2024 done, 2025 loading: the Formula One plotlines that could develop new arcs Premium

The Hindu reviews the 2024 Formula One season, highlighting key moments and predicting what 2025 may bring.

The longest Formula One season in history concluded in Abu Dhabi last weekend, bringing the curtain down on an enthralling year during which the pecking order see-sawed, keeping the fans invested until the final race. The Hindu looks at some of the major talking points from the season gone by and gazes into the crystal ball to see what 2025 could offer.

At the start of the year, it seemed as if Red Bull and Max Verstappen would run away with both titles after winning four of the first five races. 

But from Miami, McLaren slowly established itself as a front-runner. However, the team’s operational weakness and driver errors meant it did not maximise its package, allowing Verstappen to add three more wins at events where he probably did not have the fastest car.

McLaren had the fastest car through the summer, even as Red Bull suffered a steep dip in its fortunes. Only Verstappen was able to cover his team’s flaws. In between, Mercedes joined the party, snatching three opportunistic victories.

After the summer break, Ferrari became a genuine contender, and the Italian marque made McLaren sweat it out for the constructors’ championship, falling short by just 14 points.

Considering the current regulations stay stable next year ahead of the big shake-up in 2026, the pecking order is unlikely to change drastically unless any team blunders.

Ferrari and McLaren closed the season strongly, while Red Bull addressed some key weaknesses later in the year. If Mercedes can design a car that has a wider operating window than it has now, the intriguing possibility of a four-way title battle opens up.