10 unexpected things to expect from F1 in 2025

Take a step again in time to January 2024 and inform your self that in a 12 months’s time you will know that Lewis Hamilton has moved from Mercedes to Ferrari, Carlos Sainz is at Williams, Liam Lawson has landed a Pink Bull seat, and a fellow referred to as Franco Colapinto (did you even hear of him again then?) is in line for one of many Alpine seats after having competed in 9 grands prix on the finish of final season.

What a distinction a 12 months makes.

Components 1 generally produces snooze fests on race Sundays, nevertheless it’s at all times stuffed with craziness, no less than off the monitor – so you may virtually by no means rule something out. Listed here are some wild predictions from the followers which have probability of not trying so wild a 12 months from now.

Verstappen will not be a championship contender this 12 months

Sorry, what? To think about that the driving force who dominated F1 in 2022 and 2023 is not going to even be in competition for the championship is troublesome. However is it actually so unlikely?

Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing

Photograph by: Pink Bull Content material Pool

No query, even with arguably the third-fastest automotive final 12 months, Verstappen was capable of rating persistently and did not even permit Lando Norris to shut the championship hole within the second half of 2024. However the brand new Pink Bull appears extremely just like final 12 months’s – and visually, no less than, a few of the rival groups’ automobiles signify main developments.

There are loads of ifs on this equation, however what if Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren make an even bigger step ahead than Pink Bull? Verstappen is definitely an amazing driver, however will he be capable of compensate if the hole will get too huge?

The prospect of the Dutchman not being concerned in a title battle nonetheless sounds too unrealistic, however 12 months in the past it seemed like 2024 could be as simple because the earlier two seasons.

Alonso’s thirty third victory

Did you hear Lando Norris say that it will not be simply the highest 4 groups that win races this 12 months? As daring because it sounds, he has a legitimate level. The gaps are likely to shrink when F1 retains the identical rules for a number of years – and if nothing anomalous occurs, we’ll undoubtedly see some shut racing on the entrance. And perhaps it will not simply be McLaren, Ferrari, Pink Bull and Mercedes preventing it out. In that case, who higher to wager on for a shock victory than Fernando Alonso?

Fernando Alonso on the rostrum in Sao Paulo in 2023

Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Photographs

Sure, Aston Martin clearly struggled final 12 months – the string of podiums from early 2023 already looks like a very long time in the past. However again then, Alonso was only one strategic determination away from profitable at Monaco: had the staff put him on intermediates on lap 54, he might have already secured victory quantity 33.

Lawrence Stroll would not again down – he simply retains upping the ante. Ultimately, Aston Martin’s spectacular staff of engineers must resolve what has stalled the staff’s progress over the previous 12 months and a half. Plus, Adrian Newey is because of be part of at first of March, and perhaps – simply perhaps – the genius will casually level them in the suitable path for automotive improvement.

It should in all probability take extra than simply: “Oh, guys, this half ought to be 2mm increased and that’ll offer you 20 additional factors of downforce”. However Newey has lengthy confirmed to the F1 world that he alone could make a distinction.

Lawson and Tsunoda to swap locations

Given Christian Horner and Helmut Marko’s reluctance to even take into account placing Yuki Tsunoda behind the wheel of one in all Pink Bull’s automobiles, it is virtually unimaginable that the Japanese driver will find yourself as one of many staff’s drivers. It was solely final December that Tsunoda was provided a take a look at with Pink Bull – apparently after the staff had already selected its 2025 line-up – and now it is virtually unthinkable that he’ll ever be introduced with such a chance once more. Outperforming the likes of Nyck de Vries, Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson clearly wasn’t sufficient for Tsunoda to persuade his bosses that he was as much as the duty of being a high staff driver.

Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda

Photograph by: Lubomir Asenov / Motorsport Photographs

Nonetheless, loopy issues have occurred with Pink Bull’s driver line-up prior to now. Sacking, swapping and selling drivers mid-season is Marko and Horner’s behavior, so is it fully out of the query that Tsunoda will get his shot?

