'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The 2024 F1 season proved to be a surprise in more ways than one. Not many expected the season to be as unpredictable and entertaining as it turned out, but as the year progressed, it delivered captivating action and drama in spades.
It's not often that the F1 grid has as many as seven different drivers winning multiple races and it's not often that we head into a race weekend with any of the top 4 teams having the chance of winning, depending on the track and the conditions.
With the regulations continuing to stay more or less stable, we're looking at a scenario where the grid has the opportunity to get even closer in terms of performance levels. With that happening, the 2025 F1 has the potential to offer some mind-blowing developments that could happen. What are they? Let's take a look.
Trending
#1 Max Verstappen might not even be in contention for the title
Well, while this might leave the Max Verstappen fans worried or even slightly miffed, this is certainly a possibility. One of the biggest reasons for that is the fact that Red Bull ended the 2024 F1 season closer to being the 3rd/4th fastest car on the grid, and when you're that far down in the pecking order, it's an uphill climb to continue to outperform the car.
Red Bull has the biggest job in its hands when it comes to bridging the gap to the front. On the other hand, if the team falls back even further, a title challenge would go out the window. The 2025 F1 season would be the 4th time in Max Verstappen's career that he would start the season defending his title. If the car is not in the right window, the title would be a far-fetched dream at best, and there is definitely a possibility that the driver would not even contend for the title.
#2 Lewis Hamilton could clinch his 8th world title
Ferrari ended the 2024 F1 season as close as it has been to the front in a long time. If it had not been for the mid-season stutter, the Italian team could have won the title while Charles Leclerc could have been a more potent challenger for the win.
If the team produces a car that's right up there at the front of the grid next time around, it would have a driver who has the experience of seven world titles in the bag. After the kind of 2024 F1 season Lewis Hamilton had, it's a long shot that an eighth title could be a possibility, but can we truly rule out the British driver? Possibly not.
The 2025 F1 championship could actually see Hamilton break the record for the most titles for a driver, and he could achieve that by just being the brilliant racer that he is.
#3 We could have a brand new F1 world champion
On the current F1 grid we have three world champions, in Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, and Fernando Alonso. Next season, either of the top 4 teams, be it Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull, or Mercedes, could possibly find something special and pull out an impressive gap over the chasing pack.
As a result, we could also see a scenario where drivers like Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, George Russell, Charles Leclerc, and possibly even Kimi Antonelli, could be in contention for the title. There's a distinct possibility that McLaren stretches further and opens up a gap to the rest of the field.
Hence, we could potentially see Norris and Piastri fight for the title. There's also a possibility that any of the above drivers rise above the rest and win the title on their own. The fact that F1 could have a new champion even though we've had just 4 in the last 15 years is an enticing prospect and one that cannot be neglected here.
#4 Kimi Antonelli could break Max Verstappen's record of the youngest race winner
When Max Verstappen won his first F1 race in Barcelona in 2016, not many thought that the record for the youngest race winner would be broken. Well, here comes Kimi Antonelli, a young driver who has been rated very highly by everyone, especially his boss Toto Wolff.
Verstappen's record as the youngest race winner was achieved by him winning at the age of 18 years and 228 days. Antonelli has recently turned 18 and if he wins any of the first 3 races of the season, we're looking at a driver breaking a record that seemed unbreakable when it was set.
#5 We could have the first Australian F1 world champion since Alan Jones
Australia has had a presence on the F1 grid for almost the entirety of the 21st century. Mark Webber was the flagship driver from the country, and then it was Daniel Ricciardo who carried the flag from him. The duo has been succeeded by Oscar Piastri of McLaren and Jack Doohan of Alpine.
What stands out here is that there's a decent possibility that McLaren starts the season as the best team on the grid with a decent margin over the rest. If that happens, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris would be battling against each other for the title. While the Australian has lost to his teammate in the last 2 years, he's still in the process of gaining experience and getting better.
There are already a few sparks that show he can beat anyone on his day, and if he's able to bring consistency to it, he could win the title and become the first Australian since Alan Jones to win the title.
