# Formula One 2025: team-by-team guide to the cars and drivers

Verstappen is under pressure from a revitalised Hamilton at Ferrari with McLaren’s Norris set to challenge from the off



**Car** MCL39 **Engine** Mercedes **Principal** Andrea Stella **Debut** Monaco 1966 **GPs** 970 **Titles** 9 **Last season** 1st. In position to build on securing the constructors’ championship in 2024,  will be quick out of the blocks. The car was the standout in testing and confidence is high. Lessons were learned through questionable execution last year and they have two outstanding drivers who are both hungrily eyeing the team’s first drivers’ title since 2008. How they manage them may be key from the off.

**Drivers**

**Lando Norris** (GB, 25) No 4 **Debut** Australia 2019 **Wins** 4 **Poles** 9 **Titles** 0 **Best season** **finish** 2nd **Last season** 2nd. Once given the car to compete, eagerly took the fight to Max Verstappen last season but by his own admission was occasionally found wanting. Believes he has identified and dealt with these shortcomings, not least in a determination to face down the Dutchman. With a quick car nothing less than the title has to be the target.

**Oscar Piastri** (Aus, 23) No 81 **Debut** Bahrain 2023 **Wins** 2 **Poles** 0 **Best qualifying** 2nd **Titles** 0 **Best season finish** 4th **Last season** 4th. Has made great strides in the previous two seasons and proved entirely unintimidated in taking control and bossing his way to wins. More will surely follow. Fearsomely quick and an incisive overtaker but to mount a title challenge he must match Norris in qualifying and get the best from his race tyres.



**Car** SF-25 **Engine**  **Principal** Frédéric Vasseur **Debut** Monaco 1950 **GPs** 1,098 **Titles** 16 **Last season** 2nd. Enjoying a resurgence as Vasseur’s impact is felt, the _Scuderia_ are moving from strength to strength. With a calm control from the top bringing stability and purpose, plus optimism that last year’s weaknesses in the car have been eliminated, not to mention two of the best drivers on the grid, Ferrari should be genuine contenders. Anything short of regularly fighting for wins will be disappointing.

**Drivers**

**Charles Leclerc** (Mnc, 27) No 16 **Debut** Australia 2018 **Wins** 8 **Poles** 26 **Titles** 0 **Best season finish** 2nd **Last season** 3rd. Performed consistently last season and when Ferrari had the car firing, returned well with some drives highlighting his rare talent. Going up against Hamilton will be his toughest challenge but one that has inspired both drivers and as a veteran now at the team, Leclerc has every reason to believe he should be on top of any Ferrari title tilt.

**Lewis Hamilton** (GB, 40) No 44 **Debut** Australia 2007 **Wins** 105 **Poles** 104 **Titles** 7 **Last season** 7th. A new challenge at Ferrari has invigorated the seven-times champion. Motivated and charged-up, and although starting afresh with a new team will be far from easy, Hamilton is relishing the task. The SF-25 looks to suit his driving style and he will throw his all into it, which is likely to be gripping whatever the outcome.

## Red Bull

**Car** RB21 **Engine** Honda RBPT **Principal** Christian Horner **Debut** Australia 2005 **GPs** 393 **Titles** 6 **Last season** 3rd. A serious misstep in developing the car was costly in 2024 and testing suggests they are still to solve it, given Max Verstappen and his technical director Pierre Wache have yet to be convinced. Will doubtless be in the mix at the front but this time in a serious dogfight and without the safety net of a dominant opening.

**Drivers**

**Max Verstappen** (Neth, 27) No 1 **Debut** Australia 2015 **Wins** 63 **Poles** 40 **Titles** 4 **Last season** Champion. Battled hard and in typically uncompromising style to grind out his fourth championship after the  fell away mid-season in 2024. Shows no sign of any diminishing hunger but with the car still not quite where he wants it, and likely assailed by multiple rivals, may be set for the fight of his career to successfully defend the title.

**Liam Lawson** (NZ, 23) No 30 **Debut** Netherlands 2023 **Best race finish** 9th **Poles** 0 **Best qualifying** 5th **Titles** 0 **Best season finish** 20th **Last season** 21st. Going head to head with Verstappen is a huge ask that has broken many but Lawson looks of stern stuff having taken over from Daniel Ricciardo at RB last year. Mentally strong and highly rated, solid returns to back the Dutchman and keep the team in the title fight will be considered a success.

