The countdown has begun. Subsequent week, System 1 will collect on the O2 Area in London for the launch of the 2025 season, an occasion that can coincide with the celebrations for the seventy fifth anniversary of the World Championship. Instantly afterward, groups should pack up and ship their tools for the three days of testing scheduled in Bahrain from February 26 to twenty-eight. From there—maintaining with the frantic tempo—groups will return to their headquarters for a couple of days earlier than heading to Melbourne.
It’s time for predictions—expectations that aren’t restricted to followers alone. Even throughout the paddock, these are days when some insiders dare to make forecasts primarily based on kind of dependable data.
The aggressive order on the finish of the 2024 season makes it troublesome to foretell who, a minimum of within the early a part of the season, might need an edge. Nevertheless, it’s a lot simpler to stipulate the targets that every crew has set for itself as the brand new season approaches.
No less than three groups shall be strongly concentrating on the drivers’ title, two of which see profitable the constructors’ championship as an absolute should. All have stable foundations to imagine in these targets, however their ambitions shall be examined on the observe. Let’s take a more in-depth have a look at the highest 5 groups from the 2024 constructors’ standings.
McLaren
– Drivers’ championship aim: 1st
– Constructors’ championship aim: 1st
There isn’t a Plan B. In 2024, McLaren celebrated a world title after sixteen years, ending a twenty-six-season drought within the groups’ standings. Simply three months after the final championship ended, the one goal could be securing each world titles once more.
There are two main questions for the upcoming season: Lando Norris’ psychological resilience (in 2024, he confirmed some limitations when going through a head-to-head battle with Verstappen) and Oscar Piastri’s progress, as he’s anticipated to ship performances on par together with his teammate. Even the bookmakers agree—McLaren and Norris begin the season as favorites for each world titles, although with solely a slight edge over their direct rivals.
Ferrari
– Drivers’ championship aim: 1st
– Constructors’ championship aim: 1st
Ending simply fourteen factors behind McLaren final season leaves little question about Ferrari’s aim within the 2025 constructors’ championship. Expectations for the drivers’ title are additionally excessive, on condition that Leclerc scored probably the most factors of anybody within the final quarter of the 2024 season (coinciding with the ultimate upgrades launched on the Austin weekend). Including to this, the arrival of Lewis Hamilton has electrified the environment throughout the Scuderia.
Successful both of the 2 titles would nonetheless be a big achievement, with the constructors’ title being a non-negotiable goal. However for each Leclerc and Hamilton, the drivers’ championship is just not an excessively optimistic aim. They’re effectively conscious that 2025 begins with way more certainties than they are going to have twelve months from now—a possibility that should not be wasted.
It is going to be a troublesome battle, little question, however Ferrari has the instruments to combat on the highest degree. Apart from Hamilton’s arrival, the crew has additionally accomplished the technical employees overhaul led by Frederic Vasseur, beginning with new technical director Loic Serra. The crew that the French crew principal has at his disposal in 2025 is the results of a recruitment marketing campaign that started in 2023 and concluded on the finish of final yr. That is his Ferrari.
Purple Bull
– Drivers’ championship aim: 1st
– Constructors’ championship aim: High-3
After celebrating his fourth world title, Max Verstappen has disappeared from the radar. Through the brief winter break, the Dutchman was nearly ignored by the media (one thing he absolutely appreciated), as they centered on Hamilton’s first steps at Maranello and topped Norris because the early favourite for 2025.
With out Adrian Newey, with a shaky finish to the 2024 season, and with an inner reshuffling of roles that relied solely on in-house expertise, Purple Bull doesn’t seem like a robust candidate for a number one function. However is that actually the case? Can Verstappen be dominated out of the title combat? Talking with a number of insiders, nobody is keen to rely Max out. After all, a lot will rely on the technical competitiveness of his automobile, however we’re nonetheless speaking a few crew that has dominated the ground-effect period. Max Verstappen will begin with the aim of profitable—there isn’t any different manner. Nevertheless, the outlook for the constructors’ championship is totally different and can largely rely on how Liam Lawson integrates into the crew. The times when Max alone was sufficient to safe the constructors’ title are over.
Mercedes
– Drivers’ championship aim: High-3
– Constructors’ championship aim: High-3
A thriller. It has been for years, however in 2024, Mercedes despatched out some fascinating alerts, proving to be a profitable automobile (in sure situations, notably in very low temperatures) and even exhibiting some margin for enchancment. Nevertheless, the F1 World Championship is just not a winter match—remaining aggressive in all situations and on each observe is important, and that’s Brackley’s major goal.
George Russell is a stable pillar, whereas Andrea Kimi Antonelli is a well-founded gamble who will want time to adapt earlier than delivering the outcomes Toto Wolff firmly believes in. Amongst insiders, Mercedes is just not seen as a contender for the 2 world titles, however the 2025 season may mark a step ahead with extra race wins. All of that is in preparation for 2026, a yr when many count on the Silver Arrows to make a comeback.
Aston Martin
– Drivers’ championship aim: High-10
– Constructors’ championship aim: High-5
It could appear odd, however for Aston Martin, the true aim in 2025 is to take care of the positions achieved on the finish of final season. Fifth place within the constructors’ championship and ninth place for Fernando Alonso within the drivers’ standings had been secured due to a stable begin to the season, which allowed the crew to construct an early benefit. Within the second half of the championship, nonetheless, Aston Martin was outperformed by each Alpine and Haas, although neither managed to threaten Silverstone’s fifth-place end because of the hole collected earlier within the season.
Whereas ready for the Adrian Newey-designed automobile set to reach in 2026, Aston Martin is heading right into a transition yr the place the aim is to cling to the “better of the remaining” standing it secured on the finish of final season. Hopes for a return to the highest are all pinned on the 2026 season.
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