eams like Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren improved their rosters with top-tier talent. This has created fierce rivalries and set the stage for intense showdowns across 24 Grand Prix races. With legendary drivers and promising rookies entering the fray, you can expect a season full of surprises and record-breaking moments.
Buckle up for an exhilarating ride by placing your bets on exciting F1 fixtures and winning crypto and stablecoins. To gain further insights for your wagers, here’s your preview of the Formula 1 2025 season:
Fastest lap point is removed for 2025
Starting in the 2025 season, Formula 1 will no longer award extra points for securing the fastest lap. Previously, since 2019, drivers within the top 10 of that race could earn an additional 10 points for having the fastest lap record during a race. That’s the only change in the point system. Drivers can still earn points by finishing in the top 10 in Grand Prix and top 8 in Sprint.
F1 2025 key dates for the top 5 Grand Prix races
There are 24 Grand Prix scheduled for the 2025 season, so it is shaping up to be an action-packed year. If you plan to narrow down your betting and viewing to just a few must-watch events, here are the top five Grand Prix you shouldn’t miss:
Note: All schedules above are based on the tracks’ time zones.
Bold F1 predictions for 2025
Bold predictions in F1 aren’t just long shots but exciting possibilities grounded in the experience and skill of top drivers. Here are three popular bold F1 predictions for the 2025 season from insiders and experts:
Disclaimer: The following predictions are probable outcomes that are not favourite bets but not quite underdogs, either. While they are supported by evidence, they are still only true at the time of writing. Please bet with discretion and consider these predictions as suggestions.
Lewis Hamilton to win a title in Ferrari debut
Lewis Hamilton signing with Ferrari for the 2025 season is one of the biggest stories in F1 racing history. Fans and pundits are eager to see his performance under the new livery. The biggest question: Will Hamilton win the season-opening Grand Prix in Melbourne?
As the season opener, the Australian Grand Prix 2025 will be Hamilton’s debut with Ferrari. It’s an exciting tandem and a big step up for the greatest of all time (GOAT) in F1 racing. If Hamilton clinches victory, it will set an energetic tone for the rest of 2025.
Charles Leclerc to beat Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen has been the reigning World Drivers’ Champion for four seasons straight, and it’s safe to say he’s keeping his momentum. However, no one has defended their title more than four times since Michael Schumacher (2000-2004). Even Sebastian Vettel (2010-2013) and Lewis Hamilton (2017-2020) only managed four consecutive titles in their prime.
Enter Leclerc, the Ferrari driver who became the top scorer in the latter half of the 2024 season. Lewis Hamilton may be the fan favourite, but Leclerc has the most consistent top placement in all his appearances. He has the highest chance to win an upset against the four-time reigning champion, and 2025 is the best time to bet on him.
Haas to win first podium with Esteban Ocon
Esteban Ocon is observed as a wizard in navigating hazardous conditions in Formula 1. His standout performances include his victory in the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, 4th in the 2021 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, and podium finishes at the 2023 Monaco and 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix. He also placed 4th in the 2022 Japanese Grand Prix and the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
F1 fans believe Ocon is a diver you can count on when rain starts falling, making him a top contender for top finishes in unpredictable weather. Ocon will likely finish top 3 at any point in the season, giving Haas its first podium ever in the sport. 2025 will be Ocon’s debut with the team, and signing him will be proven as a smart move for Haas.
Steiner’s 2025 favourites to win Formula 1 titles
Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner is one of the respected voices in Formula 1, and he has named his favourites for 2025. Learn more about his favourites below:
Favourite teams for best driver pairing: Ferrari and McLaren
Winning the World Championship title is an uphill battle for most racers in 2025. They’ll be up against legendary drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. Despite this, Steiner has tipped Oscar Piastri as one of his standout picks. He believes that he starts well on the right foot and McLaren has the means to support his 2025 campaign.
It’s also worth considering Ferrari’s strong lineup with Hamilton and Leclerc. Both drivers are highly skilled, and Ferrari emerged as one of the top performers in the latter half of 2024. However, if choosing between the two teams, Steiner believes McLaren has a better shot with an unchanged lineup and their amazing performance near the end of 2024.
Favourite teams for best rookies: Mercedes and Red Bull
Steiner believes that Mercedes and Red Bull would be among his top four contenders of the year, but they have a rookie each. Liam Lawson may not be a true rookie, considering he’s raced in the Grand Prix, but he has yet to complete a season. Experience beats talent, and the rookies in both teams can’t go toe-to-toe with Ferrari and McLaren.
However, Steiner acknowledges these rookies as young talents with strong potential for growth. He may not believe they’ll win this year’s Drivers’ Championships, but they have a good shot at the Constructors Championship. Red Bull has a strong chance of success, with Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson as their driver pairing.
Drivers Championship 2025 favourites in Sportsbet.io
4-time back-to-back title holder, Max Verstappen is considered the underdog against Lando Noris for 2025. No doubt aided by McLaren’s impressive performance in the final months of 2024. Charles Leclerc is also ahead of his teammate and former 4-time back-to-back title holder, Lewis Hamilton. All four are Guenther Steiner’s favourites this season and most bettors agree with his assessment.
