Best Drivers for the 2025 Formula 1 season
Anticipation and excitement for the upcoming Formula 1 season is reaching fever pitch. One of the many reasons for this is the new drivers as well as the new driver team pairings. Last year saw Dutchman Max Verstappen from Red Bull Racing driving away with his fourth consecutive title.
This season will traverse five continents and is one for the history books with 24 races. This makes it the highest number of races on the Formula 1 calendar in one season to date. The Chinese GP in Shanghai makes a return to the circuit following a few years absence. America will have two races which include the Miami GP and Las Vegas Grand Prix. So much racing to look forward to, now let us have a closer look at the Formula 1 Teams.
Driver and Name Changes
There are ten teams participating in the 2025 Formula 1 season. Two teams have changed their names. AlphaTauri are now called Racing Bulls and also Alfa Romeo is now known as Kick Sauber.
Five new drivers are behind the wheel for the 2025 season. Kimi Antonelli is the driver who replaces Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes. Haas has Oliver Bearman joining the team and Isack Hadjar is now racing for Racing Bulls. Gabriel Bortoleto has joined Kick Sauber and Jack Doohan has partnered with Pierre Gasly over at Alpine.
The main driver change which has fans all over the world excited has to be Lewis Hamilton who joined Ferrari. He joins friend Charles Leclerc at The Prancing Horse and is for many the dream team. All eyes will on Ferrari this year to see if they can bring home the constructors championship. This is after they came second in 2024 behind Mclaren Mercedes.
Technical and Driver Regulation Changes
A few new technical rules that come into play to make this season safer and more exciting. Teams now no longer have to worry about the number of gearboxes used in one season. The DRS specification for the rear wing have changed. They have lowered the slot gap by 0.6mm, from 10mm down to 9.4mm. Regulators have mandated driver cooling systems. This is to address overheating issues for when temperatures exceed 30.5 degrees. An additional 2kg has been added to the minimum driver weight making it 82kg from 80kg.
There are also some new changes in the driver regulations. Penalties or even possible race suspension have been introduced regarding driver conduct and public comments. Two mandatory pit stops as well as the use of three different tyres have been implemented at At the Monaco GP. Driving the fastest lap and coming in under the top ten no longer gives an additional point. The starting grids will now be determined using the drivers’ championship standings in cases where the qualifying session is cancelled. Formula 1 teams now have to give young drivers two practice sessions per season. This aims to help new talent with experience on the track.
Races in the 1st Quarter
Teams travel to Melbourne Australia for the first round of Grand Prix taking place at Albert Park Circuit. The race is on the calendar for the 16th of March. A short flight to China takes teams to the Shanghai International Circuit. Where the second race will be taking place on the 23rd of March. Teams will then have two weeks to get ready for the Japanese GP. Which takes place at the Suzuka International race course on 6 April. Teams then make their way to the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir in the Middle East. Which provides the perfect back drop for next race on the 13th of April. Teams stay in the Middle East for the next race at the Jeddah Corniche circuit in Saudi Arabia on April 20. The next race is at Miami International Autodrome on the fourth of May.
There is as always a lot of jabs thrown around during the build up to the first race. As to who will drive away as this year’s champ is anyone’s guess which make it so exciting. Head on over to some of our favourite bookies listed below, to see what odds are on offer for the 2025 Formula 1 season. Have a look at our full F1 Calendar 2025 for all the race dates.
F1 Betting Options
Fans of Formula 1 can choose from an extensive variety of thrilling betting options on South African online bookie sites. Bettors add long-term excitement during the season by wagering on the drivers’ and constructors’ championship outright winners. There are also opportunities of betting on race-specific outcomes. Such as race winners, pole positions, podium places, fastest laps, and even driver-to-driver contests, at every Grand Prix. F1 fans can make bets on which driver will win multiple races or secure the most pole positions in a season thanks to the futures markets by numerous leading bookmakers, including Betway, Hollywoodbets, Gbets and Playa Bets.
Another big attraction for South African Formula One fans is live betting. As the race progresses, bettors can place in-play bets, responding in real time to changing conditions, pit strategies, and driver performances. This dynamic characteristic increases the excitement, particularly in uncertain races or Grands Prix impacted by bad weather. Formula 1 fans also have plenty of reasons to become involved with the sport beyond simply watching the action thanks to the South African online betting market’s competitive odds, frequent F1 promos, and easy-to-use mobile apps.
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