This year promises more action, tighter battles, and a deeper level of competition than ever before. Here’s your ultimate guide to the F1 2025 season, packed with everything you need to know.
The F1 2025 season is shaping up to be a thrilling year of high-speed drama, record-breaking performances, and unforgettable moments. With an updated calendar, new regulations, and exciting team developments, fans are in for an epic ride this season.
Australia returns as the opening Grand Prix for the 2025 calendar, and nothing could be better than having our own driver from the southern hemisphere, ready to prove his talents. As for the racetrack, Melbourne’s Albert Park is known for its mix of fast straights and technical corners and high-octane action. 2024 brought us the end of the 43-race finishing streak for Max as a spectacular rear brake fire ended his race, so fans are eager to see the comeback story as he kicks off the chase for a fifth title in a row.
The first double-header of the season takes us to China and Japan, and the first sprint race of the season. Shanghai kicks off the potential for more Max dominance in the sprint format as he looks to tame the demanding circuit and grab more points for his 2025 campaign. As for Suzuka, the legendary figure-eight layout and varied weather conditions are set to test all teams but with Oracle Red Bull Racing winning in 2022, 2023 & 2024, Japan is a track we are confident can provide points.
From one double-header to another, except this time we’re heading to the Middle East, a place that holds plenty of fortune for the team. In 2024, both races saw a 1-2 finish for our drivers as Max and Checo dominated the high-speed circuits for maximum points. Will this dominance continue into 2025?
Continuing with the sprint format, Miami holds race two and ushers in Formula 1 in the USA for 2025. As a unique street circuit, it’s a stern test of car balance and driver skill – something our drivers know all too well, and a certain bollard as well (check out 2024 highlights). This was a hotly contested race in 2024 with it being Lando Norris’ first race win, and it will be a trophy Oracle Red Bull Racing are keen to take back.
The European leg begins at the iconic Imola circuit, steeped in F1 history. This narrow, technical, and unforgiving track rewards precision and punishes mistakes. With its challenging layout, Imola represents a critical turning point in the season as 2024 showed us; it was the point in the season that indicated who might be in the title fight, so preparation is key.
Undeniably the most recognisable circuit on the calendar, and a race all drivers want to win, Monaco brings the glitz and glamour, as well as the ever-closing walls. With overtaking nearly impossible, qualifying and strategy is of utmost importance as one mistake can cost the driver and team dearly. Oracle Red Bull Racing are certainly aiming for another celebratory pool dive.
The European triple-header is set to be signed off in significant fashion as the last year of the Spanish Grand Prix being in Barcelona lands in 2025. Moving to Madrid in 2026, Max is hoping to take victory again after keeping three Brits at bay in 2024. It’s a favourite on the calendar for many fans and with the race weekend landing at the beginning of summer, tyre degradation is sure to be a consideration strategically.
Not only are the team heading home to Austria’s Red Bull Ring to entertain the orange army, but the trip to Silverstone is a home away from home for the MK-based team. Austria has been a dominant track for Oracle Red Bull Racing over the years and Silverstone has been full of drama for the F1 fan no matter what year. As we edge towards the summer break, Spa bookends this triple header with the weekend holding a Sprint race first. Across all three races, the strategy team will have to be hyper-focused on changing conditions and rival team strategies to ensure we bring home all points available.
Nowhere is the orange army more obvious than in Zandvoort as Max’s home race brings out every Dutch fan and every orange flare in the whole of the Netherlands. The atmosphere is electric and the racing even more so as another victory for Max is always on the cards.
The Americas leg of the season includes iconic races in the United States, Mexico, and Brazil. Each circuit presents unique challenges; from COTA’s technical layout and Mexico’s high altitude to Brazil’s undulating track and unpredictable weather. Oracle Red Bull Racing’s proven dominance in these regions makes them formidable contenders, and the expectation competitive racing across all three tracks means that this could be where titles are decided.
Famously known for some dramatic events in the sport’s history, the stunning Yas Marina Circuit might be the track where titles are decided yet again, if not wrapped up in previous races. As the lights go out in Abu Dhabi, are we looking to usher in a 5-time World Champion in Max Verstappen or a new winner in Liam Lawson?
