By Graham Duxbury @TheRealDux

One of the big stories for the upcoming season is Lewis Hamilton’s debut with Ferrari. Following a tough 2024 season with Mercedes, Hamilton has made the switch to “the red team,” looking to clinch that record-breaking eighth F1 World Drivers’ Championship title.

He kicks off his journey at the Australian GP this weekend, and fans are buzzing with excitement to see how he performs. Many pundits, however, predict a McLaren win, but betting odds seem to favour Max Verstappen.

Regardless, Ferrari’s pre-season form suggests Hamilton and Charles Leclerc could be genuine contenders, making for an intriguing battle at the front.

The F1 grid for 2025 has almost a record count of rookie drivers. Six rookies - that is, thirty percent of the driver lineup - will make their full-season debut in 2025. There were seven in 2001, so this is the most rookies since then. As the season continues, more rookies might appear if rumours are to be believed.

The fresh faces you will be encountering this weekend are Jack Doohan (Alpine), Liam Lawson (Red Bull), Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber), and Isack Hadjar (Vcarb Racing Bulls). I’ve included Oliver Bearman (Haas) in the rookie lineup although he has had two F1 race starts to his name already.

With such a mix of experienced champions, rising stars, and fresh talent, the 2025 season is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in years. Will Hamilton’s gamble on Ferrari pay off? Can the rookies make a strong impression? And will anyone be able to challenge Verstappen’s dominance? One thing is for sure - this season won’t be short on drama.

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