2025 predictions thread
Discussion
As we approach the eve of the 2024 season, focus shifts to 2025; what do we expect to see?
I suspect Mercedes are going to have an annus horribilis, struggling to maintain pace with the top teams. Russell may maintain his Mr Saturday moniker, but I think he'll get a bit crashy.
I'm expecting a dead heat between Ferrari, McLaren and Redbull - the decider here will be down to which team can maximise their strategic potential, or how often Ferrari screw up their in race tactics.
Williams will lead the midfield for awhile, then fall away as they push focus on to 2026 - Aston will then come out as top midfield.
HAAS to be at the back, scrapping with Sauber for the wooden spoon.
I suspect Mercedes are going to have an annus horribilis, struggling to maintain pace with the top teams. Russell may maintain his Mr Saturday moniker, but I think he'll get a bit crashy.
I'm expecting a dead heat between Ferrari, McLaren and Redbull - the decider here will be down to which team can maximise their strategic potential, or how often Ferrari screw up their in race tactics.
Williams will lead the midfield for awhile, then fall away as they push focus on to 2026 - Aston will then come out as top midfield.
HAAS to be at the back, scrapping with Sauber for the wooden spoon.
I think next year could be fascinating.
Be interesting to see what Carlos can achieve at Williams.
The Lewis/Ferrari romance will be intriguing.
A ‘clean’ fight between Lando and Max? And, could Oscar be in the mix?
George will up there somewhere and a full season for the new boys to establish themselves.
Lots to look forward
Be interesting to see what Carlos can achieve at Williams.
The Lewis/Ferrari romance will be intriguing.
A ‘clean’ fight between Lando and Max? And, could Oscar be in the mix?
George will up there somewhere and a full season for the new boys to establish themselves.
Lots to look forward
Okay, time to write the comments that will embarrass me this time next year!
In some ways a year of change, with a lot of drivers moving to new teams and rookies coming in, but in other ways a year of continuity with few rule changes and the development focus for most teams firmly on the new ‘26 regulations.
There’s almost certainly three teams that can challenge for the title, with five or six that could potentially take wins on a non-mad Sunday. The closing stages are going to end up having to feature team orders in one way or another, which is a good way to upset the driver told to come in second.
Lewis and Charles will be fun to watch, the young lad mentored by the team against the GOAT lured out of a potential retirement for one last opportunity. I think Charles will win qualifying over the season, but Lewis will quickly find how to get the points and overhaul him by mid-season. They’ll both win though, and a title shot for the team is definitely on after the improvements of ‘24.
Lando and Oscar will be even more competitive than this year, with the younger man another year experienced. Regular race winners and title contenders.
George and Kimi could be fireworks with the teenage Italian keen to make his mark in the team, after a disappointing year in F2 compared to what many of us expected. Hope Toto has saved a few quid for repairs, because there’s going to be podiums and crashes in equal numbers.
Max and some other warm body with a super licence they’ll find somewhere, with the team’s entire focus on just the one car as ever. Probably a race winner and title contender again, at least as far as the drivers’ title is concerned.
Aston Martin. Little time for pay-driver, and with the old man still bed-blocking, they usually start well but don’t develop the car so expecting a few early podium finishes for Fernando before the relative performance drops off.
Carlos and Alex together at Williams could be intriguing, with a lot of investment in the team I’m expecting to see regular points from this pair, with an outside chance of a podium or two.
Can’t see the other four teams doing anything much, except putting all of their efforts into ‘26.
Oh, and loads of talk about GM/Andretti and the chances of an eleventh team on the grid for those new regulations.
(Sets alarm for first week in December 2025, to see how much of that actually happens).
In some ways a year of change, with a lot of drivers moving to new teams and rookies coming in, but in other ways a year of continuity with few rule changes and the development focus for most teams firmly on the new ‘26 regulations.
There’s almost certainly three teams that can challenge for the title, with five or six that could potentially take wins on a non-mad Sunday. The closing stages are going to end up having to feature team orders in one way or another, which is a good way to upset the driver told to come in second.
