After 2024’s Formula 1 Season: What Is To Come in 2025?

Tuesday, 07 January 2025 at 01:44

A month removed from the end of the 2024 Formula 1 season, it is time to look back on it and see what we can learn from it. More importantly, it will be a nice segway into the first preview of the 2025 season.

The full schedule is out for next year’s races and it cannot come fast enough. The fans are used to the speed and amazing performances from the drivers and waiting is not their forte. In any case, the season tends to start much sooner than we expect it to so it will be here in no time.

Until then, there is enough time to theorize and attempt to predict who will be the champion and what races will be the most fun.

Max Verstappen’s Dominance Continues

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 23: 2024 F1 World Drivers Champion Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates alongside, Sergio Perez of Mexico, Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner and Team Consultant Dr Helmut Marko in the Paddock after the F1 Grand Prix of Las Vegas at Las Vegas Strip Circuit on November 23, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411240441 // Usage for editorial use only //

That makes it four in a row for the young Dutch superstar. He has now been the champion since 2021 when he won his first title. In 2022, 2023, and now in 2024, he managed to defend his crown and become only the 6th driver to do so.

If he manages to win one more in 2025, and he is the favorite according to sportsbets, he and Michael Schumacher will be the only ones to win 5 consecutive titles in the history of the sport. So far, only Schumacher (2000-2004), Lewis Hamilton (2017-2020), Juan Manuel Fangio (1954-1957), Sebastian Vettel (2010-2013) and now Verstappen have won 4 in a row.

In 2024, Max won 9 races and was on the podium 14 times. He won in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Japan, China, Emilia-Romagna, Canada, Spain, Brazil, and Qatar. He came second in Miami, Great Britain, Netherlands, and Singapore, and was third in the United States. His points tally was 437, which is the second-fewest in his career.

Formula 1 Constructors Championship Surprise

This year also marks the fewest wins and the fewest podiums. In comparison, in 2023 he won 19 and had 21 podium finishes. Also, he only had 3 fastest laps in 2024, the lowest in his championship years. Additionally, after the largest margin of 290 points in 2023, he only had 63 this year, his second-lowest.

Interstingly, and worryingly for Verstappen and Red Bull, the constructors championship was not theirs this year. This has happened for the second time in the Verstappens championship era, occurring in 2021 for the first time.

Back then, it was Mercedes who won it with Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas at the wheel. This time around, Verstappen and Sergio Perez could not win it for Red Bull as it was McLaren and their duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri who took home the “other” championship.

Seven different winners in 2024

Leclerc: Really happy for Sainz and the team

However, Red Bull was only third this year, as Ferrari was also in front. McLaren had 666 points, Ferrari 652, and Red Bull 589. McLaren’s drivers had 21 podiums and Ferrari’s had 22, compared to Red Bull’s 18.

Lando Norris won four races and had 13 podiums and Oscar Piastri won 2 races and had 8 podiums. The two drivers are on the rise and are ushering in a new era in McLaren that is fun to watch. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are doing the same for Ferrari and it seems like in 2025 there is going to be a real racing war between the three teams.

Leclerc won 3 times and had 13 podiums, while Sainz won 2 races and went to the podium 9 times. Sergio Perez was the loser of the season, as out of the six drivers for the three best constructors, he was the worst with 4 podiums and not a single win.

Two Mercedes drivers, George Russel and Lewis Hamilton, were in front of him, each with 2 wins and 9 combined podiums. Red Bull has a lot to figure out in the next few months.

The 2025 Formula 1 Schedule Revealed

F1 2025 calendar in full: FIA and Formula 1 announce calendar for 2025 including six Sprints | Formula 1®

Next year’s season is a special one as it will mark the 75th anniversary of the FIA Formula One World Championship. There will be 24 races as President Stefano Comenicalli said in his official statement: "It is the legacy and experience that allows [them] to deliver such a strong calendar.

"Once again, we’ll visit 24 incredible venues around the world, delivering top-class racing, hospitality, and entertainment, which will be enjoyed by millions of fans worldwide," added the Formula 1 chief

The President of FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, added, “The 2025 calendar approved by the World Motor Sport Council is a further illustration of our collective mission of meeting sustainability objectives through the regionalization of events.”

Ben Sulayem added: "Formula One Management under the direction of Stefano Domenicali has produced a calendar which trikes a good blend of traditional circuits and modern venues.”

And that could not be more true if we take a look at the 2025 Formula 1 season circuits and dates: