The time to speak has stopped.
Thanks to Heavens for that after the longest accumulation of a registered season, which dates back to the first official launch of the entire team in the O2 Arena almost a month ago.
The Australia Grand Prix on Sunday begins the 76th World Formula One Championship this year, the first of the 24 races in the final race of the current rules before a massive shake next season. There have been a series of changes in the driver, including a certain Mr. Hamilton that puts on a red monkey.
Therefore, it is time for the confidential predictions of F1 on the eve of the 2025 season.
Who will become world champion?
Close British fans, I am crying for Max Verstappen, for a mustache in a titanic fight that sees several teams sharing the victories (shadows of the 1982 open season).
Verstappen showed last year that he does not need the best car to be crowned champion. Ask any other deprived driver who is the best of them and, if they can admit it, select the Dutchman.
Max Verstappen showed last year that he doesn't need the best car to be crowned champion
I have Lando Norris in second place in my ranking for the 2025 police championship
It also has a psychological head key on man that is potentially its main rival, Lando Norris, in the powerful and leader of the McLaren market.
In fact, the aggression of Verstappen, his refusal to fasten the box and the innate crafts of the race live threatening in the minds of the entire network.
To top it off, I understand that it is reasonably happy with the potential of your Red Bull car, regardless of your public caution. It is not a perfect machine, but he believes, something he can work with and his team can develop.
A fifth successive world title would be a surprising brand of a star career.
I'm tilting Lewis Hamilton Pip his new Ferrari Charles Leclerc teammate in fourth place
George Russell would be a contender to the title if Mercdes can improve: it is a underestimated superstar
Who will be the other main contestants?
Norris is second in my imaginary classification; Oscar Piastri third, Lewis Hamilton fourth; Charles Leclerc Quinto; George Russell sixth, although he could be a title contender if Mercedes improves; He is the most underestimated superstar in the grid); Carlos Sainz seventh in a greatly improved Williams.
And the builders' champions?
McLaren, in a list and well Marshald by executive director Zak Brown and the director of the Andrea Stella team.
They start with the invaluable advantage of having the fastest car from the beginning, if the tests in Bahrein were a real indicator.
They affirm that not purifying perfection in the lower fuel, possibly an early crack in its armor.
McLaren begins with the invaluable advantage of having a faster car from the beginning, if the tests in Bahrein were a real indicator
Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri have a rocket ship from a car for the 2025 season
Who is the jury?
Kimi Antonelli, a new 18 -year -old boy in Mercedes. The Italian looks so young, which exacerbates the impression of his vulnerability.
Its employers incline it heated, especially Toto Wolff, but are invested in their success or failure.
Hope for the season?
That Williams took a decent step forward as a reward for the brave attempts of the James Vowles team director to turn the Aca ship around.
And that Ollie Bearman is based on the promise of her cameos last year with a solid or better year in Haas.
Hopefully Ollie Bearman is based on the promise of her cameos last year with a solid or better year in Haas
Tablespoons of wood?
Sauber. Much to do.
Chest of blowers
Henry Blofeld once flew with the F1 circus on the way to Adelaide, he to comment on the ashes and they to compete in the very lost Grand Prize there.
He stopped at the immigration counter, Blofeld had the challenge of declaring if he had a criminal conviction.
“Ah, I'm very sorry,” Chimed Blowers, “I didn't know it was still mandatory here.”
Henry Blofeld was no stranger to a shameless joke, as Adelaide customs officials once discovered!
Moment of F1 sliding doors
It is surprising to think that five years have passed since I left a friend at the Cricketers bar in the majestic Windsor Hotel reciting how many coronavirus victims were being buried in Iranian mass tombs.
The 2020 Australian Grand Prix had just been canceled, and had managed to ensure a passage before home, although I thought the race should have moved on, which was a minority opinion.
I reasoned that a single McLaren mechanic was infected and isolated, everyone was here anyway, and it should have been a case of playing, playing and playing.
Fans are told that Australia's Grand Prix five years had been canceled due to Covid
Ferrari's team arrives to pack his team after the Grand Prix was canceled
Then a period of danger began for sport. Drying income. McLaren, for example, put his license staff and was close to going bankrupt.
Credit to the then Executive President of F1, Chase Carey, and his lieutenants for carrying the show on the road so quickly during the blockade.
The work from home was not an option for the ability to jump continent of motor racing and, therefore, the season reappeared as soon as in early July, becoming the first international sport to do so.
It is difficult to think about how precarious was F1 that day at the Cricket players bar given how now the Paddock has reached new maximums of popularity and profits.
Jack Doohan has an alpine seat for this season, but how much more?
Don't get too comfortable, Jack
It should be a weekend of ecstasy for Jack Doohan, but it is not because his first race against his fans promises to be the last.
Franco Colapint's spectrum is great in his rearview mirror, the Argentine was taken to Alpine as a reserve driver.
It is very supported by sponsors from Latin America, finance that its boss, the old and cunning Chestnut Flavio Briatore, it is unlikely that it rejects.
The official line is that Doohan, 22, will have the opportunity to demonstrate his value. My suspicion is that your destination is already sealed with only your contract that protects it in the short term.
Lewis's surprising admission
Lewis Hamilton was smiling and lucid during his press conference in Melbourne. But he made a surprising admission.
When asked if the Italian influence in the city was an inspiration for him now that he is in Ferrari, he did not grant any knowledge of the existence of the diaspora here.
Lygon Street, home of coffee culture, is the emblem of Italian life in the capital of the state of Victoria. He has never been there, he said.
But he said he lived in a bubble, which may explain the above.
It was a shock listening to Hamilton to admit that I had little knowledge of Melbourne's Italian influence
Mighty Melbourne back in its legitimate place
Melbourne has returned to his deserved place as the opening race of the season. Ramadan has ruled out Bahrain.
Without a doubt, Bahrein is a good place, a well -organized event focused on a charming paddock. But Melbourne is the best city in the world to see sport, certainly outside London.
Although the dry grass in the vast acres of Albert Park witnesses, the weather here exceeds Great Britain at this time of year.
A warning on that sunny forest is in the rain forecast on Sunday, which would spice things. But as a wise observer pointed me tired some years ago: “Have you ever been in the Grand Prix when someone has not predicted that it will rain during the race?”
Mercedes in Max? Right
Going down to St Kyda Beach for breakfast with Mercedes. Toto Wolff was on stage with his three drivers, George Russell, Kimi Antonelli and reserve Valtteri Bottas, and declared his eternal love for all of them.
Toto Wolff declared his eternal love for his current drivers of Mercedes, but …
Should we really believe that Verstappen will never definitely be on the Radar de Mercedes?
So much so that he rule out continuing oberturas towards Verstappen, as he did last year.
“We need to concentrate on our line of drivers,” said the Austrian, although Russell's contract expired at the end of this year. 'Do not flirt outside if I am in a good relationship.
'Then, at this time (a movement for Verstappen) is not in any radar. Do not plan to move my concentration of these guys and want to see that George has a contract very soon, before summer.
Should we believe, then, that Verstappen is completely out of the equation regardless of what circumstances eventually? I am not completely convinced.