I'm delighted to say that, for the first time since 2022, I'm heading into a Formula 1 season with very little idea of how it's going to pan out.
It feels pretty certain that Red Bull and Max Verstappen's dominance is at an end after the chasing pack closed the gap to them at the end of last season but how things will pan out across the grid is tough to call, especially with so many new driver lineups - only McLaren and Aston Martin have the same two as they did in 2024.
Testing in Bahrain did give us some clues in regard to the pecking order though, and going by those results and a lot of gut instinct, here's how I think things will pan out this year.
The title fight
Not since the legendary 2010 campaign have we had a title fight between more than two drivers, but as was the case back then, I think there will be four in the mix this year: Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton
As I said, Verstappen isn't going to run away with the title, and winning it at all will be a huge ask. He only did so last year because he had the fastest car at the start of the campaign but it doesn't look like that will be the case this time around with McLaren and Ferrari both looking quicker in testing as well as at the end of 2024.
The Dutchman is undoubtedly good enough to compete for the championship even if rivals have stronger machinery and he'll put up a hell of a fight, but ultimately I think he'll lose out to Lando Norris.
It looks likely that the Brit will have the fastest car on the grid, he has experience fighting for an F1 title now which will only do him good, and he'll have the full backing of his team with McLaren all too happy to give Oscar Piastri a supporting role if necessary.
The same can't be said for the Ferrari pair of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. I can see the two getting in one another's way and taking points from each other with neither man willing to play second fiddle and the team being reluctant to ask one to.
George Russell should have the luxury of being Mercedes' outright lead driver unless Andrea Kimi Antonelli has a stunning first season on the grid, but I can't see Mercedes quite having the pace for a title challenge.
The best of the rest
If testing is anything to go by, there could be a big shake-up in the midfield battle this season.
Fernando Alonso won it last year but I'm not backing him to do so again, with the Aston Martin looking unconvincing to say the least in Bahrain. I wouldn't be surprise if he and his team spent most of the year preparing their Adrian Newey-led 2026 challenge either.
Instead, I'm going to go ahead and say that Carlos Sainz and Pierre Gasly will be the highest-scoring drivers outside of the top teams. It looks like both will have strong cars to work with and both have long been two of the most consistent drivers on the grid.
A bit further back, I can see Haas' Ollie Bearman being a real star in his rookie season and regularly making the top 10 in qualifying and races.
The Constructors' Championship
A lot is going to change this season but I think the top of the Constructors' Championship will look the same at the top, with McLaren being crowned champions and Ferrari close behind.
The Scuderia undoubtedly have the strongest pairing on the grid - heck, it's one of the strongest pairings the sport has ever seen - but Norris and Piastri aren't half-bad themselves, and I'd back them to see off their rivals with a stronger car.
Behind them, I'll give third to Mercedes largely because I just can't see Liam Lawson cutting the mustard at Red Bull whereas I do think Antonelli will at Mercedes; everyone who's been following the 18-year-old progress for a while says he could be the biggest talent since Verstappen, and the fact that Toto Wolff chose to give him a seat this season rather than make a move for Sainz makes me think their right.
I fancy Williams to score the most points of the midfield teams with Sainz and Alex Albon forming a seriously strong lineup, with Gasly leading Alpine to sixth.
At the very bottom, it's hard to see anyone but Sauber, and even they'd probably admit that with their focus very much on becoming Audi next season.
Predicted standings: McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull, Williams, Alpine, Aston Martin, Aston Martin, Haas, Racing Bulls, Sauber.
Intra-team battles
Battles between teammates are always one of the most fascinating subplots of a season, and that's especially the case this season with Hamilton joining Leclerc at Ferrari to form the sport's most high-profile lineup in years.
I think the motivation of a new challenge, one that he's dreamed of taking on for years, will see Hamilton get back to his best during his time with the Italian team, and while I'm not sure he'll ever be able to consistently match Leclerc's blistering pace in qualifying, he'll more than hold his own in races.
However, it will take some time for him to get used to a new car and new environment, so I'd say that Leclerc will prevail in their first season together.
The rest of the teams each have a fairly clear team leader and the only one I'm not backing to score more points than their teammate is Esteban Ocon - he'll do a solid job with Haas, but I think Bearman will be even better.
Predicted winners: Norris, Leclerc, Verstappen, Russell, Alonso, Gasly, Bearman, Tsunoda, Sainz, Hulkenberg.
Silly season
With Cadillac joining the grid next year, which drivers will fill the new team's two seats is going to be one of the big storylines of 2025.
I'd be surprised if they don't bring an American driver with them to tap into their home country's ever-growing market, and IndyCar's Colton Herta is the obvious option that I think they'll go for as long as he gets the superlicense points he needs this season.
They'll want an experienced F1 driver alongside him if they give him a shot, and Sergio Perez makes the most sense to me. He's thrived at teams lower down the grid before, will bring in a lot of sponsorship money and already has a huge fanbase in North America,
I can't see there being much silly season action elsewhere, whether mid-season changes or 2026 signings, but I'd be surprised if Alpine reserve driver Franco Colapinto doesn't replace Jack Doohan before this year is up, and I wouldn't rule out Red Bull making a move for the Argentine either.
