The anticipation for the 2025 Formula 1 season is reaching fever pitch, and the first glimpses of the cars that will battle it out on the track are finally here. For the 2025 season, Formula 1 teams shook things up with a combined livery reveal event in London, but several teams also hosted their own individual launches and track shakedowns, offering fans a sneak peek at their new machines before pre-season testing in Bahrain. Here’s a comprehensive rundown of all the 2025 car reveals and what we’ve learned so far.
McLaren kicked off the launch season in spectacular fashion, stealing a march on their rivals by being the first team to unveil their 2025 contender, the MCL39. On February 13th, the MCL39 hit the Silverstone circuit for a shakedown run, providing the first real-world images of a 2025 F1 car.
Driven by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, the MCL39 sported a unique camouflage livery for its initial run, keeping the official team colors under wraps until the main F1 launch event. McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella highlighted the “innovative” design approach, suggesting significant changes beneath the surface of the MCL39 compared to its predecessor, the successful MCL38. These changes to the “fundamental layout” signal McLaren’s ambition to build on their strong 2024 performance and challenge for top honors in the upcoming season.
Just a day after McLaren’s Silverstone shakedown, Williams followed suit, launching their FW47 on Valentine’s Day, also at Silverstone. Fans were treated to a live stream of the event on Sky Sports, capturing the moment new signing Carlos Sainz Jr. took the FW47 for its maiden lap shortly after 10 am.
Sainz reported a smooth initial run, stating, “everything worked as it should,” indicating a positive start for the FW47’s development. The one-off livery showcased at the launch appeared to pay homage to Williams’ new title sponsor, Atlassian, while the underlying design seemed to retain similarities to the previous year’s car, suggesting an evolutionary rather than revolutionary approach from the historic British team.
Haas opted for a shakedown of their VF-25 at Silverstone on February 16th, preceding the grand F1 75 Live launch event. The team maintained secrecy around the VF-25’s appearance until after the official launch event, but images did emerge suggesting some minor damage to the car’s sidepod during running.
Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman shared driving duties during the shakedown. Despite the circulating photo, Haas’ official communication made no mention of any issues, suggesting any potential damage was minor and didn’t significantly impact their testing program.
February 18th marked a historic moment for Formula 1 with the inaugural all-team launch event, “F1 75 Live,” held at London’s O2 Arena. This unprecedented event provided fans with a spectacular experience as all ten teams unveiled their 2025 liveries in one go. The launch event was a showcase of creativity, with teams employing diverse and entertaining approaches, ranging from comedy skits to live musical performances.
In terms of livery designs, the reveals largely aligned with expectations, although RB (formerly AlphaTauri) arguably presented the most visually striking change, switching to a predominantly white color scheme for their VCARB 02 car. The collective launch event amplified the buzz surrounding the new season and provided a unified platform for teams to present their identities for 2025.
Ferrari wasted no time in getting their SF-25 on track, following their livery reveal in London with a Fiorano circuit run on February 19th. Charles Leclerc was the first to drive, followed by the highly anticipated debut of Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari colors. Both drivers also conducted their first official media engagements of the season.
Hamilton expressed optimism about his prospects with Ferrari, stating he has “more hope than ever” of securing a record-breaking eighth drivers’ title after his initial weeks with the team. The SF-25’s track debut and Hamilton’s positive comments have further fueled excitement around Ferrari’s potential for the 2025 season.
Aston Martin opted for a digital launch for their AMR25 car, which took place on February 23rd. After a relatively subdued 2024 season, Aston Martin is looking to bounce back. The AMR25 hit the track for the first time on February 24th.
While Aston Martin secured fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship in 2024, neither Fernando Alonso nor Lance Stroll reached the podium. However, with the arrival of renowned designer Adrian Newey in March and former Mercedes engine guru Andy Cowell joining as team principal, there’s considerable anticipation that Aston Martin could significantly close the gap to the front-runners in 2025.
Mercedes unveiled their W16 car on February 24th, marking the dawn of the post-Lewis Hamilton era for the team. Hoping the W16 will break their streak of less-than-dominant cars under the current regulations, Mercedes aims to convert their four race wins from 2024 into a consistent challenge at the front of the grid.
The W16 shakedown in Bahrain followed the digital launch, and this car will be the first F1 machine driven by 18-year-old prodigy Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who steps up from the junior program to partner George Russell in 2025. The W16 and Antonelli’s debut are key storylines to watch as Mercedes seeks to regain its championship-contending form.
2025 F1 Car Launch Dates: Confirmed and TBC
| Team | Launch Date |
|---|---|
| McLaren | Launched February 13 |
| Williams | Launched February 14 |
| Haas | Shakedown February 16 |
| F1 2025 season launch | Launched February 18 |
| Ferrari | Launched February 19 |
| Aston Martin | February 23 |
| Mercedes | February 24 |
| Red Bull | TBC |
| Alpine | TBC |
| Racing Bulls | TBC |
| Sauber | TBC |
Pre-Season Testing and the Season Opener
F1 pre-season testing is scheduled from February 26-28 at the Bahrain International Circuit. With only three days of testing available, teams will be under pressure to maximize track time and gather crucial data before the season begins.
Formula 1 Fanatics merchandise and team gear available for purchase online
The 2025 Formula 1 season will commence in Australia, breaking from the tradition of starting in Bahrain. The Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne will take place from March 14-16, followed immediately by the Chinese Grand Prix as a back-to-back event, incorporating another Sprint weekend from March 21-23.
Get ready for an action-packed 2025 Formula 1 season, starting with the Australian GP on March 14-16! Watch all 24 race weekends live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime
