Norris favourite, Ferrari and McLaren joint-favourites for 2025 F1 titles

Sunday, 16 February 2025 at 08:00

Even before a 2025 Formula 1 car is unleashed in anger, first during testing on 26-28 February and then in Qualifying in Melbourne on 15 March, Lando Norris is the early bookies' favourite to win the 2025 Formula 1 Drivers' Championship.

In what is a common theme among the major bookmakers taking punts on Formula 1, they offer odds of 9/4 on McLaren driver Norris securing his maiden F1 title. He narrowly edged out Red Bull's Max Verstappen (5/2) and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (4/1) in the latest projections, as the 2025 season shapes up to be one of the most competitive in years.

Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, embarking on his first season with Ferrari, has been priced at 11/2 to claim a historic eighth title. Meanwhile, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri is an 8/1 shot, ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell (11/1) and Red Bull’s new lead driver Liam Lawson (35/1).

With so much at stake in a booming sports betting market, bookies are sure to have the best of the best algorithms and propeller heads constantly calculating the odds so as not to be ambushed by a score or result.

In other words, from a data and stats-crunching point of view, whatever the bookies are predicting and offering is about as accurate as it gets right now ahead of Bahrain's three-day test.

When will really know the 2025 F1 pecking order?

Perhaps by the end of it, we will have some kind of pecking order emerge, but only in Q3 of the Australian Grand Prix Qualy will we know more. Until then below is an overview of where F1 predictions stand today.

The battle for the Constructors' Championship is expected to be equally intense, with Ferrari and McLaren listed as 5/4 joint favourites to emerge as the dominant force in 2025. Red Bull, now led by Lawson and rookie Kimi Antonelli, has been given longer odds of 4/1, reflecting expectations of a performance drop following Verstappen’s departure.

Mercedes, adjusting to life without Hamilton, is rated as a 12/1 outsider, while Aston Martin follows at 50/1. Williams, Racing Bulls, Haas, Sauber, and Alpine all share the longest odds at 500/1.

Betfair spokesperson said: "The 2024 F1 season was the most unpredictable in recent times, and more of the same is expected in 2025. Having pushed Max Verstappen close last year, Lando Norris is the favourite to win the title at 9/4. Max Verstappen’s Red Bull team are predicted to drop in performance this season, with Ferrari and McLaren joint-favourites to top the Constructors' standings."