Max Verstappen claimed his fourth straight Formula One World Championship at the recent Las Vegas Grand Prix, before enforcing his dominance a week later with victory in Qatar. The win was the Dutchman’s ninth of yet another stellar campaign in which he had far too much for the rest of the grid to handle. However, now attention immediately turns to the future, and Super Max won’t have it all his way.

His Red Bull team have lost their key man behind the scenes in the form of Adrian Newey, who has opted to join Aston Martin. He isn’t the only one to jump ship, and there are plenty of drivers on the move as well. Here are the biggest moves ahead of what promises to be yet another blockbuster campaign.

Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari

Rumours linking Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari have finally come true, and the seven-time world champion’s impending move to the Scuderia is without question the biggest of the year. The GOAT has opted to leave behind his storied partnership with Mercedes, one that brought him six of his titles, opting to chase a record-breaking eighth with the most iconic name in motorsports. The online betting odds for the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix made him a 9/1 outsider for the victory, and you can imagine those odds will shorten dramatically next term as he looks to take the fight to Verstappen.

An online bet calculator shows that a £10 bet on Hamilton to win in the Arabian Gulf would have paid £100, while the same bet on Verstappen would have paid £32. Expect to see the Brit’s chances at victory much closer to his arch-rival throughout the course of 2025.

Carlos Sainz to Williams

Carlos Sainz, displaced by Hamilton at Maranello, makes a surprising move to Williams. While at first glance this might look like a step backwards, the rejuvenated British team has been making steady progress under new leadership and with some fresh technical partnerships. For the Spaniard, it’s a gamble, but one that could pay off if Williams continues to close the gap to the midfield.

The former McLaren man has enjoyed a stellar time throughout his stint with the Scuderia. He has regularly outperformed teammate Charles Leclerc, who is the well-renowned golden boy with the Italian team. He has picked up four wins for the team and has led them to the brink of the 2024 constructor’s championship. Had Hamilton not become available, then Sainz would surely have secured his seat, but as it stands he will have to rebuild with Williams.

Nico Hulkenberg to Sauber

Sauber, soon to be rebranded under the Audi name, has undergone a complete overhaul of its driver line-up. Both Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu are now gone, with Nico Hulkenberg now confirmed as lead driver, with a young understudy set to accompany him on the grid. He has enjoyed a late-career renaissance alongside Kevin Magnussen at Haas, and now he has the opportunity to be the lead driver with an exciting new team.