2025 Formula One World Championship
The 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship is a planned motor racing championship for Formula One cars which will be the 76th running of the Formula One World Championship. It is recognised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the governing body of international motorsport, as the highest class of competition for open-wheel racing cars. The championship will be contested over twenty-four Grands Prix held around the world. It is scheduled to begin in March and end in December.
The 2025 season is planned to be the last year to utilise the power unit configuration introduced in 2014. A revised configuration without MGU-H but with a higher power output from the MGU-K will be introduced for the 2026 championship.[1] Drivers and teams are scheduled to compete for the titles of World Drivers' Champion and World Constructors' Champion respectively. Max Verstappen is the reigning Drivers' Champion,[2] while McLaren-Mercedes are the reigning Constructors' Champions.[3]
This will be the last year of the generation of cars introduced in 2022 and the last year of the drag reduction system (DRS) introduced as an overtaking aid in 2011 as cars with active aerodynamics and moveable wings are being introduced from 2026.[4] This will also be the last year that Renault participates in the sport, as it will cease production of their engines for their team Alpine.[5]
Entries
The following constructors and drivers are under contract to compete in the 2025 World Championship. All teams are due to compete with tyres supplied by Pirelli.[6] Each team is required to enter at least two drivers, one for each of the two mandatory cars.[7]
Team changes
RB discontinued its use of the initialism and instead entered as Racing Bulls, thus changing their team and constructor name.[37]
Driver changes
Lewis Hamilton will leave Mercedes after twelve seasons to join Ferrari, ending his record-breaking streak of the most consecutive seasons driving for a single constructor, as well as competing in his first season without a Mercedes power unit.[52] He will replace Carlos Sainz Jr., who left Ferrari after four seasons to join Williams on a multi-year deal. Sainz was initially set to replace Logan Sargeant, but Sargeant was replaced by Franco Colapinto part way through the 2024 season.[20][50][53][54] Hamilton will be replaced by Mercedes junior Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who was promoted from Formula 2.[35][55]
Haas will field an all new line-up in 2025; Nico Hülkenberg will leave the team after two seasons to drive for Sauber, with whom he last competed in 2013.[30][56] He will be replaced by their reserve driver Oliver Bearman, who will step up from Formula 2, having previously raced in the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for Ferrari, and in the 2024 Azerbaijan and São Paulo Grands Prix for Haas.[24] Kevin Magnussen will also depart the team after seven seasons across two stints.[57] He will be replaced by Esteban Ocon, who split from Alpine after five seasons with Team Enstone after the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix.[58] Jack Doohan, who replaced Ocon for the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, will retain the seat at Alpine for 2025.[10][59]
Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu will both leave Sauber after three years.[60] Bottas will rejoin Mercedes as a reserve driver, after having previously raced for the team from 2017 to 2021.[61] The vacant seat alongside Hülkenberg will be filled by reigning Formula 2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto.[29]
Despite a previously announced contract until 2026, Sergio Pérez left Red Bull Racing after the conclusion of the 2024 season.[62] He will be replaced by Liam Lawson, who will be promoted from Racing Bulls after five Grands Prix in 2023 under the AlphaTauri moniker, and six Grands Prix in 2024 under the use of the initialism (RB).[46] Red Bull Racing reserve and Formula 2 runner-up Isack Hadjar was promoted to Racing Bulls in his place.[40]
Calendar
The 2025 calendar features the same twenty-four Grands Prix as the previous season.[63][64] The Chinese, Miami, Belgian, United States, São Paulo and Qatar Grands Prix are scheduled to utilise the sprint format.[65][66]
Calendar changes
The Australian Grand Prix is planned to host the opening race of the 2025 season for the first time since 2019. The Australian Grand Prix was the third round in the past three seasons, after the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, respectively, with those events being pushed back in 2025 to avoid a conflict with Ramadan.[67][68] The Russian Grand Prix was under contract to feature on the 2025 calendar.[69] However, the contract was terminated in 2022 in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[70]
Regulation changes
Technical regulations
Minimum weight changes
The minimum driver weight allowance has been increased from 80 kilograms (176.4 lb) to 82 kilograms (180.8 lb). As a consequence of this, the overall minimum weight limit of the car without fuel also increased from 798 kilograms (1,759 lb) to 800 kilograms (1,764 lb). The change was made in the interest of the well-being of the drivers, especially for taller, heavier drivers.[71][72][73]
Driver cooling
A driver cooling kit will be introduced for 2025. The system will only be mandated by the FIA in extreme heat conditions, with the minimum weight of the cars increased correspondingly when applicable. This is to avoid a repeat of driver overheating witnessed at the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix.[74] When the FIA predicts a temperature over 30.5 °C, a "heat hazard" will be declared. This will require teams to equip the drivers with their cooling systems, and the minimum weight will be raised by 5 kilograms (11 lb) to compensate for the equipment.[75]
