Welcome back to Formula One! After a winter break that felt like it would never end (to be fair, we feel this way every winter break), the world’s greatest races are back! Already, there’s been rampant controversy and big-name transfers only two races into the season. With that in mind, I can only expect more in the coming weeks!
With six new rookies on the grid, a huge driver shakeup, and 22 races to go, this season’s drama has come hard and fast. Follow me as I take you through what we’ve learned so far in Australia and Shanghai, and what to expect going forward.
An All-English Battle for the Championship
The Formula One World Drivers’ Championship in 2025 looks like it will be a tight race between English teams Mercedes and McLaren. The McLaren drivers have swapped the position of race winner for the past two races, with Lando Norris winning in Australia and Oscar Piastri winning his first-ever Grand Prix in Shanghai.
However, in both of those races, George Russell was third on the podium, just behind them, and his teammate Kimi Antonelli was a perennial presence in the top 10. In the team standings, Mercedes is the only team with a glimmer of hope of catching McLaren at the moment, with 57 points to their rivals’ 78.
The McLaren car looks like a rocket this season. Paired with a championship-contending driver in Lando Norris and an equally matched Oscar Piastri, they look like the prime candidates to take home the World Drivers’ Championship this year.
Mercedes definitely won’t make it easy, though. With George Russell hungry to prove himself as a worthy successor as Mercedes’ number one driver and Antonelli showing signs of great promise already, this season’s championship battle is sure to be a thriller!
Has Lewis Hamilton Made a Huge Mistake?
The news of seven-time World Drivers Champion (WDC) and GOAT contender Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari from Mercedes shocked the racing world when the news broke at the start of 2024.
The knowledge of the impending transfer hung over the heads of the entire grid – every single race, the media scrutiny on all the parties involved was intense. But as the season wound down, the mood was decidedly hopeful.
Mercedes hadn’t been performing up to their previous high standards – perhaps this was the best move for everyone involved. Lewis would get a fresh start in the team every driver aspires to, Ferrari would get a big-name transfer, and Mercedes would have the chance to start anew with another driver.
Alas, things have not gone to plan at all in Hamilton’s first two races for the Scuderia. After a slog to a miserable 10th-place finish in the first race of the season, things went from bad to worse in Shanghai. Despite improving slightly to finish 6th, both Hamilton and LeClerc were controversially disqualified for violating weight regulations.
A car that’s off the pace and a dysfunctional engineering team? This is for sure not what Hamilton expected when he decided to make his move. With one mediocre and one dismal showing to start the season, there are growing fears that Hamilton might be worse off in Ferrari than he ever was in Mercedes.
The question now on everyone’s minds is: Has Lewis Hamilton made a massive mistake moving to Ferrari?
The Red Bull 2nd Driver Curse Strikes Again
Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon and Sergio Perez. What do all these drivers have in common?
They’re victims of a seemingly inevitable curse – that all of Red Bull’s 2nd drivers next to Max Verstappen cannot keep up, and are eventually chewed up and spat out by the reigning world champion. Liam Lawson is merely the latest in the revolving door that is the Red Bull 2nd driver seat.
Whether it be the pressure of being teammates with one of the best drivers in the world, or having to deal with a car that is (reportedly) tuned to that teammate’s inhuman reflexes, most cannot last past a single season as Verstappen’s deputy.
With Lawson being demoted to Racing Bulls (RB), Red Bull’s sister team, and former RB driver Yuki Tsunoda being selected to replace him, we can only wonder how long Tsunoda will last – or if he will finally break the curse.
Season of the Rookies
The 2025 Formula One season is shaping up to be one where the youngest drivers – the rookies – will make or break their careers at this highest level of motorsport. With Liam Lawson, Oliver Bearman, Isack Hadjar, Kimi Antonelli, Jack Doohan and Gabriel Bortoleto all making their full Formula One debuts this season, this is the highest number of rookies on the grid since 2001.
Thus far, the standout has been Kimi Antonelli. Called up from the Mercedes academy to fill the Lewis Hamilton-shaped void left in the team in the wake of the all-time great’s departure, he has acquitted himself wonderfully in these first two races. In Australia, Kimi qualified 14th and drove a fantastic race to finish 4th overall, right behind his teammate George Russell and the two McLarens.
Building on that, he finished 6th in Shanghai, again having a tremendous strategic drive, with his second set of tyres lasting a whopping 44 laps. Moreover, he did this all the while dealing with an impaired car due to the damage from running over debris in the road.
As the races go on, it seems that Mercedes has uncovered a diamond in the rough with young Antonelli. In time, who knows? He may go on to live up to the legacy of the Formula One legend with whom he shares a name.
Rivaling Antonelli, Haas’s rising star, Oliver Bearman, has also been making a name for himself. One year Antonelli’s senior, Bearman first stepped into the spotlight last season, as he was chosen by Ferrari to cover for the appendicitis-stricken Carlos Sainz in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Impressively, despite only having about 45 minutes’ worth of experience in a Formula One car, Bearman managed to clinch an all-around impressive 7th place, drawing significant attention from the teams hunting for fresh talent.
However, he’s had a slightly rocky start in 2025, finishing last in the Australian Grand Prix. But he bounced back to 8th in Shanghai. With lots of races left to go, there’s a good chance he could make something of this season and target a move to a bigger-name team next year.
While not having as stellar performances as the previous two, the other rookies, namely Hadjar, Doohan and Bortoleto, are slowly finding their feet. All three crashed out of the race in Australia for various reasons but succeeded in attaining respectable placings for rookies in the following race.
Going into Suzuka
The Japanese Grand Prix is fast approaching – taking place on 6 April, this Sunday! McLaren has been setting the tarmac ablaze, with Oscar Piastri victorious at the Chinese Grand Prix and teammate Lando Norris getting the win just the race before.
This dynamic duo has propelled McLaren to a historical hat-trick of wins, a feat they haven’t achieved in two decades. The burning question: Can they make it four in a row and continue their dominance?
In the Red Bull camp, the spotlight shines brightly on Yuki Tsunoda, who steps up to partner Max Verstappen after the team parted ways with rookie Liam Lawson following a lackluster start to the season. Tsunoda’s promotion comes just in time for his home race, and the pressure is on to prove he’s more than just a local hero.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton’s recent disqualification at the Chinese Grand Prix has left fans and pundits alike questioning if the seven-time world champion can reclaim his form and mount a serious challenge this season.
As for the rookies, all eyes are on how they’ll navigate Suzuka’s demanding figure-of-eight layout, a true test of skill. With so many stories unfolding, the Japanese Grand Prix promises to be a must-watch race in this year’s season!
Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix
As the 2025 Formula 1 season heats up, fans have already been treated to a thrilling spectacle of speed, strategy, and surprises. With rivalries intensifying and every point counting more than ever, the road to the title is as unpredictable as it is electrifying.
While the Japanese Grand Prix is happening in only a few days, don’t forget about our very own Singapore Grand Prix! Our race on the calendar is a high-octane experience set against the backdrop of a vibrant cityscape glowing in the night. Tickets are already on sale, so don’t miss your chance to witness the action firsthand as F1 roars through the streets in one of the most iconic races of the season!
🗓️Dates: 3 – 5 October 2025
💲Prices of available tickets*:
Hospitality Packages
| Hospitality Packages | 3-Day Pass | Friday (3 October) | Saturday (4 October) | Sunday (5 October) |
| The Vista Suite @ Singapore Flyer | S$6,104 | – | – | – |
| Sky View Pavilion @ Singapore Flyer | S$4,306 | – | – | – |
| Torque @ Singapore Flyer | S$4,306 | – | – | – |
*Hospitality refers to all-in-one package experiences that include unobstructed views and dining. Grandstands provide prime vantage points to see the racers. Walkabouts allow free roaming around the circuit map zone, with designated viewing points available.
Grandstands:
| Grandstand | 3-Day Pass | Friday (3 October | Saturday (4 October) | Sunday (5 October) |
| Super Pit Grandstand | S$2,188 | – | – | – |
| Pit Grandstand | – | S$328 | S$768 | – |
| Turn 1 Grandstand | – | – | – | – |
| Republic Grandstand | – | S$208 | S$438 | – |
| Padang Grandstand | – | S$168 | S$328 | – |
| Stamford Grandstand | – | – | S$268 | – |
Walkabouts
*All tickets listed are available and priced accurately as of the time of writing.
Get your tickets to the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix 2025 right now! Get the latest updates on the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix through their Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok pages.
Visuals courtesy of Formula One.
