A thrilling event, the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship kicked off this month and SBS is here to go over which racer has what it takes to take home the 2025 world title. As of this article’s writing, Lando Norris (+187) is coming off a sensational win at the Australian Grand Prix and is the presumed favorite to win the world title in 2025. Meanwhile, 2024 Formula One Champion, Max Verstappen, is aiming for an unprecedented fifth F1 Championship in a row after winning from 2021-24. Charles Leclerc is another name to keep an eye on in this race series as he is one of the most consistent drivers in all of F1 and is aiming for a strong start to the year. Finally, Lewis Hamilton is a famous name in the sport who has a slew of accolades and would like to add to his list of honors.
In this article, SBS will be exploring what to look for from each of these fantastic drivers, select a predicted winner, and also check out some additional thoughts and notes regarding F1.
| F1 Drivers Championship 2025 Odds |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lando Norris | +187 | +187 | +187 |
| Max Verstappen | +275 | +275 | +275 |
| Charles Leclerc | +450 | +450 | +450 |
| Lewis Hamilton | +500 | +500 | +500 |
Noted above, Norris is coming off a great win at the Australian Grand Prix where he won the pole position and fastest lap and was the winning driver. He was the runner-up in the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship in 2024 with McLaren and has won five Grands Prix across seven seasons. Since making his Formula One debut, he has steadily improved in the overall standings racing for McLaren. Back in 2019, he made his Formula One debut with an 11th-place finish and then has for the most part improved each year, highlighted by his second-place mark last season. During last year’s campaign, he achieved a fantastic 14 podium finishes and was one of the most consistent racers on the circuit, only losing to Verstappen in the final standings.
As of the 2025 Australian Grand Prix, Verstappen has achieved 63 race wins, 40 pole positions, 33 fastest laps, and 113 podiums in Formula One. In addition to being the youngest Grand Prix winner, he holds a variety of Formula One records. This includes the most wins in a season (19), the most podium finishes in a season (21), and the most consecutive wins (10). Moreover, he secured his fourth consecutive title in 2024 after winning nine Grands Prix, including a “widely acclaimed wet-weather performance in Sao Paulo,” to become the first driver to win the championship driving for a third-placed constructor in 41 years. With 63 Grands Prix wins across 11 seasons, he is hard to pick against for each race. Verstappen finished third at the Australian Grand Prix the other week.
Moving on, Leclerc is the next spotlighted racer on this list and has earned this fantastic honor. The Monégasque racing driver was runner-up in the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship in 2022 with Ferrari and has won eight Grands Prix across eight seasons. As of this season, he has won eight races, 26 pole positions, and 43 podiums in Formula One competition. While he is certainly a name to watch this year, he would like to improve on his performance at the Australian GP where he finished outside the top five in seventh place.
A name that needs little introduction, Hamilton is one of the most decorated racers in the sport. Noted on SBS before, he has won a joint-record seven Formula One World Drivers’ Championship titles – tied with Michael Schumacher for the most all-time. With 105 career wins, 202 podium finishes, and 104 pole positions, he is a fantastic racer who can still hang with the best in the world. That said, he is also looking to bounce back from his showing in Australia where he placed in eighth place during this race.
It is hard to pick against Verstappen, but Norris seems to be skyrocketing up the ranks and after his performance in Australia, it is easy to see why this is the case. Take Norris to win his first title in 2025.
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About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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