An insight into the 2025 F1 Grid

Following months of speculation and uncertainty, the Formula 1 grid for the upcoming 2025 season has been officially confirmed. With eight teams changing their line-ups, fans are eagerly anticipating what a completely new look will bring to the sport.

The biggest of these line-up changes is Lewis Hamilton’s switch from Mercedes to Ferrari. After spending 12 seasons at the German outfit and winning 6 Drivers Championships and 8 Constructors Championships along the way, Hamilton’s departure to the Prancing Horse ends one of the sport’s most dominant partnerships. However, following a disappointing 2024 season, it remains to be seen whether he can finally win an eighth title and bring it home to Formula 1’s most recognisable team.

Mercedes will hope that this fresh driver pairing will be enough to put them in contention for both titles

Meanwhile, the vacant seat at Mercedes has been filled by the young Kimi Antonelli, who has been directly promoted from Formula 2. The Italian teen has been the subject of a lot of hype, both from fans and people in the sport, and will be expected to adapt quickly and deliver results. He will line up alongside the more experienced George Russell, who has only improved since joining the team in 2022. Mercedes will hope that this fresh driver pairing will be enough to put them in contention for both titles.

2024 Drivers Champion Max Verstappen will be joined by Liam Lawson in the Red Bull garage. Following the dismissal of Sergio Perez, Lawson has been promoted from Red Bull’s sister team, Visa Cash App RB, a team for which he was only a reserve driver at the beginning of last season. This incredible rise is representative of the New Zealander’s talent; however, his continued success will all depend on how he stacks up against Verstappen, who is right now undoubtedly the best driver on the grid and is seeking a historic fifth Drivers title in a row. The Red Bull team, meanwhile, will be looking for this driver pair to bring some stability to a team that has faced issues on and off the racetrack, as well as bringing it back to the top of the Constructor’s Championship.

Carlos Sainz, who finished fifth in the 2024 Driver standings for Ferrari, has moved to Williams after being sidelined by Lewis Hamilton. Partnered alongside the consistent Alex Albon, the Williams team will be hoping that the strength of their driver pairing will be able to deliver more points and bring them further up the grid after finishing in a disappointing ninth place in 2024.

Only two of the ten teams… will be maintaining the same driver line-up

This season also sees an influx of new rookies, all looking to prove themselves in Formula 1. F2 graduate Isack Hadjar will be taking up Liam Lawson’s vacant seat in the VCARB, racing alongside Yuki Tsunoda. Tsunoda’s former teammate Pierre Gasly, now at Alpine, will be joined by 2024 reserve driver Jack Doohan.

For both Haas and Kick Sauber, their driver line-ups will see a complete change from last season. Esteban Ocon and rookie Ollie Bearman will be driving for Haas, whilst Nico Hulkenberg will be partnered alongside F2 graduate Gabriel Bortoleto in the Kick Sauber.

Only two of the ten teams, reigning Constructors Champion McLaren and Warwickshire’s own Aston Martin, will be maintaining the same driver line-up: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the McLaren, with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll in the Aston Martin.

With all these changes, the start of the F1 2025 season cannot come soon enough.