Engines rev in rainy Melbourne as seasoned drivers and rookies alike hover on the gas pedal, waiting for the 5 starting lights to extinguish. When they do… “It’s lights out and away we go!” The 2025 Formula 1 Season has begun.
McLaren’s Lando Norris set a great tone for the year by winning the race in difficult conditions, as teammate Oscar Piastri spun out from second to the disappointment of his home crowd, before managing to recover and salvage points by finishing in 9th. The rest of the podium was comprised of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in second place and Mercedes’ George Russell in 3rd.
While Lando also took the fastest lap, he didn’t gain the customary extra point. That’s because one of the biggest changes to the 2025 rules is that a fastest lap will no longer result in the addition of an extra point to the driver’s score (assuming they are within the top 10). The rule was instated in 2019 and lasted only 5 years before being removed due to controversy around drivers below the top 10 setting faster laps to sabotage and take points away from other teams. A notable example of this was Daniel Ricciardo’s fastest lap in the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix.
Singapore is actually one of the race locations that prompted another key rule change: an increase in weight limit (5kg) during races where the local ambient temperature is greater than 31C or 87.8F, in order to accommodate driver cooling systems. In Singapore, the average daytime temperature hovers around 89 degrees Fahrenheit, and though the race takes place at night, the heat only drops a few degrees and the humidity can be close to 80%. According to the official Formula 1 website, “Inside the cockpit, it’s still a staggering 60 degrees Celsius [140 degrees Fahrenheit], which is only fractionally cooler than your average sauna.” Clad in thick, fireproof suits, drivers quickly overheat. The driver cooling system pumps cooling fluid through tubes on a specially designed shirt, keeping temperatures around the driver’s torso at a healthier level.
However, this adaptation has proved to be a bit controversial. “This is Formula 1. It’s always been like this,” said Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton to Autosport. “It’s tough in these conditions. We’re highly-paid athletes. And you’ve got to train your arse off to make sure you can withstand the heat, ultimately.” The 7 time world champion added, “It’s tough. It’s not easy, especially when you go to places like Qatar and Singapore. But I don’t think we need an AC unit in the car.”
Though the devices will be optional in 2025 (but with additional weight added for fairness to other cars using the heavier cooling technology), it is likely that 2026 will see mandatory, upgraded cooling systems for select high-heat races.
Another race that will look a bit different in 2025 is the upcoming, renowned Monaco Grand Prix (May 25). This year, a two-stop strategy will be mandatory. This means that cars will have to stop twice during the race to change their tyres in a pit stop. The hope is that this will result in faster racing and more live pit stops, as drivers will be required to use 3 sets of tyres, one of which must be a medium or a hard tyre (see here for an explanation of tyre strategy).
Young drivers also help to keep the sport fresh and exciting. In 2025, two young driver practice sessions will be required per car (4 total per team). The FIA regulations state “each competitor must use a driver who has not participated in more than two (2) Championship races in their career.” The rule is intended to provide young drivers (especially those in their training programs) with more opportunities to race in official F1 cars on track in a professional setting. This year, there are five rookies on the grid, meaning that some teams can fulfill this requirement with their official racers, giving them more practice. Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber), Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) and Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) were all considered young drivers for the first two race events, meaning they don’t have to sacrifice practice sessions to young drivers later in the season. Jack Doohan only raced in one race in 2024, so Alpine only has to run one young driver practice session. However, rookies Ollie Bearman (Haas) and Liam Lawson (began the season at Red Bull but has since moved to sister team Racing Bulls) are at a disadvantage with the new rule, having raced (3 times for Bearman, 6 times for Lawson) in 2024 Grands Prix.
Only time will tell if these rule changes and updates will be effective and last through the next big rules overhaul, scheduled for only 7 months later, for the 2026 season!
For more details, including specific technical information, updates, and adjustments, https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13327209/f1-rules-changes-2025-explaining-whats-new-whats-changed-ahead-of-australian-grand-prix
