Former Formula One heavyweight Bernie Ecclestone has unveiled his forecast for the impending F1 2025 championship. In a candid revelation, Ecclestone affirmed his confidence in driver Max Verstappen, convinced that he’ll secure a straight five from five, leaving McLaren and Ferrari in his wake.
Ecclestone held the reins of F1 for an extensive period before handing over the baton to Liberty Media in 2016. Even though he has stepped back from the frontline, he continues to offer his astute insights into the racing world. His current prediction centres around Verstappen, despite acknowledging that the competition for the 2025 championship holds no definitive front-runner.
Ecclestone’s forecast comes in the wake of Verstappen and his Red Bull team’s remarkable performance, clinching a staggering 21 of the 22 races in 2023. However, the following season saw the team pushed to their limits with their rivals closing the on-track gap in the ground-effect era. Despite a ten-race winless stretch, his longest since 2020, Verstappen managed to clinch the Drivers’ Championship title, leaving Lando Norris of McLaren trailing behind.
McLaren, however, had their moment of glory, capturing their first Constructors’ crown since 1998. The level of competition was so fierce that Red Bull only managed to win nine of the 24 races, with McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes each savouring multiple victories. The former powerhouse, Red Bull, fell to third in the teams’ standings as Ferrari also made significant strides forward.
Looking ahead to the F1 2025 season, expectations are for an even more intense competition, with Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes all vying for the championship titles. Pre-season testing indicates an edge for McLaren, with rival teams and analytics experts predicting an advantage for the Woking team ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko echoed this sentiment, expressing his belief that McLaren already has a leg up based on the test results. George Russell, too, tipped his hat to McLaren, adding that Norris is looking confident following significant improvements over the winter.
Ecclestone, however, holds a different perspective. While he concedes that McLaren is a strong contender, he’d prefer to see Ferrari clinch the F1 2025 World title. In fact, he suggests that Charles Leclerc of Ferrari could potentially outshine seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton, as Ferrari is unlikely to sideline their long-time driver in favour of Hamilton.
Despite these projections, Ecclestone’s final bet is on Verstappen to secure the F1 2025 Drivers’ Championship title, provided the RB21 can deliver. Ecclestone conveyed his excitement about the open nature of the championship and stated his belief that Verstappen will emerge victorious, as long as he has the right equipment at his disposal.
