Written by DIVEBOMB's F1 team, Edited by Sasha Macmillen
Carl Hilliard
Drivers’ Championship: Max Verstappen. McLaren may seem to still be the team to beat, and even with Ferrari and Mercedes looking as comfortable as ever through testing, there isn’t a driver who can do what Verstappen can. I think the other drivers still have a way to go to de-throne the Flying Dutchman, regardless of their cars' competitiveness.
Constructors’ Championship: McLaren. The Papaya outfit will be looking to improve on everything they achieved last season, and defending their 2024 crown is absolutely top of their priority list. If they can improve the little things, then retaining their title should be an easy enough task.
Surprise of the season: Kimi Antonelli. The young rookie has big shoes to fill at Mercedes this season, but the Silver Arrows won’t be expecting too much from him. Plenty of points, a couple of podiums and who knows what else will be enough for Antonelli to prove his worth. He looks comfortable in the new car so far.
Disappointment of the season: Sauber. Based on testing, Bortoletto and Hülkenberg look to be struggling with the new car, which does look to be a nasty car to drive. It seems the drivers will be fighting the car all season, and I think they’re nailed down to finish last in the standings, unfortunately.
Meghana Sree
Drivers’ Championship: Charles Leclerc.
Hear me out. McLaren might be the favourites and Max Verstappen might be doing everything he can for a five-peat. However, I truly believe Leclerc has the skill and level-headed experience of fighting at the top, on top of his familiarity with the team, to win this season. His consistent podiums and victories in 2024 bode well for 2025. If McLaren finds themselves embroiled in an internal rivalry, I expect Leclerc to swoop in and get the job done.
Constructors’ Championship: Ferrari.
Ferrari has everything they need to win both championships this year. Two prime drivers, a car worthy of challenging the Constructors’ title defenders, and momentum from last year. It’s the perfect recipe for success. If they’re consistent throughout the season and avoid falling into a rut like they did in mid-2024, I expect the team to give the rest a hard time and create history.
Surprise of the season: Carlos Sainz.
If pre-season testing is anything to go by, then Williams is shaping up to be quite the force to be reckoned with in the midfield. A proven race winner taking on a new challenge, I can see Sainz leading the team to consistent points finishes and maybe even a surprise podium.
Disappointment of the season: Red Bull.
A disappointment implies that one has high expectations going into the season, of which Red Bull has plenty. Helmed by Verstappen and supported by Liam Lawson, the erstwhile dominant team is certainly keen to reclaim both championships this year. However, amidst key personnel exits and reliability problems of which we got a taste of in 2024, I anticipate the team to fall behind their rivals. Verstappen carried Red Bull in 2024, but F1 is not a one-man show.
Ria Ann Sam
Drivers’ Championship: Max Verstappen.
After winning four consecutive drivers’ championships, Max Verstappen is definitely gunning for his fifth championship to equal Schumacher’s record, and I think he may achieve it this year. Especially if he ends up retiring this year, he will want to go out with a bang, and another title to his name is the way to go. He won’t win the Championship easily - he will have stiff competition, and the championship fight won’t wrap up until the last few rounds - but I’m betting on Max Verstappen and his incredible skill.
Constructors’ Championship: McLaren.
Fresh off their first Constructors’ Championship in 26 years, McLaren looks like the most likely team to win the title this year. They have the same powerful line-up as last year whilst most of their competition has a new driver line-up, meaning they will have to sort out issues and deal with teammate rivalries. The Norris-Piastri line-up is incredibly fierce, with both drivers winning multiple races last season and Norris pushing Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship. Due to this, I believe the Papaya team will emerge victorious once again in the constructors’.
Surprise of the season: Williams.
After a tumultuous 2024 season with the departure of Logan Sargeant, the arrival of Franco Colapinto, as well as the signing of Carlos Sainz, Williams can hopefully return to a more stable position this year. With Carlos Sainz setting the fastest time in testing and the team performing well over the testing weekend overall, I think they may finish at the front of the midfield. Both drivers are extremely talented as well.
Disappointment of the season: Liam Lawson.
I want to preface this by saying that I am very excited to see Liam Lawson in a top team in his first full F1 season. However, I don’t believe he will live up to Red Bull’s high expectations. The team is known for its ruthlessness with new drivers - especially alongside Max Verstappen - which is why I think he may be a disappointment.
Caitlyn Gordon
Drivers’ Championship: Max Verstappen.
Despite looking to not have the fastest car on the grid again in 2025, I think Verstappen will secure his fifth consecutive championship in 2025. The competition will be close at the front, with the season anticipated to be the closest yet, which may make it more challenging for Verstappen to keep his hands on the trophy. But, if any driver is to do it, I believe it’s Verstappen. We saw last season what the Dutchman is capable of, even if he doesn’t have the fastest car underneath him. As we saw in 2024, the driver is what makes the difference when the margins are tight.
Constructors’ Championship: Ferrari.
I’m going to go a bit rogue with this prediction, but I believe Ferrari will be crowned the constructors’ champions. The Prancing Horses narrowly missed out last season, losing to McLaren by 14 points in Abu Dhabi. But Ferrari has shown vast improvements from previous seasons, as shown by five race victories and 22 podiums in 2024. The coming season sees the anticipated addition of Lewis Hamilton partnering up beside Charles Leclerc. I believe the two teammates are going to be strong, consistent drivers throughout the season, racking in the necessary points for Ferrari to be crowned for the first time since 2008.
