Get ready for an exciting Formula 1 season as the 2025 campaign kicks off this week, bringing fans all the high-speed action they crave.
Defending Champion
Max Verstappen enters 2025 as the defending world champion, aiming for his fifth consecutive title—a milestone achieved only by the legendary Michael Schumacher. Meanwhile, McLaren, the reigning Constructors’ Champion, hopes to elevate their success with Lando Norris, who finished as runner-up last season and seeks individual glory.
F1 2025 Driver Line-Up
The 2025 grid sees significant changes, with McLaren and Aston Martin maintaining their driver pairings amid ten alterations across various teams. Notably, Lewis Hamilton has made a historic switch to Ferrari, taking the seat of Carlos Sainz, now at Williams. Young talent Kimi Antonelli steps into Hamilton’s role at Mercedes, joined by Liam Lawson, who replaces Sergio Perez at Red Bull.
British driver Oliver Bearman will debut this season with Haas, teaming up with Esteban Ocon, who previously left Alpine after last year’s finale. F2 runner-up Isack Hadjar joins the new Racing Bulls alongside Yuki Tsunoda, while Nico Hulkenberg teams with F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto at Sauber.
Key Team Changes
Adrian Newey, a distinguished figure in F1 design, has made a surprising move from Red Bull to Aston Martin, a shift that could have significant implications for the 2025 season. Although Aston Martin’s driver line-up remains unchanged, they have appointed Andy Cowell, previously with Mercedes, as team principal, promoting Mike Krack to chief trackside officer.
In another notable move, Jonathan Wheatley, previously with Red Bull, will step in as the new team principal for Sauber by April, as Audi is set to take over in 2026. Furthermore, Laura Mueller is poised to break new ground as the first female race engineer in F1 at Haas, marking a historic moment for the sport.
2025 Race Calendar
The season opener will take place in Australia from March 14-16, returning to its original slot after several years. Bahrain’s race has been rescheduled to April due to Ramadan, while other events have seen minor adjustments to the calendar, including the rearrangement of the Spanish Grand Prix to follow the Monaco race. The season will conclude with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 5-7.
Sprint Weekends in 2025
This year, the Sprint weekend format will feature events in China, Miami, Belgium, Austin, Brazil, and Qatar. The format remains unchanged, with a 100km race taking place on Saturdays following a single practice and qualifying session. The introduction of new venues brings fresh excitement to the season.
2025 Rule Changes
The main rule change for 2025 involves the removal of the extra point awarded for the fastest lap, a modification that might alter late-race strategies. Additionally, the minimum driver weight requirement has been increased from 80kg to 82kg, and teams must now field a young driver at least four times throughout the season, a shift from the previous year’s two minimum races.
Technical Developments
As the season unfolds, technical debates are expected, particularly regarding the FIA’s introduction of new load tests aimed at reducing the flex in wings. Teams are closely monitoring their designs to comply with these regulations while seeking competitive advantages.
F1 Viewing Options
Fans can follow every exhilarating moment of the 2025 F1 season live, with all sessions available to stream directly. Stay tuned as the Australian Grand Prix sets the stage for another thrilling year in Formula 1!
