Trapped in the middle: The psychology of the midfield

Written by Kavi Khandelwal, Edited by Meghana Sree

Williams lead the midfield this season | Credit: Formula One

Formula One is defined by the front-runners where millions of eyes dissect every move. Every corner demands perfection, and every mistake is broadcasted with punishing scrutiny. However, a less visible yet equally intense psychological battle unfolds at the heart of the pack: the midfield.

Their overtakes, utter chaos and Hail Mary gambles, are the most thrilling highlights of the weekend, yet they often escape the camera’s focus. The psychological stakes of a midfield team are extensively high, despite being overlooked by the broader narrative.

Nico Hülkenberg, often known as the ‘midfield marauder’ holds the unique record for most race starts without a podium finish. The elusive podium was sealed at the 2025 British Grand Prix, where the German driver made up 16 places from the starting position. 

When asked about the elation he felt of finally being on the podium, the driver jokingly called it the start of the ‘Hülkenberg era’. This light-hearted jab from him hides the pressure and veiled frustration of performing at an elite level without a reward of a top-three finish.

Nico Hülkenberg took his maiden podium at the 2025 British Grand Prix | Credit: Formula One

It’s a sobering reality for midfield competitors to bear this psychological burden who might often feel that internal efforts are seldom rewarded with points.

Carlos Sainz articulated it perfectly: “It’s incredibly annoying going to every race to finish seventh, or even fifth.” 

The Williams driver’s words reveal the constant tension between raw ambition and the cold limitations of subpar machinery.

Defining the midfield maze

The midfield is quite adaptive and performance-based, fluctuating from season to season. It comprises teams battling for lower points-paying positions, usually outside of the top six.

A team's placement on the grid is a result of their sustained on-track performance, and the core of the midfield often sees extreme performance swings within a single season.

The turnaround of McLaren in 2023 highlights this. They evolved from a midfield contender into a consistent podium threat. By contrast, Aston Martin shifted from consistent podiums in the opening rounds of that year to a frustrating drop in performance as the season progressed. 

Furthermore, the cost cap in the sport stands as a paradox as hope and pressure collide. The opportunity to close the gap to front-runners comes with the pressure to capitalise every upgrade package. This endless development cycle is a high-stakes risk for midfield teams.

The mental toll of being almost there

Cars in the pitlane ahead of the 2025 Belgium Sprint | Credit: Formula One

It is a psychological experience of chronic hope that these teams are always chasing yet rarely catching. 

This becomes a never-ending cycle of expectation followed by almost certain disappointment. The enticing reach to glory but being unable to consistently attain it is far more psychologically demanding than being a backmarker. The expectations on the midfield operate higher, and each point earned matter immensely in the tight Constructors’ Championship.

The grit and talent of midfield drivers cannot be underestimated. They often extract more performance from their machinery than its capabilities suggest. 

Their confidence is built on sustained success, which is quite fragile and dependent on fleeting moments of individual brilliance or unexpected results for the midfield drivers. 

Esteban Ocon [left] and teammate, Pierre Gasly [right] achieved a shock Alpine 2-3 at the 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix | Credit: Formula One

With this, their career goals also shift from championship fights to more practical objectives like securing a stable seat, a rare podium and showing their worth to potential top teams.

The overwhelming pressure to just make it through in F1 where seats vanish mid-season because of poor performance or financial setbacks combine with their burning ambition to succeed.

The harsh reality of inferior machinery focuses on maximising points and settling for mid-pack finishes that end up feeling like defeats. This is the ultimate psychological trap of being 'almost there'.

Midfield glory: When the pressure pays off

Despite being often overshadowed by front-running battles, the midfield delivers moments of extraordinary glory that surpass the usual competitive hierarchy. These rare highs act as a psychological redemption for both drivers and teams.

Esteban Ocon’s 2021 Hungary victory is the best example. The French driver began eighth on the grid and expertly made the most of the first-corner mayhem. He overtook Lewis Hamilton due to a strategic error from the Briton, and managed to fend off a charging Sebastian Vettel to win his and Alpine's first F1 victory.

This triumph acts as a significant milestone that boosted his confidence and established him as a race winner. In 2024, the presentation of his winning car to his family was no doubt emotional for Ocon and his family as they spent years of personal sacrifice to fund his early career.

Fellow Frenchman Pierre Gasly's victory in the 2020 Italian Grand Prix is an even more psychologically redeeming victory. Following the demotion from Red Bull, this triumph was proof to the doubters of his ability and his deep strength in surmounting a trying 18-month span, including the loss of a close friend, Formula 2 driver Anthoine Hubert.

Gasly on the top step at the 2020 Italian Grand Prix | Credit: Formula On

This underdog victory broke the dominance of the top three teams: Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari. It was validation for Racing Bulls, then AlphaTauri, and also created a compelling narrative for the sport.

These moments deliver morale boost and prove that midfield drivers can also compete at the highest level, even if only occasionally. 

The psychological impact of the midfield victory exceeds that of a top team that wins every other week. The emotional release sustains motivation through inevitable challenging periods that create powerful memories to draw upon when frustration returns.

What’s won here is more than a race; it is the reclamation of possibility itself.