F1 2025 will get underway this week with pre-season testing in Bahrain.
Groups will get three days of unrestricted operating on the Sakhir observe to correctly check their new automobiles for the primary time forward of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on 16 March.
Heading into what guarantees to be an intriguing week of on-track motion, right here is the largest query dealing with each staff.
Can McLaren make a quick begin?
McLaren go into testing as favourites after clinching their first constructors’ championship since 1998 final time period.
The Woking squad ended final season with the quickest automotive whereas Lando Norris capped off his strongest season in F1 so far on a successful word.
Having completed runner-up to Pink Bull’s Max Verstappen in 2024, Norris has his sights set on the title this yr – however so does his teammate Oscar Piastri.
By Norris’s personal admission, his title hopes have been ruined by a gradual begin to the season for McLaren final yr. Can the British outfit lastly right that this time round, and battle on two fronts?
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are eyeing the drivers’ F1 title
How will Hamilton fare at Ferrari?
The most important speaking level over the winter was Lewis Hamilton’s seismic change from Mercedes to Ferrari.
Hamilton has been on the centre of consideration of the F1 world since finishing his transfer to Ferrari and there’s large curiosity surrounding how he’ll get on on the sport’s most iconic staff alongside Charles Leclerc.
The seven-time world champion is ready for a vital three days of observe time with Ferrari, which can play an enormous position in figuring out how rapidly he will get in control and adapts to life in crimson.
With Ferrari anticipated to be challengers from the off, and arguably joint-favourites alongside McLaren after narrowly lacking out on ending their 16-year look forward to a world title in 2024, Hamilton might want to hit the bottom operating.
Will Pink Bull get again to their finest?
2024 was a tumultuous yr on and off observe for Pink Bull, with early controversy and scandal overshadowing a dominant begin, just for stability and efficiency points to strike at mid-season.
Whereas that didn’t cease Verstappen from charging to a fourth straight world title with relative consolation, Pink Bull did see their constructors’ championship crown slip – largely due to Sergio Perez’s woeful shows.
If Pink Bull have managed to deal with the stability issues with their RB21, and Horner can preserve concord inside a staff that has misplaced a number of key figures, there is no such thing as a doubting they are going to be a power to be reckoned with. However will they be as potent as earlier than?
Have Mercedes accomplished sufficient to flee entice?
Mercedes’ 2025 F1 challenger
After seeing Hamilton depart following an illustrious 12-year stint, Mercedes are coming into a brand new period with George Russell taking on the staff chief position, having been joined by Italian teenage prodigy Kimi Antonelli.
Mercedes have been suffering from dramatic and inconsistent efficiency swings with all of their ground-effect automobiles because the begin of F1’s present ruleset in 2022.
The Silver Arrows hope that basic modifications to the W16 will iron out these issues for good, and keep away from falling into additional growth traps, however time will inform whether or not Mercedes have accomplished sufficient to return to constant front-runner standing.
Can Aston Martin develop in the suitable route?
Aston Martin are coming off the again of a disappointing yr. Whereas the staff managed to safe fifth place within the constructors’ for the second successive season, they scored lower than half the factors and had zero podiums, in contrast with the eight they secured in 2023.
In-season growth has proved to be one thing of an Achilles’ Heel for the staff, too. New Aston Martin staff principal and CEO Andy Cowell has made large modifications behind the scenes aimed toward maximising on-track efficiency.
Aston Martin have additionally bought maintain of key personnel targets, together with the signing of legendary F1 designer Adrian Newey who will bolster the staff’s technical division when he begins work subsequent month.
2025 guarantees to be an enormous yr for Aston Martin as they appear to beat their current woes and present indicators they’ll meet the lofty ambitions of staff proprietor Lawrence Stroll. To do this, outcomes on observe want to start out matching discuss off it.
Is the top-five potential for Alpine?
Alpine impressively recovered from an abysmal begin to 2024 by snatching sixth place within the constructors’ championship on the finish of the season, largely due to a shocking shock double podium in Brazil.
Pierre Gasly has already outlined bold targets for Alpine to complete contained in the top-five in 2025. A lot of that may rely on the performances of his new teammate and F1 rookie Jack Doohan, who already finds himself underneath strain and searching over his shoulders amid continued uncertainty over his long-term future.
Each drivers might want to repeatedly characteristic contained in the top-10 with the intention to flip Gasly’s purpose right into a actuality.
Alpine’s 2025 F1 automotive debuted throughout a filming day on Monday
Can new-look Haas consolidate their standing?
Haas have undergone one thing of a metamorphosis over the previous 12 months. New staff principal Ayao Komatsu helped Haas haul themselves up from lifeless final to the higher echelons of F1’s midfield in 2024, ending the yr a respective seventh within the championship.
P6 was nearby for the American outfit, who’ve a contemporary driver-line up for 2025, with Esteban Ocon being joined by highly-rated teen Oliver Bearman. On paper, it’s an thrilling driver line-up however one which additionally has the potential for battle (given Ocon’s status along with his earlier teammates).
Bettering their highest factors whole since 2018 will likely be an enormous ask for Haas, however the staff will definitely be aiming to consolidate their standing on the entrance of the midfield pack.
The place will Racing Bulls slot in?
Pink Bull’s sister staff haven’t solely confronted one thing of an identification disaster, they’ve additionally undergone driver modifications and inconsistencies with their automotive’s behaviour and efficiency.
Racing Bulls have been concerned in an extremely tight battle for P6-P8 final yr, which is simply set to change into extra fierce in 2025. F2 runner-up Isack Hadjar companions Yuki Tsunoda, who stays on the staff for a fifth marketing campaign after being missed by Pink Bull.
Racing Bulls arguably have the best-looking automotive on the grid due to a putting matte white livery, however it would should be a step ahead to allow the staff to push on up the grid.
How a lot can Carlos Sainz raise Williams?
Carlos Sainz has joins Williams from Ferrari
Williams have acknowledged this will likely be one thing of a transitional yr. The staff are laser-focused on benefiting from 2026’s regulation general to maneuver up the grid, however on the similar time don’t wish to completely sacrifice 2025.
The arrival of Carlos Sainz alongside Alex Albon actually strengthens the staff’s driver line-up, and Williams will hope the duo will push one another and the staff ahead.
As a four-time grand prix winner, Sainz is clearly a serious enchancment on earlier occupants of his seat. The Spaniard’s expertise, pace and race craft ought to assist Williams maximise their outcomes, and capitalise on any surprising alternatives that fall their manner in 2025.
One other season on the again for Sauber?
F1’s basement staff from 2024 are additionally largely targeted on 2026 and Audi’s looming entry.
Sauber’s closing season earlier than the high-profile Audi takeover is prone to be a troublesome one. Nico Hulkenberg is an astute signing, whereas there’s loads of pleasure surrounding F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto forward of his rookie F1 marketing campaign.
The Swiss-based outfit will at the very least hope to enhance on the measly 4 factors they managed final time period, however face a mountain to climb relating to positional progress within the championship.
