Team by team prospects for the 2025 F1 season

Team-by-team prospects for the 24-race 2025 Formula One season starting in Melbourne on Sunday (listed in 2024 championship order, drivers with racing numbers):

MCLAREN

4 - Lando Norris (Britain)

81 - Oscar Piastri (Australia)

Norris is the bookmakers' favourite after finishing runner-up last year in a breakthrough season that saw him shrug off the cruel taunt of Lando 'Nowins' and take four victories with eight poles. The jury remains out on whether he is mentally tough enough to beat Max Verstappen while Piastri has plenty of confidence and is a big threat to the Briton's ambitions. The car still looks the one to beat but if the battle is between teammates, don't count out the Australian. Any tangling between them will be welcomed by rivals, particularly Red Bull.

Prediction: Top two

FERRARI

16 - Charles Leclerc (Monaco)

44 - Lewis Hamilton (Britain)

Hamilton has swept the headlines with his sensational move from Mercedes. His quest for a record eighth title with the oldest and most glamorous team and at the age of 40 has captured the imagination of fans worldwide, even if last year was the worst of his storied career. It may turn out to be no more than a dream. Leclerc is rapid in qualifying, embedded within the team and senses his time has come. If the car is competitive, Leclerc could be the one in the driving seat.

Prediction: Challenging McLaren for the title

RED BULL

1 - Max Verstappen (Netherlands)

30 - Liam Lawson (New Zealand)

Verstappen can become only the second driver after Michael Schumacher to win five titles in a row. The pace of the car, first since star designer Adrian Newey left, remains to be seen. Verstappen is clear number one and has a new teammate in Lawson, whose job is to score solid constructors' points