Formula 1 starts the new season. And it has it all: Fernando Alonso can cheer again. And exceptionally, world champion does not become Max Verstappen – five theses before the start of the season.
Although there are many new faces in Formula 1, there is little to say that the balance of power among the teams will change significantly. McLaren will go ahead, Lando Norris is also a favorite on the world champion title. Red Bull relies on Max Verstappen and Ferrari wants to attack Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Five daring theses for the new season.
1: Lewis Hamilton becomes world champion in the first Ferrari year
Twelve years of Mercedes, now Ferrari in autumn of career. The 40-year-old Lewis Hamilton wants to know again and sets everything on the map Ferrari for the big goal, the eighth world champion title. In the last year of Formula 1 before the great technology revolution, it looks at least in terms of sport as if Hamilton had done everything right to rely on red and not on black.
The Ferrari seems to be able to stand up to McLaren. The experience and the overwhelming ambition give the British the decisive advantage of teammate Charles Leclerc, who is talented, but also error. Hamilton is becoming world champion for the eighth time and the Scuderia gives the first World Cup title since 2007. It would be the perfect script.
2: Kimi Antonelli does better than George Russell
Kimi Antonelli is 18 years old and goes to the new season at Mercedes as a regular driver. In the history of Formula 1, only one regular driver was younger: a certain Max Verstappen. He was 17 years old exactly ten years ago, but had a much weaker car at the time. The trust of the Mercedes bosses in Supertalent Antonelli is great.
The pressure for the Italian should be low-what do you expect from an 18-year-old in the first F1 year? This is exactly where Antonelli is the chance – and the disadvantage for teammate George Russell. The Brit has to go ahead, but has shown nerves again and again in the past. It will be scarce and overall less successful than hopes in the Mercedes camp. But Antonelli scores more points than Russell – and thus questions the chopping order.
3: Fernando Alonso won a race for the first time since 2013
Admittedly, a lot should come together so that this prediction arrives. But when, if not in the presumably last Formula 1 season by Fernando Alonso, should it go out again very big? The Spaniard has been with a short interruption since 2001, was world champion in 2005 and 2006, has completed over 400 races and will be 44 years old in the course of this season.
Fernando Alonso from Spain set up a new Formula 1 record.
It is the concentrated experience speaks for Alonso – especially in races where it is chaotic. It will inevitably also exist in 2025. If the Aston Martin plays a certain extent, which he did very well in the early season in early 2023, there is a victory in it. It would be the crowning glory of a great career.
4: Alpine exchanges Jack Doohan against Franco Colapinto
The story about Jack Doohan is already a lot of strange. The 22-year-old Australian will do the second Formula 1 race of his career at the start of the season in Melbourne-that much is clear. There will probably be a few more, but it is at least questionable that he ends the season in the alpine. Nothing came to debt. On the contrary: As a multi -promise rookie, he took over the cockpit from Esteban Ocon and is said to gain experience alongside Pierre Gasly.
Jack Doohan test driver of the Formula 1 team Alpine
His problem: Franco Colapinto sits on his neck. The Argentinian convinced in the last third of the pre -season at Williams, was even undertaken at Red Bull. In the end, only the role of the replacement driver at Alpine jumped out for Colapinto. If the results are no longer available for Doohan, Colapinto can go. At the latest in Europe (mid -May) the Argentinian sits in the cockpit.
5: Max Verstappen leaves Red Bull at the end of the season
The love between Max Verstappen and Red Bull started crumbling last season. Only father Jos expressed his displeasure with the approach in the affair around team boss Christian Horner, then the sporting descent followed. In the second half of the season, Red Bull was only a third force, only the quality of Verstappen ensured that he could save the World Cup lead from the first half of the season.
There is little to suggest that the team can close this gap over the winter. In 2026 the cards will be completely mixed up anyway. Then Aston also wants to attack Martin, where ex-Red Bull engineering Adrian Newey already sets the course in the background. Verstappen and Newey come together again – the Dutch leaves Red Bull in the direction of Aston Martin and succeeds Alonso there. And to make the drama perfect, this will be announced during the season.
Jens Gideon, Sportschau, 24.11.2024 10:01 a.m.