As the 2025 Formula 1 season looms on the horizon, McLaren CEO Zak Brown has thrown down the gauntlet, boldly declaring that Lewis Hamilton—now donning Ferrari red—will be a serious contender for the drivers’ world championship. Speaking with the confidence of a man whose team just clinched the 2024 constructors’ title, Brown didn’t stop there. He’s forecasting an “epic” season, one that could see the grid tighter and more unpredictable than ever. With the clock ticking down to the Australian Grand Prix on March 16, the F1 world is already buzzing—and Hamilton’s name is at the center of it all.

Brown’s optimism isn’t baseless bravado. McLaren’s razor-thin 14-point victory over Ferrari in last year’s constructors’ championship proved just how close the top teams have become, and with stable regulations carrying over into 2025, he sees no reason why Hamilton can’t leverage Ferrari’s momentum. “I’m definitely anticipating Lewis being a championship contender,” Brown said at the F1 75 Live event in London last month. “We and Ferrari ended last year with nothing between us, and I think that’ll continue.” For a driver who’s been counted out by some after two lean years at Mercedes, Hamilton’s move to Maranello at age 40 has reignited the spark—and Brown’s betting on a full-blown inferno.

Hamilton’s 2024 season was a tale of highs and lows. A drought-breaking win at Silverstone showcased his timeless brilliance, but Mercedes’ inconsistency left him scrapping for scraps too often. Now, paired with a Ferrari team that surged late last year—winning in the U.S. and Mexico—Hamilton has a car capable of matching his ambition: an eighth world title to stand alone atop F1’s pantheon. Brown, whose McLaren squad fended off Ferrari’s late charge in Abu Dhabi, knows firsthand how dangerous the Scuderia can be. Add Hamilton’s experience and hunger to the mix, and you’ve got a recipe for fireworks.

But it’s not just Hamilton that has Brown excited. He’s painting a picture of a season where chaos and competition reign supreme. “I think this season should be epic and even closer than last year,” he predicted. “I’m anticipating eight different winners. I wouldn’t be surprised with how competitive it is.” Last year, seven drivers from four teams tasted victory—Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, plus Mercedes’ Hamilton and George Russell. Brown’s hunch? The field’s so tight that even midfield outfits like Aston Martin or Alpine could sneak a shock win in 2025.

McLaren’s own aspirations add another layer to this blockbuster narrative. Fresh off their first constructors’ crown since 1998, Brown isn’t resting on laurels. “We’d like to go for the constructors’ and the drivers’ world championship,” he declared, eyeing a dream 1-2 finish with Norris and Piastri battling for supremacy. Norris, who pushed Verstappen hard in 2024 only to finish 63 points shy, is itching to shed the “nearly man” label, while Piastri’s breakout sophomore year—landing him fourth overall—marks him as a dark horse. Brown’s confidence in his duo is palpable, but he knows Hamilton’s presence at Ferrari, alongside Leclerc, will make every point a dogfight.

The subplot thickens with Red Bull and Mercedes lurking. Verstappen, the reigning drivers’ champ, remains the man to beat, even if Red Bull’s mid-2024 wobble hinted at vulnerability. Mercedes, meanwhile, won four races last year and now pairs Russell with rookie Kimi Antonelli—a gamble that could either dazzle or falter. Brown acknowledged the rookies’ potential impact, noting that Antonelli and Red Bull’s Liam Lawson “will inevitably have some rookie weekends,” possibly tilting the constructors’ battle toward the seasoned squads. Still, he expects both to snag wins, adding yet more unpredictability.

Fans are already salivating. Social media is awash with posts hyping Hamilton’s Ferrari era, with one X user proclaiming, “Lewis in red is about to rewrite history.” Another mused, “If Zak’s right about eight winners, this could be the wildest F1 season ever.” The sentiment echoes Brown’s vision: a grid so stacked that every race is a roll of the dice. With Hamilton’s resurgence, McLaren’s title defense, and a cast of hungry challengers, 2025 promises to be a spectacle—an epic, as Brown put it, that could cement legacies or shatter dreams. The countdown is on, and the stage is set for a thriller.