But Verstappen had the last word, fighting back to win in Brazil and clinch title number four in Las Vegas with two races to spare. McLaren 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 2024 63 points behind) for the 2025 crown, with Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Hamilton leading the rest of the pack.

Class of 2025 rookies

An Italian teenager who only passed his driving test in January is among the six-strong 2025 season's rookie intake.

Kimi Antonelli is an exciting 18-year-old who uses the nickname of his uncle who was a fan of Ferrari's last world champion, Finn Kimi Raikkonen, takes Lewis Hamilton's seat alongside George Russell at Mercedes.

"I really want to make my own story" insists last year's multiple Formula 2 winner, brushing off suggestions he is the seven-time world champion's 'replacement' at the Silver Arrows.

Kiwi Liam Lawson, a 'veteran' of 11 grand prix already, makes his fully fledged debut as Verstappen's new wingman at Red Bull. Ferrari's British academy driver Ollie Bearman was thrown into the F1 deep end when he was called up as a last minute replacement for appendicitis-victim Carlos Sainz at the Saudi Grand Prix last year, becoming the youngest ever driver to compete for the Scuderia.

He seized his chance, holding off Hamilton and Norris to finish seventh. He joins Ferrari-powered Haas. Brazil has a presence on the grid for the first time in five years in F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto at Sauber.

Aussie Jack Doohan will be hoping to enjoy even a small slice of his dad Mick's success on two-wheels in MotoGP as he graduates from reserve driver to become Pierre Gasly's teammate at Alpine. Last but not least is RB's Isack Hadjar, the 20-year-old French-Algerian who narrowly missed out to Bortoleto for the F2 title.

FIA in drivers' crosshairs

In the volatile unpredictable high-octane bubble that is F1, one thing seems assured in 2025: renewed tension between the governing body and the drivers. Notably over the FIA's crack down on swearing.

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Lewis Hamilton in red, Max Verstappen under pressure . . . Here are the storylines for F1's 75th anniversary