2025 Formula One World Championship

The 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship is an ongoing motor racing championship for Formula One cars and the 76th running of the Formula One World Championship . It is recognised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the governing body of international motorsport , as the highest class of competition for open-wheel racing cars . The championship is contested over twenty-four Grands Prix held around the world. It began in March and will end in December.

Drivers and teams compete for the titles of World Drivers' Champion and World Constructors' Champion , respectively. Max Verstappen , driving for Red Bull Racing - Honda RBPT , is the reigning Drivers' Champion, [ 1 ] while McLaren - Mercedes are the reigning Constructors' Champions. [ 2 ]

The 2025 season is the last year to utilise the power unit configuration introduced in 2014 . A revised configuration without the Motor Generator Unit-Heat (MGU-H), but with a higher power output from the Motor Generator Unit-Kinetic (MGU-K), will be introduced for 2026 . [ 3 ] 2025 also marks the final year of the ground-effect generation of cars introduced in 2022 , and the last year of the drag reduction system (DRS) introduced as an overtaking aid in 2011 . This is because cars with active a...

2025 marks Renault's final season as an active engine supplier for its team Alpine , with the manufacturer planning to discontinue engine production post-2025. [ 5 ]

All teams compete with tyres supplied by Pirelli . [ 6 ] Each team is required to enter at least two drivers, one for each of the two mandatory cars. [ 7 ]

On four occasions throughout the season, twice for each of its cars, each team has to field a driver in one of the first two free practice sessions who has not competed in more than two races. [ 7 ]

RB discontinued its use of initialism and entered instead as Racing Bulls , thus changing its team and constructor name. [ 25 ]

Lewis Hamilton left Mercedes after twelve seasons to join Ferrari , ending his record-breaking streak of the most consecutive seasons driving for a single constructor, as well as competing in his first season without a Mercedes power unit . [ 41 ] He replaced Carlos Sainz Jr. , who left Ferrari after four seasons to join Williams on a multi-year deal. Sainz was initially set to replace Logan Sargeant , but Sargeant was replaced by Franco Colapinto midway through the 2024 season. [ 42 ] [ 43 ] [ ...

Haas is fielding an all-new line-up in 2025; Nico Hülkenberg departed the team after two seasons to drive for Sauber , with whom he last competed in 2013 . [ 49 ] [ 50 ] He was replaced by Haas's reserve driver Oliver Bearman , who stepped up from Formula 2, having previously raced in the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for Ferrari, and in the 2024 Azerbaijan and São Paulo Grands Prix for Haas. [ 51 ] Kevin Magnussen also departed the team after seven seasons across two stints. [ 52 ] He was repla...

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu both left Sauber after three years, [ 56 ] the former rejoining Mercedes as a reserve driver after having previously raced for the team from 2017 to 2021 , [ 57 ] and the latter joining Ferrari as a reserve driver. [ 58 ] The vacant seat alongside Hülkenberg was filled by reigning Formula 2 Champion Gabriel Bortoleto . [ 59 ]

Despite a previously signed contract until 2026 , Sergio Pérez left Red Bull Racing after the conclusion of the 2024 season. [ 60 ] He was replaced by Liam Lawson , who was promoted from Racing Bulls after five Grands Prix with them in 2023 under the AlphaTauri moniker, and six Grands Prix in 2024 under the initialism RB. [ 61 ] Red Bull Racing reserve and 2024 Formula 2 runner-up Isack Hadjar was promoted to Racing Bulls in his place. [ 62 ]

Following the Chinese Grand Prix , Liam Lawson was demoted to Racing Bulls, with Yuki Tsunoda making his debut for Red Bull Racing at the subsequent Japanese Grand Prix . [ 63 ]

Following the Miami Grand Prix , Jack Doohan was relegated to a reserve driver role for Alpine . His seat was given to former reserve driver Franco Colapinto on a "rotating seat" basis, with the latter debuting at the subsequent Emilia Romagna Grand Prix and being initially scheduled to race for the team until the Austrian Grand Prix . Before the race at Spielberg , it was confirmed that Colapinto would retain his seat with the team, effectively on a race-by-race basis. [ 64 ] Colapinto previous...

The Australian Grand Prix hosted the opening race of the 2025 season for the first time since 2019 . For the past three years, it was scheduled as the third round of the season, following the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, respectively. In 2025, however, these races were pushed back to avoid conflict with Ramadan . [ 70 ] [ 71 ] The Russian Grand Prix was under contract to feature on the 2025 calendar. [ 72 ] However, the contract was terminated in 2022 in response to the Russian invasi...

