Formula 1 2025 Confirmed Driver Lineup: Season Preview and talking points
Confirmed 2025 F1 Driver Lineups
The Formula 1 2025 grid has experienced quite a makeover. High-profile driver movements and an influx of new faces can make it quite tricky to get to grips with the driver line-up.
We have broken it down for you here:
Alpine
#7 Pierre Gasly:
A former race winner, aiming to forge his own path at Alpine after a move away from AlphaTauri. He will be looking to improve upon his 10th place finish in 2024 where he finished on the podium just once.
#10 Jack Doohan:
Another Australian joins the grid after being Alpine reserve for two seasons. The son of MotoGP legend Mick Doohan, Jack finally gets his opportunity in the main seat after a few fleeting appearances.
Reserve drivers: Ryo Hirakawa, Paul Aron and Franco Colapinto
Aston Martin
#14 Fernando Alonso:
The veteran two-time world champion would not have liked his absence from the podium in 2024. Fernando will be hoping that the addition of tech legend, Adrian Newey, brings a season akin to his first in Aston Martin colours.
#18 Lance Stroll:
Many will still be doubting the team owner’s son after his 13th place finish in 2024. Will 2025 finally be the year Lance finishes above third place in a Grand Prix? The industrious Canadian hopes this is when his career really takes off.
Reserve driver: Felipe Drugovich
Ferrari
#16 Charles Leclerc:
Ferrari’s golden boy, will the introduction of the 7-time world champion alongside him create extra pressure? Or will it bring another level of prestige to allow the Monegasque to thrive.
#44 Lewis Hamilton:
This is the big one. The convergence of racing history and a modern great, who is making a sensational switch from Mercedes to Ferrari in pursuit of an eighth crown. He’s barely touched the steering wheel, and the hype has already been heightened by window-centric-conspiracy images.
Reserve drivers: Zhou Guanyu and Antonio Giovinazzi
Haas
#31 Esteban Ocon:
Ocon can provide some much-needed experience for Haas after his switch from Alpine. Can the Frenchman improve upon his single podium last season?
#87 Oliver Bearman:
A young British driver who shone as a Ferrari junior and already has 7 points under his belt from last season. Bearman clearly impressed the Ferrari-powered Haas higher-ups and now has a chance to shine after replacing Kevin Magnussen.
Reserve driver: TBC
Kick Sauber
#27 Nico Hülkenberg:
The man who owns Daniel Ricciardo’s favourite name. The experienced German returns to Sauber, ahead of their transformation into Audi in 2026. Nico is yet to experience a Formula 1 podium and will be striving for that achievement in 2025.
#5 Gabriel Bortoleto:
Another new face to the Formula 1 2025 grid. The reigning F2 champion is making his much-anticipated F1 debut and taking his number from the four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel.
Reserve driver: TBC
McLaren
#4 Lando Norris:
Now considered one of F1’s top stars, Lando will be more than ready for a World Championship title challenge after McLaren clinched the Constructors Championship. But a fellow Papaya driver will have something to say about this…
#81 Oscar Piastri:
The Australian impressed in 2024, securing multiple podiums and wins. Piastri will be thinking ‘why not me?’ when pundits and fans speak about his teammates’ chances of winning the World Championship. He has seriously impressed in his short Formula 1 career.
Reserve driver: TBC
Mercedes
#63 George Russell:
The new team leader at Mercedes, looking to fill the void left by Hamilton’s departure. But George may see this void as a positive. He frequently finished above Hamilton in 2024 so will be seeking a heightened focus from Toto Wolff to enhance his title chances even further.
#12 Andrea Kimi Antonelli:
The highly-rated Italian rookie, making the leap straight from F2 to Mercedes. Nothing like replacing one of the most iconic F1 drivers of all time, right? Despite a heavy crash on his practice debut at Monza, Mercedes view Andrea as the right rookie to support George in 2025.
Reserve driver: Valtteri Bottas
Racing Bulls
#22 Yuki Tsunoda:
Another Formula 1 name change! AlphaTauri become Racing Bulls, why not? Now an experienced F1 driver, can Yuki turn his ferocious driving style into podiums and better yet, Grand Prix victories?
#6 Isack Hadjar:
Isack may not have a proper graphic on the Formula 1 website yet, but he does have a seat on the grid in 2025. The French-Algerian rookie gets his chance after a strong junior career. Will he be able to impress the stern eyes of Christian Horner who will no-doubt be watching on from across the Paddock.
Reserve driver: TBC
Red Bull
#1 Max Verstappen:
What can be said about the four-time world champion that hasn’t already? The polarising talent remains Red Bull’s talisman, aiming for further dominance. Red Bull will be aiming to wipe away a faulty end to last season and ensure Max is given an armchair ride to a fifth World Championship
#30 Liam Lawson:
A rising star who impressed as a reserve driver, now stepping up to partner Verstappen. Poor Sergio Pérez struggled in 2024, which coincided with Lawson making a mark when required to take the seat RB. A shining showing now earns him a tough but opportunistic spot alongside a premier driver.