Sprint races will take place at six key venues in 2025: the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring on June 28th, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on July 5th, the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps on July 19th, the Italian Grand Prix at Monza on September 6th, the United States Grand Prix at COTA on October 18th, and the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos on November 8th. With more Sprint races than ever before, points on offer become even more important to both title races, but with Max dominating last year, could we he see him dominate again?
How our Drivers prepare for the new F1 2025 Season
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How F1 Drivers Prepare For A New Season
Powered by Castore, Behind The Charge follows Oracle Red Bull Racing as they prepare for the 2025 Formula One Season.
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Rules and Regulations: What’s Changing in the F1 2025 season?
The F1 2025 season brings several key regulation changes. Aerodynamic tweaks aim to improve overtaking opportunities, while cost cap refinements ensure a level playing field. Sustainability goals remain a priority, with teams incorporating greener practices both on and off the track. These updates promise to enhance the competition without compromising the essence of Formula 1.
Technical Updates
To create a level playing field for drivers of all sizes, the minimum driver weight has been increased from 80 kg to 82 kg. This adjustment also raises the car’s minimum weight from 798 kg to 800 kg, ensuring fairness without compromising performance.
In races with track temperatures above 30.5°C, all cars must now include a driver cooling system. This safety-first approach increases the car’s minimum weight by 5 kg but ensures drivers remain comfortable and perform at their peak in extreme heat.
The Drag Reduction System (DRS) gets a makeover with a smaller gap in the rear wing slot, reducing its overtaking power slightly. Additionally, stricter checks will ensure the rear wing resets to its default position promptly, keeping the system reliable and the racing fair.
Sporting Regulations
Starting in 2025, the point for the fastest lap has been removed, refocusing teams on strategic racing rather than chasing extra points. This change simplifies race strategies and keeps the emphasis on the bigger picture.
Teams are now required to feature a young driver in two free practice sessions per season for each car. This rule paves the way for future stars to gain valuable experience while offering fresh insights during practice weekends.
To level the playing field and control costs, testing is now restricted to 20 days with the previous season’s car. Active drivers can only cover 1,000 km over four days of testing, and testing at race venues is prohibited within 60 days of a Grand Prix. These measures maintain fairness across the grid.
If qualifying cannot proceed as planned, starting grids will now be determined by the current Drivers’ Championship standings. At the season’s start or in other unique scenarios, race stewards will decide the grid order. This ensures races go ahead smoothly, even in unexpected situations.
The starting grid will now be finalized one hour before the race. If a car withdraws up to 75 minutes before the start, the grid will adjust to fill the gaps, ensuring a seamless and professional race start.
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Oracle Red Bull Racing in Numbers
(Stats Pre 2025 Season)
6
Constructors World Championships
393
Race Starts
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A word from our Team Principal, Christian Horner OBE
While the 2024 season ultimately resulted in Drivers’ title glory, with Max Verstappen securing his fourth championship, the battle for the Constructors’ title slipped away. However, it’s precisely that team title loss that Christian Horner believes will give Oracle Red Bull Racing an advantage heading into what is forecast to be one of Formula One’s closest title fights.
Last year was tough, but we’ve always been a team that channels adversity into performance, and I think 2024 will galvanize the team to come back even stronger..
With the team’s rivals closing in, Christian is under no illusion about the challenge ahead but is excited about what he predicts will be a “genuine thriller.”
“It is going to be massively close. You’ve got at least four teams that will be in contention— in the last year of these regulations— to win Grands Prix, so I think the biggest winner will be Formula One.” He believes Oracle Red Bull Racing has a couple of aces up its sleeve when it comes to winning those close battles. “We’ve got the best driver in our car in Max, and I think we’ve got the best team as well,” he insists. Christian also believes the team’s 2025 charge will benefit from having a new driver on the other side of the garage.
“Liam Lawson is a real racer,” he says. “He’s not afraid to mix it with the best and come out on top. He races hard, and he’s got broad shoulders. There’s no doubt that racing alongside Max, a four-time champion and undoubtedly one of the greatest drivers ever seen in F1, is a daunting task, but I’m sure Liam can rise to that challenge and deliver some outstanding results for us next year.”
With two strong drivers, an improved car in the RB21, and a team determined to reclaim both titles, 2025 looks set, as Christian says, to be a true thriller.
