The 2024 Formula One season ended with Max Verstappen as the drivers’ champion for the fourth year running 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.
2025’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 program.
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 ahead of what could 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 that.
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?
2024 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.
When are the car launch dates?
For the first time ever, Formula One will present a unified season launch event. That will take place at the O2 Arena in London on February 18. However, it appears that teams will also host their own car launches, though Ferrari are the only team to have confirmed theirs so far.
February 14
Williams FW47
February 16
Haas VF-25 (and filming day)
February 19
Ferrari
February 24
Mercedes (car launch day on February 25)
What are the driver line-ups?
There are a fair few changes to the grid heading into 2025 with Sergio Perez 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 have 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 have near exclusive coverage rights for the season. They will be showing all practice sessions, qualifying sessions, sprint qualifying and races throughout the season. Most likely pre-season testing too.
Channel 4 will have their extended qualifying and race highlights again, with the British Grand Prix in July broadcast live.
If you are outside of the UK you may also be able to subscribe to F1’s own F1TV for a monthly fee throughout the season.
2024 championship standings
