Formula One set for a Thrilling Title Battle in 2025
Oct. 28 - Max Verstappen’s overwhelming dominance of Formula One (F1) in recent years has not pleased too many people outside of the Red Bull community. However, there have been signs this season that his superiority is waning, setting the stage for what could be a thrilling title battle in 2025. With that in mind, we take an early look at some key talking points ahead of next year, starting with a drive who will be eager to knock Verstappen off his perch.
Piastri Gunning for the 2025 World Title
Oscar Piastri has played a key role alongside Lando Norris in McLaren’s resurgence this season. He claimed his first win of the season at the Hungarian Grand Prix, powering through the pain of a broken rib to beat Norris and F1 legend Lewis Hamilton. The Australian subsequently recorded another victory in Azerbaijan and is well on course to finish fourth in this season’s Drivers’ Championship. Given the progress he has made this year, it is not unthinkable to imagine that Piastri will be in contention to win the world title next season.
He will be one of the bookmakers’ favourites to get the job done, although Norris and Verstappen will also come in for plenty of support from bettors. Aussie punters will undoubtedly be clamouring to access the ante-post odds on this full list of online bookmakers when they are published after the conclusion of the 2024 campaign. If McLaren provide Piastri with a competitive car, it would be a brave move to back against him becoming the first Australian F1 champion since Alan Jones in 1980.
Team Haas Eager to Shine Next Season
Team Haas have always been underdogs in F1. Their modest budget means they are generally playing catch-up, and 2024 has not sprung many surprises. However, Ferrari’s sister-team have taken a huge step towards reversing their fortunes ahead of the 2025 season with a line-up overhaul on the cards. Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen are set to leave the team at the end of the season and will be replaced by Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman. Ocon will become the first F1 race-winner to join Haas thanks to his success at the Hungarian Grand Prix back in 2021, and the team will pin their hopes of a turnaround on his experience.
Bearman has been making waves in F2, and he carried his impressive form into his F1 debut. He has done enough to earn a spot alongside Ocon in the all-new Haas line-up, and the duo could form a solid partnership. Haas have struggled at the bottom of the standings in recent years, but the new pairing raises hopes of a fresh start and potentially better results next season. The team isn't going to leap to the front of the grid in 2025, but the new mix of experience and youth could bring a better points tally if they play their cards right.
Lawson is the Right Man to Replace Ricciardo
Daniel Ricciardo’s return to F1 was met with plenty of excitement, but it quickly became clear that he is a shadow of the driver who won eight Grand Prix. In typical Red Bull fashion, the United Kingdom-based team axed Ricciardo from their drivers' line-up mid-season and replaced him with highly-rated rookie Liam Lawson. The controversial decision paid immediate dividends, as the New Zealander produced a fine drive to finish ninth in the United States.
All eyes will be on Lawson to see how he handles the pressure of delivering consistent results during the rest of the 2024 season. Replacing Ricciardo will not be an easy task for Lawson, although he can hardly do any worse than his Australian counterpart. Lawson has long been touted as a future F1 star, and he will be relishing the opportunity to prove he is the right man to permanently replace Ricciardo.
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Still not truly a battle until Lando gets within the single-race maximum score.
Article is about 2025 season.
I somehow failed to notice that detail.
Therefore, going back on what I originally typed, next season indeed is set to be a thriller with the current top 4 teams most likely starting close to each other outright performance-wise.
Expect Max to be gone sooner rather than later if the wins stop coming, narcissists can’t stand being beaten and he’ll never get a seat in any of the other top teams.
Hi Blo,
It sounds like you’re skeptical about Max’s loyalty to Red Bull if things don’t go his way.
The F1 world has seen a few drivers move when wins stopped coming, and it’s always fascinating to watch how personalities play into that. I’d be curious to know which teams you think would actually take a pass on him.
Thanks for sharing your perspective—conversations like this add a lot of depth to the article’s topic. Looking forward to more of your thoughts!
Hi L
Many thanks for your kind words.
With Max’s behaviour on track and his fathers off track coupled with the last few races proving other drivers are just as fast ,who would want him? More likely at some point soon he will do a Nico.
If Lewis has a fast Ferrari together with several other fast drivers in fast cars like Nico he will bailout rather than face the intensity potentially of 2021 again. With or without him ,F1 is going to get very exciting.
Someone mention a Nicooooo..........Oh I can dream
Maybe aggressive dangerous driving should be a Maxxxxxx or a Maaaaax.!.!.!.!.!.
Rubbish. Theyd all jump at the chance if getting him.
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