Qualifying was the weakest aspect of Hamilton’s driving in 2024, losing the head-to-head 19–5 to George Russell. Hamilton is expected to get a chance to drive the 2025 Ferrari F1 car on 19 February following the team’s launch.

We're a week into 2025, and with preseason testing still seven weeks away, ESPN unpacks the storylines that will define Formula 1 this year.

The Lewis Hamilton era begins at Ferrari but can it be a Formula 1 title-winning year for the Maranello outfit?

It can also suit the promoters. Zandvoort’s decision to stop hosting F1 after 2026 points to the pressures — and costs — involved in staging a race. Spa looked in serious doubt just a few years ago, and while the interest from the local stakeholders has certainly taken an uplift since then, a couple of off years may actually suit the track.

Hamilton’s first Ferrari outings will come under the TPC (Testing of Previous Cars), which enables teams to run a used car that is at least two years old to complete a maximum of 1000km over four days.

Max Verstappen has snubbed Ferrari after he delivered a decisive F1 team switch verdict. Whilst the Dutchman secured his fourth world title in 2024, he faced tough competition from rival teams such as Ferrari and McLaren.

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen took Formula 1 racing to a “more dangerous” level swith their antics in 2021, Vitantonio Liuzzi saying F1’s stewards are having to clamp down on that. Liuzzi is one of four former Formula 1 drivers on the stewards’ panel and the Italian rotates with the other three,