Hamilton at Ferrari
As we step into 2025, the Formula 1 world is already buzzing with excitement, even though the real anticipation for the new season won’t kick in until the preseason test in Bahrain from February 26-28. But who can resist looking ahead when there’s so much to discuss? One of the most thrilling developments is the legendary Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari. This move is monumental, as it brings together the sport’s most accomplished driver with its most iconic team. The buzz around this partnership is palpable, and it’s set to dominate headlines as the season unfolds.
From the outside, Hamilton’s move to Ferrari seems like a match made in heaven. The narratives are compelling, especially when it comes to championships. Ferrari hasn’t clinched the drivers’ title since Hamilton’s rookie year in 2007, nor the constructors’ title since 2008. Hamilton, on the other hand, still feels the sting of being denied an eighth championship in 2021, which would have set him apart from Ferrari legend Michael Schumacher. Now, he has the chance to win that elusive eighth title in Ferrari red, potentially ending a long drought just like Schumacher did in 2000.
Then there’s Charles Leclerc, the man in the other Ferrari car. Leclerc has been the face of Ferrari since 2019, carrying the immense pressure of driving for such a storied team. In 2024, he finally broke his Monaco Grand Prix curse and finished the season as the strongest driver on the grid, with memorable wins at Monza and Austin. Leclerc looked like a title contender in 2022 before things fell apart, and now, with Hamilton as his teammate, he has the perfect opportunity to measure himself against one of the greatest of all time.
There are so many questions: How will Hamilton and Leclerc mix? Can Ferrari finally win a title? And if they do, will it be Hamilton’s eighth or Leclerc’s first? This storyline promises to be utterly captivating, no matter how it plays out.
A Wide-Open Title Fight
The 2024 season was one of the most unpredictable and open in recent memory. After a routine start, the season turned into a rollercoaster, with everyone except Sergio Pérez from the top four teams winning multiple times. Red Bull’s midseason implosion allowed McLaren and Ferrari to battle for the constructors’ championship until the very end.
With a significant rule change looming in 2026, developments and upgrades to existing cars are expected to be minimal. Red Bull, Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari all won races in the final months of last season, each showcasing different strengths and weaknesses. This created a fascinating and unpredictable show week after week.
Max Verstappen remains the man to beat. The Dutchman proved last year that he is the best driver in Formula 1 right now, with his immense talent shining through even in Red Bull’s toughest moments. McLaren and Ferrari are both aiming for a strong start to the new season, as they took time to get going in 2024, allowing Verstappen to build a comfortable lead.
Several drivers are ready to challenge Verstappen. McLaren’s Lando Norris is determined to learn from past mistakes, while teammate Oscar Piastri could be a dark horse if he continues to improve. George Russell has shown he’s willing to call Verstappen out in the media and will relish the chance to battle on track. Ferrari has two drivers who will fight for the title if their car is competitive.
- Max Verstappen: The man to beat
- Lando Norris: Learning from past mistakes
- Oscar Piastri: A potential dark horse
- George Russell: Ready to challenge Verstappen
- Ferrari’s duo: Eager to fight for the title
Predicting a championship fight before preseason testing is always tricky, but all signs point to the top four teams starting the season closer than ever. If that’s the case, we could be in for something special this year.
Red Bull: A Team Imploding?
Red Bull felt like a circus at times last year, generating headlines both on and off the track. The year began with the Christian Horner misconduct investigation, which ultimately cleared the team principal, but it seemed to create significant tension behind the scenes. Horner’s rift with Verstappen’s father, Jos, intensified, leading to speculation about advisor Helmut Marko’s future. Marko decided to stay, cooling rumors that Verstappen might jump ship to Mercedes.
It was easy to see Red Bull as a team falling apart: legendary designer Adrian Newey left for Aston Martin, and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley switched to lead Sauber. Throughout the year, Red Bull struggled with its driver situation as Pérez and Daniel Ricciardo underperformed. The year ended with the team moving on from Pérez, replacing him with the inexperienced Liam Lawson. If Lawson struggles under the pressure of having Verstappen as a teammate, Red Bull may find itself running out of options for that seat.
The coming season might bring calmer times for Red Bull, but if old wounds haven’t healed, it will be a captivating situation to watch.
Preparing for Cadillac
Formula 1 ended the year with the surprising news that General Motors plans to join the grid in 2026 as Cadillac. The team, now without its obvious links to Michael Andretti, has built a facility near Silverstone in the U.K. However, it’s unclear how the team’s operations will be split between that base and others in America.
The presence of an 11th team is exciting. GM’s arrival, alongside Audi’s takeover of Sauber, is a massive coup for F1. It creates opportunities for two more drivers on the grid and numerous jobs in motor racing as the sport’s prestige continues to grow.
Cadillac is expected to enter with at least one American driver. The new team will shake up the driver market. Daniel Ricciardo has ruled out a return with the team, but minds can change, and his name will likely remain linked. Cadillac might see Pérez as the ideal face of their new operation, given his marketing prowess in Mexico and North America.
Understanding how Cadillac’s team will work and whether it can be competitive will be a key talking point as we approach their debut.
The Youth Revolution
Formula 1 is experiencing a remarkable time in terms of racing talent. It has wise old legends like Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, the golden generation of Verstappen, Leclerc, Norris, and Russell, and now a new batch of exciting young drivers joining the grid. This season features three “official” rookies and two “unofficial” rookies with limited race experience.
Mercedes has replaced Hamilton with Italian wonderteen Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who crashed out in his practice appearance for Mercedes at Monza. The team expects highs and lows, but Toto Wolff prefers to slow down a fast driver. Antonelli promises to be exciting.
Formula 2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto joins Sauber. The Brazilian, a graduate of Alonso’s karting academy, is seen as a future F1 superstar. Haas driver Oliver Bearman impressed in his super-sub appearance for Ferrari and had a solid debut for Haas. Alpine’s Jack Doohan replaced Esteban Ocon at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and Red Bull confirmed Formula 2 runner-up Isack Hadjar has taken Lawson’s seat, adding another new name to the mix.
With more teams giving young talent a chance, expect to hear more about these names, for better or worse.
The 2026 Rule Change: Good or Bad?
If F1’s on-track spectacle is close and gripping this season, it will intensify concerns that the upcoming rule change could disrupt the competitive order. Rule changes in the past were seen as a way to shake things up after dominance, but there’s fear that the 2026 regulations might break apart the closest competitive order in years.
However, it’s too early to be negative. Even if F1 is as close as expected, the sport remains confident that the new rule change won’t create huge imbalances. The budget cap, implemented by Liberty Media in 2021, has helped close the competitive gap. This may be the key to preventing the new rules from causing performance disparities. Expect this topic to be discussed throughout the year.
The F1 Movie
Formula 1 is set for a groundbreaking year with the release of the “F1” movie starring Brad Pitt in late June. The movie has been granted unprecedented access to F1 race tracks and facilities, filming on location and sometimes on the formation lap of actual races. With Hamilton as an executive producer, the film aims to create the most realistic racing movie ever. Pitt, who plays comeback race star Sonny Hayes at the little-fancied Apex GP team, has even been doing many of the racing scenes himself.
Liberty Media has done an incredible job marketing F1, and the movie seems like the next logical step in the sport’s worldwide boom. Expect the movie to dominate headlines, especially in the weeks leading up to its release and during its run in theaters.
Originally Written by: Nate Saunders