DRS parameters
The slot gaps for the rear wing between the two modes of the DRS will be changed, with the minimum gap reduced. It will be shrunk from 10–15 millimetres (0.39–0.59 in) to 9.4–13 millimetres (0.37–0.51 in); the upper boundary remains at 85 millimetres (3.3 in) with DRS open. The FIA will also tighten up the rules on the DRS modes, stating that there must only be two positions and that ending the application of DRS must return the wing exactly as defined to the initial mode.[75]
Sporting regulations
Fastest lap point
The point awarded to drivers finishing in the top ten positions for setting the fastest lap in the race, which was reintroduced in 2019, will be abolished.[7][76][77]
Young driver free practice requirements
The requirements for fielding a young driver during free practice will increase from once per season per car to twice per season per car.[78]
Testing of previous cars
The sporting regulations will tighten the restrictions on the testing of previous cars (TPC). This will see a twenty day limit imposed on TPC, and drivers competing in the championship will only be allowed to cover a maximum of 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) over four days of testing. Testing will only be permitted at circuits that have featured on the calendar in the current or previous year. However, testing is not permitted on tracks which will host a race within sixty days of a test, nor “if the circuit is deemed, at the sole discretion of the FIA, to have undergone significant modification” since the last Formula One race.[79]
Qualifying contingencies
The sporting regulations will include specifically prescribed provisions for how the starting grids for sprints and Grands Prix should be set in the event that qualifying for these sessions is cancelled. The starting grid will be set according to the drivers' championship standings. Previously it was left solely to the discretion of the stewards to determine the starting grid order if a qualifying session could not take place. If the Drivers' Championship standings cannot be applied to determine the starting grid order, it remains at the racing stewards discretion.[7][80]
Starting grid formation
The protocol for closing up the grid when some cars do not make it to the start of a race was amended following the starting grid formation for cars withdrawn before the start of the 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix. The final grid will now be determined one hour before the start of the race. Cars that are withdrawn up to 75 minutes before the start will not be included in the final grid, and the following cars will all move up the relevant positions.[74]
Season summary
Season launch
For the first time in the history of the sport, all teams will take part in a collective season launch event at The O2 Arena in London on 18 February 2025, where teams will unveil their liveries for the season.[81]
Pre-season
A single pre-season test will be held at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir on 26–28 February.[82]
References
- ^ Nichol, Jake (21 January 2024). "Everything to know about F1's 2026 power unit revolution". RacingNews365. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
- ^ "Verstappen crowned champion as Russell heads Mercedes 1–2 in Las Vegas". Formula 1. 24 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
- ^ "Norris sails to victory ahead of Sainz and Leclerc in Abu Dhabi as McLaren seal constructors' championship". Formula 1. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
- ^ Mitchell-Malm, Scott; Anderson, Ben (6 June 2024). "F1 reveals 2026 cars – Everything worth knowing". The Race. Archived from the original on 11 September 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "Alpine confirm they are to shut down works engine programme at the end of 2025". Formula 1. 30 September 2024. Archived from the original on 30 September 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
- ^ "Pirelli to continue as Formula 1's exclusive tyre supplier until 2027". Formula 1. 10 October 2023. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ a b c "2025 Formula One Sporting Regulations – Issue 3" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
- ^ "BWT and Alpine F1 team combine forces in strategic partnership aimed at sustainability drive". BWT. 11 February 2022. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ a b c "What engine every F1 team is using for 2026 rules". The Race. 8 January 2024. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Doohan to race for Alpine in 2025 as F1 promotion confirmed". Formula 1. Archived from the original on 9 September 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ^ Coch, Mat (23 November 2024). "Doohan emulates idol with F1 race number". Speedcafe.com. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
- ^ "Gasly commits future to Alpine after agreeing multi-year extension". Formula 1. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ "F1: Aston Martin sela acordo de patrocínio com Aramco". motorsport.uol.com.br. UOL. 3 February 2022. Archived from the original on 7 September 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "Aston Martin Aramco announces high-performance partnership with PUMA". AstonMartinF1.com. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
PUMA car branding will debut on the AMR25 when it is launched ahead of the 2025 F1 season.
