As the 2024 Formula 1 season draws to a close, Lando Norris has already set his sights on the 2025 championship, vowing to take the title after securing a runner-up spot behind Max Verstappen this year. The competition in 2025 promises to be fierce, with a mix of experienced champions, new talent, and major team shifts.
Intense Rivalry Ahead
F1’s rule changes often disrupt the status quo, but when regulations remain stable for multiple seasons, teams tend to become more evenly matched. This is the situation heading into 2025, following the tight 2021 title battle between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, and the rule changes for 2022. McLaren and Norris, having shown considerable progress in 2024, are expected to remain in the title hunt in 2025.
Norris, who expressed more self-confidence after his strong 2024 showing, is eager to take the fight to Verstappen next season. His words after the final race of the season reflected his determination: “I’ve certainly not come out on top as often as I would have liked in certain moments… but now I’m going into next season knowing I can fight.”
However, some teams may be looking even further ahead. Carlos Sainz Jr. hinted that Williams is setting its sights on 2026, as F1 teams start preparing for a major shakeup that year. Meanwhile, Adrian Newey’s move to Aston Martin after departing Red Bull and Audi’s acquisition of Sauber for 2026 could shift the balance of power in the coming years.
Hamilton’s Big Move to Ferrari
In one of the most anticipated moves of the season, Lewis Hamilton will join Ferrari for the 2025 campaign. The seven-time world champion’s switch to the legendary Italian team evokes memories of Michael Schumacher, the only other driver to secure seven titles in F1. No driver has won the F1 championship with Ferrari since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007, and Hamilton will be eager to end that drought.
Hamilton’s move comes on the back of an emotional farewell to Mercedes, with the 2024 season marking the end of his iconic partnership with the team. His new teammate, Charles Leclerc, expressed excitement about Hamilton joining Ferrari, noting his extensive achievements in the sport. Beyond his on-track ambitions, Hamilton also aims to continue promoting diversity within F1, a cause he has championed throughout his career.
A New Generation of Drivers
While veterans like Hamilton, Verstappen, and others will continue to battle for supremacy, the 2025 season will also see the arrival of a new generation of talent. The grid will be reshaped with some of the most anticipated rookies in years. Among them is 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who is stepping up from Formula 2 to replace Hamilton at Mercedes. Other notable newcomers include F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto, who will join Sauber, and Jack Doohan, the son of motorcycle racing legend Mick Doohan, who will drive for Alpine.
These rookies are entering a grid that’s losing several experienced drivers. Ten-time Grand Prix winner Valtteri Bottas is expected to return to Mercedes as a reserve driver after leaving Sauber, while Kevin Magnussen, Zhou Guanyu, and Franco Colapinto will be without race seats in 2025.
Sergio Perez also faces uncertainty for 2025, despite a contract extension agreed earlier this year. While Perez finished second in the 2023 standings, he struggled to match Verstappen’s pace in 2024, leading to speculation about his future at Red Bull.
What to Expect in 2025
The 2025 F1 season promises an exciting mix of experienced champions, ambitious newcomers, and major team changes. With tight competition, Hamilton’s fresh challenge at Ferrari, and the rise of young drivers like Norris and Antonelli, it’s shaping up to be one of the most thrilling seasons in recent memory. As always, the fight for the title will be unpredictable, but one thing is certain: F1 fans are in for a season full of drama, speed, and surprises.