Lewis and Charles will be fun to watch, the young lad mentored by the team against the GOAT lured out of a potential retirement for one last opportunity. I think Charles will win qualifying over the season, but Lewis will quickly find how to get the points and overhaul him by mid-season. They’ll both win though, and a title shot for the team is definitely on after the improvements of ‘24.
Lando and Oscar will be even more competitive than this year, with the younger man another year experienced. Regular race winners and title contenders.
George and Kimi could be fireworks with the teenage Italian keen to make his mark in the team, after a disappointing year in F2 compared to what many of us expected. Hope Toto has saved a few quid for repairs, because there’s going to be podiums and crashes in equal numbers.
Max and some other warm body with a super licence they’ll find somewhere, with the team’s entire focus on just the one car as ever. Probably a race winner and title contender again, at least as far as the drivers’ title is concerned.
Aston Martin. Little time for pay-driver, and with the old man still bed-blocking, they usually start well but don’t develop the car so expecting a few early podium finishes for Fernando before the relative performance drops off.
Carlos and Alex together at Williams could be intriguing, with a lot of investment in the team I’m expecting to see regular points from this pair, with an outside chance of a podium or two.
Can’t see the other four teams doing anything much, except putting all of their efforts into ‘26.
Oh, and loads of talk about GM/Andretti and the chances of an eleventh team on the grid for those new regulations.
(Sets alarm for first week in December 2025, to see how much of that actually happens).
An unprecedented amount of safety cars/ red flags caused by the new drivers and the FIA going over the top due to criticism
Mercedes to breach the cost cap due to massive levels of car damage
Sainz to show up Albon
Stroll to finally throw his hat in before the end of the season using an "injury incurred during a game of tennis" as the reason
Alpine to be disqualified from at least one race for cheating
Max and Lewis to clash/ crash at least once
Lando to burst into tears at least once in the interview pen
Whoever ends up in the second RedBull seat to be "let go" before 3/4 of the season is complete
The reason for any team underperforming to be "focusing resources on 2026 reg changes"
Mercedes to breach the cost cap due to massive levels of car damage
Sainz to show up Albon
Stroll to finally throw his hat in before the end of the season using an "injury incurred during a game of tennis" as the reason
Alpine to be disqualified from at least one race for cheating
Max and Lewis to clash/ crash at least once
Lando to burst into tears at least once in the interview pen
Whoever ends up in the second RedBull seat to be "let go" before 3/4 of the season is complete
The reason for any team underperforming to be "focusing resources on 2026 reg changes"
Lando and Oscar are pretty much equal in my eye on talent and speed. Oscar has been compliant this year to assist Lando. I don't expect that to repeat itself and as such can see them taking bites out of each other and I"m not certain McLaren has the wherewithal to manage that correctly. My prediction is that McLaren may prosper in the WCC but neither driver will succeed in the WDC.
Ferrari will continue to improve as a team. I predict a highly rejuvenated Hamilton to win races and regain what many perceive to have lost over the past three years. But he's not there because of next year's car. He's there because he knows what's coming in 2026. So, a new improved Hamilton but we'll need to wait until 2026 to see the full effect of this.
But I'm going to go a for a bit of a left-field prediction and say the WDC battle will emerge between Max and George. There's a nice, tetchy rivalry brewing (which is different to a driver getting pissed off with another) and history tells us this is the forbearer or future battles.
Ferrari will continue to improve as a team. I predict a highly rejuvenated Hamilton to win races and regain what many perceive to have lost over the past three years. But he's not there because of next year's car. He's there because he knows what's coming in 2026. So, a new improved Hamilton but we'll need to wait until 2026 to see the full effect of this.
But I'm going to go a for a bit of a left-field prediction and say the WDC battle will emerge between Max and George. There's a nice, tetchy rivalry brewing (which is different to a driver getting pissed off with another) and history tells us this is the forbearer or future battles.
George Russell as WDC
Mclaren for WCC again having missed out on the big prize by refusing to support one driver
Max to get so many penalty points he's banned from F1 after Monza and retrains to become a cage fighter and take on Conor McGregor in huge pay per view contest.
Perez to keep his drive and fail to get out of Q3 for all of the season. Until Max's ban and he leads the team to 5 straight victories at the end of the season.