Reserve driver: TBC
Williams
#23 Alex Albon:
Williams has struggled in recent years, crowned by 17 points and a grand total of zero podiums in 2024. However, they will be renewed by a strong and experienced grid lineup. It could be argued that Albon reached beyond his grasp with his Williams achievements in 2024, can they add podiums and points this season?
#55 Carlos Sainz:
A move which has taken Carlos from top of the tree to the bottom. His proven ability as a race-winner would have been instrumental in Williams securing his signature. I’m sure it also impacted the numbers on the contract itself. Sainz will be hoping to help Williams climb further up the grid.
Reserve driver: TBC
Key Storylines Ahead of the 2025 Season
Hamilton’s Bold Move to Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton’s sensational move to Ferrari, announced toward the end of last season, sent shockwaves through the racing community.
Seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton has departed Mercedes after a 12-year tenure to join Ferrari, one of the most prestigious sporting entities on the globe.
This move is no-doubt supporting the sale of Formula 1 ticket packages. Alongside an extreme spike in both Lewis’ and Ferrari’s commercial stock (which was already pretty high).
Partnering with Ferrari (and fan) favourite, Charles Leclerc, Hamilton aims to secure a record-breaking eighth World Championship title.
The only negative questioning aimed at those representing Ferrari will be how the dynamic will work between two esteemed drivers who will both be looking to challenge for the Championship.
Ferrari really got the ball rolling when releasing an iconic photo of Lewis standing in front of Enzo Ferrari’s house on the team’s Modena grounds, while a Ferrari F40 poked into the frame.
Aside from a statement photo, there was much made of the hidden messaging surrounding the windows and door in the background. There are more hidden messages which you can entertain, here.
McLaren’s Rising Momentum
Last season, McLaren clinched the Constructors’ Championship from Red Bulls hands for the first time since 1998.
Charismatic leadership, in Zak Brown, and two talented young drivers, in Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, puts McLaren right in the conversation for both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championship in 2025.
Both drivers secured multiple victories last season, with 6 wins and 21 podiums between the pair, signaling a resurgence for the Surrey-based team.
They will feel the continuity in their driving pair gives them a level of stability on the grid. A stability which may not be replicated by fellow challengers Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull with their line-up changes.
Speaking of driver changes…
Influx of Promising Rookies
2025 will feature a wave of fresh talent ready to be compared to past greats, current grid leaders, and fellow rookies.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli – joins Mercedes, attempting to fill the illustrious shoes of Sir Lewis Hamilton.
Gabriel Bortoleto – the reigning Formula 2 champion, steps up with Sauber alongside Nico Hülkenberg.
Isack Hadjar – will have sights set on a Red Bull seat but now has an opportunity to shine with Racing Bulls.
Jack Doohan – graduates to a full-time race seat with Alpine following a wait in the reserve driver slot for the past two seasons. How will he fit alongside Pierre Gasly?
Oliver Bearman – The third youngest driver to ever drive in F1 joins Haas, adding to the roster of young talent. Like Hadjar, Bearman might be eyeing a seat at his team’s parent constructor down the straight.
This influx of new drivers wanting to make their mark is set to inject excitement and unpredictability into the Formula 1 grid battle.
Notable Team and Driver Changes
Parallel to most Formula 1 seasons, movements across the grid are inspected with a fine-tooth comb. But the driver swaps ahead of the upcoming season seem to have gathered more attention than usual, and likely for good reason.
Carlos Sainz – moves to Williams from Ferrari, partnering Alex Albon. A drop from top to bottom of the table but with a strong experience to elevate the struggling team’s performance.
Nico Hülkenberg – returns to Kick Sauber, aligning with the team’s future as they prepare for what will be an intriguing transformation into the Audi team in 2026.
Lewis Hamilton – Once again, the move to Ferrari has been the main talking point of this pre-season period. No doubt half of the upcoming Drive to Survive series will be focused on this joining of Formula 1’s biggest icons.
Anticipated Season Highlights
The 2025 season is upon us and Blend Group is feverish to follow the flurry.
Key races to watch include:
The season opener in Australia, where we will catch a glimpse at the new grid lineup and initial car performance.
Monaco Grand Prix, the historic venue where driver skill (and the size of your yacht) is of paramount importance.
Finally, the season-ender in Abu Dhabi around the Yas Marina circuit has become something of a spectacle since the infamous Lewis vs Max battle in 2021. We are hoping for more fireworks and a race which could decide both Championships.
At Blend Group, we absolutely love Formula 1. If you want to speak to one of our dedicated team members about Formula 1 2025 experiences, then get in touch today. We’d love to hear from you.
