From new team mate rivalries to a multi-team title fight – 5 battles to watch out for in 2025

The 2025 F1 season is getting ever closer, with the teams gearing up for the F1 75 Live season launch event and pre-season testing in February ahead of the Australian Grand Prix on March 14-16. There are several key storylines to keep an eye on when the campaign begins, including some very noteworthy battles and rivalries – and we’ve rounded up five of them that could be thrilling to watch…

Verstappen vs Norris (vs Piastri)

Max Verstappen achieved title number four in 2024 – but it was hard fought, with the Dutchman’s strong run in the early stages of the year followed by a tougher spell as Red Bull’s rivals started to catch up.

His consistency and ability to get the most out of his car helped Verstappen to remain in the points throughout those later rounds and ensure that the World Championship did not slip away – and with those strings to his bow, the now four-time champion remains a formidable opponent as he prepares to defend his title in 2025.

Lando Norris might have something to say about that, though. The Briton proved to be Verstappen’s closest challenger for the Drivers’ Championship last year and has greatly gained in confidence from learning that he can take the fight to the Red Bull man.

ZANDVOORT, NETHERLANDS - AUGUST 24: Second placed qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and — It was a breakthrough season for Norris in 2024

Indeed, after ending the season with a victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – which also helped McLaren to seal their first Constructors’ Championship since 1998 – Norris stated over the team radio that “next year is going to be my year, too”.

But the battle may not just be between Verstappen and Norris this time; should McLaren continue with the form they displayed during the latter half of 2024, Oscar Piastri could also feasibly get himself into the fight at the front, potentially presenting the Woking outfit with the challenge of handling an intra-team scrap for the title.

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Team boss Andrea Stella has stated that this scenario would be an “opportunity” rather than a “problem” – but it will certainly be interesting to see how it plays out should it happen during the season ahead.

McLaren vs Ferrari vs Red Bull vs Mercedes

The 2024 season featured one of the closest multi-team fights at the front in recent memory. While Red Bull established an early lead, their reign at the top started to come under threat from the chasing McLaren and Ferrari as the campaign progressed – and resulted in the Milton Keynes-based outfit being toppled by both teams by the end of the year.

How McLaren won the 2024 Constructors' Championship

It was McLaren who ultimately came out on top, yet the margins remained fine until the end, with Ferrari finishing just 14 points behind. Ending the season in such strong form is a promising sign that both teams can start 2025 in a championship-worthy fashion, setting up a thrilling battle from the off.

But they are not alone in that scrap. Losing the Constructors’ crown was a huge disappointment to Red Bull last season and the squad will be keen to bounce back. With Liam Lawson stepping up to replace Sergio Perez following the Mexican’s struggles in 2024, can they get themselves back ahead of their rivals?

And let’s not forget Mercedes. While the Silver Arrows ended the season in a lonely fourth place amid an inconsistent campaign, weekends such as their dominant 1-2 in Las Vegas hinted at what might be possible.

Throw into the mix the fact that three of the top four teams have a new driver line-up in 2025 (more on which below) and there is an extra sense of intrigue over how the chips will fall in what looks set to be another exciting multi-team battle.

LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - DECEMBER 01: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull — There looks to be a multi-team fight on the cards at the front of the pack in 2025

Hamilton vs Leclerc

The 2025 season plays witness to one of the biggest driver moves in the sport’s history as Lewis Hamilton prepares to make his debut for Ferrari, a switch that shocked the F1 world when it was announced one year ago.

With Hamilton having already started his immersion programme at the Scuderia – which has seen him get behind the wheel of a Ferrari F1 car for the first time and spend time at the squad’s Maranello headquarters – all eyes will be on how the Briton adjusts to his new team after 12 years with Mercedes.

But another interesting factor will be how the relationship between Hamilton and new team mate Charles Leclerc unfolds. Leclerc has long been a part of the Ferrari family, having raced for the outfit since 2019 – yet Hamilton is the more experienced driver and arrives as one of the most decorated World Champions ever.

Leclerc has welcomed the motivation that Hamilton can bring to the team as well as acknowledging that he himself needs to perform at his “top level” against the seven-time champion, stating that it will be “both extremely interesting for me to learn from one of the best ever, as well as a really big challenge and motivation to beat Lewis and to show what I'm capable of”.

After mixed fortunes during his final season with the Silver Arrows, Hamilton will be keen to get his Ferrari chapter off to a strong start – and winning the team mate battle against Leclerc could be a key part of this.

Lewis Hamilton's first days in Ferrari red

The rookies vs their new team mates

As alluded to above, numerous driver changes have taken place across the grid for 2025, with only two of the 10 teams fielding an entirely unchanged line-up. This has also seen the arrival of several new names as a fresh batch of rookies prepare to make their debuts.

While there is pressure in itself for a driver making the step up to Formula 1, some of these debutants are facing the additional challenge of going up against a vastly more experienced team mate – or, in Liam Lawson’s case, the reigning World Champion.

After impressing during his two super-sub stints for Racing Bulls in 2023 and 2024, Lawson will race alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull this season. It is a task that some have previously struggled with, but the team are putting their faith in the New Zealander to deliver.

Meanwhile at Mercedes, 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli will replace Lewis Hamilton as George Russell’s team mate. The Italian youngster has enjoyed a rapid ascent through the motorsport ranks – can he continue to impress against new team leader Russell?

Alpine have promoted previous reserve driver Jack Doohan, with the Australian taking Esteban Ocon’s place alongside Pierre Gasly. Team boss Oliver Oakes has answered back to speculation that has already emerged over Doohan’s future following the team’s signing of Franco Colapinto to their test and reserve roster – but the 22-year-old will be keen to prove his worth when the season begins at his home track.

Jack Doohan of Alpine F1 Team A524, Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes AMG F1 Team, Ollie Bearman of — A fresh batch of rookies will be going up against more experienced team mates in 2025

Elsewhere, Ollie Bearman – another driver to impress as a super sub last year – will go up against Ocon at Haas, while the 2024 F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto and runner-up Isack Hadjar are each set to become team mates with Nico Hulkenberg and Yuki Tsunoda at Kick Sauber and Racing Bulls respectively.

All in all, that means there will be several fascinating intra-team battles to keep an eye on during the 2025 season…

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Sainz vs Albon

And speaking of team mate rivalries, another one that is equally worth watching is that between the new Williams pairing of Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, with the Spaniard joining the Grove-based squad after making way for Hamilton at Ferrari.

Team Principal James Vowles made no secret of his desire to recruit Sainz, having been impressed by the four-time race winner’s track record in terms of improving the teams that he has driven for. Vowles said of the signing: “I needed a leader, not just someone who is quick in the car.”

Racing alongside a driver with Sainz’s level of experience will be a new challenge for Albon, who has long been the leading presence at Williams after being paired with less experienced team mates in recent years.

Vowles is confident that the squad’s new line-up is the “best” on the grid – but which driver will come out on top in the intra-team battle? Just one of many questions that we’re excited to find out the answer to in the season ahead…