Ferrari drivers to take each other out at least 3 times. CLC to have a breakdown over his lack of support and the team always preferring Lewis.
Sainz to embarrass Albon and take a podium
Hass to continue to support
RB to ditch Lawson by the Singapore and put Colapinto in
Mclaren for WCC again having missed out on the big prize by refusing to support one driver
Max to get so many penalty points he's banned from F1 after Monza and retrains to become a cage fighter and take on Conor McGregor in huge pay per view contest.
Perez to keep his drive and fail to get out of Q3 for all of the season. Until Max's ban and he leads the team to 5 straight victories at the end of the season.
Ferrari drivers to take each other out at least 3 times. CLC to have a breakdown over his lack of support and the team always preferring Lewis.
Sainz to embarrass Albon and take a podium
Hass to continue to support
RB to ditch Lawson by the Singapore and put Colapinto in
StevieBee said:
Lando and Oscar are pretty much equal in my eye on talent and speed. Oscar has been compliant this year to assist Lando. I don't expect that to repeat itself and as such can see them taking bites out of each other and I"m not certain McLaren has the wherewithal to manage that correctly. My prediction is that McLaren may prosper in the WCC but neither driver will succeed in the WDC.
It's not born out by the stats though: in qualifying, Lando leads Oscar 20 vs 3; in races, it's 15 vs 8 to Lando ... Castellet said:
Lando has been there longer, and you’d assume that the team is moulded around him more than Oscar, the new boy.
But, I sense Oscar has a tougher streak, aided by Webber as his manager, so interesting to see how that develops
Oscar has been there two seasons now (47 races - in old money that would have been 4 seasons at least) and has comprehensively been beaten by every single metric. I think he has done very well being not like Perez being nowhere in the races. But when Lando wins, he is often embarrassingly far ahead. But, I sense Oscar has a tougher streak, aided by Webber as his manager, so interesting to see how that develops
It will however be interesting to see how this plays out next year.
I feel like Hamilton needs to assert himself against Leclerc quickly if the Ferrari is a race winning car.
He'll want to be the first to win a race. If he does he will have a good season whether he gets a title or just falls short.
But if Charles gets the first win and he takes a long time to get a good result his head will drop and he'll finish behind the youngsters in the top three teams by the end of the season.
If the top cars are very close again then I can only see Max winning the WDC again because he's the only one with a teammate that won't/can't take points off him.
Sainz will make Albon look bang average.
Kimi will crash a lot but will show some great speed at certain points and looks a megastar.
The Aston will get quicker as the season goes on after Newey can start working.
HAAS to get on the podium once (Now Hulk has left
)
He'll want to be the first to win a race. If he does he will have a good season whether he gets a title or just falls short.
But if Charles gets the first win and he takes a long time to get a good result his head will drop and he'll finish behind the youngsters in the top three teams by the end of the season.
If the top cars are very close again then I can only see Max winning the WDC again because he's the only one with a teammate that won't/can't take points off him.
Sainz will make Albon look bang average.
Kimi will crash a lot but will show some great speed at certain points and looks a megastar.
The Aston will get quicker as the season goes on after Newey can start working.
HAAS to get on the podium once (Now Hulk has left
)Diderot said:
Oscar has been there two seasons now (47 races - in old money that would have been 4 seasons at least) and has comprehensively been beaten by every single metric. I think he has done very well being not like Perez being nowhere in the races. But when Lando wins, he is often embarrassingly far ahead.
It will however be interesting to see how this plays out next year.
They have both been pretty fair with each other tbh. They preach the whole team culture but will be interesting to see how that pans out when there's more on the line.It will however be interesting to see how this plays out next year.
If Oscar struggles at the start of the weekend it tends to ruin his whole weekend, Norris seems able to turn it around and get the car back where it needs to be.
Fingers crossed we can have a full season similar to the back half of last season with McLaren, Ferrari and RB all taking points off each other. Merc to be a little closer more often too.
Can see a lot of teams jumping on the 2026 new regs early if their season doesn't start so good.
Predict Antonelli to bin it, a lot.
I'm going to be really brave with this, and predict the top 5 in the WDC with absolutely no evidence to supplement it. But here goes!
