Are you ready for the most exciting season in years? This Sunday in Australia will mark the start of the new Formula 1 World Championship season. It will be a transitional year, the last before the major technical regulation changes set to take effect in 2026. The 2025 season is full of changes, and surprises.

Regulation Changes: Goodbye to the Fastest Lap Point

One of the first and most significant changes involves the abolition of the additional point for the fastest lap, reducing the total points awarded in the season by 24. Introduced in 2019, this bonus point was intended to encourage more action on track. However, it often became a formality, easily won by those who pitted toward the end of the race.

The decision to remove the point follows controversies, such as the one during the 2024 Singapore GP, where Daniel Ricciardo was called back to the pits by Racing Bulls (Red Bull’s sister team) to snatch the extra point from Lando Norris, who was fighting for the championship with Max Verstappen. With this change, the focus will shift back to more meaningful race results.

Monaco: Mandatory Double Pit Stops to Spice Up the Race

Another significant change affects the Monaco Grand Prix, historically one of the most predictable and monotonous races, with trains of cars forming on the narrow streets of Monte Carlo. To break up the pattern and inject some unpredictability into the race, the FIA has introduced a rule requiring teams to make at least two pit stops during the race, regardless of whether the conditions are dry or wet. In dry conditions, at least two different tire compounds must be used, adding complexity to the strategy and hopefully providing more excitement.

New Rules on Formation Lap, Qualifying, and Accidents

The 2025 season also brings smaller regulation changes. Race control will have more authority to stop damaged cars that could pose a hazard to others, particularly when trying to return to the pits. There’s also a rule change for the formation lap: it will be mandatory for drivers starting from the pit lane to complete the formation lap, removing the advantage they previously had by saving fuel and tires. Finally, if qualifying is canceled, the starting grid will be determined by the drivers’ positions in free practice, potentially leading to some surprising starting orders.

Rookies of the Season: A Look at the Young Talent

The 2025 season will see several new faces on the F1 grid. Kimi Antonelli, the young Italian talent, will make his debut with Mercedes, bringing fresh hope for Italian motorsport. Alongside him, other rookies will join the ranks: Liam Lawson, who substituted for Daniel Ricciardo in 2024, will team up with Max Verstappen at Red Bull; Isack Hadjar will drive for Racing Bulls, while Oliver Bearman will race for Haas. Additionally, Gabriel Bortoleto will take the wheel for Sauber, and Jack Doohan, the son of legendary Australian driver, will drive for Alpine.

Also making history is Laura Muller, who becomes the first female track engineer in Formula 1. She will follow Esteban Ocon at Haas, marking a significant step toward greater inclusion in the sport.

Records to Beat: Hamilton’s Quest for an Eighth Title

Among the records to be broken, all eyes are on Lewis Hamilton. After equaling Michael Schumacher’s record with seven world titles, Hamilton has the chance to claim an eighth, which would make him the most successful driver in F1 history. However, Schumacher remains the only driver to have won five consecutive championships, a record Max Verstappen is eager to match after winning four titles in a row.

Another record in danger is that of the youngest driver to win a race. Kimi Antonelli, the young Mercedes driver, will have three races (Australia, China, and Japan) to become the youngest winner in F1 history. Currently, the record is held by Verstappen, who won the 2016 Spanish GP at just 18 years, 7 months, and 15 days old.

Photo: Scuderia Ferrari F1