F1 2025 is already a rollercoaster, and it's only getting started

The 2025 season of Formula 1 started with fireworks, on and off the track. F1 fans expected dominance from those who are usually at the front, but surprise results, team controversies and betting spikes are flipping the script.

When it is a race weekend, everything feels like a new chapter in a high-speed thriller. Viewership is rising, so it is clear that this season holds more than just lap times.

What makes this season so hot?

Everything about this year's Formula 1 is hyped. The cars are faster, the grid is tighter, and the drama runs deeper. Formula 1 saw upgrades across the board, making strategy and driver skills more important than ever. Here's a breakdown of what makes this season "hot".

Regulations

• There are stricter regulations on DRS designs and wing deflections, which will potentially impact overtaking opportunities.
• The point for the fastest lap has been removed, potentially changing the strategy of the race and the outcomes.
• Special cooling vests are optional in 2025, but they will be mandatory from 2026, with drivers needing to add ballast to the car if they choose not to wear them in hot conditions.

On the grid

• Williams has shown promise and could be fighting for positions at the front of the midfield, especially with its spectacular line-up in the face of Alex Albon and ex-Ferrari man Carlos Sainz.
• This was the season of changes—while last season saw none, this one presented new driver line-ups all around. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton's switch to Ferrari is the biggest change we will see this season, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli comes onto Mercedes to replace Hamilton.
• The driver’s market is extremely volatile. Lawson’s out, Tsunoda has switched overalls, and multiple young guns are pushing for spots. It’s chaos, and we love it! Don’t be surprised if we see another mid-season switch.
• There are more sprint races, which add a new layer of unpredictability and more points in the weekend to battle for.
• F1 continues to grow with a younger and more diverse audience—perhaps due to the Gen Z drivers оn the grid, or because of Netflix’s influence.
• Verstappen is still elite, though Red Bull’s dominance is slipping. Who’s staying permanently in the second seat? Is the car so good, or is it all Max? Will Max stay in all this internal turmoil?
• McLaren has gone from F1.5 to F1 and has totally disrupted the usual narrative. Their driver line-up is widely considered the best and most consistent duo currently on the grid.

There are six sprint races on the 2025 calendar: China, Miami, Belgium, Austin, Brazil, and Qatar. Qualifying for the sprint is on a Friday following a practice session, and the 100km sprint race takes place on a Saturday before the Grand Prix qualifying.

Adding to the buzz of this season is the movie F1, starring Brad Pitt. Part of the film was shot during actual race weekends (e.g., the British Grand Prix), giving us an exclusive behind-the-scenes of the F1 world. The picture is set to come out on the 27th of June 2025.

(Un)expected standouts steal the spotlight

After years of rebuilding, McLaren is now at the top of F1. The seeds of dominance were planted midway through the last season when they made a series of upgrades that transformed the MCL38 into a front-runner.

Red Bull’s reliance on a single competitive driver in the face of Verstappen was a major storyline in the Formula 1 2024 season… and from what it looks like, it will continue in 2025 as well. It’s widely acknowledged that this is what cost them the Constructor’s title. Meanwhile, McLaren capitalised on their great performance, and as the 2025 season got underway, it looks like they are picking up right where they left off.

They’ve won two of the first three races, taken five podiums, and consistently show champions-worthy strategy and car performance. All this leads to the prognosis this is McLaren’s era, especially if Red Bull can’t close the gap and find a more competitive second driver.

The rookie season

In a surprising turn of events, the newcomers have been on centre stage.

The talk of the grid is the 18-year-old Italian Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Toto Wolff handpicked him as a replacement for the vacant seat left by the 7-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. As you can imagine, this move was one of the most-talked decisions during the off-season.

In a sport where experience often trumps talent, Wolff’s gamble on a teenager, especially in a hot seat like this, raised eyebrows. Not to mention that a number of experienced drivers like Carlos Sainz and Esteban Ocon were rumoured to be in talks for the seat.

