The Formula 1 edit

Hello everyone!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! We are officially one race into the 2025 Formula One racing season. There are many familiar faces but also some new ones, fan favorite drivers sporting new team colors, and drivers already crashing brand new cars. Here’s everything you need to know to gear up for an epic year!

2025 driver lineup

Only two of the ten F1 teams have the same drivers this season. 4 rookies were signed along with majority of the seasoned drivers signing contracts with new teams.

red bull racing

Oracle Red Bull Racing has dominated the Formula 1 industry for the past 4 years. With Max Verstappen as one of their drivers, Red Bull has secured 2 Constructors Championships, 4 Drivers Championships, and 62 grand prix wins, so it’s no surprise that the Dutch is back for a 9th year with the team. Their second driver is a former VCARB (Red Bull’s junior racing team) racer. 23 year old Kiwi Liam Lawson is signed with Red Bull for the 2025 season.

Scuderia ferrari

The Italian racing team got second place last year behind McLaren in the Constructors Championship, so it’s safe to say that Ferrari seems to be growing in the ranks. For 2025, Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc will be returning to Ferrari. Leclerc made history last year when he won the Monaco grand prix, the first time in almost a century since the race was won by a local. Ferrari’s second driver came as a shock to everyone. After 12 years of racing with Mercedes, British driver Lewis Hamilton decided it was time for a change and joined Ferrari for 2025.

Alpine racing

Alpine racing secured 10th place in the Constructors Championship last season, which was necessary if the team wanted to secure points and a bonus on their paychecks, so like Ferrari, Alpine is starting to get better scores. Frenchman Pierre Gasly is still going strong for another year with the team. Jack Doohan, who has been Alpine’s reserve driver since 2023, has now been promoted to a full-time driver.

Mclaren racing

After securing the 2024 Constructors Championship, McLaren is in no hurry to get rid of their winning drivers. Lando Norris proved himself last year by winning his first ever race in Miami and following that win up with champagne popping in Holland, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi. He is one of the most talented drivers on the grid right now so it’s no wonder he’s staying with the team that helped him with these victories. McLaren’s second ‘number one’ driver is Aussie Oscar Piastri. Piastri won two times and secured a total of 8 podiums last season. Oscar extended his contract with McLaren until at least the end of 2026.

mercedes

The ten time Constructors Championship winning team is pretty much what I would call a medium team. They used to dominate the industry but have fallen into the shadow of Red Bull for the past couple of years. British driver George Russell is returning to Mercedes for his 8th year with the team. After losing Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari, Mercedes took a leap of faith by signing 18 year old Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who up until now, was a Formula 2 racer. Replacing Lewis Hamilton, a seven time world champion, is going to be big shoes for Antonelli to fill. Can he pull it off?

Williams racing

Williams racing is another ‘medium’ team, coming in 9th in the Constructors Championship in 2024. Spanish driver Carlos Sainz signed with Williams after getting booted from Ferrari to make room for Hamilton. Fans are hoping that the Williams team and car will treat Sainz well, to prove to Ferrari that they made a mistake getting rid of him. Williams second driver, the Thai Alex Albon, has been with the team since 2022 and is back for another season.

Vcarb (racing bulls)

Visa Cash App Red Bull Racing, better known as VCARB, is Reb Bull’s junior racing team. Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda and French rookie Isack Hadjar are VCARB’s drivers for 2025.

Stake kick sauber

Stake Kick Sauber was the lowest scoring team in 2024, ending the season with a total of 4 points. Hopefully they will gain more than 4 points this year. German driver Nico Hulkenberg will return alongside Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto this season.

Haas f1 team

Haas was barely beat by Alpine last year for 10th place, maybe with two new drivers Haas’s luck will start to look up. Formerly a driver for Alpine, French racer Esteban Ocon has turned over a new leaf and signed with Haas. Rookie driver Oliver Bearman from England has also been signed for 2025.

Aston martin

Aston Martin, alongside McLaren, is one of two teams that has the same drivers this year. Canadian driver Lance Stroll, son of Lawrence Stroll, owner of Aston Martin, will again be driving for his father’s team. Spanish driver Fernando Alonso, the oldest driver at 43 years of age, is once again driving for the British team.

Australian grand prix qualifying

The Melbourne qualifying round happened this Saturday. Lando Norris landed pole position, beating his teammate Oscar Piastri by a tenth of a second, leaving Piastri in P2. Following Piastri was the reigning world champion Max Verstappen in P3. Mercedes driver Russell in P4, and Yuki Tsunoda in P5. Alex Albon in P6, with both Ferrari drivers back to back, Charles Leclerc landed P7 with teammate Lewis Hamilton close behind in P8. Pierre Gasly P9, followed by Carlos Sainz in P10.

Rookie Haas driver Oliver Bearman crashed his car on turn 9 during first practice on Friday, securing him last place. We can only hope things will get better for the Brit.

The australian grand prix

It’s lights out and away we go! The Australian grand prix commences the start of the Formula 1 2025 season! Lando Norris secured first place, managing to maintain first even though the red flags kept flying due to a numerous number of spinouts. Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz, Gabriel Bortoleto, Liam Lawson, Isack Hadjar, and Jack Doohan were the unfortunate victims of this impromptu pirouette competition. Behind Norris in second place was Max Verstappen, no surprise there. George Russell completed the podium in third place. Rookie Antonelli secured fourth place, Albon in fifth, and Stroll in sixth. Stake driver Hulkenberg seventh, Leclerc eighth, and Piastri ninth. Hamilton completes the top ten coming in at tenth. We can hope that for future grand prixs the weather will be slightly sunnier, giving every driver a fair chance.

The 2025 racing season is going to be high action and very entertaining. I for one cannot wait to see who will come out on top and who will be a flop!