It’s laborious to imagine it’s solely been 95 days because the final System One grand prix, however right here we’re once more, with the 2025 F1 season upon us, the Australian Grand Prix set to kick off the motion this weekend and with a (hopefully) exceptional season of shut racing forward. (Catch the schedule right here.) After a whirlwind of staff launches, Lewis Hamilton dominating headlines at Ferrari and three days of preseason testing, it’s time to go racing on the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne.
Our F1 staff are able to share their predictions for the season forward. We’ve our sights set on who would possibly emerge because the championship frontrunner, which groups will make dramatic strides, who might shock us with breakout performances, and whether or not the established powerhouses will proceed to dominate or face new challengers.
Dive into our evaluation and share your personal predictions within the feedback earlier than the lights exit on Saturday at midnight ET (Sunday 4 a.m. GMT). However first, listed below are ours.
Constructors’ podium
Luke Smith: McLaren, Ferrari, Purple Bull — I feel it’s going to be tremendous shut via this season, however it’ll shake out as the identical high three as final yr. McLaren has the early benefit going into the season, which might assist it transfer into a good lead. The mix of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri gives race-winning tempo and, in contrast to the opposite three front-running groups going into 2025, stability between seasons. If it may well keep its growth path from the previous couple of years, McLaren will likely be very laborious to beat this yr.
Madeline Coleman: McLaren, Ferrari, Purple Bull. As Purple Bull staff principal Christian Horner stated throughout preseason testing, the grid is converging within the remaining yr of the laws and we do anticipate the grid to be aggressive. McLaren and Ferrari have probably the most potent driver lineups, however the Woking-based crew is anticipated to have the faster automobile from the get-go.
Pat Iversen: McLaren, Ferrari, Purple Bull. This century has seen just a few unimaginable driver mixtures when it comes to means and achievement. There’s a superb probability we embrace both Norris and Piastri or Hamilton and Leclerc in that dialog sometime. It’s an in depth name, however I’ll go together with McLaren by a nostril. The papaya appears to be in full stride, from manufacturing unit to cockpit, and I feel it would take a bit for all of the items to return collectively at Maranello.
Michael Bailey: Ferrari, McLaren, Purple Bull. What’s the begin of a season if not the place to dream? “You’d be stunned at how fast they’re going to be this weekend,” Lando Norris stated about Ferrari forward of the Australian Grand Prix. McLaren broke its 26-year drought to win final yr’s constructors’ championship. It’s been 17 years since Ferrari final took that crown. With Hamilton now alongside Charles Leclerc, why not?
Drivers’ podium
LS: Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri. After crossing the road in Abu Dhabi to clinch McLaren the constructors’ title, Norris stated on the radio that 2025 was “gonna be my yr, too,” and I see him making good on that promise. He’s realized the laborious classes of preventing Verstappen from final yr, had the sting on Piastri over a single lap, and might now put every little thing collectively to mount a critical title cost from the beginning of the season.
MC: Norris, Leclerc, Verstappen. It’ll come right down to how the groups develop their respective vehicles and which drivers make the least errors. Norris is aware of how he must struggle within the championship battle and McLaren appeared to have the sting throughout preseason testing.
PI: Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc. He’s probably the most gifted driver on the planet and I don’t suppose it’s shut. He’s gained 4 titles in a row. He gained with a subpar (by Purple Bull’s current requirements) automobile final season. Till he doesn’t win the championship, I’ll hold betting on Verstappen. (He’s additionally been simply cagey sufficient about Purple Bull’s precise tempo that I’m suspicious they’ve hoodwinked us all.)
MB: Hamilton, Norris, Verstappen. Sure, I’m nonetheless dreaming. I’m not even certain if that is mathematically attainable given my constructors’ title prediction, however I’m all in on some romantic 2021 redemption for Hamilton and do really feel Norris’ successful expertise of 2024 will take him to the brink.
Better of the remaining?
LS: Alpine. The style during which Alpine turned its season round via the tip of final yr, highlighted by the double podium in Brazil, ought to breed loads of confidence going into this yr. The regulation change in 2026 often is the focus and head honcho Flavio Briatore could solely care about contending for a title within the coming years, however I feel Alpine can hold its upswing going. Pierre Gasly can totally morph into the staff chief function this yr alongside Jack Doohan. With Aston Martin stumbling final yr and there being little in testing to recommend it has righted itself, I’m saying Alpine can land fifth within the standings.
