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Formula One 2025 - Overview

There are ten teams competing in the 2025 Formula One World Championship. This is a quick guide to each team and it's drivers. There are a lot of changes this year. Several drivers have left F1 or moved to different teams, with a lot of new faces on the grid.

Red Bull
Drivers:  Max Verstappen (Holland) and Liam Lawson (New Zealand)
Engine: Red Bull PowerTrains

Verstapen   Lawson
  • Verstappen is the 2024 Champion, his fourth Championship.
  • Verstapen is probably the man to beat in 2024, rather depends on how they get the car sorted. If the cars right then he's unstoppable.
  • Lawson has been promoted somewhat early from Racing Bulls to Red Bull to replace the outgoing Sergio Perez, but essentially he's little more than a rookie and will need to prove himself quick within Red Bull's somewhat toxic environment. So far he fits the bill, he's had a lot to say for someone so new to the grid!
  • Red Bull were a bit off the ball last year. Whilst Perez caused them problems, their car mid-season was really bad. If they've fixed the issues then they could be up the top again.

McLaren
Drivers: Lando Norris (GB) and Oscar Piastri (Australia)
Engine: Mercedes

Norris   Piastri
  • The current constructors champions.
  • Lando Norris is another 'champion in the making' , last year it almost came true. He possibly lacks the edge Verstapen has but he claims last year was not about the championship.... this year has to be!
  • If Norris wants a win he may have to fight his team mate to the front. Piastri is fast, and takes no prisoners, that includes team mates. He has an F1 or nothing attitude, and that may be enough to see him past Norris.
  • It's been a long time coming but McLaren are back! One of the most successful teams in F1 history, last year they took back the championship and it looked good. Can they keep it? Both Red Bull and Ferrari are desperate to stop it being a second papaya year.

Ferrari
Drivers: Charles Leclerc (Monaco) and Lewis Hamilton (GB)
Engine: Ferrari 

Leclerc    Hamilton
  • The oldest Team in F1.
  • Leclerc is still considered world champion material. He is however prone to silly mistakes when it matters. Last season he was on good form and pushed Norris all the way narrowly missing out on the runner-up position.
  • Lewis Hamilton in red! This is a bit of a gamble from both driver and team. Hamilton has left one of the most successful partnerships in F1 history to follow his dream. Ferrari have let go a very reliable driver (Sainz) in the hope that Hamilton will rekindle the fire that gave him seven championships. It could go either way, but the frenzy over his move to the Marrenello team is building to a level not scene since Michael Schumacher arrived there.
  • Ferrari were back last year, in the title fight with McLaren. On paper they have the driver line-up to be world champions, but they have made several pit call blunders over the last few years. Hopefully that is behind them... Definite title contenders.

Mercedes
Drivers: George Russell (GB) and Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Italy)
Engine: Mercedes

Russell    Antonelli
  • With Hamilton's shock move to Ferrari, George Russell has assumed the number one driver position at Mercedes. Last year he proved he was more than capable of that, beating Hamilton in most races. If he gets the right car he could be a world champion.
  • Antonelli gets a big promotion from F2 as Toto Wolfe's golden boy. Now he needs to prove himself, and fast. If it all goes wrong, Merc have Bottas as their reserve driver this year, so they appear to have covered their bases.
  • Mercedes like Red Bull, had their fair share of problems last year, but the last few races proved they are still a top team and if they carry on where they left off then we could see something special.

Aston Martin
Drivers: Fernando Alonso (Spain) and Lance Stroll (Canada)
Engine: Mercedes

Alonso    Stroll
  • A very mediocre 2024 for Alonso, with some questioning if his time is up. However, the car wasn't that special and he still showed moments of brilliance and outclassed his team mate at most races.
  • I've said it most season's, Stroll is in this seat because his father owns the team, simple as that. He can be fast but nothing persuades me he's more than filler in the FGP.
  • Aston Martin had a poor season, they sat in fifth, alone, all season. After 2023 it was a bit of a let down. However, designer Adrian Newey is now here instead of Red Bull, they have a new team principle and a new wind tunnel.... could be upwards then?

 

Teams and Drivers

All information correct at time of publication. Use the below as a guide, but please remember, some of the notes are based on personal opinion... so take with a pinch of salt and use at your peril! There are various other sources of information available out there, so don't just take my word for it!

