The 2024 Formula 1 season is history, Max Verstappen remains king, McLaren is back at the top after a long time. It is the time for taking stock and looking back. Are you kidding me? Are you serious when you say that! sport.de prefers to look ahead and put half a dozen steep theses on the slopes for 2025. Plausible or nonsense? RTL expert Christian Danner puts the whole thing into perspective for us.
Danner: There is potential for truth everywhere that it could really happen like that. Max Verstappen’s competition has been woken up: everyone knows you can beat him. In the past it was difficult because he was so dominant. This certainty brings extra strength to light. The Aston Martin scenario is of course linked to Adrian Newey – and to, let’s say, quite determined team owner Lawrence Stroll. I think that’s a realistic possibility.
- Thesis 2: After a few starting problems, Ferrari will hit hammer time in 2025! Lewis Hamilton conquers his historic eighth world title in red and is crowned the sole record world champion.
Danner (laughs): That’s not completely out of the world – why not? It is a completely realistic approach. The season with all its specifics – hot track, cold track and so on – will show how Hamilton works in the Ferrari. His chances have absolutely improved with the move from Mercedes to Ferrari, he is certainly in a highly competitive car. At Ferrari he also has an environment that is very, very motivated. Breaking the Schumacher record in a Ferrari is ultimate for Hamilton, who places great value on motorsport history. That motivates him even more.
Danner: Yes, but the two of them won’t be alone at the front and fight for the title. I think we will see a continuation of the status quo in 2025. Mercedes will have a say in particular with Russell and of course you can never ignore Verstappen, no matter what kind of car you put him in. It won’t just be McLaren versus Ferrari. Because practically the same cars will be driving in 2025 as in 2024, the favorites ranking corresponds to the final standings of this year’s constructors’ championship.
- Thesis 4: Andrea Kimi Antonelli has to go through a steel bath in his rookie season at Mercedes against the ice-cold George Russell – at the end of the season his future with the Silver Arrows is questionable.
Danner: I wouldn’t say I think that’s very likely. But I see a 50 percent possibility. Antonelli always broke something in all his tests. So there is something to it, the theory cannot be completely dismissed.
- Thesis 5: Lance Stroll will actually drive a season in 2025 without making a hair-raising rookie mistake.
Danner (laughs): I think it’s completely out of the question.
- Thesis 6: Fortuna strikes like never before – Nico Hülkenberg reaches the podium in the Sauber for the first time.
Danner: Just as impossible as a season without a Stroll blunder. Next year the Sauber will drive the same as it did this year, maybe a little better. But it won’t be enough for the podium.
To person:
Christian Danner (66) made the leap into Formula 1 in 1985 by winning the Formula 3000 European Championship. Until 1989, he drove in the premier class for several small teams and scored four championship points in 36 Grand Prix starts. He then started in the US IndyCar series and became the first German racing driver to score points in Formula 1 and IndyCar. Danner won five races in the DTM between 1988 and 1996 and retired from active professional motorsport in 1997. From 1998 to 2022 and again since 2024, the Bavarian commented on Formula 1 on RTL alongside Heiko Waßer. Danner works as a TV expert and driving safety coach. Follow Christian Danner on Instagram here!