Based upon pre-season testing and the Melbourne weekend, McLaren appear to be the team to beat in 2025 after building upon winning the Constructors' Championship last season in what is expected to be a four-way duel throughout the year also including Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari.

But ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Verstappen reiterated that he is not the current favorite as the season begins. “Impossible to know at the moment,” said

Follow live reaction from Formula One’s opening grand prix of 2025, where rain caused three safety cars and six retirements

This is the first time a McLaren driver has held the driver's title lead since Lewis Hamilton did at the 2012 Canadian Grand Prix

Key Takeaways Four-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen makes millions from F1. Verstappen has an estimated net worth of $200 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.Verstappen was the highest-paid F1 driver in 2024,

Max Verstappen had been leading the world championship since the inception of the current ground effect era in 2022.

While Max Verstappen was the nearest rival to McLaren in Australian GP qualifying, data shows the papaya cars had more in hand on Saturday.

Max Verstappen has admitted that Red Bull's grip issues will be "hard to fix" at the Australian Grand Prix as the reigning four-time world champion prepares for a difficult opening weekend of the season.

Lewis Hamilton has completed his sensational switch from Mercedes to Ferrari ahead of the 2025 F1 season - and he is paid handsomely to suit up in red