Alpine

Drivers: Pierre Gasley (France) and Jack Doohan (Australia)
Engine: Renault

Gasley    Doohan
  • Gasly adopts the outright number one slot in the team. He's good and can take the oppourtunity when it arrises. He's a grand prix winner, and with the right car is fast. Towards the end of the season he picked up the pace, outclassing Ocon in all the final races.
  • Jack Doohan replaces the outgoing Ocon (now at Haas). He's rookie but did take part in the final race of last season, where he came last and didn't exactly prove a lot. There are already rumours, that his seat is under threat with Franco Colapinto coming to the team as reserve driver. At present Doohan could be considered FGP filler material but with contracts seemingly written on rice paper, the future might prove a good buy!
  • Alpine were terrible last year! They dumped two team principles along the way. By the end of the season they were, however, showing some signs of improvement. It's a fresh start for them this year, and they did grab sixth place in the championship, so it could be a good start.

Haas
Drivers: Estaban Ocon (France)  and Oliver Bearman (GB)
Engine: Ferrari

Ocon    Bearman
  • Haas were considered off the pace when they started the 2024 season... well that proved wrong! With a cut down staff they kept up and then sailed past teams. This year they start in the definite midfield with an all new driver line-up.
  • Ocon has now been round the block a few times and a few years. Once considered a possible world champion, probably a bit of an F1 journeyman these days but a good reliable bet if the car is right.... so this could work well.
  • Ollie Bearman was one of the heroes as a super sub last season. He replaced Sainz at Ferrari when the Spaniard ended up in hospital. First time in an F1 race, 7th! He then replaced Magnussen for a race at Haas and got it in the points again. This youngster has talent and even though this is his rookie season, his price must reflect those previous one-offs. It's a gamble but who knows!

Racing Bulls
Drivers: Yuki Tsunda (Japan) and Issac Hadjar (France)
Engine: Red Bull PowerTrains

Tsunoda        Hadjir
  • Racing Bulls is the 2026 name for last year's VCARB/RB/VisaCashApp disaster of a team name!
  • Tsunoda was hoping to be in the Red Bull this year but instead he's still stuck in the junior team. There's no doubt he's quick, but also a bit erratic. He calmed down a lot last year, and many argue the Red Bull seat should have been his. If Lawson doesn't work out there it still could be.
  • Issac Hadjar has suddenly found himself moved from F2 into the Racing Bulls seat as a replacement for Liam Lawson. It all seems a bit quick to me but time will tell, and with the way things work at Red Bull, if he's not that good they will instantly replace him anyway!
  • Racing Bulls are of course the junior Red Bull team. A lot of controversy surrounds that fact. The car is developed independently of the Red Bull (it says here!)

Williams
Drivers: Carlos Sainz jr. (Spain) and Alex Albon (Thailand/GB)
Engine: Mercedes

Sainz    Albon
  • Carlos Sainz is the man who lost his seat not because he was bad, far from it, but Ferrari wanted Hamilton and Carlos was the scape goat! This guy is fast, a multi race winner. This could be the biggest FGP bargain so far, but it does depend on the car, and that's possibly where the problem lies. Pay your money and take a chance, maybe?
  • Alex Albon had the chance to go to several top teams but took on a new lengthy contract with Williams. That could be an indication that he's seen something with the teams future. He's good, get's his elbows out and achieves positions that given the car, he shouldn't. A good car and he's anther good buy.
  • It went a bit wrong for Williams last season. They ended up 9th, not what they wanted after 2023 when things looked to be going forward. This year may be more of the same as the team wait for the new 2026 regulations knowing that Mercedes have an advanced engine waiting in the wings for them.

Sauber
Drivers: Nico Hulkenburg (Germany) and Gabriel Borteleto (Brazil)
Engine: Ferrari

Hulkenburg         Bortoleto
  • Sauber, probably also referred to as Kick/Sauber a lot. They were last and then some last year. This season it's two new drivers in the team, as they wait out the season before becoming the mighty Audi in 2026. A lot is expected of Audi, but as Sauber this season it could be another tough one.
  • Hulkenburg was head hunted as the man to take Audi forward, but first he must serve a year most likely at the back. He was excellent in last year's Haas, so we know he can take a slower car forward, but this one is a big ask!
  • Borteleto is another rookie from F2, and very fast with it. Almost seems unfair to put him in a Sauber. Again the thought pattern is serve a year with Sauber to get an Audi in 2026.