The 2025 Formula One season was launched in London in February when the 10 teams formally unveiled their cars and new liveries for the first time during a raucous and gaudy event at the O2. Given that Max Verstappen, the world champion, has taken offence at some booing from British ‘tribalist’ fans at the occasion, he has threatened to boycott the occasion next year if it continues to be staged in the United Kingdom.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was also given the bird by the crowd, a reflection of Red Bull’s ongoing rivalry with British teams and drivers, particularly Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and Lando Norris.
Last season ended in triumph for Verstappen who won the drivers’ championship for the fourth successive year but that does not tell the whole story. McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes all won multiple races with McLaren taking their first constructors’ championship in 26 years.
The 2025 season’s first action is not too far away. After much hype, Lewis Hamilton joins Ferrari after more than a decade at Mercedes. He has had his first outing in the famous red car at Maranello as he continues his acclimatisation programme.
As ever, there is not too long until the 2025 season begins with pre-season testing in Bahrain and then the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Here is a low-down on everything you need to know in the build-up to what promises to be one of the great years in F1.
When does pre-season testing take place?
As with last season, the 2025 season will have just one official pre-season test. That takes place from Wednesday, February 26 until Friday, February 28 inclusive at the Sakhir International Circuit in Bahrain. It has yet to be confirmed but the format is likely to be three days of two four-hour sessions with a lunch break of an hour in between them.
When is the first race of the 2025 season?
Unlike in 2024, the new season begins with the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne. That runs from Friday, March 14 until Sunday, March 16.
How many races will there be in 2025?
For the second time in F1’s history the season will comprise 24 grands prix and six sprint races, ending with the season finale at Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi on December 8.
When and where are the sprint races?
They are in China, Miami, Belgium, Austin, Sao Paulo and Qatar. The format will stay the same in that there will be sprint qualifying to set the grid for the sprint race and eight world championship points are awarded for the winner down to one point for the eighth-placed finisher.
In short, the 2024 sprint race weekends are as follows.
Chinese Grand Prix, March 21-23
Miami Grand Prix, May 2-4
Belgian Grand Prix, July 25-27
United States Grand Prix, October 17-19
Sao Paulo Grand Prix, November 7-9
Qatar Grand Prix, November 28-30
When is the summer break?
Last season contained both an official summer break – including a two-week mandatory shutdown period for all F1 team personnel – and an unofficial autumn break with three weekends off in a row. However, that is gone from the 2025 calendar with the races generally a little more spread out.
July and August are perhaps less hectic than they have been, with a three-week gap between the British Grand Prix on July 6 and the Belgian Grand Prix on July 27. The summer break this year begins after the Belgian Grand Prix, on Monday, August 4. The action returns on Friday, August 29 with practice for the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.
What do the new car liveries look like?
F1’s ‘class of 2025’ cars were unveiled with the sport’s first ever unified launch event, which took place at the O2 Arena on Tuesday, February 18. Whilst the cars they take to testing will likely look different when it comes to aerodynamic parts, the liveries are the ones the teams will race in for the upcoming season.
Sauber C45
Williams FW47
Haas VF-25
Racing Bulls VCARB02
Alpine A525
Aston Martin AMR25
Mercedes W16
Red Bull RB21
Ferrari SF-25
McLaren MCL39
What are the driver line-ups?
There are a fair few changes to the grid heading into 2025 with Sergio Pérez being dumped by Red Bull the latest news. There are also no fewer than six full-season rookies on the grid. Yes, Oliver Bearman, Jack Doohan and Liam Lawson have all taken part in races but none of them has begun a season before. They are joined by Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes, Isack Hadjar at RB and Gabriel Bortoleto at Sauber, who have never raced in F1.
There are changes elsewhere too as Lewis Hamilton makes his Ferrari debut, Carlos Sainz moves to Williams, Esteban Ocon moves to Haas and Nico Hulkenberg moves from Haas to Sauber.
What is the full 2025 schedule?
How to watch F1 on TV and streaming
As has been the case for some time now, in the United Kingdom, Sky Sports F1 has near exclusive coverage rights for the season. It will be showing all practice sessions, qualifying sessions, sprint qualifying and races throughout the season. Most likely pre-season testing too.
Channel 4 has its extended qualifying and race highlights again, with the British Grand Prix in July broadcast live.
If you are outside the UK you may also be able to subscribe to F1’s own F1TV for a monthly fee throughout the season.
2024 championship standings
