The 2025 Formula 1 season is just around the corner, with the Melbourne Grand Prix Weekend kicking off on the 14th March. After the three-month winter break, there is plenty to be excited about this season.
This article will take you through the key things to be aware of before the season starts, from rule changes to rookies.
Driver Changes
2025 is undoubtedly going to be a thrilling Formula 1 season, with eight of ten teams having different driver line-ups to the preceding season.
One of the greatest shocks of last season was Lewis Hamilton announcing his move to Ferrari after 12 years at Mercedes, opening up a new spot at his former team. It will be interesting to see how Hamilton settles in at Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc having to fight to maintain his former first driver position.
It will, of course, be sad not to see Carlos Sainz at Ferrari this year, especially with the team looking so competitive. However, the new Williams car is set to be quicker than its 2024 predecessor; alongside Alex Albon, Williams is boasting one of the best driver line-ups on the grid.
Hamilton’s move has also brought 18-year old Kimi Antonelli into the Formula 1 fold, replacing the 7-time world champion at Mercedes. Antonelli finished 6th in the FIA Formula 2 championship last year, but it’s clear that he has great potential. With enormous boots to fill, Antonelli is an exciting pick, and it is always great to see a new rookie in the highly competitive sport.
Both Sauber and Haas F1 team have completely new driver line-ups, each with a rookie respectively. Oliver Bearman will be racing alongside Esteban Ocon for Haas F1 team, having already stepped in for Haas and Ferrari during the 2024 season. The Brazilian driver, Gabriel Bortoleto, will be racing in his first ever Formula 1 season; he is joined at Sauber by Nico Hulkenberg who is returning to the team ahead of its takeover by Audi in 2026.
Having finished sixth during the 2024 Formula 1 season, Alpine are undoubtedly trying to make their mark amongst the midfield teams. Pierre Gasly is continuing at the team, this time joined by Jack Doohan who raced in place of Esteban Ocon for the end of the previous season.
Isack Hadjar completes the long list of rookies for the 2025 Formula 1 season, driving for VCARB (Racing Bulls) which is the Red Bull junior team. It’s hard to believe that Yuki Tsunoda is still driving for the junior team for his fifth season in Formula 1. However, it was Liam Lawson who took that much sought-after spot at Red Bull.
Whilst Liam Lawson isn’t technically a rookie, having shockingly replaced Daniel Ricciardo for VCARB during the 2024 season, it will be interesting to see him race alongside four-time World Champion, Max Verstappen. Many are wondering whether Red Bull will provide another World Champion and maintain their dominance, especially with Ferrari and McLaren showing their speed at pre-season testing in Bahrain.
Team Changes
Whilst Aston Martin is one of the two teams that does not have a new driver line-up for the 2025 season, the team has seen some significant changes. Andy Cowell has taken over from Mike Krack (this is actually his name and not a joke) as Team Principal, alongside his position of Group CEO. However, the biggest change is undoubtedly Adrian Newey’s move from Red Bull. Newey was Chief Technical Officer at Red Bull for 19 years, and it was certainly shocking news to hear of his move. This is an extremely exciting addition to the Aston Martin team, with Newey having designed a whopping 12 Formula 1 World Constructors’ Championship-winning chassis.
Rule Changes
This year sees the end of the ‘Fastest Lap’ point after its 5 year stint in Formula 1. The Fastest Lap point was a bonus point awarded to a driver in the top ten if they achieved the fastest lap of the race; if a driver out of the top ten set the fastest lap time, they could stop a top ten driver from achieving that bonus point. Often a point of controversy, the Fastest Lap has been scrapped by the FIA for the 2025 season and beyond.
Rules surrounding rookie Free Practice driving has also changed for this season, with the number of mandatory runnings increasing from one per car, to two. This will allow rookies (a driver who has raced in no more than two Formula 1 races) greater opportunities to step into the cockpit of an F1 car, potentially widening the pool of future drivers. As this new driver line-up has shown us, rookie runnings should never be underestimated.
On the more technical side of rule changes, mandatory Driver Cooling systems will be fitted in cars if a Heat Hazard is declared by the FIA. A Heat Hazard will be declared if the temperature is forecasted to reach above 31°c during a Grand Prix. With these mandatory Driver Cooling systems being fitted, the weight limits will also be increased by 2kg for practice and Qualifying, and by 5kg for a Sprint or Grand Prix. This is an important improvement to the sport, especially considering races such as Singapore during the 2024 season, during which drivers suffered extremely high temperatures in the cockpit.
This year will also see a clamp-down on Drag Reduction System (DRS) and rear wing designs, following McLaren’s mini-DRS controversy last season.
The tightening of restrictions on the rear wing and DRS flap will hopefully stop teams from finding loop-holes in the rules and reduce any unfair advantages made. However, testing in Bahrain saw the potential return of mini-DRS tactics from a number of teams.
Pre-season testing in Bahrain showed us that there is much to be excited about as the new Formula 1 season kicks off next week. Williams have shown great potential, with Carlos Sainz topping the table at pre-season testing overall and Alex Albon only three tenths behind. The Ferraris both looked confident in the new SF-25, too, although it might take some time to get used to seeing Hamilton in red.
Following several years of Red Bull dominance, the end of the 2024 season illus that we are returning to a period of closer racing, with McLaren taking the Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship title and Ferrari fighting for a close second place. There’s no doubt that the change to the rules and driver line-ups will only make the new Formula 1 season more exhilarating.
It’s been a long winter break, and I, for one, can’t wait to hear David Croft shout “It’s lights out and away we go”.
