This year’s Formula 1 season is expected to be close after the big four teams were all matched on pace towards the end of 2024.
Red Bull’s advantage from the 2022 and 2023 seasons has been slashed, with McLaren producing a car capable of winning races regularly while Ferrari and Mercedes have also emerged as front runners after two difficult years.
Mercedes was by far the most improved having struggled throughout 2023 with no wins for the first time in 10 years, while Ferrari has extracted more performance out of their car concept.
With Lewis Hamilton joining the Maranello squad this year, when asked if he thinks Ferrari has a chance of winning the title Charles Leclerc believes they have a decent chance.
Discussing who he thinks could win it in 2025 on the AS Columbia, former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has offered some insight as to who he thinks and why.
Juan Pablo Montoya backs Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris or Charles Leclerc as 2025 title winner
Given the competitive order is likely to be shaken up a lot in 2025, it could be a lot harder for Verstappen to retain his title for a fifth time in a row. Alex Wurtz thinks Verstappen’s luck could run out in 2025, after how easy he had it in the last few years.
Montoya expects a new champion to rise and has named his three candidates who he thinks are in the strongest position to win the 2025 title.
“In 2025 there could be someone new who becomes world champion. There is a very good chance that there will be someone new, other than Max and Lewis would be a surprise,” said Montoya.
“But I think it could be someone like Piastri or Lando, and Charles as a champion too. I really don’t see Red Bull being as competitive, I don’t see it being that easy given how they finished last year.”
Nico Rosberg backs Lando Norris for 2025 title
Norris may have just missed out on the 2025 championship owing to his mistakes, but he did secure the Constructors’ Championship with a commanding drive at the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
It’s too early to know if McLaren will have fast car after the winter, but it is likely to be an evolution of their 2024 challenger.
READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend
Based on his dominant performance in Abu Dhabi, Nico Rosberg has backed Norris for title success with McLaren in 2025.
The 2016 World Champion was impressed with how he managed to control the race under pressure, especially as any mistake would have meant McLaren losing the championship to Ferrari.
Leave feedback about this