101 replies to this topic

[noikeee]

So we're all on the hangover of Max's 4th consecutive title, conquered with 2 races to go, and it's dawned on me that... Despite all this dominance he might not be anymore the overwhelming favourite for next season? Red Bull have been on a downhill slope since before the summer and have hardly ever been the fastest car again, and they have lost their chief designer.

This would probably make Max lose the favourite status for next season, yet is anyone actually emerging to fill this void? McLaren have been the most consistent yet have still had off weekends like Vegas, and have had their drivers and the team itself, constantly trip on themselves and waste their chances. The season also ends with a strong run from Ferrari, still fighting for the constructors championship, and soon to have a truly remarkable driver lineup - but Mercedes are not outside this fight neither, having just literally dominated the last race.

I think I'm just barely leaning towards voting for Charles in this poll, but there is an element of wishful thinking on it as he's my favourite driver of the list and it's by no means a clear favouritism at all, furthermore he'll have one of the greatest drivers of all time as teammate. George, Lando and Lewis all seem strong contenders, and nobody in their right mind would count out Max just yet, he can do it even if Red Bull don't quite manage to fully bounce back, and they could fully bounce back! Oscar seems more like an outside chance but not very likely, Antonelli would need a combination of miracles, and I'm including Perez just out of courtesy. As of today, late November 2024, who's your pick, what's your best guess?

[Bliman]

Easy. Max Verstappen. That Red Bull would need to be a real dog for him not to win the championship.

[RainyAfterlifeDaylight]

I think Mercedes is gonna have the best car in 2025 and George Russell is gonna win it. George Really deserves to become champion.

[KWSN - DSM]

I think Mercedes is gonna have the best car in 2025 and George Russell is gonna win it. George Really deserves to become champion.

 

He and all other drivers deserve when they win it, not a moment before that.

 

Arguments can be made for all drivers in top teams having what it takes to be World Champion, I do think Russel could become World Champion, however he is a Jenson Button clone to me.

 

I voted Verstappen, he is to me the clear best driver on the grid, even of Red Bull have been caught this season, I have no reason not to think they will not be a competitive, race winning car in the hands of Verstappen next season.

[Ragamuffin]

It's refreshing to say I have absolutely no idea. Should be a cracker.

[TF110]

Money is on Max as a safe bet. He's by far the best driver of the field. If the Red Bull is a top 3 car, he's going to win races and most likely the championship. It will help if he has a better teammate. Perez is not fast enough to pressure the other cars that are podium contenders. So that may be the thing to watch. If not Max, I think LeClerc either proves himself or his future in Ferrari is short. I want a full season of early 2022.

[George Costanza]

Max without a doubt.

[Afterburner]

Verstappen is still the favorite on the basis that this season has shown that the others are all prone to tripping over themselves more than he is, so even if he doesn’t have the best car he’s always going to be a threat so long as one team is not hogging all the wins (see also: Alex Palou).

Gotta think the Hamilton + Ferrari combo is going to be dangerous though…

[lewislorenzo]

He's by far the best driver of the field.

He is the best driver in the field currently but it isn’t “by far”.

He is “by far” much better than Gasly, Albon and Perez who aren’t close to anything special

[PitViperRacing]

If I had to bet money it'd be on LeClerc. Ferrari is on the upswing and he's nestled into the team nicely.

If redbull can sort their car out and be close to the front, got to give it to Max.

[pacificquay]

If McLaren can take the learnings from this year both with the car and operationally, Lando can do it.

[Stoffel]

I fear Red Bull will be able to correct their issues with their current car for next year and will be back to their level of dominance they had before.

[Heyli]

If the cars are close, I'd say Max. Based on the performance development more recently my feeling says Ferrari (Leclerc). McLaren with Norris is also in the Mix.

 

I see Mercedes as an outsider, but also wouldnt count them out if they have a good winter.

 

Seems like it could shape up to be a very exciting season. So probably something happens and we have a boring year when 1 driver walks away with it...

[jacdaniel]

Lads, Red Bull have just 1 win in 12 races… a race they wouldn’t have even won had it not rained. They’re only top 4 team that haven’t won a race on merit in the 2nd half of the season.

Red Bull have quite a lot of work to do if they want to win in 2025.

