Five bold predictions for the 2025 Formula 1 season

The 2025 Formula 1 season is shaping up to be incredibly entertaining, with the potential to be the best F1 season of all time. 

Expect the unexpected, as truly anything can happen this season. Let's take a look at five bold, yet also not unrealistic, predictions for Formula 1 this season.

1. Lewis Hamilton wins his Ferrari debut

There's no doubt that the biggest story in Formula 1 this offseason was Lewis Hamilton's historic move to Ferrari. Hamilton looks like a new man, reinvigorated and full of life ahead of his first season with the iconic Italian team.

With the Australian Grand Prix being the season opener in 2025, this could set up Hamilton for an iconic first win with Ferrari. Melbourne races can often be chaotic and laced with unpredictability, which could play into the British driver's hands.

Hamilton has a great track record in Australia, taking eight pole positions, two wins and 10 podium finishes. 

2. Kimi Antonelli wins with Mercedes

Not since Lewis Hamilton in 2007 has a rookie won an F1 Grand Prix, but his successor at Mercedes has a great chance to make history. Mercedes looked quick in preseason testing, with its car looking much more stable than last season. The rookie will have a chance to break multiple records this season.

If Antonelli manages a win this season, he'll become the second youngest race winner behind only Max Verstappen. Antonelli even has a slender chance to take the record for youngest race winner if he manages to win one of the first three races this season. 

3. Williams and Haas get on the podium

Of the midfield teams that have seen massive upgrades since last season, Williams and Haas top that list. They both have extremely talented drivers (Williams with Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, Haas with Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman) and both teams have made excellent progress on their car development, with Williams surprisingly going quickest in preseason testing. 

There's enough evidence to show that these two teams mean business and have the potential to score a podium. Keep an eye out if there's a chaotic or rain-marred race in 2025 where we could see an unlikely podium. 

4. Jack Doohan gets the boot in favor of Franco Colapinto

Jack Doohan is in a tough position at Alpine. The Aussie has just one Formula 1 Grand Prix under his belt, finishing 15th in last year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. 

Doohan is expected to come in to Alpine and produce results right away, and if he doesn't Alpine have Franco Colapinto waiting in the wings as their reserve driver. Colapinto showed his talent last season at Williams, replacing Logan Sargent halfway through the season. We know what Colapinto brings to the table, with Doohan it's more unknown, so don't be surprised if we see the Argentine back on the grid in 2025. 

5. George Russell wins the championship

We've saved our boldest prediction for last: Russell wins the driver's championship. As mentioned earlier, Mercedes looks extremely quick and with other teams like Ferrari and McLaren having to balance two title-contending drivers, and Red Bull still being a bit of an unknown, that puts Russell in a great position to pull off one of the most shocking championship campaigns ever seen.