(Image via formula1.com)

Staff Writer: Akshit Bagga

Email: abagga@umassd.edu

Formula 1 is back in business, driving at high speeds in the 2025 season. 6 new rookies, 4 driver reshuffles, new frontrunners, and big old rivalries from the past, the entertainment is already peaking to its best.

Let’s look at what is new, what has changed, and how the teams are cruising on the tracks.

All New Rules

The 2025 season brings in a new set of rules. The good old fastest lap point system from 2019 has been scrapped, which means that drivers will now need to settle for appreciation instead of an extra point if they set the fastest lap of the race. 

A heat hazard rule has been introduced. too. In case the track temperatures rise to more than 31 C, the teams will need to install a driver cooling system to prevent a health hazard for drivers caused by extreme temperatures.

The FIA has also placed a limit on testing an older generation of car. 

Extra track time has been introduced for the rookies. Earlier, each team had to have a rookie race at one of the practice sessions. This has now been doubled, which means that if a team runs a rookie for two sessions combined, it is now two per car (four rookie sessions for a team).

Minor changes have also been made to the qualifying sessions, end of the year car testing and some design restrictions.

How Are the Teams Performing?

The 2025 season is off to a promising start. The constructors’ champion, McLaren Racing, are looking strong again this season. Both their drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are dominating the field. 

Lando won the opening race of the season in Australia, and Oscar Piastri squared it off by bringing home the Chinese GP.

Oscar also won the last two races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The current champion, Max Verstappen, is trying to defend his crown with Red Bull Racing and prove why he is one of the best drivers of the pack. 

The Red Bull driver dominated in Japan, winning in front of Honda’s home crowd and has hung up to points finish for the other four races.

Mercedes has made a podium finishing car. Both their driver George Russell and Kimi Antonelli have been doing an amazing job. 

Out of the last five races, George has been on the podium for at least three races. Kimi has also stood up to his hype from the last season and showed why Mercedes trusted him for the job over the experienced veterans.

Ferrari is experimenting. Why I’d say they have been experimenting is because fans expect them to be at the top step of the podium rather than just being in the top ten. 

While they have the seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton racing for them alongside their very own Charles Leclerc, they still have work to be done and become a consistent front runner for the podium. Both the teams’ American associations, Williams and Haas, have great drivers and have been showing results. 

They prove a point: hard work and persistence helps you succeed.

Aston Martin, along with their captains Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, are running against the midfield. Their best point finish in the last five races has been with Lance finishing sixth in Australia, while Alonso has yet to score his first points. 

The French Alpine did look strong in the last two races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, proving to their sponsors that they have mastered high speed circuits.

Onto Racing Bulls, it appears that they have only settled on a team name last season and are yet to settle down for a driver. While Isack Hadjar consistently puts himself aboard the points table, the other seat has been off in the air. 

Yuki Tsunoda started strong after being sidelined by Red Bull for their second seat but was later called in to race for the top team after Liam Lawson was sacked from the second Red Bull seat only after the first two races. While Yuki is scoring points with Red Bull alongside Max, Lawson, who took second seat duty at Racing Bulls since the Japanese GP, is yet to score a point for Racing Bulls.

With only five races into the season and drama already brewing among teams, we surely have an entertainment packed season to look forward to.

What Does the Future Hold?

The future months of this season are nothing short of exciting. While the Mclaren drivers are top contenders for the drivers’ championship right now, it doesn’t seem that Max will easily give up on his No.1 spot on the grid. 

With George hanging to fourth place now, he may also swing by to pose a threat to the other three drivers.

Williams is looking strong. With Sainz partnering with Albon, they will be aiming for fifth place in the constructors.

Additionally, a lot of driver contracts are up for grabs. With all-new regulations and  brand-new American team Cadillac-GM stepping on the grid beginning 2026, it will be  chaos for the viewers to enjoy through the year.

This article was written before the Miami GP.