MC: The struggle for P5 will likely be shut and I’d even go so far as to say that Williams might throw its hat into the struggle with the skilled duo of Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon. Nonetheless, Alpine’s efficiency improved within the latter portion of final season. Though there’s the caveat of preseason testing being smoke and mirrors, Gasly put some aggressive laps on the timesheets. The one large caveat is that Doohan will likely be adjusting throughout his rookie season, however with so few factors positions up for grabs, Alpine might be a constant contender.
PI: Can I be trustworthy? I don’t love this decide. Aston Martin’s fall-off from the highs of early 2023 has been stark. However I feel its ground is increased than Alpine’s to start out the season. In a yr when many of those groups will lower your expenses on growth to give attention to 2026, perhaps Aston Martin has simply sufficient built-in consistency to rise above the remaining once more.
MB: How a lot realism have I obtained in me right here? I actually do really feel like Alpine has the benefit and Gasly is without doubt one of the most underrated drivers on the grid. However I’m going to provide into my intestine once more. I’d like it to be Williams (every little thing else I’ve written right here means I in all probability ought to say that, too). Sainz, Albon, and an iconic marque not off course ultimately.
Shock pole
LS: I’m enjoying a bit quick and free with the definition of ‘shock’ given Mercedes ought to be contending towards the entrance this yr, but when nobody tells me in any other case, the 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli is my decide, making him F1’s youngest-ever pole-sitter within the course of. Scarily, Antonelli has three seasons to attempt to obtain that feat! Sebastian Vettel was 21 when he scored his first pole, setting the present file.
MC: As Luke famous, the constructor alone isn’t essentially stunning, however Antonelli is eighteen years previous (he lately obtained his driver’s license) and a rookie. Securing pole place remains to be an enormous feat contemplating the caliber of drivers competing in opposition to him and the power of the closest constructors.
Our workers expects an enormous rookie season from Kimi Antonelli (Sipa USA)
PI: Liam Lawson. A shock since you’d suppose a Purple Bull pole would belong to Verstappen, however no! I’ll take no additional questions on this extremely secure decide.
MB: Gasly nailing a pole place for Alpine in drying situations someplace. It’ll occur.
Shock podium
LS: This feels very very like closing my eyes and placing my finger on a reputation from the grid, however I’m going to say Esteban Ocon. He’s proved his means to grab the second in recent times, be it final yr in Brazil or together with his well-known win in Hungary. Haas nonetheless doesn’t have a podium end to its title in F1. A loopy race someplace that includes rain and a purple flag will play into Ocon’s favor. Good fodder for a “Drive to Survive” redemption arc if ever I noticed one.
MC: Sainz. Hear, we stated shock, proper? The final time a Williams driver stood on the rostrum was in 2021 when George Russell completed second at Spa. Sainz has the ability; he confirmed this at Ferrari. The factor we don’t know is the place the automobile stacks given how preseason testing comes with the same old caveat regardless of his large day two run.
PI: Antonelli. He’ll have no less than two by the tip of the season.
MB: I see Madeline’s bid and I’ll go additional. I feel Albon getting his Williams in a high three, for what could be a 3rd profession F1 podium, could be a good larger achievement — and doubtlessly pushed by his elevated in-team competitors from Sainz.
Most improved staff
LS: Mercedes. Harsh given it gained 4 races final yr? Perhaps a bit of. However I feel Mercedes will lastly proper the wrongs of current years with its automobile design and revel in a constant season of efficiency as an alternative of a handful of peaks. It’s a bit too late for this rule set and I don’t suppose it’ll be sufficient to think about to a primary championship since 2021, however I feel the post-Hamilton period will begin positively.
Can Carlos Sainz assist flip Williams round? (Sipa USA)
MC: Williams. The staff was hamstrung final season by the sheer variety of wrecks and beginning the yr with an obese automobile. This yr’s automobile, although, was on time and on the burden restrict, and through preseason testing, it appeared there was purpose for cautious optimism across the staff. Williams completed ninth final season, however the duo of Sainz and Albon is its strongest driver lineup in recent times. Mix that with a stronger automobile, the Grove-based crew might simply be within the midfield struggle persistently.
PI: Williams. There’s nowhere to go however up for Williams, who completed ninth final season — particularly with two stable veteran drivers who (ought to) hold the automobile on the monitor extra typically.
MB: I’d love to vary it up, however I additionally suppose Williams has rather a lot to supply this yr — from a powerful drivers’ lineup to the potential leap ahead within the FW47. Ending ninth in 2024 leaves rather a lot to enhance this yr, too.