Surprise of the season: Haas.
On the back of their most successful Formula One season, the American outfit ran strong in 2024, finishing seventh overall in the Championship Standings. Haas start anew for 2025 with Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman piloting the VF-25. Ocon will serve as a great mentor for Bearman’s first full season in F1. The Frenchman’s consistent performance in the past will prove vital for the upcoming season as the midfield tightens. I believe Haas will continue to build upon past successes and become a strong midfield runner.
Disappointment of the season: Liam Lawson.
Totalling 11 F1 Grands Prix starts, Lawson has been fast-tracked to the senior Red Bull team, partnering up with Verstappen. I believe Lawson is a strong driver, with the handful of times we’ve seen him on track showcasing his potential. However, the New Zealander has been rushed into a promotion from the sister team; the lack of experience may be costly to the season. For this reason, I think he will come short of expectations in 2025 with the certain pressure that comes with being Max Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull.
Rohan Brown
Drivers’ Championship: Max Verstappen.
Fifth time on the trot. Even with a slower car than in previous years, I predict the “flying Dutchman" to win the drivers’ championship again. Generational performances in victories like that of Brazil last year prove how he is able to extract the pace from a car which is not the fastest car in the field. He has been one of the best drivers under the current ground-effect rules, and since Daniel Riccardo departed the team in 2018, Verstappen hasn’t (yet) had a competitive teammate able to challenge his position either. Therefore, I believe that Max Verstappen will be driver's champion once again.
Constructors’ Championship: McLaren.
Going into this season, it seems to be a continuation of the previous order. McLaren ended 2024 with the fastest car, and I predict the British outfit to continue this success they found during last year’s season. The team backs this pace up with two competitive drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who have both proven they can produce success in their own right. As long as McLaren sorts out their ‘papaya rules’, they will retain the constructors’ championship.
Surprise of the season: Williams.
Williams is slowly progressing into a stronger team. The addition of Carlos Sainz creates a competitive driver lineup that Williams has been lacking in the last few years. Moreover, testing seemed to show a step in the right direction for Williams. Carlos Sainz setting the fastest time on day two shows how well the team is progressing. In addition, race simulation pace data from testing (via Sky Sports) shows the Grove-based teams as potentially having the fifth fastest car on the grid. Therefore WIlliams will be the surprise of the season, as their improvement will play out over this season.
Disappointment at the season: Liam Lawson.
It is yet to be seen if Liam Lawson will be Max Verstappen’s next victim or a true competitor to his teammate. Right now, I don’t think Lawson will live up to expectations, as he seems to have been fast-tracked into the Red Bull seat. The New Zealander only has 11 Grand Prix starts to his name, and he has shown potential in those outings, but not to the degree where he is ready to step up at Red Bull (yet). The pressure the Red Bull environment presents has broken a few drivers in the past, and Lawson might be the next one to break.
Christopher Conway
Drivers’ Championship: Lando Norris, because he has the fastest car. McLaren is a team that has been building behind him for four years. He is also a top driver capable of winning a championship.
Constructors’ Championship: Ferrari. The driver pairing that Ferrari have is the best we have ever seen in Formula 1, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. You have two top drivers who seem willing to work together, and that is a winning formula.
Surprise of the season: Liam Lawson, for the job he has done in DTM and Super Formula. Liam is an incredible driver who is capable of performing at the highest level under extreme pressure. He is a driver who has proven himself and deserves a place in one of the best teams.
Disappointment of the season: Sauber. Underperformed last season. With big money this season from Audi, their focus is on 2026. The driver pairing that they have is a bit extreme. I believe Hülkenberg is a good driver, whilst Bortoleto has a lot to learn this season.
Maria Fashchevskaya
Drivers’ Championship: Lando Norris.
I believe, as we have seen during testing, he does not only have a fast car but also is developing the right mindset to be a world champion. He does not have any excuses anymore to not perform and deliver the results the team and his fans expect from him. No doubt it will be a challenge for him to go against Verstappen. However, I believe he can rise to it if he is in the right winning mindset and understands he cannot always be “nice” to his competitors.
Constructors’ Championship: Ferrari.
With Hamilton in a Ferrari, it is no doubt the consistency that the Italian team has been searching for has become more likely. It is still yet to be seen how Leclerc will rise to his new challenge in the face of a seven-time world champion on the other side of the garage. If he accepts that Lewis Hamilton is the lead driver of the team now – and not him – I strongly believe Ferrari will win the Championship this season.
Surprise of the season: Williams.
Carlos Sainz has brought new perspectives and a fresh mindset to a team that is trying hard to rebuild. They want to return to the glory days they had when it still was a family-run business. They have a strong driver line-up, maybe even one of the strongest alongside McLaren, that will help to this task.
Disappointment of the season: Gabriel Bortoleto.
Although Bortoleto is last year’s F2 Champion, I do not think he will have the same results and the same performance at Sauber this season, his first season in Formula One. The car is not quite there yet, and there is much to learn for the rookie. He will benefit from having Nico Hülkenberg as his teammate but he will not be able to challenge him a lot.
