The 2025 Formula One season gets underway in March with the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park. It promises to be an interesting and exciting season, particularly given the significant changes in the driver market, which have seen established names depart and a fresh wave of young talent arrive.
By Graham Duxbury
As ever, aerodynamic efficiency, power unit reliability, and strategic adaptability will likely be decisive factors as teams search for success. Fans should brace themselves for a season of tough competition.
Reigning drivers’ champion, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen – now a seasoned veteran with four titles to his name – is undoubtedly the driver to beat. However, he faces formidable challenges from Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at McLaren and the Ferrari duo of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
The 20-car grid will change significantly in 2025, with Hamilton’s move to Ferrari unquestionably the most high-profile switch. His multi-million-dollar deal with the Scuderia should ensure he stays at Ferrari until 2026, if not longer, as he searches for his eighth championship title.
Will he be able to beat his teammate in what team principal Frederik Vasseur has dubbed a “99% new Ferrari”? It’s an often-asked question with an uncertain answer.
Sergio Pérez has been let go by Red Bull and replaced by Liam Lawson, who made occasional appearances for Red Bull’s sister team, Visa Cash App Racing Bulls (Vcarb), in 2023 and 2024. The question now is whether the young New Zealander will have the mental fortitude to handle a teammate as talented and dominant as Max Verstappen.
Among the three drivers making their debut in F1 this year, Kimi Antonelli’s arrival has generated the most anticipation. Some fans are even calling him “the new Senna.” The teenage star will join George Russell at Mercedes-Benz, while Valtteri Bottas is set to return to the team as a reserve driver.
McLaren stands out as one of only two teams maintaining an unchanged driver lineup in 2025. The partnership of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri is among the strongest and potentially the most dramatic in the paddock. As the reigning constructors’ champions, they will undoubtedly aim for a drivers’ title to add to their trophy cabinet. Which pilot will emerge as the favourite?
The other team with a stable driver pairing is Aston Martin, featuring Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. However, not much else has remained static at the Silverstone-based team. Andy Cowell has taken the helm as team principal, succeeding Mike Krack, who now holds the position of chief trackside officer.
Former Ferrari executive Enrico Cardile has joined as chief technical officer, while the highly anticipated arrival of Adrian Newey is expected to significantly influence the design of the 2026 Aston Martin. His expertise could also prove valuable as the team progresses throughout 2025.
The Alpine team will be spearheaded by Pierre Gasly, accompanied by rookie Jack Doohan, who is eager to establish himself within the improving team. The positive influence of new team principal Oliver Oakes, along with the legendary advisor Flavio Briatore, has created a sense of optimism for the French outfit, which will rely on Renault engines for one final season before transitioning to Mercedes power units in 2026.
Additionally, Alpine’s decision to recruit former Williams driver Franco Colapinto as a reserve driver is likely to intensify competition among the regular drivers, particularly given that Colapinto is expected to attract significant backing from sponsors keen to associate with the promising Argentine talent.
Speaking of Williams, the team has secured the services of race winner and Ferrari refugee Carlos Sainz. He will partner with Alex Albon. Many believe that Sainz’s immense talent may be underutilised at a mid-field team, but team principal James Vowles is committed to providing him with a competitive car tailored to his driving style and needs. Could this mean a pleasant surprise for Sainz’s many fans?
Over at Vcarb, rookie Isack Hadjar will make his F1 debut alongside Yuki Tsunoda, who will be embarking on his fifth season with the team, and likely his last. Hadjar, a Red Bull junior driver, narrowly missed out on winning the F2 title in 2024.
That title was clinched by Gabriel Bortoleto, who now joins Sauber as a rookie, partnering with the experienced Nico Hülkenberg. Nico’s impressive performances at Haas in 2024 caught the attention of Sauber’s CEO, Andreas Seidl, who is preparing for the team’s transition to Audi in 2026.
Haas, under the leadership of team principal Ayao Komatsu, has been revitalised with an all-new driver lineup. Esteban Ocon joins Ferrari Academy driver Oliver Bearman, who served as a reserve driver for both Haas and Ferrari in 2024.
During the 2024 Saudi Arabian GP, Oliver stepped in for Carlos Sainz, who had to withdraw due to appendicitis. At just 19 years old, Oliver became the youngest driver ever to compete for Ferrari. He finished in seventh place, making him the youngest driver to score points on debut in F1.
Additionally, reports indicate that Laura Muller is set to become Ocon’s new race engineer at Haas, making her the first woman to hold such a position at any F1 team.
Several drivers have left F1, either temporarily or permanently. Notably, Sergio Perez has taken a sabbatical despite having two years remaining on his Red Bull contract, and Zhou Guanyu has departed from Sauber.
After concluding his F1 career with Haas, Kevin Magnussen will join the World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2025, driving for BMW.
With very few changes in the regulations for 2025 – apart from the introduction of new gender-neutral language – Red Bull and McLaren are expected to remain at the forefront of the competition, while the new Mercedes and Ferraris pose significant challenges. Will this season redefine the pecking order in F1 and add another unforgettable chapter to the sport’s rich history?
Cadillac Racing is already making history as the team is set to join the F1 grid in 2026. Although Cadillac has started developing its Ferrari-powered race car, it faces various limitations related to the rulebook and the cost cap.
These restrictions affect the amount of work the team can do, the level of wind tunnel and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) testing it can conduct, and, of course, the budget it can allocate.
These rules are part of the FIA’s effort to ensure a level playing field for all competitors. There are whispers in the paddock that 2025 will bring a surprisingly competitive landscape, leading to some of the most exciting GP races in recent years.