2 days Ago By Harry Smith,Charlie Malam,Joe Krishnan,Sam Smith
McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes are all targeting F1 glory in 2025, setting up one of the most hotly anticipated seasons in recent memory. Express Sport writers make their predictions for the upcoming campaign..
. Harry Smith - Charles Leclerc Four teams will believe that their drivers can win the title in 2025, but this could finally be Charles Leclerc’s year. Don’t get it twisted, the Monegasque racer’s 2024 campaign was immense.
Aside from a miserable four-race stretch after his Monaco win, the 27-year-old didn’t finish lower than fifth, and when the margins are tight at the top, it is consistency that wins World Championships. Sam Smith - Lando Norris This will depend entirely on how well Red Bull rebuild after a tricky second half of 2024. A more consistent car and Max Verstappen , the best and fastest driver, will storm to another championship.
If not, this could finally be Lando Norris ’ year if he eliminates some of the inconsistencies in his performances. Joe Krishnan - Lewis Hamilton Invigorated by his fresh start in Italy after leaving Mercedes behind, Hamilton will spearhead Ferrari 's title hopes along with the experienced Charles Leclerc. Max Verstappen 's decision to stick with Red Bull for 2025 may well backfire as Leclerc, Lando Norris , and Oscar Piastri push Hamilton all the way towards securing his record eighth title.
Charlie Malam - Max Verstappen I know, I know, I'm boring. The romantic in me wants to say Lewis Hamilton in the Ferrari . But I expect Red Bull will have a better car than they had for the second half of this season and Liam Lawson will surely be at least a marginal upgrade on the 2024 version of Sergio Perez .
Lando Norris will put up a fight and pick up more wins which means it'll go down to the final race or two, but Verstappen will nick it to again underline that he's one of the best to ever do it. Harry Smith - Ferrari McLaren head into the new campaign as slight favourites after edging the 2024 title fight, but with a super team of Leclerc and Hamilton behind the wheel, Ferrari will be formidable opponents in 2025. Oscar Piastri will need to take a significant step forward next year if Zak Brown ’s squad are to go back-to-back.
Sam Smith - McLaren McLaren have the bonus of possessing two drivers who will score high on most race weekends. Their car for 2024 was more consistent and further improvements will surely help them outperform the likes of Red Bull , Ferrari and Mercedes in the Constructors’ Championship. Joe Krishnan - Ferrari Having not won the title since 2008, the Prancing Horse will be more motivated than ever to get back to winning ways in front of the Tifosi.
Their pace has been patchy at times in 2024, but with Hamilton and Leclerc forming the strongest lineup on the grid, Ferrari will surely bring home a nice collection of victories if their power unit is suitably strong. Charlie Malam - Ferrari I think Hamilton and Charles Leclerc might just end the long wait for a Ferrari title, even if I don't expect either to become world champion. The Italians finished this year strong from Spa onwards and a fully motivated Lewis in the right machinery is a different beast.
Harry Smith - Kimi Antonelli Make no mistake about it, Kimi Antonelli is the most exciting F1 rookie since Max Verstappen . George Russell spent the second half of the 2024 season talking the Italian teenager up, and for good reason - if the words of Toto Wolff and James Allison are to be believed, a future world champion is joining the grid. Crashes and low moments will be inevitable, but I expect to see some blistering pace from the 18-year-old in his debut year.
Sam Smith - Kimi Antonelli A fairly lame answer, but Antonelli is the rookie with the potential to score the most points next season. Despite technically stepping into Lewis Hamilton ’s shoes, there is little expectation that he will match the Formula One icon’s performances so soon in his own career. That absence of pressure could help the 18-year-old thrive in his first season.
Joe Krishnan - Oliver Bearman Haas have taken major steps forward in 2024 under Ayao Komatsu and signing up Ferrari junior Bearman is a positive step forward. His debut in Saudi Arabia offered some glimpses of his promise and he didn't disgrace himself when replacing Kevin Magnussen for one race. All eyes will be on Kimi Antonelli but the Mercedes pressure may get to the 18-year-old, while Gabriel Bortoleto and Jack Doohan might struggle amongst the backmarkers.
Charlie Malam - Oliver Bearman The Ferrari -backed Bearman turned heads at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for the Scuderia, and Haas ended the season encouragingly despite being pipped to a P6 finish in the constructors'. I think they might continue their upward trajectory again next year, and Bearman has the racecraft to shine. Harry Smith - Gabriel Bortoleto If Sauber don’t step up their game over the winter, Gabriel Bortoleto may well end his rookie season without any points, but the Brazilian has the potential to make it big in the F1 paddock.
The 20-year-old arrives in Hinwil as a back-to-back F3 and F2 champion, but even more impressive than his immense pace is his consistency - he recorded top-10 finishes in 21 of the final 22 races in 2024 en route to the F2 title. Fernando Alonso’s protege will keep Nico Hulkenberg honest this year. Sam Smith - Liam Lawson Lawson is exactly the type of character every sport needs: A hugely talented performer partial to ruffling a few feathers.
The New Zealander enjoyed a hugely positive second half of last season at the formerly-named RB. He could land Sergio Perez ’s vacated seat at Red Bull this winter, and a driver line-up of Lawson and Verstappen will be thrilling to watch. Expect fireworks.
Joe Krishnan - George Russell He might not be the most glamorous name in F1, but Russell has been very quick in the second half of the 2024 season. Adding another two race wins to his record quashed claims he could be replaced, and with Hamilton's overbearing shadow disappearing, the 26-year-old is primed to take Mercedes forward. He's nailed qualifying, now it'll be up to him to polish his racecraft on Sunday afternoons.
Charlie Malam - Kimi Antonelli Certainly the one I'll be watching most closely is Antonelli. He's stepping into the cockpit of, in my opinion, the GOAT, and it'll be fascinating to see how he copes. Because he's only 18, there'll be mistakes, but how will he respond to them? Can he step up and produce some eye-catching overtakes and races to back up everything Toto Wolff has said about him? Let's hope so.
Harry Smith - Jack Doohan While his feeder series resume may not be as impressive as some of his fellow rookies, Doohan is more than deserving of a shot at F1. Unfortunately for Alpine’s first true academy graduate, his place on the grid is already being debated before a wheel has been turned in 2025. With Flavio Briatore’s interest in Franco Colapinto for 2026 now public, the Australian with the famous surname will be under scrutiny from lap one in Melbourne.
Sam Smith - Lewis Hamilton Hamilton is maybe not “on the chopping block” per se, but there is monumental pressure on the 39-year-old to succeed at Ferrari . His chief motivation for departing the home comforts of Mercedes is to return to the top of the Drivers’ Championship leaderboard, but he must first make sure he is not outshone by his own team-mate, Charles Leclerc. Another difficult season and there might need to be a few tough questions about Hamilton’s future at the top of the sport.
Joe Krishnan - Lance Stroll Short of confidence and exhibiting little joy throughout the season, it begs the question of when Aston Martin will make the tough call to axe Stroll. As long as his father, Lawrence, remains at the helm, it appears unlikely. But the Canadian was outscored by Nico Hulkenberg and Yuki Tsunoda , proving he isn't having the desired impact.
With Honda joining Aston Martin in 2026, don't be surprised to see Tsunoda step into his seat if Stroll fails again. Charlie Malam - Jack Doohan Alpine have already shown interest in Franco Colapinto and have suggested if there is an opportunity to get the Argentine in 2026 "you have to think about it". Pierre Gasly is one of the most underrated in F1 so I don't think he'll be at risk.
But if Doohan struggles, he may find himself with Colapinto breathing down his neck..
