2025 f1 updates!

Hello, f1 fans!

Formula 1 in 2025 will be making some drastic changes, and with the first Grand Prix only a couple of months away, here is everything you need to know about the upcoming F1 season. 

New Driver Line-Ups:  

Arguably, the most significant update in 2025 is Hamilton moving from Mercedes to Ferrari. Hamilton, who was with Mercedes for 12 years, is making a massive change in his f1 career as he ends his Mercedes legacy.

Carlo Sainz, who had a 2-year contract with Ferrari, has moved to Williams Racing alongside Alex Albon. Hopefully, Sainz can boost performance and help the team be more competitive in 2025. 

Mercedes has some big shoes to fill with Hamilton leaving; Kimi Antonelli, an 18-year-old Italian rookie, has been selected to replace Hamilton.

A new driver enters the paddock: Jack Doohan, an Australian driver. Doohan has been promoted from being a reserve driver for Alpine to now being a full-time driver alongside Pierre Gasly.

Daniel Riccardo, who was dropped at the end of 2024, was replaced with Liam Lawson for the rest of 2024. However, Lawson was moved to raced next to Max Verstappen at Red Bull in 2025.

(Personally, I think Yuki was robbed of that seat and deserves it more than Lawson.)

With Liam Lawson at Red Bull, that leaves Sergio Perez with no team. The iconic Mexican driver will be missed in 2025.

That's it for driver lineups! However, some other significant technical and sporting updates are happening in 2025 that could change the course of performance.  

Regulation Changes:

1. Cooling System: 2025 f1 cars must have a cooling system to help the drivers stay cool, safe and comfortable in very hot conditions. This is especially useful for some races in extremely hot climates such as Singapore, Vegas, and Bahrain. 

2. DRS Reductions: Some adjustments for the Drag Reduction System (DRS) include reducing the slot gap from 10mm to 9.4. The rear wing will now be limited to only two positions—one when DRS is closed and one when it is open. These changes may slightly reduce the effectiveness of DRS in overtaking situations.

3. New Car Design: 2025 f1 cars will be shorter, narrower, lighter and with more electrification and active aerodynamics. 

4. Driver Weight: The minimum weight for drivers will increase from 80 kg to 82 kg. This change aims to promote driver well-being. This will also help with fairness among the different driver builds

With these significant changes in place, the 2025 Formula 1 season is shaping to be one of the most exciting yet. The grid is full of surprises, from Hamilton’s bold move to Ferrari to the arrival of fresh talent like Kimi Antonelli and Jack Doohan. I believe the most anticipated part of this year is seeing if Ferrari will perform better in 2025 now with Hamilton.

I predict that Hamilton won't bring many new improvements this year simply because Ferrari has traded a great driver for a great driver; they haven't lost or gained anything.

Plus, McLaren proved to be the underdogs last year and has steadily grown stronger. I think 2025 will be the year McLaren takes over Red Bull and becomes the top team.

Also, with the new technical regulations, teams must adapt quickly to stay competitive. I'm especially interested in seeing the impact of the new DRS regulations and how much they will impact overtaking in races. As we count down to the first Grand Prix, one thing is sure—this season will bring new rivalries, intense battles, and plenty of drama on and off the track.

Sidenote!!!, season 7 of Drive to Survive is premiering on Netflix in March! I can not wait to get all the juicy behind-the-scenes tea from the 2024 season.

What team and driver do you think will be world champions?

My Predictions:

Team: McLaren

Driver: Lando Norris (might be a hot take)