Happy New Year! The Best F1 Stories To Follow Entering 2025

Look to BetUS Sportsbook for the early F1 odds as we break down the top stories beginning with what could be the beginning to the end of Max Verstappen’s reign.

Fernando Alonso in 2016 congratulating Max Verstappen on his first Formula 1 win vs. congratulating him on his fourth championship 🥹 pic.twitter.com/Zr0zF19Uxv

— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) November 26, 2024

Consider This The End of an Era …

Is this Verstappen’s swan song? It could be if the F1 lines are accurate, as he’s listed at +220 to win the driver’s title, which is behind McLaren’s Lando Norris at +210.

Verstappen won his fourth consecutive championship in 2024, but it was his narrowest win since his first in 2021. Meanwhile, Red Bull lost its constructor’s title to McLaren.

This season will also mark the last year for many periods such as the power unit configuration introduced in 2014, the drag reduction system (DRS) for overtaking aid in 2011, and the 2022 generation of cars. Additionally, Renault is also leaving.

With all these changes, 2025 may be the most competitive F1 season. Picture the second half of the 2024 season but as a full one. Verstappen still took the title due to a dominant first half, but he only won two of the final 14 races.

There is also plenty of F1 news that the four-time world champion will switch teams. This is highly likely if he fails to win with Red Bull and the team continues to struggle.

Sebastian Vettel won four consecutive titles with Red Bull then left for Ferrari after he dropped to fifth in the first season of the new regulations (2014). Something similar could happen here, so keep an eye on Verstappen and Red Bull.

Ferrari vs McLaren Is So Back

Some rivalries speak for themselves, and Ferrari vs McLaren is F1’s historic matchup, which we just saw get a renaissance last season. And judging by the odds this year, the rivalry should continue. BetUS Sportsbook pegs both teams as the frontrunners for the constructor’s title at +125 apiece.

We saw McLaren beat Ferrari last season by just 14 points. Norris held off Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr. in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final race, to give his team the win.

Of course, Leclerc had a significant handicap due to a penalty. He almost overcame that by finishing third. Still, the standings could have flipped had he not been penalized.

McLaren and Ferrari at the top of the constructors’ standings 🔥

This is F1 heritage.#F1 #QatarGP pic.twitter.com/KHQzvafzoX

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 28, 2024

McLaren snapped a 26-year championship drought with the win last season. Ferrari can end a 16-year drought with a victory this year. It may be worth a bet online, especially if Lewis Hamilton still has plenty left in the tank.

The seven-time champion joins Ferrari to give Leclerc some friendly competition. Sainz will head to Williams beside Alex Albon.

This driver musical chairs is but the tip of the iceberg of all the new team changes this season.

Which ‘New’ Driver Will Make the Most Impact?

Sainz could drive the 2025 season with a massive chip on his shoulder. 2024 was his best season, and he has to start fresh with a smaller team.

Sainz could help push Williams up the standings. They’ll be interesting F1 picks as a midfield team – and maybe more – moving forward.

As for Hamilton, he’ll be the next former champion to join Ferrari in the latter part of their careers. The likes of Vettel and Fernando Alonso failed to recapture titles with the red team, but Hamilton is listed at +750 to win the title, which is next to Leclerc at +400. He had a resurgent 2024 where he won two races.

Red Bull will also welcome a familiar driver to the “big team” in Liam Lawson. He’s been promoted from the RB team in place of Sergio “Checo” Perez, who is now out of F1. The 22-year-old is a +3500 long shot in the F1 odds to win the title. Maybe he can make noise and help the constructor recapture its title.

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