Lewis Hamilton will be eager to immediately challenge for the world championship as he makes his much-anticipated move to Ferrari next season. Alongside him will be five other drivers, all determined to dethrone Max Verstappen, the reigning champion.
In theory, the 2025 season could see as many as eight contenders vying for the title, especially as the field reaches a critical point of convergence in the final year of the current ground-effect regulations. However, Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez, is expected to remain in a supporting role, meaning that Verstappen’s dominance may continue unchallenged for the foreseeable future.
McLaren are widely regarded as the favorites for the Constructors’ Championship, having entered the Qatar Grand Prix with a 24-point advantage over Ferrari. This makes McLaren’s current runner-up, Lando Norris, and fourth-place Oscar Piastri strong contenders for the title next year. Despite this, Verstappen’s remarkable consistency and ability to outperform even under less-than-ideal circumstances make him the favorite for the championship, regardless of the car he drives.
However, Ferrari remains close enough in performance that Charles Leclerc and Hamilton could legitimately aim for the championship in 2025. A few targeted improvements over the winter could make them serious threats to Verstappen’s reign. The battle for the title could therefore come down to the narrowest of margins.
Mercedes remains an intriguing wildcard in this mix. While they have proven exceptional in specific conditions this season, their overall performance has often been inconspicuous. George Russell has shown remarkable improvement in 2024, but with the addition of Kimi Antonelli, a promising rookie, Mercedes’ chances remain uncertain. It seems unlikely that Hamilton would have left Mercedes for Ferrari if he thought his prospects of a title in 2025 were better at Brackley.
Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, recently shared his perspective on the ongoing rivalry between Max Verstappen and his competitors. Speaking to *De Telegraaf*, Marko pointed out a significant advantage Verstappen will carry into the next season as he aims for a fifth consecutive championship—an achievement that would place him in rare company alongside Michael Schumacher, who accomplished the same feat between 2000 and 2004.
Red Bull began 2024 with a dominant car, but their performance has noticeably dropped off since the start of the Austrian Grand Prix weekend. Over the past several races, Red Bull has accumulated 225 points, while Ferrari has earned 314 and McLaren 371. This points disparity has been largely attributed to the struggles of Verstappen’s teammate, Perez. Verstappen’s early-season success, however, allowed him to build a commanding lead that still leaves him in a strong position.
Looking ahead, whether Sergio Perez retains his seat at Red Bull or is replaced, Verstappen is expected to remain the dominant force in terms of points at Milton Keynes. Meanwhile, the rivalry between the Ferrari and McLaren drivers is expected to be so closely matched that it will likely result in them compromising each other’s efforts, giving Verstappen a clear opportunity to further extend his reign.
“Next year it will all be even closer together, I expect,” the Red Bull advisor said. “That’s what happens when the regulations are exhausted. But I do think that at Ferrari Hamilton and Leclerc will take points from each other, and at McLaren Norris and Piastri too. At Mercedes we have to wait and see how stable they are.”
Why Lewis Hamilton Was Emotional at the Qatar Grand Prix
Helmut Marko believes that Lewis Hamilton is a clear upgrade over Carlos Sainz, despite the challenges he’s faced throughout the current season. With the year drawing to a close, it seems more likely than ever that Hamilton will finish outside the top six in the championship standings, a position he’s never found himself in before.
Hamilton has particularly struggled in qualifying, where his performance has been noticeably lacking compared to that of his teammate, George Russell. Russell has a commanding 17-5 lead over Hamilton in qualifying sessions this year, and in the Sprint qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion was a full five positions behind his teammate, further emphasizing the struggles he’s faced in terms of outright pace.
Russell has openly suggested that the British driver might benefit from a fresh start, and at 39 years old, Hamilton may very well agree with this sentiment. However, despite the potential for a change of scenery, saying farewell to Mercedes is far from a straightforward decision.
This emotional weight became evident during Lewis Hamilton’s media interactions at the Qatar Grand Prix, where, according to Ted Kravitz, the seven-time world champion appeared visibly teary. Hamilton’s emotions were particularly stirred as he recounted a conversation with his longtime engineer, Peter Bonnington. It was in this moment that Lewis Hamilton fully realized just how close he was to the end of his journey with Mercedes, with only about a week remaining before his departure from the team. The gravity of the situation seemed to hit him hard, leaving the usually composed driver visibly moved.
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