This year brings some major changes to the F1 schedule. For the second year in a row, FIA has picked an unexpected country to host the opening race of the Grand Prix season. If you keep up with the Motorsport world, you probably already have an idea which country it is. But the real question is, what’s behind this decision? This change is set to seriously impact the flow and dynamics of the entire competition.
This country returns as the opener: Tradition, weather, and more
A few years ago, F1 usually started in Middle Eastern countries, such as Bahrain. But recently, there have been some changes that have taken the start of the season to another location for the second year. This place is Australia, specifically Melbourne. The place has already been a choice in the past, and now the FIA has decided to revive this old tradition.
The Formula 1 season usually starts in March every year, which is a very pleasant time of the year throughout the Southern Hemisphere with its warm weather. Choosing Australia means that good races can take place without having to worry about adverse weather conditions.
Also, one complaint that the FIA often receives about the Formula 1 competition is that it is an event that ends up becoming polarized in Europe. This is one of the main reasons why the organization wants to give more prominence to competitions in different countries and hemispheres. This decision has a direct relationship with logistics costs and commercial strategy.
The big changes to the 2025 season calendar and format
After the FIA decided to decentralize F1 competitions, there was a major re-planning of the GP schedule this year. FIA is placing them in a strategic sequence due to proximity, with each phase taking place on the same continent and hemisphere in a certain period until all the GPs in that region have taken place.
Another change is the adjustment of some technical rules. In these adjustments, the car will be the one undergoing a redesign process that will make overtaking easier thanks to changes in its aerodynamics and shape. This year, the cars will be faster and more competitive, making the races even more exciting and less predictable.
Another change is the development of Sprints events. What were once Grand Prix test events have now become official, an integral part of the F1 calendar throughout the stages, and take place previously the big race day, adding even more excitement to the weekend of each Grand Prix.
Direct impact for FIA, pilots, and fans: Why will it be so different?
All these changes to the Formula 1 calendar this year are very beneficial in many ways. The most important thing is, this change really helps with logistics. By dividing the competition by regions/stages, they avoid long trips between races, which reduces a lot all the costs with long-distance airplane travel, also decreasing the carbon emissions.
With this new logistics organization, the pilots can rest more between the races, without having to travel long distances. This will considerably improve their performance, in addition to the favorable Australian climate at this time of the year, which will help them perform well without the unpredictability of bad weather.
For the fans, the new calendar will be a good change because it is more dynamic, with fewer breaks between races or very different times for the competition.
Formula 1 made an important move by choosing Australia as the starting point for this year’s Grand Prix. What was already a good option in the past shows that it works well within the logistics planned by FIA. F1 has a promising and more exciting future for this year, and we will notice it until the end of this first semester.
