2025 F1 Season Preview
Predicting the Final Constructors’ Standings and the Top Drivers of the Season
As the 2025 Formula 1 season approaches, anticipation is at an all-time high. With significant driver movements, a surge of fresh talent, and the top teams closer in competition than ever before, this year promises to be one of the most thrilling in recent memory. Here’s an in-depth look at what to expect in the upcoming season.
Major Driver Movements
Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari
This move was announced before last season even started, giving fans plenty of time to process the idea of Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari red. Yet, now that it’s reality, it still feels surreal. The seven-time World Champion replaces Carlos Sainz at Ferrari, forming a formidable lineup alongside Charles Leclerc.
Carlos Sainz to Williams
I felt bad for Carlos last season after what Ferrari did to him. No matter how well he performed—finishing higher in the standings, securing more podiums, and outperforming his teammate at times—his fate was sealed. He lost his seat to Hamilton despite proving his worth. Now, he joins Williams, where he’ll aim to lead the team through its rebuilding phase.
Liam Lawson at Red Bull
After replacing Daniel Ricciardo at RB for the final six races of last season, Liam Lawson has earned a full-time seat at Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen. This move underscores Red Bull’s commitment to developing young talent.
Rising Stars and Rookies
Oliver Bearman
After an impressive debut replacing Carlos Sainz in Saudi Arabia last season, along with two substitute appearances for Haas, Bearman has secured a full-time seat with the team.
Jack Doohan
Another 2024 debutant, Jack Doohan, steps into a full-time race seat with Alpine after serving as their reserve driver for two years.
Gabriel Bortoleto
The reigning Formula 2 champion makes his F1 debut as a full-time driver for Sauber.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Antonelli joins Mercedes, making his F1 debut alongside George Russell.
Isack Hadjar
The Formula 2 runner-up takes a seat at Racing Bulls, replacing Liam Lawson.
It’ll be exciting to see how this young group of drivers performs in 2025. I’m hoping for plenty of midfield battles among them.
World Constructors’ Championship Predictions
10. Sauber
As Audi prepares for its full takeover, I don’t expect much from Sauber this season. The team has replaced both 2024 drivers with Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto—both talented, but unlikely to be competitive given the car’s limitations. However, I’m excited to see what Audi brings in 2026 under the new regulations.
9. Racing Bulls
With Yuki Tsunoda leading the team and Isack Hadjar making his F1 debut, Racing Bulls will have some bright moments but struggle for consistent points. Yuki will be driving with a chip on his shoulder after being passed over for the Red Bull seat in favor of Liam Lawson. Their car development often depends on Red Bull’s progress, but unless major upgrades arrive, they’ll remain at the lower end of the field.
8. Williams
This one pains me the most as a big supporter of Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon. Williams will likely be in a position where the drivers have to outperform the car just to score points. Team Principal James Vowles has made it clear that Williams is focusing on the long-term, looking ahead to the 2026 regulations.
7. Haas
Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon will lead Haas in 2025. I believe Bearman will have an outstanding rookie season, and depending on the car’s development, we might even see him on the podium. That’s how good I think he is.
6. Alpine
Alpine remains ambitious, but their struggles with reliability and performance consistency persist. Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan will aim to push the team forward, though they may lack the pace to regularly challenge the top five. There may also be a short leash on Doohan, with reserve driver Franco Colapinto waiting in the wings. I wouldn’t be surprised if Colapinto takes his seat before the season ends.
5. Aston Martin
This might be a solo mission for Fernando Alonso. Lance Stroll ended last season poorly, failing to score a single point after the summer break. For Aston Martin to compete with the top four, they need Stroll at his best and a faster car—neither of which I see happening.
4. Mercedes
With Lewis Hamilton gone, George Russell is now the clear team leader, while rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli has a lot to prove. This season reminds me of 2022, when George arrived as Toto Wolff’s new favorite. Now, Antonelli is the next big project. Mercedes remains a top team, but unless they’ve made a major step forward with their 2025 car, another fourth-place finish seems likely.
3. Red Bull
Red Bull will still be competitive with one of the best cars on the grid, but their driver pairing isn’t as strong as the two teams ahead of them. Max Verstappen will continue to dominate, but I expect Liam Lawson to be battling for midfield points rather than podiums.
2. Ferrari
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton—it almost seems too good to fail. However, Ferrari’s infamous race strategies and questionable decision-making have haunted them in the past. While they’ll be strong contenders, I still see them falling short.
1. McLaren
I have McLaren going back-to-back in 2025. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, both coming off multi-race win seasons and earning their first career victories in 2024, form one of the strongest driver pairings on the grid. If McLaren maintains an aggressive development strategy, they’ll edge out Ferrari in another close championship battle.
World Drivers’ Championship Predictions
3. Charles Leclerc
It’ll be interesting to see which driver Ferrari favors in terms of strategy. There could be intra-team drama, but ultimately, I believe Leclerc will be in top form and consistently battling at the front.
2. Max Verstappen
That’s right—we’ll have a new champion this season. Max might still be the best driver on the grid, but engineering setbacks may hold him back. I expect the championship to remain open for multiple drivers until the final races.
1. Lando Norris
McLaren is all the way back, and I predict Lando Norris will be the 2025 World Drivers’ Champion. We saw how well he drove last year, and with continued improvements to the car, he’s in prime position to claim the title.
I am so excited for the 2025 F1 season. The action begins with the season launch on February 18, when teams unveil their liveries. Then, testing in Bahrain starts on February 26, followed by the official season kickoff on March 14 with FP1 in Australia.