After 75 years of ‘late brakers, risk takers and history makers‘, Formula One has everything in place for its record-breaking 75th anniversary season and for the 20 drivers looking to make history.
With exciting storylines up and down the grid, headlined by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton’s bombshell move from Mercedes to Ferrari, this season is sure to captivate old and new fans.
Four-time defending champion Max Verstappen’s drive for five straight championships looks to be his most challenging yet. Verstappen and Red Bull are now hunter-turn-hunted, with their rivals gaining on them in the development race. “I hope the other teams challenge Verstappen because I’m tired of seeing him win; the championship needs a good title battle this year,” junior Alek Bargman said.
Constructors’ champions McLaren broke a 26-year drought last year, beating out Ferrari in Abu Dhabi last season. The British outfit looks to carry that momentum into 2025 to win both the drivers and constructors’ championships.
In the driver market, eight of the 10 teams have a different lineup compared to last year, with six rookies joining the championship. Racing Bulls substitute Liam Lawson makes the jump to the anchor Red Bull Racing team, and 18-year Italian phenom Andrea Kimi Antonelli replaces Hamilton at Mercedes. Last year’s Formula 2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto joins Kick Sauber, and 2024 F2 runner-up Isack Hadjar moves to Racing Bulls. Alpine reserve driver Jack Doohan was promoted to a full-time seat with the French outfit, and Ferrari reserve driver Oliver Bearman stepped up to Haas. “I’m looking forward to seeing what Antonelli can do in the Mercedes, I think he will be the standout rookie,” senior Satvik Gudipati said.
Other notable moves were four-time Grand Prix winner Carlos Sainz joining Atlassian Williams Racing and Esteban Ocon departing Alpine to replace Nico Hulkenburg at Haas, who switched to Kick Sauber. “I’m still not behind Lewis being at Ferrari. I think Carlos deserved better from them, but I’m excited to see how the changes will shake up the grid,” sociology teacher Amy Buckingham said.
Formula One kicked off its 75th Anniversary celebration with F1 75 Live, a live event at the O2 Arena in London, where all 10 teams and 20 drivers unveiled their car liveries.
Pre-season testing was conducted over three days in the Bahraini desert at the Bahrain International Circuit. Williams’ new man, Sainz, was quickest during the test, setting a lap of 1:29.348.
The opening round of the 2025 championship was the Australian Grand Prix, held around the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne. The McLarens of Lando Norris and hometown hero Oscar Piastri qualified on the front row. The Grand Prix was held in wet, changeable conditions. The Grand Prix was delayed after rookie Hadjar crashed in turn two on the formation lap. Once the Grand Prix got underway, Lando Norris comfortably led most of the race until heavy rain hit the circuit, causing Norris and Piastri to lose control and slide through the grass, handing Verstappen the lead. Norris continued to pit for wet tires, but Piastri beached his McLaren and fell down the order. Verstappen led until he, too, pitted for wet tires. Despite a slew of crashes and a late race restart, Norris held on to win the Grand Prix, Verstappen finished second, and George Russell for Mercedes finished third.
The Chinese Grand Prix immediately followed, with the weekend using the sprint format. Lewis Hamilton took pole and converted it to a dominant Sprint victory, taking his first win for Ferrari. Grand Prix qualifying was led by Piastri, who commanded the Chinese Grand Prix from start to finish, leading 53/56 laps en route to victory and a McLaren 1-2 with teammate Norris in second and Russell rounding out the podium.
After the Chinese Grand Prix, after a disappointing start to the season, Racing Bull Racing confirmed that they were demoting Liam Lawson down to Racing Bulls, with Yuki Tsunoda being promoted in his place for the Japanese Grand Prix onwards.
After two rounds, Norris leads the drivers’ championship from Verstappen with 44 points, and McLaren-Mercedes leads the constructors’ championship from Mercedes with 78 points.