Most improved driver
LS: Verstappen’s teammate. Liam Lawson is aware of he’s entering into the hardest seat in F1 this yr, going toe-to-toe with Verstappen. He’s seen how that seat chewed up and spat out Sergio Pérez, Gasly and Albon previously six years, however I’ve obtained a superb feeling about Lawson. His confidence can go a great distance and I feel he has broad sufficient shoulders to have the ability to take care of the inevitable pressures. Going into the yr, his objective shouldn’t be to beat Verstappen, however merely to get as shut as attainable to his stage of efficiency. I feel the decision to drop Pérez and promote Lawson will age effectively.
MC: Hamilton. Sure, the seven-time world champion. The ultimate few years of his time at Mercedes drastically contrasted the championship seasons and Hamilton didn’t match Russell head-to-head, typically as a result of setup experiments and different occasions simply not clicking with the automobile. Mercedes merely lacked consistency within the automobile’s efficiency, which left questions on what the 40-year-old is able to.
PI: Gasly. At 29, the Frenchman is now the unquestioned high driver at Alpine and coming off a robust finish to the 2024 season. He says the staff is in a superb place after just a few years of turmoil and that’s sufficient to provide me confidence in a driver who I feel is a bit of underrated. I don’t suppose anticipating him to complete higher than tenth within the standings this season is a leap.
MB: I must also say Hamilton, as I’ve gone all romantic over his eighth title probabilities. And that might positively win this little gong, too. However one other shout for Albon right here, who picked up simply 12 factors in a coasting 2024. Up in opposition to Sainz and in a way more aggressive automobile (hopefully), Albon might make large strides ahead.
Finest younger driver
LS: Antonelli. I’m actually excited to see what Antonelli can do that yr. Getting a fast automobile as a debutant is a privilege bestowed upon so few drivers and Mercedes has lengthy seen the Italian as being a key a part of its future. Sure, there’ll be errors as in any rookie season, however I do suppose Antonelli will stand out from the rookie class of 2025.
MC: Ollie Bearman. He scored factors in two of the three grands prix he raced in final season — as soon as in a Ferrari and as soon as in a Haas. He did make a number of errors in the course of the Brazil GP, the place he completed P12 out of the 15 drivers who completed the race. Nonetheless, I really feel he’ll change into a gentle point-scorer for Haas if they’ve a aggressive automobile once more.
The full variety of factors on the season’s finish isn’t why I made this choice, contemplating he’ll be within the midfield. However as a result of he’s with Haas, he will likely be preventing instantly with a majority of different rookies. The expansion potential is there and consistency in his efficiency and adaptableness are key.
PI: Antonelli. I imply, I did simply say he’d seize two podiums, didn’t I? I’m keeping track of Gabriel Bortoleto. He gained the F3 and F2 titles in back-to-back years (similar to Russell, Leclerc and Piastri). That counts for one thing.
MB: For ‘greatest,’ I wish to learn ‘most enjoyable.’ Isack Hadjar goes to be emotional, vigorous, and he would possibly simply outstrip a Racing Bulls teammate in Yuki Tsunoda who might really feel a bit of misplaced following his winter Purple Bull snub. There have been simply two-tenths between the pair when it comes to their quickest testing laps in Bahrain and I’m trying ahead to seeing how Hadjar fares from right here.
Think about a second we’ll keep in mind from this season
LS: The primary contact between Norris and Piastri. I do know McLaren is assured it may well handle the scenario and the teachings from final yr and ‘papaya guidelines’ will after all be useful. However when you may have two younger, hungry drivers each vying for wins, it’s inevitable one thing will occur sooner or later. I don’t see it being explosive between the 2 of them, however I do see a second when an incident makes McLaren get firmer with its staff orders between them. Cue the dramatic “Drive to Survive” music!
MC: Lewis Hamilton’s first win as a Ferrari driver. Two legendary manufacturers are teaming up and the primary yr of the partnership is coming throughout a extremely anticipated aggressive season. To not point out, the tifosi are such a passionate fanbase. The hype round Hamilton and Ferrari has been constructing because the information broke in February 2024. The group will go wild as he stands atop the rostrum, an emotional second that’ll go down in historical past.
PI: The questions and angst round Hamilton as Leclerc begins out-performing him by mid-season.
MB: It’s laborious to foretell this with out beginning to think about a hypothetical state of affairs, however it’s going to contain Verstappen and one other driver getting wildly upset together with his driving, it would epitomise the tip of the Dutchman’s title-winning streak, and perhaps it would affect the place his profession heads subsequent.
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