McLaren vs Ferrari would be the safe bet right now.

Edited by jacdaniel, Yesterday, 07:33.

[Muppetmad]

Mercedes develops the best car, and Antonelli overcomes a bumpy opening few races to beat Russell to the title.

 

...no, I don't think it will happen, but it's just one of many possible timelines for next year    I really don't know how it will play out, and I think some hearts are going to be broken next year. If Red Bull are in the mix, then sure, Verstappen can never be counted out.

[garoidb]

Lads, Red Bull have just 1 win in 12 races… a race they wouldn’t have even won had it not rained.

Red Bull have quite a lot of work to do if they want to win in 2025.

 

I think Max could win it with their current level of competitiveness but only as long as no one dominant team emerges from the other three. The reason I think this is that he has, despite only winning one of the last 12 races, only lost six points to Lando and outscored Charles over that stretch.

[Ferrim]

This first page might age very poorly, for the moment it has to be Verstappen.

[Timorous]

I am hoping there is a bit more convergence at the top and it could be a 6 way battle which would give Max or George a slight advantage as they will not be fighting their team mate.

I think it could be a season where consistency and being on it every race is key and I put Max ahead of the field in that regard so unless the RB is quite a bit behind I think I lean towards him and his 5th.

What I hope though is that Lewis gels with the Ferrari and he can get his 8th.

[jacdaniel]

This first page might age very poorly, for the moment it has to be Verstappen.

Certainly not based on current car/form

[PrinceBira]

The favorite? FavoriteS the OP should have said! .

For me, in no particular order:

- Leclerc / Hamilton
- Verstappen
- Norris

I think the Mercedes will be too inconsistent for Russell.

My biggest bet is Leclerc or Hamilton. No fan of him, but Hamilton clinching his 8th title in a Ferrari, beating Leclerc in the process would cement him as the best driver ever.

Only for that reason I can’t wait ‘25 to start.

[Analog]

I responded Verstappen, but the thread title and the poll question does not sync. I think Max was right when he said he would have won the championship in a Ferrari or McLaren and unless next years Red Bull is a dog, he will win again. He's like a metronome. If I got to choose, I would give Lewis his #8 though since it was so brutally snatched away from him three years ago. Don't get me wrong, I think that Verstappen was a worthy champion, but I can imagine the pain Lewis must have felt when #8 vanished after he had already tasted it, after he had it beside him in his car for 99% of the decider.

Lando and Leclerc are fast, but fragile. 

[Marklar]

McLaren (Norris) should be because they are the only team that has shown to be consistently competitive (Ferrari and especially Mercedes are too spotty, RB has a negative trend). And I suspect they will grow from their mistakes

[Zava]

I think Max could win it with their current level of competitiveness but only as long as no one dominant team emerges from the other three. The reason I think this is that he has, despite only winning one of the last 12 races, only lost six points to Lando and outscored Charles over that stretch.

depends on where you draw the line. since the summer break, Leclerc and Norris gapped him around 15 points each, if you base it on that set of races instead, he'd be out of contention going into the last race. 

[PrinceBira]

depends on where you draw the line. since the summer break, Leclerc and Norris gapped him around 15 points each, if you base it on that set of races instead, he'd be out of contention going into the last race.

Why? The last race is worth 25 points and he actually did beat Norris this race and lost only a few points to Leclerc.

[Zava]

Why? The last race is worth 25 points and he actually did beat Norris this race and lost only a few points to Leclerc.

8 races with 15 points gap is 45 points extrapolated to a full season.

[d246]

If the other teams are pretty competative and take points off each other, Max will do the same again next year. Would be interesting for someone else to win it though....

[PayasYouRace]

Based on nothing other than liking the bloke, I’m going with George Russell. Mercedes to nail some consistency and George to prevail in a massive championship scrum involving Leclerc, Verstappen, Hamilton and Norris. Piastri and Antonelli to be just out of it. Perez will be lower than 8th in the championship.