## Mercedes

**Car** W16 **Engine** Mercedes **Principal** Toto Wolff **Debut** France 1954 **GPs** 317 **Titles** 8 **Last season** 4th. Having struggled since the last regulation change in 2022, Mercedes are optimistic they have finally ironed out the inconsistencies that have plagued every ride since then. At times last year they had the fastest car and if they have converted that into all-round performance they will be genuine players. The cool conditions in testing may have benefited them disproportionately, however, in which case another rollercoaster may await.



**Drivers**

**George Russell** (GB, 27) No 63 **Debut** Australia 2019 **Wins** 3 **Poles** 5 **Titles** 0 **Best season** **finish** 4th **Last season** 6th. Now team leader with Hamilton having moved on, Russell is more than ready to step up. Demonstrated last year he would be unyielding and robust in racing Verstappen and that given the tools he can deliver. If Mercedes have the car he will feel his time has come.

**Andrea Kimi Antonelli** (It, 18) No 12 **Debut** Australia 2025 **Wins** 0 **Poles** 0 **Titles** 0 **Best season finish** N/A **Last season** N/A. A graduate of their junior programme, Mercedes have shown enormous faith in promoting Kimi, as he is known, to replace Hamilton. A huge ask for the man who will be the third-youngest driver in F1 history when he takes to the grid in Melbourne. Inexperienced but rapid, aggressive and drives on instinct. Expect fireworks.

## Aston Martin

**Car** AMR25 **Engine** Mercedes **Principal** Andy Cowell **Debut** Netherlands 1959 **GPs** 95 **Titles** 0 **Best finish** 5th **Last season** 5th. Adrian Newey did not arrive from Red Bull in time to have a material influence on the AMR25 so his design genius has yet to be felt and he is likely already focused on 2026. Meanwhile, Cowell, ex-Mercedes, has stepped up as principal and the new car is surely better than a lacklustre testing suggested, but their spot as best of the rest is under serious threat despite vast resources.

**Drivers**

**Fernando Alonso** (Sp, 43) No 14 **Debut** Australia 2001 **Wins** 32 **Poles** 22 **Titles** 2 **Last season** 9th. Likely now looking to still be in the game for 2026, when Newey, new regs and a new Honda engine might catapult Aston to the front, Alonso must prove he is still a force to be reckoned with. Has the chops, but will take luck as well as his innate flair to score a podium this season.

**Lance Stroll** (Can, 26) No 18 **Debut** Australia 2017 **Best race finish** 3rd **Poles** 1 **Titles** 0 **Best season finish** 10th **Last season** 13th. Even given his father owns the team, Stroll needs to return better finishes with more consistency. He too might already be eyeing the siren call of next season but should now demonstrate that he can keep up and even on occasion surpass his teammate and extract more from an imperfect ride.

## Alpine

**Car** A525 **Engine** Renault **Principal** Oliver Oakes **Debut** Bahrain 2021 **GPs** 90 **Titles** 0 **Best finish** 4th **Last season** 6th. F1’s perennial underachievers are back for another shot at breaking free of the midfield shackles. Oakes, appointed midway through last season, has steadied the ship and made significant improvements, with the potential for so much more. With a lively driver pairing, a good run in testing suggests they are well placed to start strongly in a tight midfield.

**Drivers**

**Pierre Gasly** (Fr, 29) No 10 **Debut** Malaysia 2017 **Wins** 1 **Poles** 0 **Best qualifying** 2nd **Titles** 0 **Best season finish** 7th **Last season** 10th. Has the experience and the verve to lead and galvanise the team if they do indeed hit that upward curve and is still capable of stirring, compelling drives. Now has chance to build a new, harmonious relationship with his teammate Jack Doohan after a fractious one with the previous incumbent Esteban Ocon.

**Jack Doohan** (Aus, 22) No 7 **Debut** Abu Dhabi 2024 **Best race finish** 15th **Poles** 0 **Best qualifying** 17th **Titles** 0 **Best season finish** 24th **Last season** 24th. Made his debut in the final meeting last season and has long experience at Alpine as a reserve and academy driver but opens under enormous pressure. Alpine have already brought in Franco Colapinto as their reserve after he made such an  last year and Doohan has to make a case to keep his seat in no short order.

