This year is shaping up to be a good one.
IMO, the team pecking order will probably be McLaren > Ferrari > Red Bull > Mercedes again. I'd guess maybe Ferrari could move above McLaren and Mercedes could move above Red Bull but it's entirely down to how each team develops their 2025 car. It's hard to know though, Red Bull looked incredibly dominant going into 2024 and look how that turned out for them, they've been on a downward slope with their brain drain lately.
In terms of the McLaren drivers, Lando easily has the measure of Oscar, unfortunately. I also think Lando will have learned a lot from his fuckups last year and will probably finally be ready to mount a WDC challenge this year if the team delivers the car again. Oscar is too far behind to be a real contender, imo. I'll barrack for him anyway because he's an Aussie and Lando is a dickhead, but realistically, his results haven't been where they need to be.
Ferrari is really interesting. Charles will obviously be strong, Lewis is an unknown. On the one hand, he's obviously one of the best drivers to ever do it, and I do think the new team and car will re-energise him and we'll see better form than when he was miserable in Mercedes. On the other hand, he's definitely past the age peak, and the question is how far down the other side is he, and how much does he have left to mount another title fight. Winning his owed 8th title in his first year in red would be the biggest fairy tale the sport has ever seen, so that's what I'm hoping for. But I wouldn't bet on it, and if he doesn't do it this year the odds will get worse every subsequent year.
Red Bull is obvious. Max is the best driver on the grid currently, Lawson is a rookie who did okay but didn't blow anyone away in the VCARB last year. Liam will be lucky not to be mentally destroyed by Max next year. If he can consistently place the car one spot behind Max, he'll be doing very well. I still think Red Bull were moronic for not trying to sign Sainz and it will cost them this year.
Mercedes, I dunno really. I don't know anything about their new rookie. George is very good so I expect an easy win over a rookie, but that's about all I can say on that one.
As for the rest, Aston will continue to cruise at the front of the Formula 1.5 pack without being taken seriously by the front runners. Williams should move up, they've been showing a lot of promise and Carlos is a great number one driver for them to have scored. And frankly I don't give a damn about the rest of them.
The only thing I'm slightly interested in seeing from this is a possibly darker red Ferrari. Shame Ferrari has that ugly blue HP logo clashing from every angle. Money well spent by HP though, I suppose. Any press is good press, and all that.
