Carlos Sainz will race for Willains this year, starting this weekend at the Australian GP.
Image: AFP
The much-talked-about 2025 Formula One season is set to kick off this weekend. As all the teams gear up in yet another attempt to dethrone Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen, the Australian Grand Prix will provide a clue as to how much progress each team has made in their title challenge.
Verstappen has been rampant over the last four seasons. The 27-year-old secured his fourth consecutive championship under immense pressure from friend-turned-rival, Lando Norris. Had McLaren found the sweet spot in their car close to the finish line, however, things could have turned out very differently for teh Dutchman.
It is certain, however, that a lot of change awaits this season. Here, Obakeng Meletse looks at some of the key talking points ahead of the season’s start.
McLaren's Lando Norris is expected to be the early pacesetter this year.
Image: Backpagepix
The Surrey-based outfit last won the championship when Lewis Hamilton was behind the wheel in 2008. Last year, 63 points separated Norris and Verstappen when the season drew to a close. McLaren were in the midfield during the recent testing in Bahrain, with a few impressive laps in between.
It is hard to tell where they stand currently, and the main question heading into the weekend will be whether they have shown their true potential and whether they can produce a car good enough to defend their constructors' title and challenge for the drivers' championship.
The former Ferrari driver raised a few eyebrows when he clocked the fastest lap time during testing. While it is evident that Williams is a team on the rise, the first few races will provide an interesting picture of the progress they have made under the leadership of British engineer and team principal James Vowles.
Sainz vacated his Ferrari seat for Hamilton and resisted the temptation to join a top-tier team, with Williams catching his attention in their attempt to return to being one of the best teams in Formula 1.
Mercedes has struggled to find their best form since their dominance with Hamilton and Nico Rosberg between 2014 and 2020. The 27-year-old Brit pushed a hard-to-drive Mercedes into a few winning positions last season, securing two wins in a campaign where Mercedes finished in an unfamiliar fourth place in the constructors' championship — 198 points behind winners McLaren.
His new role will see him go up against young 18-year-old prospect Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who replaced Hamilton in the famous seat. If provided with the right car, Russell could lead the charge back to the top for the Brackley-based team.
Charles Leclerc will be joined by Hamilton on the other side of the garage. With all the attention on Hamilton completing what he has called a "dream move," Leclerc will quietly be giving him some special attention, as he now stands in his way of securing his first-ever championship.
For team principal Frederic Vasseur, the hope will be for the team to carry on their momentum from testing, where they completed the fifth-least amount of laps (382) in Bahrain but posted some impressive lap times.
This season has already started on a better note for Red Bull. By this time last year, team principal Christian Horner was in hot water over allegations of misconduct involving a female employee. A lot unfolded throughout their campaign, and many of their wins were largely due to Verstappen's brilliance. However, the cracks within the team were visible for all to see.
Sergio Perez’s inability to keep up with Verstappen eventually came back to bite him, and as Liam Lawson begins his dream move to a potential championship-winning seat, the jury will be out on just how deep the cracks are.