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Max Verstappen Chasing History in 2025
In a career filled with records, Max Verstappen has the chance to match one of the rarest in Formula One history in 2025—becoming only the second driver ever to win five consecutive world titles. While Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton have both won four in a row, it’s now Max’s turn to go one better and equal the great Michael Schumacher’s streak of five Drivers’ Championships in succession.
I’m very excited about 2025 because it looks like it’s going to be a proper fight between a lot of teams...
Despite his dominance in recent years, Max expects to start the season as an unlikely underdog. “We won’t be the favourites, but that’s okay. We still have to change a lot of things to be number one again. But maybe sometimes it’s good not to be the favourite at the start of the season.”
While he acknowledges the battle ahead will be intense, there’s one thing he’s certain of—he’s ready for the fight. “I don’t feel like I have any weaknesses—and of course, I’ll never admit to it anyway!” he laughs. “But I’m also very open-minded because I know I can always be better. I know over a single weekend, people can have unbelievable performances, but it’s about how you can maintain a very high level of performance across the whole year. Plus, I hate losing,” he adds. “I can acknowledge when someone does a better job, but it’s still not nice to lose. That is the driving factor—we need to be better.”
What I know is that the Team doesn’t give up. It is going to be a big battle...
And he is confident that 2025 can be even better than last year. “What I know is that the Team doesn’t give up. It is going to be a big battle. But like I said before, even when you’re not the quickest, if you just keep maximizing those results, a lot is possible.”
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The Oracle Red Bull Racing Team of 2025
Led by Team Principal and CEO Christian Horner CBE, Oracle Red Bull Racing’s new lineup for the F1 2025 season features Max Verstappen alongside rising star Liam Lawson. Also for 2025 are an updated team of engineers, strategists, and mechanics who work tirelessly to develop race-winning cars and execute precision race operations. Here’s a look at the key personnel who drive our success.
For the first time in Formula One history, all 10 teams unveiled their new cars and drivers together in a spectacular live event at London’s O2 Arena, marking the official start of the 2025 season. Fans packed the venue and tuned in worldwide to witness the next generation of F1 machines, including Oracle Red Bull Racing’s RB21 and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls’ VCARB 02.
Introduced in 2018 the titanium roll hoop or 'halo' can sustain forces from all directions, withstanding 15g of impact and 116kN vertically downwards (12 metric tons or 1 double decker bus). The Halo improves chances of survival by 17%.
Side pods cool internal components of the car and guide front wheel airflow towards the rear wing. Depending on the circuit conditions, different side pods will be installed on the car to funnel airflow towards the radiators. Look out for changes in the size of the air intakes and cooling slats. Side pods also play a vital role in vehicle aerodynamics, downforce capabilities and housing side impact structures.
Dirty air causes instability to both our car and the following car. The curved structure removes the need for rear wing endplates which in turn reduces the volume of turbulent, hot air behind our car. The airflow is collected from the wake of the rear diffuser by a rear wing and is pushed high into the air.
Suspension systems allow a car to remain stable on uneven track services or over curbs. The rear of the RB21 maintains a push-rod geometry which means the suspension rod is fitted from the bottom of the wheel, upwards into the nose where it pushes against internal suspension mechanisms (rockers, torsion bars and dampers), in turn absorbing shocks. Suspension setup impacts chassis build, tire degradation, handling and grip.
Floor design is crucial to the RB21's performance due to the reintroduction of ground effect aerodynamics in 2022. Pressure under the car generates downforce - therefore circuit geometry determines which floor design we use. There are two tunnels within the floor which direct in airflow from the front wing to the rear diffuser.
Suspension systems allow the car to remain stable or uneven track surfaces or over curbs. The front of the RB21 maintains a poor rod geometry which means the suspension rod is fitted from the top of the wheel, downwards into the nose where it pulls against internal suspension systems (rockers, torsion bars and dampers), in turn absorbing shocks. Suspension setup impacts chassis build, tire degradation, handling and grip.
The 4-level front wing reduces the amount of dirty air which the car pushes outwards. Dirty air can cause significant overtaking issues and stability. The front wing can be adjusted up to 40mm during a session to change airflow, look out for this during a pit stop! The nose cone stores our driver drinks vessel and can hold ballast to improve weight balance.
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Win an Oracle Red Bull Racing 2025 Replica Race Suit!
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