Lewis Hamilton in red Max Verstappen under pressure for F1 s 75th anniversary

MELBOURNE – The 2025 Formula One season has all the makings of a white-knuckle 24-race celebration to mark 75 years since the inaugural seven-race championship in 1950, while Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari provides an intriguing storyline.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen appears to have his work cut out to seal a fifth straight title, with Lando Norris poised to knock the Dutchman off his perch.

Here are some talking points before the season gets under way in Australia on March 16.

Verstappen eyeing high five

Verstappen embarks on the 2025 season in pursuit of a fifth successive title, a feat achieved only once before, by the legendary Michael Schumacher.

If he succeeds, it will cement the Dutchman’s place as a titan of the sport.

He hoovered up seven of the first 10 races in his rampaging Red Bull last season, before a 10-race winless run as McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari ran riot.

But Verstappen had the last word, fighting back to win in Brazil and clinch title No. 4 in Las Vegas with two races to spare.

McLaren then prised the constructors’ championship away from Red Bull to seal their long road back to the F1 summit.

The tough task facing Verstappen is underlined by the betting, which has him as only second favourite behind Norris (who ended last season 63 points behind) for the 2025 crown.

Hamilton fired up at Ferrari

Hamilton has said that his move from Mercedes to Ferrari has given him a new lease of life.

He is convinced he can help Ferrari win a first drivers’ championship since 2007 after the seven-time world champion made the move to Italy.

At 40, the Briton seems full of youthful enthusiasm for