Isack Hadjar also delivered an eye-catching rookie performance at the Japan F1 Grand Prix, leaving most fans and experts stunned at Suzuka. The Algerian-French driver showcased his talent with a flawless race where he secured a seventh-place spot in qualifying and eighth place in the race, leaving dust in the faces of the seasoned drivers and powerful cars behind him.

On the other hand, there is Liam Lawson, who isn't technically a rookie, but his coveted full-time seat at Red Bull has become a cautionary tale. He impressed the Red Bull bosses with his stand-in performance and, as a result, was brought into the main squad to replace the struggling Sergio Perez.

The expectations were enormous—apparently, far too much for him to handle. His inconsistent pace, costly mistakes and difficulty adapting led to the decision to shuffle him back into the junior team after just two full races.

Lawson is now back at Racing Bulls, but the momentum—and perhaps the opportunity—has passed. He is replaced in Red Bull by yet another contender, this time in the face of Yuki Tsunoda, looking to fill up the seat’s huge expectations.

What about Ferrari?

Rumour has it that even Ferrari’s no. 1—Charles Leclerc (nicknamed Il Predestinato by the Tifosi, as they consider him the one who will bring Ferrari back to its former glory)—is growing weary of the underperforming car and strategy, which results in strained relationships inside the team.

Fred Vasseur, Ferrari Team Principal, said, "It had not been an ideal start to 2025 for the Scuderia following a disappointing race in Japan, with Charles Leclerc finishing in fourth place and Lewis Hamilton in seventh." This leaves Ferrari without a Grand Prix podium from the first three full races of 2025.

The betting scene: Odds, picks and popular bets

Formula 1 may not be the most popular sport to bet on, but its betting scene is experiencing a surge in popularity this season. That's largely thanks to the unpredictable race outcomes and closer margins. For the third race in a row, it looked like McLaren was locked into the front row for the Grand Prix, but Verstappen from Red Bull stole the spotlight, giving him his first win of the 2025 season.

The most popular way to bet on Formula 1 odds is by picking the winner of a particular race, while other options include which car will win and whether or not a race car driver will end up on the podium with a Top 3 finish. There are, of course, some of the more bizarre bets to try your luck on, like pit time or qualifying performance.

Formula 1 comprises of 20 drivers for 10 teams with a total of 24 races, and at the end of a long season, a points-based ranking will define the grand champion. The driver with the most points at the end of the season becomes the world champion.

Off the track with LEGO

Stepping away from the tarmac, LEGO is bringing some fun into the fast-paced world of Formula 1 as it launched its official 2025 team sets with mini replicas of this season's cars, sponsor decals and even pit crew figures. This multi-year partnership will see Formula 1 take over with several themes, from LEGO City to Duplo to Speed Champions, and they even added a line of Collectible Formula 1 racers.

Where it all started

Formula 1 automobile racing has its roots grounded in the European Grand Prix championships of the 1920s and 1930s. The foundation of the modern Formula 1 began in 1946 with the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile's (FIA) standardisation of rules, which was followed in 1950 by a World Championship of Drivers.

Initially, Formula 1 was largely based on pre-World War II regulations, which are defined by engine capacity. There was a high expectancy that the regulation would bring a new balance between supercharged and normally aspirated cars.

Buckle up for what’s next!

From shock podiums to trackside tension and surprise LEGO drops, the 2025 Formula 1 season delivers in every direction. There will be a major overhaul of the regulations for 2026, including changes to car dimensions and a focus on making the cars nimbler.

• 2026 regulations: The car's wheelbase will drop from 3600 mm maximum to 3400 mm, while the width will be reduced from 2000 mm to 1900 mm, with a maximum floor width reduction of 150 mm.
• New car on the block: Cadillac has received final approval to join the Formula 1 grid as the 11th team in 2026. GM/Cadillac's entry aligns with the new FIA 2026 regulations and is expected to enter an exciting era for the sport. How good will Cadillac perform? It will definitely be worth the wait.