## Racing Bulls

**Car** VCARB 02 **Engine** Red Bull RBPT **Principal** Laurent Mekies **Debut** Bahrain 2006 **GPs** 353 **Titles** 0 **Best finish** 6th **Last season** 8th. Mekies, now entering his second season in charge at Red Bull’s sister team, will expect stability and to build a consistent challenge, especially after the distraction around Daniel Ricciardo last year. The car is the nicest-looking the team have fielded for some time but still appears a handful to drive which may leave them floundering in a fiercely competitive pack.

**Drivers**

**Yuki Tsunoda** (Jpn, 24) No 22 **Debut** Bahrain 2021 **Best race finish** 4th **Poles** 0 **Best qualifying** 3rd **Titles** 0 **Best season finish** 12th **Last season** 12th. Disappointed not to be given a shot with Red Bull after what was his best season yet in 2024 with nine points finishes and a superlative third on the grid in treacherous conditions in Brazil. More controlled and consistent than when he began four years ago, nonetheless Tsunoda is now likely driving to make his case for a future with another team.

**Isack Hadjar** (Fr, 20) No 6 **Debut** Australia 2025 **Wins** 0 **Poles** 0 **Titles** 0 **Best season finish** N/A **Last season** N/A. Promoted from the Red Bull junior programme and supported by its overseer, Helmut Marko, much is expected of Hadjar, who has no little pace. Was up to speed during testing, especially for a rookie, but has a tendency to lose his cool under pressure.

## Williams

**Car** FW47 **Engine** Mercedes **Principal** James Vowles **Debut** Spain 1977 **GPs** 834 **Titles** 9 **Last season** 9th. Vowles continues the rebuilding process at  with indications his efforts are being rewarded sooner rather than later. After a battering last year the new car looks quick and stable, strong in and out of corners and made the case to lead the midfield in testing. A giant leap for the team who have two able drivers in what could be their best season since 2017.



**Drivers**

**Alexander Albon** (Thai, 28) No 23 **Debut** Australia 2019 **Wins** 0 **Best race finish** 3rd **Poles** 0 **Best qualifying** 4th **Titles** 0 **Best season finish** 7th **Last season** 16th. After a positive series of improving seasons, underperformed by his own standards last year, at times overshadowed by new boy Colapinto. Will expect an improvement and needs it going head to head with his new teammate who will be looking to take the lead and make his mark.

**Carlos Sainz Jr** (Sp, 30) No 55 **Debut** Australia 2015 **Wins** 4 **Poles** 6 **Titles** 0 **Best season finish** 5th **Last season** 5th. Unfortunate to be dropped by Ferrari in favour of Hamilton after having put in a solid, battling stint with the _Scuderia_. With no room at the front of the grid was tenaciously pursued by Vowles who recognised his experience as a key asset to a team on the up. A dogged fighter and just what Williams needs.

## Sauber

**Car** C45 **Engine** Ferrari **Principal** Mattia Binotto (interim) Jonathan Wheatley (from 1 April) **Debut** South Africa 1993 **GPs** 486 **Titles** 0 **Best finish** 2nd **Last season** 10th. The last gasp before re-emerging as the Audi works team in 2026 looks set to be at very best a period of making-do. Wheatley, who played a huge part in Red Bull’s recent success, will be a strong addition but with the car ponderous and off the pace and the focus already set ahead, they appear destined to bring up the rear.

**Drivers**

**Nico Hülkenberg** (Ger, 37) No 27 **Debut** Bahrain 2010 **Best race finish** 4th **Poles** 1 **Titles** 0 **Best season finish** 7th **Last season** 11th. Brought in for his experience as the team transition to Audi he too will be looking toward 2026, but with a rookie teammate must be expected to drag whatever he can from the C45 and lift the team from the back of the grid. However, that elusive first F1 podium looks further than ever after 227 starts for the Hulk.

**Gabriel Bortoleto** (Bra, 20) No 5 **Debut** Australia 2025 **Wins** 0 **Poles** 0 **Titles** 0 **Best season finish** N/A **Last season** N/A. The former McLaren junior who took the F3 and F2 championships in his rookie seasons has no little pedigree and is managed by Alonso’s company. Binotto has praised his pace, attitude and huge potential with an eye on his role at Audi but, for now, a bruising rookie season awaits with .

This article was amended on 13 March 2025. Andrea Kimi Antonelli is 18, not 27 as an earlier version said.
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