Two Must-Watch Storylines In Formula 1 In 2025

The 2025 Formula 1 season is shaping up to be a thrilling spectacle, with dramatic rivalries, bold team changes, and epic comebacks. Without question, the biggest talking point at present is Lewis Hamilton’s blockbuster move to Ferrari and how that will ultimately play out. Can the Scuderia lead the GOAT to a record-breaking eighth title, or will the move end in tears? 

Charles Leclerc Beats Lewis Hamilton

The surprise of Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari has set the stage for one of the most intriguing battles in recent memory. Ferrari has always been a magnet for star drivers, but pairing seven-time world champion Hamilton with Charles Leclerc—a driver right at his peak—adds another layer of complexity.

Both drivers harbour genuine hopes of winning the title this season, but it should come as somewhat of a surprise to see whom the bookies favour. Online UK betting sites currently price the young Monegasque driver as a 4/1 contender for the championship, with his veteran new teammate narrowly behind him at 5/1. 

The bookies have always been a fan of Leclerc, though. Last season, websites offering sports betting tips had tipped the Monaco magician for glory on numerous occasions, notably in Abu Dhabi, Las Vegas, and Azerbaijan, to varying levels of success. But now, with a superstar teammate alongside him and no guarantee to be the designated lead driver, the pressure is certainly on. 

Luckily for him though, we feel that he is more than up to the task at hand. Leclerc has had the Ferrari team built around him ever since making the jump from Sauber back in 2019, and he has rewarded them with eight race victories, three of those coming last term. Il Predestinato reigned supreme in stunning fashion at both Monaco and Monza, breaking curses and making his adoring Italian fanbase even more enthralled with him, and that should serve him in good stead to take the fight to Hamilton next season. 

Adjusting to a new team, car, and culture after over a decade with Mercedes is no small task, and even the 40-year-old Brit will struggle with this. Ferrari’s famously erratic form and internal politics could also prove to be a challenge for the veteran, who may find himself longing for the reliability of his old team. Leclerc is already aware of the questionable inner workings of the team, and expect him to use that to his advantage in 2025. 

Max Verstappen and Red Bull Find a Way to Win Again

Despite an era of domination, no dynasty lasts forever in F1, and even Max Verstappen has been forced to deal with setbacks. Last season he found himself in the fourth fastest car on occasion, with McLaren, Ferrari, and even Mercedes, all faster at certain points. But even still, the Flying Dutchman managed to romp to his fourth straight world championship at a canter, and we see him doing the same again next year. 

The tenacity that defines the sport’s current head honcho as a driver will undoubtedly be his greatest asset. He has shown time and time again that his ability to adapt and push limits is unmatched. Whether it’s rainy qualifying sessions or wheel-to-wheel battles under immense pressure, Verstappen seems to thrive when the odds are stacked against him.

For Red Bull, the challenge lies in maintaining its position at the front of the grid. McLaren has already proven that they can build a rocket ship, as demonstrated by winning the constructor’s title. Add to that the revival of Ferrari with Lewis Hamilton at the helm and the departure of Adrian Newey to Aston Martin, and the Austrian team’s position is certainly under threat. 

But while they may not be the fastest, Verstappen, as he always does, will find a way to come out on top. His resilience, combined with his outright ruthlessness is too much for anyone else to handle, just ask Lando Norris. Hamilton may well find a way to stand up to him, but with the Brit about to have a civil war on his hands, Verstappen could well escape with yet another title. 

Written by

George Howson

George Howson is an F1 Chronicle contributor and FIA accredited journalist with over 20 years of experience following Formula 1. A member of the AIPS International Sports Press Association, George has covered F1 races at circuits around the world, bringing deep knowledge and first-hand insight to every race report and analysis he writes.

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