Key Changes and Anticipated Events for the 2025 Formula 1 Season

The 2025 Formula 1 season is scheduled to commence in Australia in mid-March and conclude in Abu Dhabi in early December. Following the conclusion of the record-breaking 2024 season, which saw Max Verstappen secure his fourth title and McLaren become constructors’ champions for the first time since 1998, focus is now shifting to the upcoming 2025 campaign. This season marks the 75th anniversary of the Formula 1 World Championship and is notable for significant driver transfers to competing teams and the introduction of promising new talents to the grid. BBC Sport examines the anticipated developments for the next year. In his final race for Mercedes at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton advanced from 16th on the grid to secure a fourth-place finish. The announcement of Lewis Hamilton’s multi-year agreement with Ferrari, made prior to the start of the 2024 season, has generated considerable anticipation for the seven-time world champion’s debut in the team’s distinctive red livery. Hamilton, who will turn 40 in January, is departing Mercedes after a 12-year tenure during which he claimed six individual titles, to join Charles Leclerc at the Italian squad. Fans will get their initial look at Hamilton driving for Ferrari during pre-season testing in Bahrain from February 26-28, ahead of the 2025 season’s inaugural race in Australia from March 14-16. Sergio Perez had signed a two-year contract extension with Red Bull in June, committing him to the team until the close of 2026; however, this did not prevent ongoing speculation regarding his position. Nevertheless, less than two weeks after the season concluded, both the team and Perez confirmed an mutual agreement to terminate the Mexican driver’s contract two years ahead of schedule. His seat will be filled by New Zealander Liam Lawson, who is being promoted from Red Bull’s junior team, identified as RB in 2024, following only 11 grands prix appearances across two seasons. Frenchman Isack Hadjar is set to compete alongside Japanese Yuki Tsunoda for the team, which will now be officially named Racing Bulls. Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman competed as team-mates for Prema Racing during the 2024 Formula 2 season. Oliver Bearman is set to secure a full-time position next year, following his notable substitute appearances for Carlos Sainz of Ferrari in Saudi Arabia and on two occasions for Kevin Magnussen at Haas, the team he will be joining. The 19-year-old accumulated seven points across his three outings in 2024 and will be the fourth British driver on the 2025 grid, alongside Hamilton, George Russell, and Lando Norris. Mercedes has chosen a rookie driver, 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli, to succeed the departing Hamilton. The Italian driver’s promotion comes after only one season in Formula 2. Additionally, 21-year-old Australian Jack Doohan, son of five-time MotoGP world champion Mick Doohan, will join the grid, having made his Alpine debut at the season-closing race in Abu Dhabi. Brazilian F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto, aged 20, has been signed by Sauber for their final season before transitioning to Audi. The arrival of Hamilton, coupled with Charles Leclerc’s lengthy contract extension secured in January, left Carlos Sainz seeking a new team after four seasons with Ferrari. The Spanish driver achieved all four of his career wins with the Scuderia, including two during the current year in Australia and Mexico. However, with Mercedes signing Antonelli and Red Bull initially planning to retain Perez until the end of 2026, Sainz’s prospects for a position with a leading team were constrained. Ultimately, James Vowles successfully persuaded Sainz to move to Williams, a new venture the 30-year-old stated he would “embrace with excitement and positivity.” McLaren driver Oscar Piastri was born near Albert Park, the venue for the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. Spectators can anticipate another 24-race calendar, featuring several new aspects for 2025. Australia will revert to its customary role as the opening grand prix of the new season, while Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will shift to an April schedule due to the observance of the holy month of Ramadan. The nine-month championship will conclude in Abu Dhabi on December 7. Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium is set to host its first sprint race since 2023, joining Shanghai, Miami, Austin, Sao Paulo, and Qatar as one of the six sprint events for the upcoming year. The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort will hold its second-to-last race, as the event is slated to be removed from the calendar after 2026. Given that this is a landmark year for Formula 1, the full grid will convene for a special two-hour season launch event on February 18. Supporters are invited to the O2 Arena in London starting at 20:00 GMT to witness all 10 teams collectively unveil their 2025 liveries, a departure from the customary individual presentations. The extent to which the newly developed cars, beyond their liveries, will be showcased remains uncertain.