Formula 1 starts this weekend, the last season with the current regulations, which suggests that there will be equality on the grid, as the teams have squeezed every last drop out of the cars. McLaren, the current constructors’ champion, is the team to beat, but Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari have a lot to say. We are on the verge of one of the most evenly matched Formula 1 World Championships in years, and this weekend we will find out where the favorites will start in the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship.
McLaren, the big favorite
McLaren is coming into the Australian GP with confidence sky high after a pre-season test where its MCL39 has shown it has the best race pace. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have left some rivals speechless. Norris is the clear favourite to take victory in Melbourne. But Piastri, racing at home, could also play an important role in the fight for the podium.
Ferrari and Mercedes, the main contenders
If there is one team that can overshadow McLaren, it is Ferrari. The “prancing horse” team has shown a very good performance in long runs, and they arrive with the added motivation of having achieved a double win at this circuit in 2024. Lewis Hamilton makes his debut in this Grand Prix with Ferrari and he wants to celebrate with his first victory.
Mercedes has been the big surprise this preseason: the pairing of George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli has recorded the most laps in Bahrain, suggesting reliability and very high top speed. The W16 does not seem to be up to the level of the McLaren, although it has shown enough speed to fight for a podium in Albert Park.
Bad start for Red Bull
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen acknowledged that Red Bull is not at its best for the first race. “I don’t think we can compete for victory in Melbourne,” the Dutchman admitted after testing in Bahrain. The RB21 has not performed as expected and both Verstappen and the team have expressed concerns about balance, kerbs and bumps.
However, you should never count Verstappen out, because if Red Bull finds the solution to all its problems, the Dutchman could be back in contention for victory in Australia. On the other hand, his team has to improve quickly if it is to fight for the defense of its championship in 2025.
Who will win the Australian F1 GP?
McLaren and driver Lando Norris are the favorites to take the win in Melbourne. Ferrari and Mercedes will want to take advantage of any opportunity that presents itself to get into the fight, and Red Bull will also try to minimize the damage and find solutions to help them improve their performance. Of course, we insist that Verstappen should never be ruled out for the win.
The Australian Grand Prix marks the start of the 2025 season, and will be the first indication of what the grid looks like at the start of the season. All the speculation and predictions will take a back seat, and now we will be able to see the real potential of each team. The tests can give clues, but many teams hide their real potential, and now is the time to show it. Although Norris and Piastri seem capable of fighting for victory, we will have to see how the big names in the Formula 1 circus really are.