The 2025 Formula One season has all the makings of a white-knuckle 24-race celebration to mark 75 years since the inaugural seven-race championship back in 1950. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen appears to have his work cut out to seal a fifth straight title with Lando Norris poised to knock the Dutchman off his perch. Hamilton’s move from Mercedes to Ferrari is just one of numerous intriguing subplots in a season that gets underway in Australia this Sunday with six rookies gracing the grid. Lets take a look at five talking points before lights go out in Melbourne.
Fifth Title for Verstappen?
Max Verstappen is back to compete for his fifth consecutive Formula One World Championship title in 2025. Only Michael Schumacher has previously achieved this feat. Verstappen had a dominant run last year, winning seven of the first ten races, but faced a tough challenge as other teams like McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari picked up pace. Despite a long winless streak, he managed to claim the title in Brazil. This year, Verstappen is still a strong contender, but the competition is fierce, with McLaren’s Lando Norris seen as a major challenger.
The New Class of 2025 Rookies
The 2025 season brings six fresh faces to the grid, with young drivers making their debut. Italian Kimi Antonelli, who only passed his driving test recently, joins Mercedes, taking over from Lewis Hamilton. Kiwi Liam Lawson will now race full-time for Red Bull alongside Verstappen. British driver Ollie Bearman, who impressed last year, moves to Ferrari-powered Haas. Gabriel Bortoleto from Brazil and Jack Doohan from Australia also make their debut. The French-Algerian Isack Hadjar, who narrowly missed out on the F2 title, completes the rookie lineup.
FIA Under Pressure from Drivers
In 2025, there is growing tension between Formula One drivers and the FIA, the sport’s governing body. One issue is the crackdown on swearing, with Verstappen and Charles Leclerc getting into trouble for bad language in 2024. The FIA strengthened its rules in January, which led to complaints from drivers. Many argue that adults should not be treated like children and questioned the FIA’s approach, especially its president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
The Global F1 Calendar: From Australia to Abu Dhabi
The 2025 season starts with the Australian Grand Prix on March 9th, with the Bahrain Grand Prix moving to April due to Ramadan. This year features 24 races, including six sprint events in cities like Shanghai, Miami, and Qatar. Monaco will try to improve its race by introducing a two-pit-stop strategy, and the season will end in Abu Dhabi on December 7th. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali promises that 2025 will be a year to remember as it marks the 75th Anniversary of the championship.
Testing Times
Pre-season testing in Bahrain left many questions unanswered, as teams kept their setups secret. The timesheets were mixed, with Mercedes’ George Russell showing the fastest lap on the final day, while McLaren’s Lando Norris topped the first day, and Williams’ Carlos Sainz led on the second. With the teams appearing closely matched, McLaren’s CEO, Zak Brown, believes the season will be extremely competitive, with multiple teams fighting for victories.
