The 2025 Formula 1 season is poised to be the closest in series history if last year’s campaign is anything to go by.
For the first time in F1 history, seven drivers won multiple Grands Prix in 2024.
The campaign’s competitiveness was evident, as the victors were fielded by four different teams: Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes.
With the upcoming campaign the final one in the current rule cycle, the competition is poised to get even tighter across the whole grid and several drivers have acknowledged the intense challenge facing them this year.
“I think it’s going to be a very tight season,” McLaren’s Oscar Piastri told select media including Motorsport Week ahead of F1 75.
“I think 2013 at the end of that [rule cycle] was not a particularly close season, so it’s not certain that it’s going to be tight, but I think everything is pointing in that direction.
“I think when you look at the back end of last season with how many different winners from different teams there were, it’s all pointing towards a very tight season.”
“Going from track to track, you’re not going to know [who will win].
“Pretty much all of last year we thought we would be in the mix for a win, but we didn’t really know who the main competitor was going to be for most of the season.
“It changed every week, so I’m expecting more of the same.
“We saw some people running into some trouble with upgrades and really trying to push the boundaries, so I think everyone is also wary of that, but I think it’s going to be a tough season for everyone from the front of the grid to the back end.”
Midfield teams poised to fight the F1 front runners
While the likes of Mercedes’ George Russell have named McLaren as “favourites” going into this year, along with the bookmakers, there’s an expectation that the midfield pack will challenge the usual suspects.
That is, at least the opinion of McLaren’s Lando Norris, who tips a team outside of F1’s ‘big four’ to claim a GP win in 2025.
“You’ve already started to see [the midfield] catching up and getting closer and closer,” Norris said.
“I expect that to be even more the case over the winter and probably into this season.
“So I think you’re probably going to have this season some winners that aren’t top four teams, that aren’t McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes or Red Bull, which I think is good for Formula 1, it’s good for the fans, it’s good for the whole sport.”
McLaren CEO Zak Brown echoed those thoughts, adding “Every weekend last year, while the top four teams were always at the front, there always seemed to be someone that was able to disrupt. So I expect that to be happening again.
“So I wouldn’t be surprised if there were more than four teams that won. So I think we’re in store for an epic Formula 1 season.”
Gasly ready to challenge the top teams
Norris’ words will be encouraging to the likes of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.
The Frenchman was able to trouble the established front runners during the latter stages of the 2024 season thanks to a successful upgrade package delivered by Alpine.
Third in the wet at Interlagos was backed up by fifth in Qatar and seventh in the season finale, plus a DNF in Las Vegas marred a sensational effort qualifying third on the grid.
Gasly wants to kick on from those results to be the best of the midfield runners and trouble those ahead, which based on qualifying mishaps from the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez last season, could be feasible.
“I want us to be the best of the midfield and challenge the top four on some occasions like I’ve done at the end of last year,” Gasly said.
“I really hope it’s going to be possible.
“But unfortunately, it’s not in my control. I don’t really know what others are going to come with for this season.
“So we’ll see. I think on paper, it could be one of these seasons and it’s going to be a high-pressure season.
“Already last year, we’ve seen some top teams, Q1, Lewis on some occasions, Checo and some guys being very close with the fine margins in Q1.
“I think it’s better. As a sport, it’s better when you have that pressure moment and you’ve got to deliver every lap.
“I think it’s good if we can challenge them and give them a bit more hard work.
“Hopefully, all of us midfield teams can put slightly more pressure on them.”
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