Lando Norris, a key figure in the world of Formula 1, predicts an exciting shake-up in the 2025 season. He envisages a scene where race victories are not confined to the customary top four teams, indicating a surge in competitiveness and unpredictability.
In the 1982 season, there were a record 11 different winners. While the 2025 season may not mirror this diversity, McLaren’s CEO, Zak Brown, expects an extraordinary season with numerous teams ascending to the podium’s top step.
Formula 1 witnessed a significant change in its landscape in the previous season. Max Verstappen claimed his fourth consecutive championship title, but it was not a walk in the park as it was during his dominant 2023 season. The competition was fierce, with McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes each bagging multiple victories.
McLaren emerged as the ultimate victors, clinching the Constructors’ Championship and pushing Red Bull to third place, just behind Ferrari. The season was a testament to the sport’s heightened competitiveness, with seven drivers winning races and ten experiencing the thrill of podium finishes. Alpine also made their mark with a double podium finish in Brazil.
The tightening gap between teams was apparent during the qualifiers as well. There was a notable decrease in the time deficit from Q1 in Bahrain, which shrank from nearly a second to just half a second by Abu Dhabi.
Norris anticipates even fiercer competition in the 2025 season, the last under the current regulations. “Every year rules don’t change, every time regulations don’t change, it gets closer and closer,” he said during the F1 75 livery launch.
He underscored the impressive progress of the midfield teams towards the end of the previous season and predicted that even teams outside the traditional top four might secure victories. Norris believes that this is a positive development for Formula 1, its fans, and the sport as a whole.
However, the 2026 regulations might rearrange the competitive order, a development that Norris regards with some regret. “It’s a shame that it all changes in 2026 because I’m expecting it to be a good season and tough for all of us,” he said.
Zak Brown of McLaren shares Norris’s perspective, also predicting more than four teams could win races this year. “I think this season should be epic and even closer than last year. So I’m anticipating eight different winners,” Brown said.
With the grid closer than ever, 2025 is set to be one of the most nail-biting seasons in recent Formula 1 history. Whether McLaren can retain their Constructors’ title is yet to be ascertained, but one thing is certain—Formula 1 enthusiasts can expect a thrilling season ahead.