We are so back: Formula One is set to kick off its 2025 campaign this weekend with the Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne.
Questions have been percolating throughout the off-season that we’ll soon begin to find answers to — or at least a bit of clarity as the year progresses.
Here are our biggest questions entering the 2025 F1 season.
CAN VERSTAPPEN COMPLETE A DRIVE FOR FIVE?
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is looking to become just the second driver ever — and the first since the legendary Michael Schumacher (2000-04) — to win five consecutive world championships.
While Verstappen cruised through his title defences in 2022 and 2023, McLaren’s Lando Norris emerged as a serious threat last season. Fortunately for Verstappen, he had already built a comfortable points cushion through the first half of 2024 to fend off Norris through the back half of the calendar.
Although the dip in Red Bull’s form was alarming, Verstappen still secured victories in Brazil and Qatar late in the season. Even during his 10-GP wins drought, Verstappen never finished lower than sixth, meaning Norris needed to earn maximum points every outing to put any meaningful dents in the gap.
Norris might be the odds-on favourite to win the championship when all is said and done, but Verstappen remains the man to beat for now until he’s dethroned.
What works in Verstappen’s favour is he’s entering the season as the clear No. 1 driver on his team with rookie Liam Lawson replacing Sergio Perez while Red Bull’s top competitors might wait to see which of their drivers is the best bet to challenge for the title before going all-in on one over the other.
ARE ‘PAPAYA RULES’ STILL IN PLACE AT MCLAREN?
McLaren returned to glory last year by winning its first constructors’ championship since 1998. Now, the British-based team will aim to do something else it hasn’t accomplished since that year: win both titles in the same season.
Although McLaren established “papaya rules” late into last season where Norris received preferential treatment over Oscar Piastri, one has to wonder what would have happened if it had been established sooner. After botching the pit order in Hungary, the team demanded Norris give the lead back to Piastri, who went on to earn his maiden GP victory. Piastri also challenged Norris for the lead on the opening lap in Monza, which proved costly as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc also snuck by the pole-sitter and then went on to win the race.
McLaren is only one of two teams (Aston Martin being the other) to retain the same driver pairing this season and that should give them an advantage in the constructors’ championship, but will “papaya rules” remain in effect or is it a clean slate to start 2025?
One would lean towards Norris as the veteran of the two and with stronger results but don’t count out Piastri, who was already under contract through next season and signed a multi-year extension Tuesday. The 23-year-old Australian made huge strides during his sophomore season last year and considering this weekend’s opener is in Piastri’s hometown of Melbourne, expect him to put up a show (or a fight) right out of the gate.
HOW WILL HAMILTON FARE IN HIS FIRST SEASON WITH FERRARI?
Lewis Hamilton shockwaves through the sporting landscape when he opted out of his contract with Mercedes to join rival Ferrari. The sport’s iconic driver meets the sport’s iconic brand. It should be a match made in heaven.
Hamilton isn’t the first prolific driver (nor will he be the last) who has dreamed of racing for Ferrari and/or looking for a new challenge with the prancing horse. It’s led to championship success for some (Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen) and disappointment for others (Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell).
There’s another wish Hamilton looks to fulfill: a record-breaking eighth world championship. Hamilton, who turned 40 in January, is tied at the top of the table with Schumacher at seven apiece.
Hamilton’s move to Maranello didn’t come cheap and Ferrari will want to ensure everything in its power to provide the best for him, but will teammate Charles Leclerc play second fiddle?
Leclerc is entering his seventh season with Ferrari and the ink was still dry on his own contract extension when the Hamilton bombshell dropped. The Monegasque driver won three races and came in third in the points last season to help Ferrari finish runner-up in the constructors’ championship in a battle with McLaren that went down to the wire.
One man’s dream could be another’s nightmare and sparks could fly if Hamilton and Leclerc end up wheel-to-wheel on the track.
At least Hamilton seems to be having fun with Ferrari.
HOW WILL MERCEDES PERFORM POST-HAMILTON?
The other side of the coin to our last question as it’s a new era for Mercedes with George Russell as the team’s clear No. 1 driver … for now. Rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli has big shoes to fill by replacing Hamilton, however, the 18-year-old has received rave reviews during his rapid rise through the ranks and could be the real deal if he lives up to the hype.
Expectations should start low for Antonelli given that he has yet to even complete a full F1 weekend but how soon he begins challenging Russell for top status on the team will be something to keep an eye on.
CAN SAINZ HELP WILLIAMS RETURN TO ITS WINNING WAYS?
Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari forced Carlos Sainz out of the picture, however, the Spanish driver put in a strong showing last season with two wins and a fifth-place finish in the standings. Sainz had several suitors to choose from and signed with Williams.
The team’s nine constructors’ championships and seven drivers’ championships are firmly in the past though. Their most recent titles came in 1997 and sorry to make you feel old but that was 28 years ago.
Never mind championships, Williams has only one race win since 2004 and even that one was an outlier with Pastor Maldonado victorious at the 2012 Spanish GP in a fever dream moment.
Although Williams finished second-last in the standings in 2024, Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto proved the team can compete for points even if wins and podiums are still a long shot.
Sainz is in the prime of his career, brings race-winning experience and could set Williams as the best of the midfield pack. His presence should also light a fire under Albon.
HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT WILL NEWEY HAVE AT ASTON MARTIN?
Perhaps as big as some of the driver changes was engineer extraordinaire Adrian Newey’s jump to Aston Martin. Newey has helped design championship-winning cars for Williams, McLaren and Red Bull and now may face his toughest task ever in trying to establish Aston Martin as a true contender.
Aston Martin saw a surprise surge in 2023 with the arrival of Alonso as the two-time world champion earned six podium finishes in his first eight races with the team. But Aston Martin’s momentum stalled with zero podiums in 2024 and remaining a firm fifth in the standings.
Turning this ship around overnight might be too daunting for even Newey, but there’s always next year, right? The 2026 season will bring new regulations and a switch to Honda engines for Aston Martin could spark a changing of the guard.
IS DOOHAN ALREADY ON THE HOT SEAT?
Alpine surged into sixth in the constructors’ standings late into last season thanks to an unexpected double podium finish during a rainy Sao Paulo GP. The pairing of longtime frenemies Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon did not work out though (as expected by everyone not named Alpine) and the latter was given the boot in favour of rookie Jack Doohan.
The 22-year-old Australian had a head start on the rookie class by competing in the season finale in Abu Dhabi but now finds himself under pressure to deliver already as Alpine also signed Colapinto to a multi-year deal. Colapinto begins the season as the team’s reserve driver but for how long? Should Doohan begin to falter, expect the rumour rumblings to increase.
WHICH STAR ROOKIE WILL BURN THE BRIGHTEST?
Six rookies highlight the field for 2025 with Lawson (Red Bull), Antonelli (Mercedes), Doohan (Alpine), Ollie Bearman (Haas), Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber) and Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) all set to drive in their first full seasons.
Lawson should be at the head of the class initially based on his experience and machinery. The 23-year-old New Zealander has the most experience of the bunch with 11 GPs over two seasons already under his belt as a replacement at Alpha Tauri/RB/Racing Bulls. Lawson now takes over for Perez on the main Red Bull team and will be out to prove he’s worthy of the seat, but he’ll also be under more pressure to deliver results.