[jonklug]

I don't know how you can vote for anyone other than Verstappen. Remember, the question is who the favorite is, not who will have a shot at the title or who you'd like to win it. Verstappen managed to outscore his direct opponents since Miami even when the car became 2nd best and at times 3rd best (plus 1 clear race of being 4th best - Monza). The guy is a 4 time WDC now, just 27 years old and has proven he can squeeze every ounce of performance out of a troublesome car. So RedBull don't need to be fastest next year for Verstappen to still win the title. But also, RedBull have every chance of creating a very strong package for next year. They'll have more CFD time than before, and if they have correctly identified the issues with this year's car and fix that for next year, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see them start the season at the front once more.

 

So the objective answer has to be Verstappen imho. The other teams and leading drivers might be in the mix of course, or even favorites, but as it stands Verstappen has to be seen as favorite. And while I haven't checked odds on any sports betting website, I will expect the bookmakers to give Verstappen the edge as well. 

[peroa]

Well, it depends how much resources teams will want to throw at 25, really. RBR being 3rd this year will come quite handy for 26, extra windtunnel and CFD time.

It will be about finetuning and being in the sweetspot consistently.

[Nemo1965]

The favourite, I don't know. My favourite would be Charles Leclerc. The classiest driver in F1 at the moment and probably the most rounded, civilised gentleman in F1 since Wolfgang Berghe von Trips (or perhaps Elio de Angelis). If he brings back the world title to Ferrari (after 18 years) that would be totally gratifying.

 

A second favourite FOR ME, but then for the year 2026 would be Charles Sainz, in a kind of Brawn-like fluke with the Williams nailing the regulations. That would be hilarious. 

 

EDIT: Name of Von Trips.

Edited by Nemo1965, Yesterday, 09:13.

[Marklar]

8 races with 15 points gap is 45 points extrapolated to a full season.

yeah and thats despite no dominant team emerging in the 2nd half.

Max wins if he has a slightly worse car and he has a shot if he has the distant third quickest while others take turns winning (if they do mistakes), but the claims that he only wont win if he has a dog or that he would have won this year in the Ferrari (assuming a straight swap with Leclerc, obviously with 2 Checos at RB it becomes true) which was at no point dominant and nearly half of the year outright 4th quickest are an attempt to make him look like a superhuman.

[DevilDare]

I don't know how you can vote for anyone other than Verstappen. Remember, the question is who the favorite is, not who will have a shot at the title or who you'd like to win it. Verstappen managed to outscore his direct opponents since Miami even when the car became 2nd best and at times 3rd best (plus 1 clear race of being 4th best - Monza). The guy is a 4 time WDC now, just 27 years old and has proven he can squeeze every ounce of performance out of a troublesome car. So RedBull don't need to be fastest next year for Verstappen to still win the title. But also, RedBull have every chance of creating a very strong package for next year. They'll have more CFD time than before, and if they have correctly identified the issues with this year's car and fix that for next year, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see them start the season at the front once more.

 

So the objective answer has to be Verstappen imho. The other teams and leading drivers might be in the mix of course, or even favorites, but as it stands Verstappen has to be seen as favorite. And while I haven't checked odds on any sports betting website, I will expect the bookmakers to give Verstappen the edge as well. 

 

Oh so we are back on the "Verstappen could win in a Williams" train. Was starting to get worried reality was setting in.

 

But yes, Verstappen is the favorite purely because he is the current champion.

[PayasYouRace]

EDIT: Name of Von Trips.

Oh, you mean Wolfgang Alexander Albert Eduard Maximilian Reichsgraf Berghe von Trips.

[RedRabbit]

I think Red Bull are in a steep downward spiral and have lost some serious top level brain power this year. I think they'll be fighting for 3rd best against Mercedes. Verstappen is likely to win 5 or less races next year.

I see a fight between Ferrari and McLaren, and of those 4, I would pick Leclerc as the favourite, but only just.

I can see a 2010 type scenario with 4 or 5 drivers in it for at least 20 races.

[MinardiM02]

If 2025 is an evolution of this season I'm expecting Leclerc to come out on top in a close battle between him and Norris. 

Verstappen as the dark horse if RB remain strategically/operationally brilliant and build a semi decent car. 

 

My current estimate for the top 5: 

 

1. Leclerc

2. Norris

3. Verstappen

4. Hamilton

5. Russell

[KWSN - DSM]

Lads, Red Bull have just 1 win in 12 races… a race they wouldn’t have even won had it not rained. They’re only top 4 team that haven’t won a race on merit in the 2nd half of the season.

Red Bull have quite a lot of work to do if they want to win in 2025.

McLaren vs Ferrari would be the safe bet right now.

 

Last 12 races mirrored in 2025 give us a tight battle

 

[Heyli]

Oh, you mean Wolfgang Alexander Albert Eduard Maximilian Reichsgraf Berghe von Trips.

That's how his friends called him?

[PayasYouRace]

That's how his friends called him?

I know you’re joking but I do love his nickname: Taffy.

[KavB]

Verstappen has to be the favourite because he is the best right now. McLaren have shown good progress but this could just be a one-off season for them. Ferrari and Mercedes have been inconsistent the past few years so whilst Red Bull have gone downhill this year, I wouldn't discount them being the fastest car next year.

 

I do hope Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren and Mercedes are all in the mix next year. We still haven't seen Leclerc in a season long championship battle and I would love to see Max fight Hamilton again even if Max has the upper hand these days.

[Nemo1965]

I know you’re joking but I do love his nickname: Taffy.

Interesting extra bit: Trips came from Kerpen. Yes, THAT Kerpen. In 1961, von Trips established a go-kart race track there. The track was later leased by Rolf Schumacher, whose sons, Michael and Ralf, made their first laps there.

Edited by Nemo1965, Yesterday, 10:02.

[AlexPrime]

Well, it is impossible to tell. My opinion is that Max is the best driver by a margin, but even he can not win in a midfield car, so it remains to be seen if Red Bull can stop the rot. Charles I believe will deserve to be a champion and I hope he can beat Lewis once and for all, but I wouldn't put money on it - there are examples that sportsmen now remain competitive for a long time and Mansell I believe won a championship at 40. Mercedes are a strange case, sometimes there, sometimes nowhere.
McLaren, on paper, should be the favourites, they might even have a battle between their drivers. Should that happen, I would root for Oscar, but it will be too close to call.

[F1Frog]

I will back Leclerc to narrowly beat Hamilton in an amazing title battle as Ferrari have the overall best car. I think Norris, Russell and Verstappen will all be quite close but McLaren and Mercedes will be too inconsistent and the Red Bull simply not quite fast enough. But that there are so many contenders makes it the most exciting build up to a season for a long time!

[Claudius]

I have a feeling Max won´t win next year due to RB:s downward spiral. I don´t have a clue though who would take the crown. 

[MattK9]

I wonder which teams will forget that 2025 exists and focus on design for 2026.

 

Im completely guessing, but my money is on Red Bull and Merc to focus on 2026, whereas Mclaren and Ferrari to comprise 2026 design for the 2025 title.

 

Off the back of this year, Norris & Leclerc to fight for WDC. I cant see Lewis turning up and beating Leclerc but I hope he proves me wrong.

[ATM]

Foe some reason, I just don't see Ferrari keeping it together for a whole season. Whilst things have improved under Vasseur, every now and then they like to screw the pooch royally so I think I'll go with McLaren and Norris.

[Ali623]

Disregarding potential car performance, it's Verstappen easily - he's proven to be the best on the grid at present.

 

I think as long as Red Bull give him a car that's thereabouts at the front, capable of fighting for wins, or at least podiums regularly, then he can win the WDC again. Around the performance they had Miami-midseason at least.

[PrinceBira]

8 races with 15 points gap is 45 points extrapolated to a full season.

Ah thought you’d take those races at face value and not extrapolate it.

[Otaku]

LEC

[1player]

Should be a multiple-choice poll, because however I see other drivers to have a sliver of a chance, Max Verstappen should necessarily have a vote for the sole reason that they are the CURRENT champion.

 

Otherwise, this poll is just asking who's the current winner, as no one can predict the future and we can only base our choice on the current state of affairs.

 

/rant

[Anderis]

I think Verstappen has to be the favourite after 4 consecutive WDCs, with last 3 being secured with a few races to spare and with stable rules into 2025? The word "favourite" kinda loses it's meaning for me if someone in Verstappen's position is not seen as the first man to beat if you want to be a WDC.

 

Though given how close top4 teams were on performance in 2024, he will be the least clear favourite he's been since 2021, I think.