- ^ "Aston Martin confirm Honda as F1 engine partner from 2026 as Japanese manufacturer makes official return to sport". Sky Sports. 24 May 2023. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ "Alonso signs new F1 deal with Aston Martin". Formula 1. Archived from the original on 11 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ "Aston Martin confirm Stroll to remain at team". Formula 1. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ "Ferrari and HP Announce a Title Partnership". HP. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ "F1: Ferrari anuncia extensão de contrato de Leclerc" [Ferrari announces Leclerc contract extension, but makes mystery about the length of new deal]. motorsport.uol.com.br (in Portuguese). 25 January 2024. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ a b Coleman, Madeline (2 February 2024). "Ferrari's prestige lured Lewis Hamilton – and cost Carlos Sainz his seat". The Athletic. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 19 September 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "Haas sign new title sponsor for 2023 in multi-year deal". Formula 1. 20 October 2022. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
- ^ GMM. "Haas to stick with Ferrari amid engine crisis". grandprix.com. Archived from the original on 30 August 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
- ^ "Haas confirm signing of Ocon on multi-year contract". Formula 1. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ a b "F2 star Ollie Bearman promoted to F1 with Haas for 2025". Formula 1. 4 July 2024. Archived from the original on 4 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ Walsh, Fergal; Parkes, Ian (13 March 2024). "Bearman reveals selection for F1 identity detail". RacingNews365. Archived from the original on 20 July 2024. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ Nichol, Jake (1 January 2024). "Sauber announces official team name for 2024 and 2025". RacingNews365. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ "Audi to team up with Sauber for Formula One entry in 2026". USA TODAY. Associated Press. 26 October 2022. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ Kisby, Cambridge (23 July 2024). "Audi's F1 team explained: 2026 entry concerns as Binotto and Wheatley are drafted in". Motorsport. Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ a b "Kick Sauber confirm rookie Bortoleto as second driver for 2025". Formula 1. 6 November 2024. Archived from the original on 6 November 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Nico Hulkenberg to depart Haas at the end of 2024". Formula 1. 26 April 2024. Archived from the original on 9 September 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
But it's now been confirmed that the 36-year-old will depart the American squad – and make his way to Sauber – at the end of the campaign.
- ^ "McLaren's deal to use Mercedes F1 engines again from 2021 announced". Autosport. 28 September 2019. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ "F1: Norris assina extensão de contrato multianual com a McLaren". motorsport.uol.com.br. 26 January 2024. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ "F1: Piastri prorroga contrato com a McLaren até 2026". motorsport.uol.com.br. 20 September 2023. Archived from the original on 16 March 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ Noble, Jonathan (28 September 2022). "Mercedes signs early Petronas deal extension ahead of new F1 2026 rules". Motorsport. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Antonelli confirmed as Hamilton's replacement with Mercedes looking ahead to 'next chapter'". Formula 1. 31 August 2024. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
- ^ "Russell reveals Mercedes F1 contract timeline". RacingNews365. 31 August 2023.
- ^ a b Noble, Jonathan (2 November 2024). "What's really going on with RB's name change plans for F1 2025". Motorsport. Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on 11 November 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
- ^ "Hahnair to join Visa Cash App RB Formula 1 Team". Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
As from the start of the 2025 season, the Hahnair logo will feature on the VCARB-02 mirrors
- ^ a b "F1: Motores Red Bull voltam a ter nome da Honda em 2023". motorsport.uol.com.br. 15 December 2022. Archived from the original on 16 March 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Hadjar signs for RB as he takes final seat on 2025 F1 grid". Formula 1.com. 20 December 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ "Hadjar secures F1 step with Visa Cash App RB in 2025". 20 December 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
The Frenchman will use #6 for his first F1 season.
- ^ "Tsunoda to stay as RB driver for 2025 with latest seat on the grid confirmed". Formula 1. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ "Acordo Red Bull/Oracle é "o maior na história da F1"". www.autoracing.com.br. 10 February 2022. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "Oracle Red Bull Racing Partners with Neat". Oracle Red Bull Racing. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
Beginning in 2025, Neat will be featured on Oracle Red Bull Racing's RB21 car [...]
- ^ "Verstappen renova com Red Bull até o fim de 2028; contrato é o mais longo da história da F1". motorsport.uol.com.br. 3 March 2022. Archived from the original on 16 March 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Liam Lawson Joins Max Verstappen for 2025 Season". Oracle Red Bull Racing. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ "Williams Racing is pleased to announce a new multi-year partnership with Santander that will begin in 2025". williamsf1.com. 9 December 2024.
