Weak Verstappen, worthy Norris, new-look Hamilton: because the plot of a contemporary Method One season begins to simmer, right here’s what to look out for

Only a yr in the past, earlier than the 2024 Method One season began, there was a way of trepidation about the place the game was heading. Purple Bull had come off a sensational season, successful 21 of twenty-two races, and fears of 1 workforce dominating F1 for the foreseeable future felt very actual.

Nevertheless, issues modified dramatically within the area of six months. Though Max Verstappen nonetheless managed to clinch his fourth straight drivers’ crown, he was made to work exhausting for it. McLaren grew to become a drive to reckon with, displacing Purple Bull from its perch, and claimed the constructors’ title for the primary time since 1998.

Consequently, the 2025 season has sparked lots of pleasure. It’s a landmark yr for essentially the most prestigious motor-racing collection on the planet — the seventy fifth anniversary of the championship, which began in 1950 with the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Forward of this weekend’s season-opener in Melbourne, The Hindu appears to be like at some key plotlines that might outline the yr.

Will this be the top of Max’s period?

Final yr, when Verstappen received seven of the primary 10 races, he would hardly have foreseen the necessity to mine each final reserve of his expertise to seal his fourth title. The Purple Bull was a tough automotive and wanted somebody of Verstappen’s calibre to extract efficiency from it. 

So long as it loved a big benefit over its rivals, the inherent weak spot within the equipment was manageable. However as soon as the others — primarily McLaren — stepped up, Purple Bull stood uncovered. And after McLaren grew to become the front-runner, Lando Norris started to make it one thing of a title combat at the same time as Verstappen’s frustration grew. 

Parting methods with technical wizard Adrian Newey, the architect of Purple Bull’s success since becoming a member of the outfit in 2006, made the season trickier for the workforce. Newey has since revealed that the engineering group didn’t heed his warnings concerning the weak spot within the automotive. The design genius was an necessary purpose Verstappen had signed a long-term deal till 2028. 

This yr will probably be an acid check for the outfit. Can it produce a race-winning product with out Newey on the helm? Extra to the purpose, this yr’s improvement curve will probably be a sign of whether or not Purple Bull is prepared for the numerous guidelines shake-up subsequent yr. If the technical division doesn’t get its act collectively, the workforce might danger shedding its star driver.

Does Norris have what it takes?

Whereas Verstappen emerged triumphant in 2024, runner-up Norris did his repute loads of good. As soon as McLaren gave him a top-end automotive, he produced eye-catching performances. He received 4 races, stepped onto the rostrum on 9 different events and was instrumental in his squad clinching the constructors’ title.

There have been, nonetheless, chinks in his armour that stopped him from ever changing into a critical contender. Norris was particularly spectacular in qualifying, taking eight poles, proof of his outright pace. However his failure to transform them, usually fluffing the begins, held him again.

Crucially, in wheel-to-wheel battles, particularly in opposition to Verstappen, Norris was usually second greatest. The 25-year-old later admitted that he wanted to get his elbows out. He additionally had just a few off-weekends when he was nonetheless within the title image, his inexperience exhibiting.

Sifting by means of pre-season testing instances, it seems as if McLaren will begin favorite, after executing a clean programme over three days in Bahrain. This yr might simply be Norris’ golden likelihood to go one higher.

The risk inside McLaren

Having two top-drivers in a workforce in a championship combat could be a recipe for catastrophe. Norris will probably be aware of this at the same time as he retains a watch on his teammate throughout the storage. For, Oscar Piastri has already exhibited indicators of being one to be careful for. In his sophomore season final yr, the Australian received two races, considerably enhancing his tyre-management expertise.

Purple shift: Lewis Hamilton’s swap to Ferrari is the defining transfer in F1 this century. It will likely be attention-grabbing to see how the seven-time world champion performs, particularly if the Prancing Horse builds on its progress final yr. | Photograph credit score: Getty Photographs

He was additionally sharp in on-track battles, his greatest second an audacious first-lap transfer on Norris in Monza. If Piastri can present the identical degree of enchancment as final yr — and there actually is room for it in his qualifying performances — the intra-team battle will get very attention-grabbing. McLaren prolonged Piastri’s contract this week, a vote of confidence within the 23-year-old’s talents. The very last thing Norris would need is his colleague taking factors off him.

Hamilton’s scarlet swap

Lewis Hamilton’s swap to Ferrari is the defining transfer in F1 this century. Probably the most embellished driver becoming a member of essentially the most illustrious workforce is a dream match-up. The expectations are sky excessive as he chases a file eighth drivers’ crown.

However, on the identical time, the British driver has been removed from his greatest over the previous couple of years at Mercedes. Because the ground-effect vehicles got here into being in 2022, the Mercedes, with its very slim working window, has not been to Hamilton’s liking. 

Though he received two races final yr, it was evident that he didn’t have the outright tempo his teammate George Russell did. Hamilton, who even admitted he was most likely now not as quick as he was in his prime, is stepping right into a Ferrari constructed round Charles Leclerc.

The 27-year-old Monegasque was by far the second-best driver on the grid final yr behind Verstappen and is on the peak of his recreation. At 40, Hamilton doesn’t have a lot time left within the sport and must hit the bottom working if he harbours any hope of getting again to the highest.

The early rounds will present the place Hamilton stands relative to Leclerc, at the moment thought-about the quickest driver over a lap. If the seven-time champion is inside just a few tenths of his teammate in qualifying, he’ll again himself to make it up within the races. A lot relies upon, nonetheless, on whether or not the Prancing Horse can construct on its progress final yr. It completed strongly, however a few of its energy was circuit-specific. It stays to be seen whether or not the Ferrari will be on the sharp-end in any respect the tracks this yr.

Stick or twist: the developmental conundrum

2025 would be the final yr of the present technical regime. Subsequent yr, F1 may have new aero and engine laws that embody lively aerodynamics and sustainable fuels. 

The yr earlier than a big guidelines shake-up is all the time the hardest for the groups. They should develop the automotive for the continued season with out compromising the preparation for the next yr, which requires substantial sources.

It will likely be doubly tough for the groups preventing for glory. Do they attempt to win when they’re aggressive and danger falling behind in 2026, or surrender a chance now by playing on getting it proper subsequent yr?

On the identical time, a brand new guidelines cycle additionally resets the established order and offers a chance for groups down the grid to surrender a yr and concentrate on their subsequent marketing campaign. The stakes concerned within the decision-making will heighten each the fun of this season and the anticipation of the subsequent.