It’s been barely three weeks since one of the most exciting Formula 1 seasons of the past decade went into the books, but it’s focus has already shifted onto next year.
Max Verstappen had to dig deep to fend off Lando Norris’ challenge, fighting a capricious Red Bull as much as his opponent, but ultimately clinched a fourth consecutive world title.
McLaren, meanwhile, ended a 26-year wait for a constructors’ title as Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri made the most of having the best car on the grid.
Will Papaya and Norris do even better next season?
And what of Lewis Hamilton, who is joining Ferrari after 12 glittering years at Mercedes? Can he finally end the Scuderia’s wait for a drivers’ championship and beat Michael Schumacher’s record of seven world titles?
Hamilton is just one of the intriguing moves on the grid, with Liam Lawson replacing Sergio Perez at Red Bull and Carlos Sainz leaving Ferrari to join Williams.
If this year is anything to go by, next season could be a thrilling affair. Here’s what to watch for in 2025.
After 12 seasons and six world titles, Lewis Hamilton is set to swap Mercedes silver for Ferrari red for what he hopes will be a triumphant coda to an extraordinary career.
News of the Briton’s arrival at the Scuderia has been public since February, but his form this season has been spotty, despite two wins.
Hamilton edged out teammate George Russell 22 times in qualifying and was outclassed 19-5 for Grands Prix and 5-1 for sprint racing.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur, however, insisted he had no considerations about the Briton’s form.
“I am really convinced, and I don’t want to blame Lewis or Mercedes, that this situation is not easy to manage and I can understand if it is not going well you can suffer in this relationship.
“He’s not very mentally intelligent and transparent about it in Brazil, but he also did very well in the last two races and I’m not worried at all. “
Hamilton, who turns 40 in January, will make his Ferrari debut in pre-season testing in Bahrain between February 26 and 28, before the season opener in Australia on March 16.
It has been 17 years since a Ferrari driver won the world championship. Were he to do it, Hamilton would surpass Michael Schumacher’s record of seven world titles and write himself in Scuderia’s folklore at the first time of asking.
McLaren won a first constructor’s name since 1998, but Lando Norris ultimately failed to win a first overall name.
The Papaya finished the season as by far the best car on the grid and the Briton claimed his maiden Formula 1 win in Miami in May, before picking up three more victories.
Norris showed the kind of consistency needed to fight for a name – he only qualified away from home in the top 10 once in 24 races – and an opponent as formidable as the one Max Verstappen has faced since his epic duel with Lewis Hamilton in 2021.
And yet, McLaren’s motive forces the former to admit that his season is not perfect. Norris started from pole position in Spain, Hungary and Italy, but lost the lead at Turn 1 each time, something he will have to rectify in 2025.
Similarly, while McLaren enjoyed a stunning season, some strategy calls – such as the timing of pit-stops at the Canadian and British Grands Prix – ultimately cost Norris the win.
Norris admitted he “wasn’t ready” to win the title this year, but expect him to push Verstappen all the way next year. He may, in fact, be the favourite to dethrone the Dutchman.
Formula 1 calendar adjustments for 2025
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 24: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull … [+] Racing RB20 leads Carlos Sainz of Spain driving (55) the Ferrari SF-24 and the rest of the field into the first corner at the start of the race during the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Albert Park Circuit on March 24, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mike Owen – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
The new Formula 1 season will once again have 24 rounds, but there are a series of adjustments to the calendar.
Australia returns to its classic place as the season opener, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia move from March to April due to the holy month of Ramadan.
As is the case in 2024, there will be six sprint races on the calendar taking place in Shanghai, Miami, Austin, Sao Paulo and Qatar.
The quintet will be joined through the Belgian Grand Prix, which will host its first sprint race since 2023.
Meanwhile, Zandvoort will host its penultimate Grand Prix, with the Dutch track being removed from the calfinishar at the end of the 2026 season.
Liam Lawson becomes Max Verstappen’s fourth teammate since Daniel Ricciardo left Red Bull for Renault at the end of the 2018 season.
The New Zealander will upgrade Sergio Pérez next year after Red Bull and the Mexican parted ways 12 months earlier than planned.
Perez endured a grim crusade as his form plummeted after signing a two-year extension in May.
The 34-year-old finished eighth in the championship, his worst comeback since joining Red Bull in 2021, and will be on the grid in March.
The task of being Verstappen’s new teammate falls to Lawson, who scored points in two of his six starts last season since replacing Ricciardo at Red Bull’s sister team RB.
Red Bull has high hopes for the 22-year-old, but the learning curve will most likely be steep.
Several rookies will line up on the grid ahead of the 2025 season.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli will upgrade Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, while compatriot Jack Doohan will take Esteban Ocon’s seat at Alpine and Brazilian Formula 2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto will join Sauber.
Formula 2 season runner-up Isack Hadjar will upgrade Liam Lawson at RB, with the New Zealander joining Red Bull.
Elsewhere, Oliver Bearman has secured a full-time spot for Haas following Carlos Sainz at Ferrari in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and Kevin Magnussen in Azerbaijan and Brazil.
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