As engines are set to roar to life at Melbourne Park in Australia, marking the beginning of the 2025 Formula 1 season, and predictions point to one of the most open seasons in the last decade. It’s been since Jenson Button’s unexpected title win with Brawn in 2009 that the championship hasn’t been dominated by a single team or driver, with four teams and multiple drivers in contention this time around.
Following the dominance of Red Bull with Sebastian Vettel (2010-2013), Mercedes with Lewis Hamilton (2014-2015 and 2017-2020) and Nico Rosberg (2016), and Red Bull’s second stint with Max Verstappen (2021-present), this will be the first season where a larger and more diverse group of contenders will be vying for the top spot. At least, that’s what the preseason tests suggest, and we’ll soon find out as the cars take to the track in Melbourne.
The unpredictability is palpable, and the questions that will start to be answered from the upcoming weekend (with the Australian Grand Prix kicking off at 1:30 AM Portuguese time) and throughout the long 24-race season (matching 2024 as the longest ever) only add to the excitement. The main question on everyone’s mind is: will Max Verstappen’s triumphant era continue, or will another driver interrupt his streak? The Dutchman has proven himself to be a formidable force, capable of making a difference even with a slightly less effective car, and he’s undoubtedly the most competitive driver on the grid.
However, Lewis Hamilton, the only active driver with more titles than Verstappen, is looking to relaunch his bid for an eighth championship title and a new record in F1, now driving for Ferrari. The Italian team’s car seems fast enough to fuel Hamilton’s ambition, but he’ll face internal competition from Charles Leclerc, who won’t want to be overshadowed by his illustrious teammate. With the car’s performance expected to be on par with the top teams, Leclerc will be eager to seize the opportunity to fight for the title.
The McLaren team, which emerged as a strong contender in the first quarter of the 2024 championship, is poised to start the 2025 season on a high note, with drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri potentially sharing the front row of the grid. While it’s difficult to predict which of the two will come out on top, Norris has been more consistent, although not enough to threaten Verstappen’s title last season. Piastri, on the other hand, has matured and received a vote of confidence from the team with a contract renewal.
The Red Bull team, which had a successful yet inconsistent season in 2024, winning the drivers’ title with Verstappen but losing the constructors’ championship, has a valuable asset in their tetracampeão driver. Verstappen has consistently proven himself to be a game-changer, even with a slightly less effective car, and is the most competitive driver on the grid. However, the team will face stiff competition from Ferrari, Mercedes, and other teams, making this season one of the most open in recent years.
Mercedes, which has been struggling to regain its dominance since 2021, will be looking to bounce back with a strong performance in 2025. George Russell is the team’s main bet, but the biggest expectation is around the debut of 18-year-old Italian driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who has been identified as an extraordinary talent. Other young drivers to watch out for in 2025 include New Zealand’s Liam Lawson, who will replace Sergio Pérez at Red Bull.
As the season gets underway, there are plenty of storylines to keep an eye on, including the performance of the other six teams on the grid, such as Williams, which is looking to resurgence after its golden years in the 1980s and 1990s. The team’s signing of motivated driver Carlos Sainz, who was relegated from Ferrari, is a promising move.
What’s changing in the rules for 2025?
In a year of transition before the major regulation overhaul in 2026, the minor changes for 2025 focus on aerodynamics and driver protection. Although the 2026 season will bring the biggest technical regulation changes in F1 in years, the upcoming season still includes some notable modifications.
One of the changes involves the conformity of front and rear wings, with elements that must meet a maximum flexion measure to prevent them from having a mini-DRS effect, as seen in 2024. The main plane of the wings cannot flex more than 6 mm in the direction of the applied load, while the upper flap cannot move more than 7 mm when the load is applied horizontally. Additionally, the rear wing’s endplate can only have a maximum flexion of 3 mm.
The dimensions of the rear wing have also been revised, with the space between the two elements reduced from 10-15 mm to 9.4-13 mm. With the DRS open, the upper limit remains at 85 mm.
The minimum weight of the driver has been increased by 2 kg, raising the total minimum weight of F1 cars to 800 kg. In the event of a “heat risk” declaration by the FIA (in ambient temperatures above 31°C), the minimum weight will be increased by 5 kg to compensate for the added mass of the new, mandatory cooling equipment for drivers. This equipment includes a special fireproof shirt with internal tubing for coolant, connected to a control unit that pumps it.
One of the most significant changes for 2025 is the elimination of the point for the fastest lap of the race (previously restricted to the top 10 finishers). The goal is to put an end to strategies that have become common, where teams would make late tire changes to secure the point or prevent their rivals from doing so.
The Monaco Grand Prix will now feature two mandatory pit stops, with drivers required to use two different tire compounds in dry conditions. Failure to comply with this rule will result in a 30-second penalty.
Lastly, the restrictions on testing previous cars (TPC) have been increased, with teams only allowed to designate one car for TPC, and testing on circuits used within 60 days prior to the test is now prohibited.