Surprises in the 2025 F1 season: Andrea Stella is betting on Williams. The English team, which has been far from the top positions for years, looked promising during the three-day test in Bahrain. Strong in single-lap pace—Carlos Sainz set the overall fastest time—the new Grove car aims to be at least the fifth force but could target even more.
The “most exciting championship ever,” as many in the paddock highlight, could feature new protagonists. There are no doubts about the top teams: McLaren seems to be the favorite, but Mercedes and, above all, Ferrari could close the gap as early as the Australian Grand Prix. Red Bull is chasing, but we can be sure that Max Verstappen will not easily give in to difficulties.
As happened last season with the exploits of some “minor” teams, this year is also expected to have a tightly packed field. Where other teams can consistently challenge the top drivers is on Saturdays: in qualifying, the gaps will be minimal. This is where Williams comes into play, reigning supreme in single-lap simulations in Bahrain.
Andrea Stella: “Williams Has Also Improved in Corners”
In some statements reported by Speedcafe, the McLaren team principal praises the team led by James Vowles: “In the past, we talked about the top three teams. Fortunately, McLaren has added something, and now we have a top four. But maybe this year we will have to adapt to a new language, which will be great for Formula 1, and perhaps consider a top five or top six.”
“I’ve seen that, in terms of lap pace, beyond the top four… Williams is definitely very competitive. I’m sure everyone has seen the same data I have. And it’s interesting that, for example, Williams was very strong in the second sector, which is not just a braking and acceleration zone but also a sector with a couple of medium-speed corners.”
“I think this should indicate that Williams may have improved in that area. Already last year, during qualifying sessions, the situation was quite tense. What I’ve taken away from these two days is that, if anything, there will be even more [competition] at the start of this 2025 season.”
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