The minimum driver weight allowance was increased from 80 kilograms (176.4 lb) to 82 kilograms (180.8 lb). Consequently, the overall minimum weight limit of the car, excluding fuel, rose from 798 kilograms (1,759 lb) to 800 kilograms (1,764 lb). The adjustment was implemented to promote driver well-being, particularly for individuals who are taller or heavier. [ 74 ] [ 75 ] [ 76 ]

The slot gaps for the rear wing between the two modes of the DRS have been changed, with the minimum gap reduced. It has been shrunk from 10–15 millimetres (0.39–0.59 in) to 9.4–13 millimetres (0.37–0.51 in); the upper boundary remains at 85 millimetres (3.3 in) with DRS open. The FIA has also tightened up the rules on the DRS modes, stating that there must only be two positions, and that ending the application of DRS must return the wing exactly as defined to the initial mode. [ 78 ]

The FIA introduced stricter rear wing deflection tests that mandated the slot gap—the distance between the mainplane and rear-wing flap—be restricted to 2 mm (0.079 in) under a 2 kN (450 lb f ) load, which was again reduced to 0.5 mm (0.020 in) from the Chinese Grand Prix onwards to counteract teams' usage of a "mini- DRS ". [ 80 ] Additional front wing tests were implemented in a four-month forewarned technical directive for the Spanish Grand Prix , reducing the deflection under a 1 kN (220 lb ...

The point awarded to drivers finishing in the top ten positions for setting the fastest lap in the race, which was reintroduced in 2019 , has been abolished. [ 7 ] [ 82 ] [ 83 ]

Ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix , the FIA released the latest version of its driving standards guidelines into the public domain. Originally introduced in 2024, these written guidelines aimed to provide drivers with a clearer understanding of the expected racing etiquette during on-track battles. Making the guidelines publicly available was intended to help fans and media better understand the rationale behind the FIA's decision-making and race officiating processes. [ 84 ]

The requirement for teams to run a young driver during free practice sessions was increased from once to twice per season per car. [ 85 ]

The sporting regulations now include specific provisions for setting the starting grid in the event that qualifying sessions for either the sprint or the main race are cancelled. In such cases, the starting grid will be determined based on the Drivers' Championship standings. Previously, when a qualifying session could not be held, the starting order was left entirely to the discretion of the stewards. If the championship standings cannot be used to determine the grid, the decision remains at th...

The protocol for closing up the grid when some cars do not make it to the start of a race was amended following the starting grid formation for cars withdrawn before the start of the 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix . The final grid will now be determined one hour before the start of the race. Cars that are withdrawn up to 75 minutes before the start will not be included in the final grid, and the following cars will all move up the relevant positions. [ 77 ]

Drivers' comments are due to be subject to more stringent regulation and stricter punishment. The issue had first come to light when Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said in an interview that he wanted to see less bad language in Formula One. [ 89 ] This was closely followed by Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc , both being investigated and punished for swearing in Formula One interviews. [ 90 ] [ 91 ] The penalties for "driver misconduct" covers "languag...

A minimum two-stop strategy, in both wet and dry conditions, was implemented for the Monaco Grand Prix in an effort to promote better racing. [ 79 ] Teams were also mandated to use at least three sets of tyres in the races, with a minimum of two different tyre compounds for a dry race. [ 93 ]

Following concerns raised during the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix , where Sergio Pérez controversially returned to the pits to avoid a safety car deployment, helping teammate Max Verstappen win the race, the FIA has now introduced a new regulation to prevent severely damaged cars from attempting to return to the pits. Previously, drivers could navigate back to the garage even if their cars were damaged and posed a safety risk to others on track. The updated rule now allows the race director to instr...

Drivers starting from the pit lane are now required to take part in the formation lap, marking a departure from previous seasons in which they were permitted to remain in the garage until the race began. Under the updated regulation, once all cars on track have passed the pit exit, pit lane starters must leave in the prescribed order – unless delayed – before re-entering the pit lane at the end of the formation lap. The change was intended to streamline race starts and establish a more consisten...

As part of the series' celebration of the sport's 75th anniversary, all ten teams took part in a collective season launch event called F1 75 Live at The O2 Arena in London on 18 February 2025. Each team unveiled its car liveries for the season while its drivers and team principals were interviewed in front of a live audience. Additionally, other live entertainment and previews of the [F1 (film)|Formula One film]] were shown too. The event was broadcast live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom an...

McLaren 's Lando Norris took pole position for the Australian Grand Prix , which was held under changing, intermediate conditions. Norris led a majority of the race. He briefly lost the lead when he and teammate Oscar Piastri lost control in intermediate conditions. Because of this, Piastri was beached for a short time before he freed himself, dropping to thirteenth and later recovering to ninth. Max Verstappen , in the Red Bull , was trailing Norris as the race reached its closing stages. Norri...

Lewis Hamilton took sprint pole position for the Chinese Grand Prix , which he converted into a sprint victory ahead of Piastri and Verstappen. Norris qualified in sixth for the sprint and finished in eighth. [ 102 ] Oscar Piastri took pole for the main race, achieving his maiden career pole position . [ 103 ] Piastri controlled the race from start to finish, leading a 1–2 with teammate Lando Norris , who was fighting an imminent brake failure, followed by George Russell in third for Mercedes. T...

Max Verstappen took his first pole position of the season at the Japanese Grand Prix , marking the first time he started on pole since the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix . He finished the race with a commanding victory, ahead of the two McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes became both the youngest driver to lead a race and to set a fastest lap in Formula One history. The race featured no retirements. [ 107 ]

Oscar Piastri took his second pole position of the season at the Bahrain Grand Prix and controlled the race to win ahead of George Russell, whose car was suffering from numerous electrical issues, and Piastri's teammate, Lando Norris. Williams ' Carlos Sainz Jr. was the sole retiree during the race, having suffered a collision with Yuki Tsunoda of Red Bull Racing , [ 108 ] with Nico Hülkenberg being disqualified after the race due to excessive skid wear. [ 109 ]

Verstappen took his second pole position of the season at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix , while Norris crashed out in Q3, leaving him tenth; he recovered to fourth during the race. His teammate Oscar Piastri , who started second, won the race ahead of Verstappen, who was given a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage, and Charles Leclerc , who took Ferrari 's first Grand Prix podium of the season. The result meant that Piastri took the lead of the World Drivers' Champi...

Oscar Piastri took pole position for McLaren in what is expected to be the final running of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix , but lost the lead to Max Verstappen in Red Bull Racing 's 400th Grand Prix start, [ 114 ] by making a move into the Tamburello chicane. He kept the lead all the way to the chequered flag ahead of Piastri and Lando Norris . After a poor qualifying, Yuki Tsunoda recovered to tenth; the Ferraris of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc climbed to fourth and sixth, respectively, w...

Oscar Piastri returned to pole position at the Spanish Grand Prix , which he converted into a victory ahead of his teammate Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc of Ferrari . Following a retirement of Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes due to mechanical failure, a safety car was brought out on lap 53; shortly after the race resumed on lap 60, when Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing soon collided with Antonelli's teammate George Russell after the former was told to give the position back to the Mercedes driver...

At the Canadian Grand Prix , George Russell became the first non-McLaren or Red Bull driver to take pole position after doing so in his Mercedes . Championship leader Oscar Piastri started third and Lando Norris seventh after making a mistake in his flying lap. In a race ultimately defined by strategy calls, Russell won out in the end following a late safety car period, marking Mercedes' first win of the season. He finished ahead of Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing. The safety car was caused by...

Lando Norris was back on pole position for McLaren at the Austrian Grand Prix . After an aborted start due to issues with the car of Carlos Sainz Jr. , Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes locked up and hit Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing , forcing them to retire; Verstappen's teammate, Yuki Tsunoda , did not fare any better, finishing sixteenth and last of the finishing cars after receiving a time penalty. After leading a majority of the race, Norris converted pole position into his third win of the se...

Max Verstappen found himself on pole position for the British Grand Prix after the cars he was battling with, the McLarens and Ferraris, made mistakes during their flying laps. The race was began in wet conditions on intermediate tyres, but George Russell of Mercedes , Charles Leclerc of Ferrari , Isack Hadjar of Racing Bulls , Gabriel Bortoleto of Sauber , and Oliver Bearman of Haas opted to start from the pit lane after swapping to slick tyres following the formation lap. The slicks, however w...

Oscar Piastri took pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix sprint, but lost out to Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing . Piastri's teammate Lando Norris took pole position for the main race, which was delayed due to heavy rain. The race began under a rolling start behind the safety car, after which Piastri immediately overtook Norris and held the lead to win the race. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari finished in third. [ 121 ]

Points are awarded to the top ten classified drivers, and the top eight of the sprint . [ 125 ] [ f ] In the case of a tie on points, a countback system is used where the driver with the most Grand Prix wins is ranked higher. If the number of wins is identical, then the number of second places is considered, and so on. [ 125 ] Points are awarded using the following system: