 points
Drivers: Esteban Ocon & Oliver Bearman
Haas have arguably made the biggest leap forward of any team in 2025. After years of inconsistency, the American outfit finally appear to have found a balance between raw pace and execution. The VF-25 has been particularly strong on race day, often outperforming expectations.
The standout, of course, has been Oliver Bearman. His fourth-place finish at the Mexico GP marked the best result of his young career and one of Haas’s highest finishes in years. The Briton has been composed, confident, and unafraid to mix it with the frontrunners. Meanwhile, Esteban Ocon continues to be the team’s benchmark for experience and consistency, regularly scoring points when opportunities arise.
If Haas can maintain reliability and keep picking up double-points finishes, they’re well-positioned to jump Aston Martin and even challenge Racing Bulls for sixth.
Verdict: The team on the rise. A strong end to the season could make Haas 2025’s biggest surprise package.
Kick Sauber: Building for the Future
Current position: 9th – 60 points
Drivers: Nico Hulkenberg & Gabriel Bortoleto
Sauber’s transformation into the Audi works team is well underway, and while 2025 was always expected to be a transitional year, they’ve quietly impressed at times.
Rookie Gabriel Bortoleto has been a revelation, scoring points consistently and showing calmness under pressure — none more so than his P10 finish in Mexico after starting 16th. His progress, alongside Nico Hulkenberg’s steady hand, has helped Sauber stay in the fight. Hulkenberg’s podium in Silverstone being a key moment for the team this season has helped keep them in the hunt for 6th place.
However, outright performance remains their limitation. The C45 struggles on high-speed circuits, and their tyre management has often cost them late in races. Still, they’ve built a solid foundation for next season — even if sixth place is likely out of reach this year.
Verdict: Encouraging signs, but the fight for sixth is probably one step too far.
The Final Four Races
The remaining rounds will offer very different challenges — and opportunities for these midfield contenders:
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🇧🇷 Brazil: Interlagos’ unpredictable weather could shake up the order — Haas and Racing Bulls thrive in mixed conditions.
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🇺🇸 Las Vegas: Street-circuit chaos could reward opportunists like Aston Martin or Sauber.
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🇶🇦 Qatar: High degradation will test tyre management — a potential advantage for Racing Bulls.
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🇦🇪 Abu Dhabi: Often about track position and execution — consistency will be key.
One good result — like Bearman repeating his Mexico heroics — could easily swing this four-way fight.
Prediction: How It Ends
Based on recent form, reliability, and race execution, here’s how the battle for sixth could finish:
6th – Racing Bulls (72 → ~81 pts)
Consistent and dependable. Expect more solid double-points finishes to close the season.
7th – Haas (62 → ~77 pts)
Momentum is on their side, and Bearman’s growth continues to impress.
8th – Aston Martin (69 → ~75 pts)
They’ll pick up points, but the pace just isn’t there to stay ahead.
9th – Kick Sauber (60 → ~70 pts)
Competitive, but lacking the car to challenge for high finishes in the final rounds.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 midfield has been closer than ever — and while McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull dominate headlines, it’s this fight for sixth that reflects the heart of F1 competition.
Every team in this battle has something to prove: Racing Bulls want to cement their growth, Haas want to show their progress is real, Aston Martin want redemption, and Sauber want momentum heading into the Audi era.
But in a sport where consistency is king, Racing Bulls look set to hold onto sixth, with Haas the team most likely to spoil the party if they can keep up their late-season surge.
