Countdown to Melbourne
There are simply over two months till the primary race of the 2025 F1 World Championship, which returns to Albert Park in Australia because the season opener after current years the place Bahrain hosted the opening spherical (it stays the venue for winter testing in late February). This would be the last 12 months of the present regulatory cycle that started in 2022 with the return of ground-effect vehicles, and it’ll additionally mark the final season for the present energy items. The 2026 overhaul looms, however there’s no rush to achieve it—significantly as the ultimate 12 months of a regulatory period usually reveals true equilibrium amongst prime groups. Right here’s why the 2025 F1 season is so extremely anticipated, particularly in Italy.
1) Lewis Hamilton debuts with Ferrari
Probably the most profitable driver in F1 historical past (statistically) in essentially the most iconic and prestigious automotive: “What else?” as George Clooney may say—although not about espresso this time. What as soon as appeared an unattainable pairing is about to occur. Hamilton’s objective is to clinch his eighth world title, making him the undisputed most profitable driver in historical past. If he succeeds, he would surpass Michael Schumacher’s last file, attaining this feat behind the wheel of the very Ferrari that turned Schumacher right into a legend. Including spice is the direct rivalry with Charles Leclerc, who has lengthy awaited the possibility to match his peer Max Verstappen and be part of the unique membership of F1 World Champions. Make no mistake: the Hamilton-Ferrari duo would be the centerpiece of the 2025 F1 season, not simply in Italian media.
2) Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s F1 debut
Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari left a emptiness at Mercedes, and Toto Wolff made a daring selection. In contrast to George Russell, who spent three years at Williams earlier than incomes a Mercedes seat, Andrea Kimi Antonelli will step instantly into F1 as a rookie at 18 years previous. Unable to signal the actual Max Verstappen, Wolff has opted for an in-house “Max 2.0.” For Italy, Antonelli’s arrival on the grid is momentous, and in contrast to Antonio Giovinazzi, he’ll have a automotive from a workforce that gained 4 races in 2024. Taking on from Hamilton is a monumental activity, and even Helmut Marko remarked that he wouldn’t have dared to put Verstappen straight right into a Purple Bull. We want Antonelli the perfect of luck.
3) The Norris-Piastri rivalry
McLaren defied all expectations to win the Constructors’ Championship, dethroning Purple Bull and outperforming their engine provider, Mercedes. Zak Brown and Andrea Stella delivered a masterstroke, reconnecting McLaren with its 1998 Constructors’ title glory. Now, the objective is the final word double—Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles—in 2025. The query is: if a McLaren driver turns into World Champion, will it’s Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri?
4) Can Lawson survive Purple Bull and Max Verstappen?
After 4 years, Sergio Perez’s tenure at Purple Bull has ended—not attributable to efficiency however because of a profitable payout following underwhelming outcomes. Purple Bull’s management, Marko and Horner, selected to gamble on Liam Lawson quite than give Yuki Tsunoda a farewell tour alongside Honda. The New Zealander has solely 11 F1 begins however has already proven fearlessness, incomes each criticism and reward on-line. Dealing with Max Verstappen is an immense problem, and a Purple Bull removed from its 2023 dominance makes Liam Lawson’s activity even tougher. We additionally want Lawson the most effective of luck.
5) Can Carlos Sainz replicate his McLaren success at Williams?
Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari and Purple Bull’s and Mercedes’ “company-line” driver choices left Carlos Sainz with no seat at a prime workforce. After failing to safe a Ferrari renewal or a Purple Bull spot, Sainz discovered a house at Williams—a workforce steeped in custom however unlikely to be aggressive within the quick time period. Sainz beforehand helped revive McLaren, which ended 2024 as a technical benchmark, and now faces the problem of doing the identical for Williams.
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