Formula 1 Is Back: Big Changes, New Faces Headline 2025 Season

Formula 1 returns this weekend with the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, kicking off a 24-race calendar that promises high-stake battles, fresh rivalries and one of the most competitive grids in recent history.

After a 2024 season in which seven different drivers won multiple races, this year’s championship fight looks wide open. Defending champion Max Verstappen is chasing his fifth consecutive title, a feat only Michael Schumacher has achieved (2000-04).

But with McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes closing the gap, this could be Verstappen’s toughest season yet. Paced by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, McLaren is seeking its second consecutive Constructors’ championship after ending Red Bulls’ two-year reign at the top.

Here are five of the biggest storylines to watch entering the new F1 season.

Hamilton’s Ferrari Debut

For the first time in his career, Lewis Hamilton will race in Ferrari red. The seven-time world champion’s highly anticipated move to F1’s most successful team has dominated offseason headlines. A title with the Scuderia would make him the first driver since Juan Manuel Fangio to win championships with three different teams, and the first to claim a record-breaking eighth world championship.

Hamilton partnered up with Monegasque Charles Leclerc, bringing together two of the sport’s biggest names and adding even more excitement to Ferrari’s championship aspirations.

Key Driver Moves 

One of the biggest headlines heading into 2025 is the reshuffling of the grid. In 2024, it was the first time in the sport’s history that all drivers and teams remained the same from the previous season. This year, only two teams — McLaren and Aston Martin — return with the same driver lineup from 2024. Haas and Kick Sauber field entirely new rosters, while five rookies will make their full-time F1 debuts.

Aside from Hamilton’s circuit-shaking move to Ferrari, here are some of the other notable moves:

• Carlos Sainz joins Williams after losing his Ferrari seat to Hamilton.
• Liam Lawson replaces Sergio Pérez at Red Bull after impressing as a reserve.
• Andrea Kimi Antonelli steps up at Mercedes, filling the gap left by Hamilton’s departure.

At 18, Antonelli is the youngest driver on the grid and the first Mercedes junior to be promoted directly to the factory team. His arrival puts pressure on George Russell, who now leads Mercedes in its first season without Hamilton since 2013.

McLaren’s Momentum

McLaren heads into 2025 riding a wave of momentum. Norris ended 2024 on a high, winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and securing McLaren’s first Constructors’ Championship since 1998. Norris, who had been steadily climbing through the ranks, was the only serious challenger to Verstappen’s dominance in 2024, marking his first real shot at the title since joining Formula 1 with McLaren in 2019.

Both Norris and teammate Piastri claimed their first career victories last year. Piastri, who at 23 is seen as one of the sport’s brightest young talents, claimed his first win in only his second year in F1.

McLaren enters 2025 with an exciting mix of experience and potential, setting the stage for what could be a fierce title fight.

Behind the Scenes 

Adrian Newey’s departure from Red Bull is one of the most significant changes heading into the season. After nearly 20 years with the team, the legendary designer has moved to Aston Martin. His exit will not affect Red Bull’s 2025 car, which already had been designed by Newey, but the team’s ability to maintain its dominance without his guidance remains uncertain.

Another historic shift comes with Laura Mueller, who joins Haas as Formula 1’s first-ever female race engineer. Mueller, who worked as a performance engineer with the team for three years, will be on the pit wall for Esteban Ocon this season. Her arrival marks a significant step toward increasing diversity in the sport, setting a precedent for the future.

The Road Ahead

This year’s 24-race calendar brings back Melbourne as the season opener for the first time since 2019. The European leg begins in Imola on May 18, with six sprint weekends scheduled throughout the season. The championship concludes in Abu Dhabi in December, and the title fight could once again go down to the wire.

The 2025 calendar features three races in the United States with Miami in May, the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, in October and Las Vegas in November.