Lewis Hamilton’s first race for Ferrari CONFIRMED in shock move from F1 chiefs… and it’s bad news for the Brit legend

FORMULA ONE bosses have unveiled their calendar for the 2025 season – confirming the Australian GP at Melbourne will return as the opening race.

This year’s race in Melbourne attracted a total attendance of 452,055 over the four days but it was third in the schedule behind the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs.

Rex

Lewis Hamilton’s first Ferrari race will be at the Australian GP[/caption]

It means Lewis Hamilton will kick off his season with Ferrari at one of the tracks where he has struggled in the past.

The seven-time world champion has won just twice at Albert Park during his F1 career.

The 2025 season will mark the 75th anniversary of the FIA Formula One World Championship and will contain 24 races, kicking off in Australia on March 16th.

Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said: “[Next year] will be a special year as we celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the FIA Formula One World Championship, and it’s that legacy and experience that allows us to deliver such a strong calendar.

“Once again, we’ll visit 24 incredible venues around the world, delivering top class racing, hospitality, and entertainment, which will be enjoyed by millions of fans worldwide.

“We’re grateful to the FIA, our promoters, host city partners, and all the related ASNs for their commitment and support in delivering this schedule and securing what promises to be another fantastic year for F1.

“I would also like to pay tribute to our F1 teams and drivers, the heroes of our sport, and our fans around the world for continuing to follow F1 with such incredible enthusiasm.”

The Australian GP will come back-to-back with a race in China before a week break. There is then a gruelling triple-header taking in Japan, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

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The British Grand Prix will be held at Silverstone on July 6th while the season will finish in Abu Dhabi on December 7th.

The race at the Yas Marina Circuit is the final race in another triple header that will see teams hauled from Las Vegas to Qatar and then on to Abu Dhabi.

F1 says the calendar will have “a better geographical flow of races” helping team’s lower the cost of logistics and the environmental impact.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, added: “The 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar, approved by the World Motor Sport Council, is a further illustration of our collective mission of meeting sustainability objectives through the regionalisation of events.

“While our focus is on the overall stability of Formula 1, we also have a shared duty to the environment and to the health and well-being of travelling staff.

“Formula One Management, under the direction of Stefano Domenicali, have produced a calendar which strikes a good blend of traditional circuits and modern venues.

“We thank the host ASNs, the local organisers and the many thousands of FIA volunteers for their tireless efforts in making Formula 1 a truly global, mass audience spectacle as we prepare to celebrate the sport’s 75th year.”