McLaren, Hamilton, Doohan… The five challenges of the Australian Grand Prix

McLaren, a status to be confirmed

They are the reigning Constructors' World Champions, so they are the favourites for this season. Lando Norris, Oscar piastri et McLaren are setting off again to conquer the Grail with the ambition of achieving the Drivers-Constructors double in 2025. A status of favourites that will have to be assumed throughout the 24 Grands Prix of the season… and expectations around the British team are very high. At the end of the winter tests in Bahrain, almost all their opponents agree that the MCL39 is the fastest on the grid, with a slight but not insignificant lead over Ferrari, Mercedes et Red Bull.

Logically, they will be the favourites for this first round of the season, in Melbourne. McLaren has the opportunity to deal a first blow to the competition in Australia: in the event of a double, the Woking-based team will assert itself as the target to beat in 2025. With Lando Norris out for revenge after an incredible 2024 season and Oscar Piastri ready to shake up the hierarchy (and who aims to become the first Australian to climb on the podium at home), McLaren has all the weapons to produce an excellent performance this weekend.

Ultimately, the main danger for McLaren could come from… itself: will it be able to manage the egos of its two young wolves? Will it have the courage to give – already – team instructions if necessary? Will it manage to choose the right strategies? Above all, will it be able to withstand the pressure of its new status?

© Florent Gooden / DPPI

Hamilton, expectations to be met

Everyone has been talking about it for over a year, since the earthquake that occurred on February 1, 2024. Now, here we are. Lewis Hamilton will contest his first Grand Prix with Scuderia Ferrari this weekend. At 40, the Briton is launching his ultimate challenge in Formula 1 with the ambition of winning his eighth world championship title with the Italian team. After an intense preparation, both on the sporting and media front, the Englishman must now confirm the expectations placed in him and in this incredible transfer with results on the track.

To do this, Lewis Hamilton will have to overcome a first obstacle, and not the least: Charles Leclerc will be the benchmark to beat this season. The Monegasque is starting his seventh season with Ferrari and does not intend to let his new teammate steal the show. Maranello is his home, the Scuderia is his family and the world title is his goal in 2025. Under the leadership of Frédéric Vasseur, Team Principal of the Italian outfit, the men in red will first have the mission of winning the Constructors' title against McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull. Their quest begins this weekend in Melbourne: will the SF-25, which Ferrari is selling as "99% new" compared to its predecessor, live up to expectations?

Rookies, a first to be taken care of

In addition to the arrival of Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari and the other big transfers during the off-season (Carlos Sainz in Williams, Esteban Ocon in Haas…), the main attraction of this Australian GP will be the first of the rookies in Formula 1. On the grid, there are six drivers who have never competed in a full season in F1 and among them, three of them have not yet competed in a single Grand Prix: Andrea Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes, Gabriel Bortoleto at Sauber and Isack Hadjar at Racing Bulls.

The most anticipated of the rookies is certainly Andrea Kimi Antonelli, propelled to Mercedes at only 18 years old to replace Lewis Hamilton, no less. The Italian, announced as a world champion in the making by the Silver Arrows and by Toto wolff, will have to withstand the pressure surrounding him despite his young age and relative inexperience in car (only three and a half years in the promotional formulas before his F1 debut). On the other side of the spectrum, Gabriel Bortoleto, champion of Formula 3 then Formula 2 these last two seasons, will be able to start in the premier class with lower expectations within a Sauber team destined for the back of the grid and alongside an experienced teammate, Nico Hulkenberg.

Finally, for Isack Hadjar, it's time to jump in at the deep end: if the Frenchman earned a well-deserved promotion at Racing Bulls thanks to his great performances in Formula 2 last year (vice-champion behind Gabriel Bortoleto), he must now prove himself at the highest level in an environment where the slightest mistake can prove critical. Red Bull will be closely monitoring the performances of its protégé this weekend in Australia, where Isack Hadjar won the Main Race in Formula 2, in 2024.

© Florent Gooden / DPPI

Jack Doohan, a place to be secured

However, among the six rookies on the grid in Melbourne, if there is one who will have to show his best from this weekend, it is Jack Doohan. The season has not yet started and the Australian already seems condemned to bring back convincing results, under penalty of being quickly replaced. Alpine and his controversial executive advisor, Flavio Briatore, are not hiding the fact that if the 22-year-old driver does not show up, then his adventure with the French team will end prematurely.

Jack Doohan therefore has no room for manoeuvre from the first Grand Prix of the season, especially since there is no shortage of candidates behind him sinceAlpine has no less than four (!) reserve drivers… including Franco Colapinto. The Argentinian, highly regarded by Flavio Briatore for his driving and his sponsors, is in the starting blocks if Alpine decides to thank its regular driver. Jack Doohan will try to benefit from popular support, at home in Australia, to start his season on the right foot.

The FIA, a calm to be found

The off-season has not been easy for the FIA ​​and its president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem. More unpopular than ever, the governing body must restore its image this season by bringing calm and consistency to decision-making, and above all, by avoiding the many controversies that have marred the 2024 campaign. To start afresh, the FIA ​​got rid of Johnny Herbert, who occupied the position of driver-steward and who was the focus of criticism in the paddock. Rui Marquez and Claire Dubbelman will have the difficult task of taking on the role of race director this season, having succeeded Niels Wittich at the end of last season.

Alas, a few days before the start of the 2025 season in Australia, many hot topics are still on the table, and the anger of 2024 does not seem to have abated. Main point of contention: the new sanction grid designed by the FIA ​​to punish drivers in the event of inappropriate behavior or familiar language, with fines of up to 120 euros, suspensions and points withdrawals. The drivers have invited the FIA ​​to discuss before the start of the season: will this discussion be constructive and calming or, on the contrary, will it rekindle tensions even more?

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