As the above, Ferrari to win the WCC too!
Be interesting to see if this drama between Max and George grows into a good little rivalry, but for the most part I think Red Bull will be comfortable ahead of the Mercedes, leaving little effort for George to challenge. When they do, I'd have my money on Max every time.
I would absolutely love it if Horner grabbed hold of Alonso if Perez is on his way out. I know the chances are as close to 0 as possible, but how fantastic would that be?
I've not been more excited for a Formula one season, in ever , I don't think. Feels like a proper mass shoot out from the get go will ensue. Roll on March. The benefit of having a Birthday in March is the F1 season starts the following week
- - Charles
- - Max
- - Lando
- - Lewis
- - Oscar
As the above, Ferrari to win the WCC too!
Be interesting to see if this drama between Max and George grows into a good little rivalry, but for the most part I think Red Bull will be comfortable ahead of the Mercedes, leaving little effort for George to challenge. When they do, I'd have my money on Max every time.
I would absolutely love it if Horner grabbed hold of Alonso if Perez is on his way out. I know the chances are as close to 0 as possible, but how fantastic would that be?
I've not been more excited for a Formula one season, in ever , I don't think. Feels like a proper mass shoot out from the get go will ensue. Roll on March. The benefit of having a Birthday in March is the F1 season starts the following week
EmailAddress said:
MustangGT said:
I think my top 3 would be:
1) Lewis
2) Lando
3) Charles
Ferrari to win both titles. Max 4th or 5th in the WDC with George and Oscar completing the top 6.
Will Max get to 12pts and emulate KMag?1) Lewis
2) Lando
3) Charles
Ferrari to win both titles. Max 4th or 5th in the WDC with George and Oscar completing the top 6.
Nova Gyna said:
EmailAddress said:
MustangGT said:
I think my top 3 would be:
1) Lewis
2) Lando
3) Charles
Ferrari to win both titles. Max 4th or 5th in the WDC with George and Oscar completing the top 6.
Will Max get to 12pts and emulate KMag?1) Lewis
2) Lando
3) Charles
Ferrari to win both titles. Max 4th or 5th in the WDC with George and Oscar completing the top 6.
Seriously though, all most of us want is the fair application of the rules to all drivers in the same way. Fair racing.
The first third of the season is probably going to follow the pattern seen at the end of 24- Ferrari and McLaren battling it out with the Mercedes and Verstappen making the odd cameo. The first third of the season will see Leclerc, Norris and Piastri take the wins with Hamilton joining the mix once he’s remembered to stop at the red pit box. Hamilton’s season will gain strength after a hugely popular win at Silverstone and he’ll finish the year ahead of Lecerc and one of the favourites for the 26 title.
Verstappen will destroy whoever is in the other RB seat- and then destroy whoever replaces them mid season. He’ll still be in the mix but as results become harder he’ll resort to the kind of tactics seen in 21 and the second half of this season, resulting in a missed race. At this point it will be announced that he’s replacing Alonso at Aston Martin. Aston Martin will start stronger and avoid the mid season fade they’ve experienced in previous years thanks to Newey’s arrival, and at the end of the year will be expecting great things for 26 thanks to the incoming Verstappen/Tsunoda lineup.
The final races of the season will see a 2010 style four way battle for the WDC with one of the McLaren drivers coming out on top, but only just. Post season it’s announced that the losing McLaren driver is moving to Red Bull to replace Verstappen.
Verstappen will destroy whoever is in the other RB seat- and then destroy whoever replaces them mid season. He’ll still be in the mix but as results become harder he’ll resort to the kind of tactics seen in 21 and the second half of this season, resulting in a missed race. At this point it will be announced that he’s replacing Alonso at Aston Martin. Aston Martin will start stronger and avoid the mid season fade they’ve experienced in previous years thanks to Newey’s arrival, and at the end of the year will be expecting great things for 26 thanks to the incoming Verstappen/Tsunoda lineup.
The final races of the season will see a 2010 style four way battle for the WDC with one of the McLaren drivers coming out on top, but only just. Post season it’s announced that the losing McLaren driver is moving to Red Bull to replace Verstappen.
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