You do not have to assume too onerous in regards to the circumstances which may power Pink Bull to no less than take into account swapping Lawson for Tsunoda. The New Zealander was moved to the primary staff after simply 11 races in F1 – and there is nonetheless an opportunity he might repeat the destiny of Pierre Gasly, who was despatched again to Faenza after simply half a season with Red Bull Racing. If Lawson’s season seems to be as unhealthy as Sergio Perez’s final, the staff chiefs could also be left with no alternative.

Antonelli to interrupt Verstappen’s document as youngest winner

It is a tall order – not simply due to the shortage of proof that Mercedes will be capable of win races this 12 months and Antonelli’s inexperience, but in addition as a result of Kimi solely has three makes an attempt to interrupt Verstappen’s document because the youngest grand prix winner.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli

Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photographs

The Dutchman received the Spanish Grand Prix, his first race for Pink Bull Racing, on the age of 18 years and 228 days. Because of this, Antonelli’s probability of surpassing that achievement will expire after the Japanese Grand Prix at first of April. Moreover, no rookie has received a race of their debut season since Lewis Hamilton in 2007 (except Oscar Piastri’s dash victory in Qatar in 2023). Even for the eventual world champion it took six races to succeed in this milestone.

Rather a lot must go proper for Antonelli to win one of many first three races of the season. However Toto Wolff would not be giving the younger Italian a seat within the automotive if he did not imagine in his potential. How rapidly he can adapt to F1 stays one of many largest questions forward of 2025 – however what if he’s certainly a once-in-a-generation expertise, because the Mercedes boss clearly believes, and stuns the F1 world in his very first races?

Sainz to carry Williams again to the rostrum

James Vowles’ plan to take Williams again to the highest is in full swing. Ditch the Excel spreadsheets – examine. Rent a high driver – examine. Safe an enormous sponsorship deal – examine.

He was clear final 12 months: 2025 shouldn’t be a precedence for his staff. In reality, he’d somewhat sacrifice the ultimate season earlier than F1 enters a brand new period in 2026 than jeopardise the longer term. Nonetheless, Williams made actual progress all through final season and begins the brand new marketing campaign with a automotive that was born in a significantly better atmosphere than its predecessor and is no less than not affected by extra weight.

Carlos Sainz, Williams FW47

Photograph by: Williams

Can Sainz make the distinction? Alex Albon was showered with compliments in the course of the time he shared a storage with Nicholas Latifi and Logan Sargeant, however who can rule out the concept he did not at all times get absolutely the most out of the automotive? Now Williams has a confirmed race winner. In a loopy race – and in a season of 24 rounds, some are positive to be chaotic – you may rely on Sainz to maintain his nostril clear and give you one thing particular.

Drivers to strike towards FIA

Again in 1982, Components 1 drivers had been so fed up with the organisation now often called the FIA that they went on strike and locked themselves in a lodge ballroom in the course of the South African Grand Prix. They performed video games, informed tales and Elio de Angelis entertained the group with some piano jams…

It is onerous to gauge whether or not Mohammed Ben Sulayem and the FIA are near reaching the identical degree of discontent amongst grand prix drivers as Jean-Marie Balestre and FISA did some 40 years in the past – however there’s clearly some type of frustration of their ranks, particularly in gentle of the current information about swearing fines. Repeat offenders face not solely monetary penalties (that are fairly hefty!) but in addition a one-month suspension and a deduction of championship factors – and that is fairly severe. The thought {that a} informal F-word dropped in an interview might have an effect on the title battle is somewhat uncomfortable.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President, FIA, with Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing

Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photographs

The grand prix drivers have already proven their unity by taking the decisive step of making a joint Instagram account (an unprecedented transfer!). What comes subsequent is difficult to foretell.

Simply think about: somebody like Max Verstappen (title chosen randomly) finds himself on the verge of a 3rd offence and punishment within the type of factors deduction, say earlier than the Austrian Grand Prix – however as a substitute of heading to the stewards’ room, he rallies the opposite drivers to go on strike and so they lock themselves up in, say, Helmut Marko’s Lodge Steirerschlössl? There is no scarcity of those that might play the piano on the present grid.

Bearman to beat Ocon comfortably

That does not even sound so wild… All of the F1 rookies of 2025 can have a troublesome process going up towards skilled teammates. Nevertheless it’s in all probability Ollie Bearman who stands the most effective probability of really beating his storage neighbour.

On paper, Ocon, a race winner with virtually 10 years of F1 expertise, would look like the clear primary driver at Haas – given Bearman’s lack of expertise. However the younger Briton has already demonstrated his velocity and talent to study rapidly. Defeating Nico Hulkenberg in qualifying in Baku after which scoring a degree within the race was wonderful proof of his high quality as a driver – and much more spectacular than his notorious Jeddah efficiency.

Ayao Komatsu and Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Staff

Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photographs

Ayao Komatsu believes that Bearman is a future Ferrari driver. And whereas that is a pleasant praise from a boss, it is also a press release of expectations: any driver who desires to drive a crimson Components 1 automotive at some point should not simply purpose to beat any of their team-mates – that needs to be their solely objective.

Perez to return earlier than finish of season

The four-year stint (or perhaps simply the final couple of seasons, to be honest) has actually broken the Mexican’s popularity. At occasions, he seemed hopeless within the second Pink Bull – and that impression was solely exacerbated by Max Verstappen’s brilliance. However is that this actually the Sergio Perez we knew from his Drive India days? Maybe the toll of sharing a storage with a generational expertise has merely been too nice – and in numerous circumstances, he might rediscover a few of his previous velocity and tenacity.

For now, as Perez enjoys time together with his household and travels the world for pleasure somewhat than work, it is onerous to think about him again on the grid. However F1 has seen its justifiable share of comebacks prior to now – even from those that had been written off. In any case, who would have thought that Daniel Ricciardo would swallow his delight and return to race for his former Toro Rosso staff after a stint with McLaren?

Can Sergio Perez get again to F1?

Photograph by: Pink Bull Content material Pool

Would Christian Horner organise a tyre take a look at for an additional of his former drivers in July? And if Isack Hadjar is as a lot slower than Yuki Tsunoda as Nyck de Vries was, might there be a gap? You would say there’s an excessive amount of unhealthy blood between Horner and Perez in the meanwhile, however remember Ricciardo left Pink Bull to signal with Cyril Abiteboul, who appeared to bother Horner virtually as a lot as Toto Wolff! You by no means know…

Hulkenberg to qualify on entrance row with Sauber

Nico Hulkenberg has at all times been a powerful qualifier, nevertheless it was throughout his two-year stint with Haas that he actually showcased that ability. The German’s skill to place a lap collectively on demand is nothing in need of extraordinary – and a few of his Saturday performances deserve some severe reward. Keep in mind him qualifying second in Canada in 2023?

He is shifting to a staff that, on paper, appears like favourites to complete final within the constructors’ championship, however does that preclude some qualifying highlights?

Nico Hulkenberg, Stake F1 Staff

Photograph by: Sauber

Sauber additionally improved its automotive in the direction of the top of final 12 months, and in Abu Dhabi Valtteri Bottas made it to Q3, setting a time simply 0.4s off the entrance row! Hulkenberg was fourth in the identical session. If the sphere is certainly nearer this 12 months, the German might actually elevate some eyebrows.

Is it too onerous to think about him placing his Sauber on the entrance row in combined circumstances? Positively not. It isn’t like we’re speaking about him getting a podium, proper?

Doohan to finish full season with Alpine

Let’s simply hope Jack Doohan hasn’t been studying the motorsport press over the winter – as a result of if he has, he have to be feeling immense stress. Too many within the paddock are satisfied that the Australian’s days at Alpine are numbered – and that interprets into tons of articles suggesting that Doohan’s solely job is to heat the seat for Franco Colapinto.

The explanations for such hypothesis are clear: the Argentinean would not have left Williams if he wasn’t hoping to get into one of many Alpine race automobiles within the close to future. And the information of the staff signing up sponsors from his homeland solely provides gasoline to the fireplace.

Doohan would not have to learn the press to be involved. The information are sufficient.

Jack Doohan, Alpine F1 Staff, in cockpit

Photograph by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Photographs

However guess what, he is nonetheless beginning the season alongside Pierre Gasly – and so long as he is in that seat, his future (you’d wish to imagine it!) is in his fingers. A powerful efficiency in such circumstances might actually increase the Australian’s picture and safe not solely a full season with Alpine, however a protracted profession on the pinnacle of motorsport.

What a narrative that may be!

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