Constructors Championship 2025 favourites in Sportsbet.io
In F1, anything can happen, but three teams stand out as top contenders for the 2025 season championship titles. Here’s a look at the liveries you can count on to dominate the track:
Red Bull Racing
Red Bull Racing is once again a frontrunner for 2025, with four-time World Drivers’ Champion Verstappen as one of its drivers. The other one is top-rated rookie Lawson, debuting in 2025. Red Bull always has a keen eye for talent, and it is shown front and centre with this impressive pairing in Formula 1 racing.
Ferrari
Ferrari has its sights set on reclaiming the World Drivers’ Championship title since Kimi Räikkönen (2007). They aim to change that this year after signing Hamilton and pairing him with Leclerc. It’s the livery’s strongest pair of drivers in history, and this could be the year Ferrari returns to the top of the podium as they aim to end their long championship drought.
McLaren
McLaren hasn’t secured a World Drivers Championship since Hamilton’s 2008 triumph, but they are the defending 2024 Constructors Champion. They consistently place 5th in headline lap times regardless of who is driving for them. This year, they have 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix winner Piastri and 2019 World Champion Lando Norris.
Top racers to win upsets this year
If you’re considering underdog betting for the 2025 Grand Prix races, two rookies are generating a lot of buzz: Liam Lawson and Jack Doohan. These young drivers have the potential to pull off surprising upsets and could challenge some of the favourites in head-to-head bets.
Liam Lawson (Red Bull Racing)
Liam Lawson made his Formula 1 debut in 2024 and placed 21st in the World Drivers Championship. It’s a solid performance for a rookie in a season full of veterans, especially with only 11 races under his belt. He had a notable clash with two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso at the 2024 US Grand Prix, so a rivalry between them is expected in 2025.
Jack Doohan (Alpine)
Jack Doohan is a product of the Alpine Academy driver and is making his official Formula 1 debut in 2025. Although he spent 2024 only as a reserve driver, he has extensive experience with Alpine’s machines as their test driver for the last two seasons, giving him all the preparations needed for 2025.
F1 outright markets in Sportsbet.io
The 2025 F1 season spans the entire year, giving you plenty of time to ponder who will win and place outright bets. Sportsbet.io offers four kinds of outrights that you can check out right now.
You can find all kinds of markets under this betting category, a great opportunity to bet and win crypto. Here’s a breakdown of the four main types of outright available:
・ Drivers Championship 2025 – Season Head-to-Head
In this market, you bet on which of two drivers will place higher in the Drivers’ Championship standings. These are arbitrary selections, but they will be exciting matchups like Jack Doohan vs Jack Doohan or Lewis Hamilton vs Max Verstappen. The driver who ranks higher in the final standings wins the head-to-head.
・ Drivers Championship 2025 – Driver to Win a Race
This market lets you bet on whether a specific driver will win any of the 24 Grand Prix races in 2025. ‘Yes’ bets win as soon as that driver wins any of the 24 Grand Prix in 2025. ‘No’ bets win when the season ends, and they haven’t won a race.
・ Constructors Championship 2025 – Season Head-to-Head
Similar to the drivers’ head-to-head market, but this time, you’re betting on which constructor (team) will rank higher in the Constructors’ Championship standings. For example, you might see matchups like Ferrari vs Mercedes or McLaren vs Red Bull. The team that ranks higher at the end of the 2025 season wins the bet.
・ Constructors Championship 2025 – Team to Win a Race
Every livery has two participants in each Grand Prix. If any of their drivers win the race, it counts as a win for the team. Betting options will be about individual teams, and your options are ‘yes’ and ‘no’. ‘Yes’ bets win as soon as a team wins a race, but ‘No’ bets win at the end of the season if that team fails to secure a number 1 spot at any Grand Prix.
Top betting factors to consider in the Formula 1 Grand Prix
Formula 1 racing is full of nuances that can affect everyone’s odds of winning. Keep the following factors in mind when deciding on a bet to place your money on more likely winners at Sportsbet.io:
・ Driver feats – Drivers tend to display consistent performances over several seasons. It’s how Hamilton and Verstappen managed to win the World Drivers Championship back-to-back for multiple seasons. Research drivers’ most recent performances and use that to predict their next race ranking.
・ Fastest lap – The racer who sets the record for the fastest lap has a strong affinity for that track. If you see a driver racing on another track with similar conditions where they performed best, they are likely to excel again. For example, Hamilton has the most wins in the US Grand Prix, so he’s a solid bet when racing at the track in Austin.
・ Weather on the day of the race – All drivers are trained to drive well around hazards, but some have better affinity in certain conditions over others. A great example is Ocon, who shines the brightest when it rains. You can count on him to reach a podium in a downpour.
Stay tuned for more F1 updates at Sportsbet.io
Catch all the races for the 2025 Formula 1 season at Sportsbet.io. This year promises thrilling competition as seasoned veterans face off against rising stars. Expect intense head-to-head matchups and free-for-alls at every Grand Prix scheduled for 2025.
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