F1 2025: All You Need to Know About the New Season
The highly anticipated 2025 Formula 1 season is fast approaching, and fans around the world are already gearing up for an action-packed year of thrilling races, intense rivalries, and, undoubtedly, plenty of drama. The 2025 campaign promises to be one of the most exciting in recent memory, with a host of new changes, high-profile driver moves, and a packed calendar of 24 races across the globe. From the arrival of rookies to the return of Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari, there is no shortage of storylines as the F1 world prepares for the green light to go racing once again.
After a memorable 2024 season, where Max Verstappen claimed his fourth World Drivers’ Championship, and McLaren ended a 26-year drought by securing the Constructors’ Championship, the stage is set for even more battles in 2025. Verstappen’s dominance at Red Bull, combined with the rise of McLaren and the continued quest for supremacy from teams like Mercedes and Ferrari, makes for an unpredictable and intriguing year ahead. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 F1 season, from new team line-ups to the race schedule and rule changes.
New Faces, New Teams: F1’s 2025 Driver Line-ups
The 2025 grid has undergone significant changes, with several big-name drivers making moves across teams. The most notable of these is the seven-time World Champion, Lewis Hamilton, who will be making the switch to Ferrari after a highly successful career at Mercedes. Hamilton’s transfer is a major shake-up in the F1 world, as many experts and fans have speculated on the potential impact of this move. With Ferrari striving to regain its former glory, Hamilton’s leadership and experience could prove crucial in helping the Italian team challenge Red Bull and Mercedes at the front of the pack.
Meanwhile, Mercedes will welcome a new driver to their fold in the form of Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the 18-year-old protege from the Mercedes driver academy. Antonelli will take over Hamilton’s seat alongside George Russell, who continues his partnership with Mercedes after an impressive 2024 campaign. Antonelli’s promotion to the F1 grid is seen as a significant step in the team’s future, as the young driver comes with a wealth of talent and potential.
In addition to these high-profile moves, six rookies will make their full-time F1 debut in 2025. Among them is Oliver Bearman, the 19-year-old British driver who impressed during his stand-in roles at Ferrari and Haas in 2024. Bearman has signed a multi-year deal with Haas, where he will be looking to make his mark in the sport alongside teammate Kevin Magnussen. Also entering the grid are Liam Lawson from New Zealand, who will join Red Bull to partner Verstappen, and Gabriel Bortoleto, the 2024 Formula 2 champion, who will drive for Sauber. Isack Hadjar, the F2 runner-up, will be driving for Racing Bulls, previously known as RB, alongside Yuki Tsunoda.
With these new additions, the 2025 season will see an exciting mix of veteran stars and fresh talent, all battling for supremacy.
2025 F1 Contracts: The Future of the Grid
As always, F1 contracts are a topic of much speculation, and 2025 is no different. Six drivers are currently on contracts running until the end of the season, and this includes a few key figures who will be looking to secure their futures beyond 2025. For instance, George Russell and Yuki Tsunoda both have contracts that expire at the end of the 2025 season. Given the dynamic nature of F1 and the constant evaluation of driver performance, their contracts will likely be in the spotlight throughout the year.
Additionally, there will be two more seats available in 2026 as the Cadillac team enters the F1 grid. The arrival of a new team will undoubtedly shake up the driver market, as talented drivers vie for the new opportunities.
F1 2025 Calendar: A Busy Year Ahead
The 2025 F1 calendar is one of the longest in recent memory, with a total of 24 races across 21 countries. The season will begin in Melbourne, Australia, from 14-16 March, marking the return of the Australian Grand Prix as the traditional season opener. Australia has been a staple of the F1 calendar since its debut in 1996, and the Melbourne circuit will once again play host to the first race of the season for the first time since 2019.
The calendar features several familiar venues, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Monaco, and Singapore, but there are also a few shifts in the schedule. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have been moved to the fourth and fifth rounds of the season, respectively, due to the overlap with the holy month of Ramadan, which traditionally takes place in March.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix, which made its debut in 2023, will once again be held on Saturday evening, with all sessions brought forward by two hours. The race will start at 20:00 local time (04:00 GMT on Sunday), making for an exciting and dramatic event under the lights of the Las Vegas Strip.
Another significant change will see the Spanish Grand Prix hosted at Barcelona for the final time before the event moves to Madrid in 2026. The circuit has long been a fixture on the calendar, but the shift to Madrid will mark a new chapter for the Spanish Grand Prix.
Sprint Races: More Action in 2025
The sprint race format, which has gained popularity in recent years, will feature six sprint races in the 2025 season. These races will take place in China, Miami, Belgium, the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Brazil, and Qatar. Brazil has hosted a sprint race every year since their introduction in 2021, and this year’s event at Spa-Francorchamps will mark the return of the iconic circuit to the sprint calendar after a one-year hiatus in 2024.
The sprint race format will remain unchanged from 2024, with qualifying for the sprint taking place on Friday after a practice session, followed by the 100km sprint race on Saturday. Points will be awarded to the top eight finishers, with the winner receiving 8 points, the runner-up receiving 7, and so on down to 1 point for the eighth-place finisher.
Rule Changes for F1 2025: What’s New?
F1 fans can expect a few important rule changes in 2025, most notably the removal of the fastest lap bonus point. Previously, a point was awarded to the driver who set the fastest lap in the main grand prix, provided they finished within the top 10. This point will no longer be awarded in the new season, marking a shift in how races and points are distributed.
Another change to the rules will affect rookie drivers. In 2025, rookies will have the opportunity to participate in four practice sessions across the season, compared to the two opportunities in previous years. This is designed to give the new drivers more seat time and experience in the car, helping them develop more quickly in the highly competitive world of F1.
Full F1 2025 Calendar
Here is the complete list of races for the 2025 Formula 1 season:
- 14-16 March: Australia (Melbourne)
- 21-23 March: China (Shanghai)
- 4-6 April: Japan (Suzuka)
- 11-13 April: Bahrain (Sakhir)
- 18-20 April: Saudi Arabia (Jeddah)
- 2-4 May: Miami (Miami International Autodrome)
- 16-18 May: Emilia Romagna (Imola)
- 23-25 May: Monaco (Monte Carlo)
- 30 May-1 June: Spain (Barcelona)
- 13-15 June: Canada (Montreal)
- 27-29 June: Austria (Spielberg)
- 4-6 July: United Kingdom (Silverstone)
- 25-27 July: Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
- 1-3 August: Hungary (Budapest)
- 29-31 August: Netherlands (Zandvoort)
- 5-7 September: Italy (Monza)
- 19-21 September: Azerbaijan (Baku)
- 3-5 October: Singapore (Singapore)
- 17-19 October: United States (Austin)
- 24-26 October: Mexico (Mexico City)
- 7-9 November: Brazil (Sao Paulo)
- 20-22 November: Las Vegas (Las Vegas Strip)
- 28-30 November: Qatar (Losail)
- 5-7 December: Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)
Full 2025 F1 Driver Line-up
- Alpine: Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan
- Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll
- Ferrari: Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton
- Haas: Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon
- McLaren: Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris
- Mercedes: George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli
- Red Bull: Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson
- Racing Bulls (formerly RB): Yuki Tsunoda and Isack Hadjar
- Sauber: Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto
- Williams: Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz
Looking Ahead to 2025
With the 2025 season shaping up to be a highly competitive one, fans can expect to see new rivalries, intense battles for supremacy, and plenty of surprises along the way. Whether it’s the emergence of rookie talent, the continuing dominance of established stars like Verstappen and Hamilton, or the thrilling addition of new teams and races, this promises to be a season unlike any other. As always, the drama, controversy, and excitement of Formula 1 will captivate fans around the world. So, gear up for an unforgettable year of racing!