Santander or Openbank branding will feature on the FW47, driver helmets and team clothing throughout 2025
- ^ Baldwin, Alan (8 January 2024). Sarkar, Pritha (ed.). "Williams F1 team to use Mercedes engines until at least 2030". Reuters. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ Cleeren, Filip (5 February 2024) [5 February 2024]. "Albon tied to Williams until the end of F1 2025, clarifies Vowles". Motorsport. Archived from the original on 14 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Sainz signs for Williams as Spaniard's F1 future is confirmed". Formula 1. 29 July 2024. Archived from the original on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ "2025 FIA Formula One World Championship – Entry List". Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 13 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ Cook, Sam (1 September 2023). "Hamilton set to break Schumacher record with new Mercedes contract". GPFans. Archived from the original on 9 September 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "Team Statement". Scuderia Ferrari. 1 February 2024. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
- ^ "Williams Racing announces that Franco Colapinto will race with the team for the remainder of the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season". Williams Racing. 27 August 2024. Archived from the original on 17 September 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ Ramsay, George (31 August 2024). "Mercedes confirms 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli as Lewis Hamilton's replacement". CNN. Archived from the original on 20 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ Cleeren, Filip (26 April 2024). "Hulkenberg to join Sauber in 2025 ahead of Audi F1 entry". Motorsport. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
- ^ "Magnussen to leave Haas when contract expires at the end of 2024 season". Formula 1. 18 July 2024. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
- ^ Barretto, Lawrence (3 June 2024). "Alpine to part ways with Ocon at end of 2024 season". Formula 1. Formula One Group. Archived from the original on 19 August 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Alpine confirm Doohan to race in Abu Dhabi as Ocon is released". Formula 1. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ "Bottas and Zhou to leave Kick Sauber as team confirm decision to part ways". Formula 1. 6 November 2024. Archived from the original on 10 November 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ^ "Bottas to re-join Mercedes as reserve driver in 2025". Formula 1. 19 December 2024.
- ^ "Perez and Red Bull agree to part ways following conclusion of 2024 season". Formula 1.com. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
- ^ a b "FIA and Formula 1 announce calendar for 2025". Formula 1. 12 April 2024. Archived from the original on 20 September 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ^ "The key differences and stand outs from the 2025 F1 calendar". Formula 1. 12 April 2024. Archived from the original on 8 October 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ^ "FIA and Formula 1 announce 2025 Sprint calendar". Formula 1. 11 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
- ^ Boxall-Legge, Jake (11 July 2024). "F1 Announces Sprint Race Calendar for 2025, Belgium Replaces Austria". Motorsport. Archived from the original on 5 September 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
- ^ "Australia to open the Formula 1 season in 2025 as Bahrain and Saudi races shift for Ramadan". AP News. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
- ^ Patterson, Emily (2 February 2024). "Revealed: Aussie F1 fans get major Hamilton coup". Nine's Wide World of Sports. Nine Entertainment Co. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ Saunders, Nate (28 February 2017). "Russian Grand Prix extends F1 deal until 2025". ESPN UK. ESPN. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ Benson, Andrew (3 March 2022). "Formula 1 terminates contract with Russian Grand Prix". BBC Sport. BBC. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
- ^ Collantine, Keith (23 July 2024). "New points system rejected, minimum weight rising to 800kg in 2025". RaceFans. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ "2025 Formula One Technical Regulations – Issue 1" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
- ^ Blet, Léa (24 July 2024). "F1 minimum weight increased to protect drivers' health". Motorsinside.com. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- ^ a b "FIA approves driver cooling kits from 2025 in F1". Motorsport. 13 November 2024. Archived from the original on 19 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
- ^ a b "FIA announces 2025 F1 rule changes". Motosport.com. 12 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ "F1 fastest-lap point to be dropped from 2025 season in change to regulations for next year". Sky Sports. 17 October 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ "F1 scraps fastest lap point from 2025". Autosport. 17 October 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
- ^ "Future regulations across multiple categories confirmed during the World Motor Sport Council". FIA. 17 October 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- ^ "F1 teams face first cap on testing of past cars from 2025". RaceFans. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ Cook, Sam (2 November 2024). "Brazilian Grand Prix: What happens if qualifying can't run?". GPFans. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
- ^ "F1 confirm plans for first ever season launch event". Formula 1. 12 November 2024. Archived from the original on 13 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "F1 and FIA confirm Bahrain to host 2025 pre-season testing". Formula 1. 16 September 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.