10 reasons to be excited about 2025 Formula 1 season

The 2025 Formula 1 season kicks off this week with the Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne. Before it's lights out, theScore previews 10 things to get excited about on - and off - the track this year.

Lewis Hamilton in red

Nothing has shaken the sport quite like Hamilton's arrival at Maranello. The seven-time world champion, who appeared to be trending in the wrong direction in 2024, looks re-energized by the passion of the Tifosi. The 40-year-old's progress will be followed extensively, and the head-to-head matchup against Ferrari's chosen one, Charles Leclerc, should be fireworks. However, there's one gigantic reason we're all watching: Hamilton claiming a record-breaking eighth world championship in Ferrari red would mark one of the biggest moments in F1 history.

The potential end of Max Verstappen's reign

Verstappen has controlled the F1 landscape for four consecutive seasons. In that time, he's won 53 races - more than all other drivers combined. But there seems to be significant doubt that the reigning champion can join Michael Schumacher as the only pilots to win the drivers' title five times in a row. Cracks appeared last season with Verstappen winning only two of the last 14 races. Still, he hung on. Red Bull also seems to be on the back foot again in 2025. Verstappen has won in a slower car before, and it would be foolish to write him off, but dominating an entire 24-race calendar is a colossal task. If Red Bull is truly off the pace again, there's a good chance Verstappen is knocked off his throne. And if he is, who will take his crown?

McLaren looks hungry for more championship gold

McLaren ended 2024 as the team and car to beat, and it seems the legendary team has picked up right where it left off. This time, however, McLaren has its eyes on not only the constructors' championship but the drivers' title right from the get-go. Lando Norris and the pit wall were scrutinized for their execution mistakes in its first title fight, but the team is carrying a cool and ominous confidence now. There's also the potential for third-year driver Oscar Piastri to be more than just an occasional thorn in Norris' and other drivers' sides and mount his own title challenge.

Ferrari's big bet to end title drought

It has been 17 years since Ferrari last tasted a championship of any kind. That's too long for a storied outfit like the Scuderia, though the Prancing Horse is inching closer and closer. Last year, Ferrari fell just 14 points shy of McLaren in the constructors' standings. Good but not good enough has been a familiar story for the red team, so it's inspiring that Fred Vasseur has opted for a bold approach with its 2025 car, the SF-25. The team believes the changes to the car will open up greater potential. If Ferrari can extract that upside, Leclerc and Hamilton could deliver some long-awaited glory back to Maranello. It's a necessary gamble if Ferrari wants to return to the top of a series it once dominated.

Last year of these regulations

Does anyone remember what transpired during the last season before a new set of F1 regulations arrived? The 2021 campaign delivered one of the most intense title fights in many years. Teams will have to decide between allocating resources for 2025 or their 2026 car, which could create unpredictable races and a very tight grid. Many in the paddock seem to think we could see four teams fighting for wins like last season. Let's not count our chickens before they hatch, but a title scrap between multiple drivers from different teams could lead to another season for the ages.

Flexi-wing drama

The paddock is filled with chatter about flexing, and no, we're not talking about new gym routines. The topic of teams pushing the boundaries on their flexible rear wings and front wings has carried over from last season, and while the FIA once believed everything was fine, the governing body has now said enough is enough. Tougher tests on rear-wing flexibility will start in Australia, but in a rather surprising move, more rigorous tests on the front wing won't begin until the Spanish Grand Prix, the ninth race of the season. Teams being caught out or adapting well to the upcoming tests in Barcelona could give the championship a major shakeup.

Antonelli can make history

Kimi Antonelli has been tabbed as the next big thing for a number of years. Now, he'll finally get a chance to prove why he was such a highly touted youngster. At just 18 years old, Antonelli steps into a Mercedes team that won four races last season, giving him the chance to break multiple records. If the Italian driver wins or lands on the podium in any of the first three races, he'll break Verstappen's F1 record for the youngest race winner or podium member. As for the youngest polesitter, Antonelli has plenty of time to surpass Sebastian Vettel, who took pole at Monza in 2008 at 21 years, two months, and 11 days old.

New faces everywhere

After no movement in the drivers' market from 2023 to 2024, the 2025 grid went through a flurry of changes. Numerous drivers are rookies or have never driven a full season before: Liam Lawson at Red Bull, Ollie Bearman at Haas, Isack Hadjar at Racing Bulls, Jack Doohan at Alpine, Gabriel Bortoleto at Sauber, and Antonelli at Mercedes. Each has a very intriguing teammate - Verstappen, Esteban Ocon, Yuki Tsunoda, Pierre Gasly, Nico Hulkenberg, and George Russell - who should challenge them to sink or swim. That's not all; how much veteran Carlos Sainz elevates Williams and how Alex Albon fares against him will also be worth following. Don't rule out Franco Colapinto returning to the grid to replace Doohan if the rookie struggles.

New rules for Monaco

Monaco has been synonymous with dull and uneventful racing in dry conditions, but F1 is finally making a change. After a red flag eliminated the need for another pit stop at last year's race, drivers will now be required to make at least two pit stops. While this isn't a cure for the snoozers we've seen, it at least guarantees constant pressure on the pit crews and pit wall. A slow pit stop or a miscalculation that pits a driver into traffic could make all the difference between a win or podium and heartbreak.

Getting ready for Cadillac's arrival

The 2025 season will be the last with only 20 cars on the grid, as Cadillac is set to enter as an 11th team next season. Expect the rumor mill about Cadillac's driver choices to pick up steam throughout 2025. The GM-backed team could have its eyes on an American driver. IndyCar driver Colton Herta has been linked to a move to F1 before, so could this be when the stars align? Will Sergio Perez, who lost his Red Bull seat but still brings a lot of commercial value, find himself in play? Valtteri Bottas is another candidate. Or is there a surprise in store if Cadillac wants to make a major splash?