The 2025 Formula 1 season finally kicks off in Melbourne, and not a moment too soon. The sport seems to have been horribly empty of any newsworthy story, with the same old blah being re-hashed or combined with another to try and create a new headline.
Most of it has been of the red kind… as in Ferrari red. To say that Maranello has been hosing down social media with their pump-action Lewis Hamilton shotgun would be an understatement.
Hamilton is faster, slower, as quick as Charles Leclerc etc, etc. The combinations have been endless. The only story left is for Roscoe to arrive down under with Lewis, sporting a red cape…oh, and a Ferrari front row lock-out at Albert Park.
Fairy tale?
It is said that the difference between fiction and reality is that fiction has to make sense. We human beings love order and a logical flow of events. It helps us to understand a random world.
Parc Ferme wonders if we have been set up for an Australian Ferrari success. It certainly fits the recent narrative. I’ve probably hexed it now for the Tifosi, but the car was strong last year at the antipodean track and with the cars being more evolution than revolution this year, it’s not an unreasonable idea.
It's them, not us
The lead-up to the first race of the year is always surreal. Pre-season testing is so short these days that it’s nigh on impossible to identify who’s where in the pecking order.
For sure some are definitely struggling, but the top tier are difficult to separate. All are engaged in some kind of counter-intelligence operation, with faux denials of performance.
Although, based on what we saw in Bahrain and the logical convergence of development, a top six is now a realistic expectation. Only qualifying will reveal the real state of affairs…
Flexible known unknowns
With the Teams licensed to cheat on wing flexibility until Spain, the form that unfolds in Australia and even the proceeding races may be dramatically different post-race nine. There is no logic to the FIA’s deliberate mid-season rule change other than an “entertainment” request from FOM.
Combined with the budget cap and new 2026 regulations, this could effectively switch the order of chassis and driver competitiveness.
This means whoever leads the championship mid-way through the season will probably not win it at the end.
Battle of the Noobs
Talking of driver competitiveness, we have a slew of fresh meat entering the F1 fray. Comparing their relative success will be challenging since they are spread across the teams.
Kimi Antonelli has to be the favourite to head the group in qualifying and race finishes. If nothing else, by virtue of the fact he’s in a Mercedes.
However, Parc Ferme will look to compare their performance with their teammates. I anticipate that Gabriel Bortoleto will win this one and that Jack Doohan will, sadly, come last.
Rise to the challenge Jack, and please prove Parc Ferme wrong!
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