F1 2025: Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, McLaren’s title favorite standing, Max Verstappen and extra forward of Australian GP

How is Lewis Hamilton getting on together with his first Ferrari? Which groups appear to be they’re forward after testing? What could possibly be the surprises of 2025?

There have been loads of intriguing questions heading into the brand new System 1 season with the countdown firmly on to subsequent week’s Australian Grand Prix and so requested you for ours on the Sky Sports activities app and web site throughout our reside Bahrain testing weblog as the brand new 2025 vehicles and line-ups took their first full forays on monitor.

After answering the primary spherical of questions final week, we’re dipping into the mailbag for a second time with pit-lane reporter Ted Kravitz this time taking up the mantle to sort out a few of the better of the remainder with per week to go till opening apply in Melbourne reside on Sky Sports activities F1…

Bethany352 requested: Is Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari going to be higher for him than current Mercedes’? How optimistic are the primary indicators from testing?

Ted replies: There are some very optimistic indicators that Hamilton is having fun with the best way the Ferrari drives greater than the Mercedes.

I believe he has bought what he wished when it comes to driver positioning throughout the cockpit. There aren’t any complaints on any aspect. Crucially, he has recognized that the designers and the group behind him are as much as championship high quality and he recognises that he has every little thing he wants within the group to develop the automobile and out-develop his rivals to try to win this yr’s championship.

So even when the Ferrari is not profitable races at first of the season, Lewis Hamilton is certain that they’ll be capable of win races and meet up with whoever the pacesetter is.

Sanath Kamte requested: What do you suppose is the pecking order tentatively?

Ted replies: I am going for McLaren being forward, then Ferrari/Mercedes or Mercedes/Ferrari – and if you wish to push me for a selected order, I will say Mercedes after which Ferrari – adopted by Purple Bull.

Alpine in fifth, Williams in sixth, Haas in seventh – which is optimistic, however they are saying that they’re in first rate form – and Racing Bulls eighth. Then Aston Martin in ninth and Sauber tenth.

Garda requested: How do McLaren really feel at this stage in comparison with final yr once they struggled extra?

Ted replies: McLaren had an excellent check in Bahrain they usually really feel a lot better at this stage in comparison with final yr.

Sure, there have been some set-up points particularly round rear grip, however that is Bahrain for you, they usually suppose they’ll dial that out.

However be careful for Mercedes, I believe they will be shut behind.

Ethan requested: Do you suppose there shall be any shock outliers this season?

Ted replies: I am undecided whether or not any of the outliers shall be a shock, however I can definitely see each Williams drivers ending on the rostrum. I believe all people has bought a gentle spot for Williams and wish to see that. Pierre Gasly can also be a attainable contender for a podium within the Alpine.

I’ve bought excessive hopes for Ollie Bearman as effectively if the Haas can spring a shock or two.

Jamie requested: With such a giant change within the laws for subsequent yr, how early would groups have been engaged on the 2026 automobile?

Ted replies: By regulation, the groups weren’t allowed to begin on their 2026 vehicles till the primary working day of this January, and as quickly as they had been allowed to take action they began.

The tough factor for the automobile designers is figuring out how they are often fast in a straight line with the moveable entrance and rear wings we’ll be having in 2026 and the way that impacts the remainder of the automobile. Will they should run their automobile another way as a result of they know they will be opening their wings on the straights? It is an actual conundrum.

I believe the winners of the rule change shall be right down to the engine as a result of there’s going to be a lot extra reliance on the engine to generate electrical energy as a result of we’re taking out the electricity-generating turbine that runs off the turbocharger for subsequent yr. So the one approach you possibly can generate electrical energy in your battery is through the use of regenerative braking. That is going to be the largest change for subsequent yr’s laws.

ABF1 requested: Which of the rookies impressed you most in testing?

Ted replies: It is onerous when a few of the rookies are in vehicles that possibly do not do their abilities justice however, having stated that, Gabriel Bortoleto is already certainly one of my ones to look at. He has a great perspective on issues and he appears to have a little bit of persistence, which he’ll want as Sauber inch their approach up the grid.

“But watching trackside, Kimi Antonelli was the one who impressed me most. He has a dramatic, aggressive and, to borrow a phrase from Martin Brundle, acrobatic style which I think we’re going to really enjoy watching this year.”

Eddie requested: Does anybody suppose Lewis Hamilton will win his eighth title this season? Or will Max Verstappen out sensible him?

Ted replies: They each know how one can win championships. Max goes for 5 in a row, Lewis goes for his eighth, they usually know that consistency is the reply. Constant points-scoring actually does win championships so even when they are not profitable, being on the rostrum at each race shall be sufficient to be a critical challenger in direction of the top. Both of them might win.

However what not one of the title contenders can actually afford is non-score races. You’ll be able to possibly get away with one or two at most, however definitely not more than that.

Alan Ryan requested: Will Ferrari arrange the automobile to swimsuit Lewis or Charles? Do they each need the identical set-up?

Ted replies: We requested Charles Leclerc about this and he stated that Lewis likes an analogous set-up to him. That helps with the event of the automobile as a result of the drivers are usually not wanting various things, one thing which might simply confuse the group.

In order that’s one motive why I believe that, whereas Ferrari may not be the quickest at first of the season, they will develop and be giving McLaren a tough time once we get to the European races.

F1Fan94 requested: How do you suppose the connection between Lando and Oscar will develop/change in the event that they do have a championship automobile this season? Will it change?

Ted replies: It is a actually fascinating topic the connection between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. It survived final yr by the entire questions on whether or not or not there was going to be a group chief, and after the switches of lead within the Brazil and Qatar Dash races, so I believe if it survived that, it would survive this yr too.

A lot will rely on who begins the season strongest and whether or not both of them have any points like a DNF or automobile breakdown, which is able to show very expensive this yr. However they’re each really easy going that I am unable to actually see there’s going to be any bother between the 2 McLaren drivers.

Mike requested: Will the vehicles change design/aero-wise from what we see in testing to the primary race?

Ted replies: I’d have stated that if any group was going to alter something it could be Aston Martin with Adrian Newey, who began on the group on March 3, coming in and drawing up a fast completely different entrance wing or one thing to be used however, sadly, I do not suppose it is that easy anymore.

I believe we are going to see some new elements by the grid however they might have been in design and manufacture for fairly just a few weeks now. Sometimes, if a group has seen one thing on one other automobile on the launches that they’ve preferred and may make their very own, then it would flip up at race two or three.

However, definitely, Purple Bull and Mercedes have stated that the automobile that they’ve examined goes to be the automobile that turns up at Melbourne. I believe McLaren have gotten one thing coming for the primary race, however that is about it.

Adam requested: Is that this the yr for Lando?

Ted replies: “He knows there is a lot of expectation on him but all he can do is just try and shut that out because it’s not going to help him.

“He simply must take each race because it comes, financial institution the factors early, see how the rule clarification on the Spanish GP on entrance wings goes to have an effect on McLaren, if in any respect – they are saying it isn’t – after which reserve his power for what’s going to be a decisive second half of the season.”

Watch all 24 race weekends from the 2025 Formula 1 season live on Sky Sports F1, starting with the Australian GP on March 14-16. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime