new battles, big changes « Euro Weekly News
Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia.
Credit: Formula 1 official website.
The 2025 Formula 1 season starts in Australia, on March 16, with the British driver Lando Norris in pole position.
According to specialists, Lando Norris is the big favourite for this first race of the season. The 25-year-old from Bristol will compete with the legendary Max Verstappen from Oracle Red Bull Racing and his teammate Oscar Piastri.
The 2025 F1 season is set to be one of the most interesting in recent history, with a packed 24-race calendar. This season also marks the final year of some important technical regulations before sweeping changes in 2026.
Formula 1 2025 reaches 21 countries: the calendar
The season kicks off at Albert Park in Melbourne, followed by the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai International Circuit on March 23. The first Sprint race of the season takes place in Shanghai on March 22.
The action-packed year will span 21 countries across five continents, featuring classic venues like Silverstone, Spa, and Suzuka, alongside newer additions such as Las Vegas, Miami, and Saudi Arabia. The season concludes in the Middle East, with the Qatar Grand Prix (November 28-30) hosting the final Sprint race, before Abu Dhabi wraps things up at Yas Marina on December 7.
Formula 1 2025: the end of an era
This season marks the end of the 2014 power unit era before the introduction of new high-output hybrid engines in 2026.
2025 it’s also the last year of the ground-effect cars introduced in 2022 and the final season with DRS (Drag Reduction System) before active aerodynamics take over next year. Additionally, this is the final season for Renault as an active engine supplier for its team Alpine, due to the manufacturer’s plans to discontinue engine production after 2025.
Major moves: Hamilton to Ferrari
The biggest story of the offseason is clearly Lewis Hamilton’s surprising switch to Ferrari, ending his 12-year tenure with Mercedes. At Ferrari, he replaced the Spaniard Carlos Sainz Jr., who moved to Atlassian Williams Racing.
Credit: Lewis Hamilton Facebook page
Mercedes promoted the 18-year-old Italian Andrea Kimi Antonelli from Formula 2 to replace Hamilton, marking the start of a new era for the Silver Arrows.
Haas underwent a complete driver overhaul, with Nico Hülkenberg joining Sauber and Kevin Magnussen leaving F1. They are replaced by Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon. Meanwhile, Jack Doohan steps up to Alpine, replacing Ocon, and Gabriel Bortoleto takes a seat at Sauber.
Another major change sees Sergio Pérez leaving Red Bull, with Liam Lawson stepping up from Racing Bulls. His spot at Racing Bulls is filled by Isack Hadjar.
Title fight: who will win it?
With McLaren entering 2025 as the reigning Constructors’ Champions, Lando Norris is now considered the big favourite of the season. However, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, and George Russell are all expected to be in the contest. Last but not least, Oscar Piastri could also be a contender, depending on McLaren’s performance during the season.
One key mid-season change could shift the balance: F1 will tighten regulations on flexible wings starting at the Spanish Grand Prix, which will take place on June 1, at Circuit de Barcelona, in Catalunya, Montmeló. In 2024, McLaren benefited significantly from these designs, so this rule change could bring them closer to the competition.
