The 2025 Formula 1 season has officially roared into life, with Australia playing host to the opening race at Melbourne’s Albert Park on Sunday, March 16. This year’s calendar marks a return to tradition for F1 fans, as the Melbourne circuit last opened the season in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic shuffled the global schedule. With 24 races spanning five continents, the 2025 campaign promises drama, spectacle, and a few eye-watering price tags for those who want to experience the action up close.
Perhaps the biggest headline of the weekend was Lewis Hamilton’s much-anticipated debut for Ferrari. After years of speculation and a storied career with Mercedes, Hamilton finally donned the iconic red suit, sending a buzz through the paddock and grandstands alike. The British driver’s move is already shaping the narrative for the season, as fans and pundits alike wonder: will Hamilton’s switch bring Ferrari back to championship glory?
But the excitement isn’t just on the track. For the ultra-wealthy, the 2025 season offers a new level of exclusivity. Formula Escapes has unveiled what they’re calling ‘The Ultimate Grand Prix’ ticket: a staggering £2.8 million package that guarantees access to every single race of the season, plus an array of jaw-dropping perks. This isn’t your average weekend pass. The ticket includes private jet travel between Grands Prix, five-star and luxury resort stays, Paddock Club hospitality, pit lane walks, behind-the-scenes access, and meet-and-greets with F1 teams. As the company describes, it’s the ultimate way to live and breathe F1 from lights out in Melbourne to the final flag in Abu Dhabi.
The 2025 calendar is packed with both familiar circuits and a few strategic changes. After three consecutive years of Bahrain opening the season, the Sakhir race has been shifted to April to accommodate Ramadan, with Saudi Arabia following suit. China and Japan have also been moved forward by a month, now occupying the second and third slots on the schedule. This means fans will see a triple-header in April, with Japan (April 4-6), Bahrain (April 11-13), and Saudi Arabia (April 18-20) running back-to-back-to-back—a logistical and sporting challenge for teams and drivers alike.
Pre-season testing remains in Bahrain, taking place from February 26 to 28, offering teams just two weeks to iron out any issues before the Melbourne opener. The season will wrap up under the lights of Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit on December 7, with a relentless pace throughout: there’s just a single week’s rest between the Singapore and Austin rounds in October. For the second year running, there are no new races on the calendar, but big changes are brewing for 2026, when Madrid will take over as the new home of the Spanish Grand Prix, potentially ending Barcelona’s long-standing tenure.
Speaking of Spain, that Grand Prix has moved forward three weeks to the end of May and start of June, while Belgium and Hungary have swapped weekends. Budapest will now host the final race before the summer break on August 1-3, and the European leg of the season concludes at Monza with the Italian Grand Prix on the weekend of September 5. From there, the F1 circus heads to Asia, North America, and South America, with races in Singapore, Austin, Mexico City, São Paulo, Las Vegas, and Lusail, before the grand finale in Abu Dhabi.
For fans hoping to catch the action live, ticket prices continue to climb. According to F1Destinations.com, the average ticket for the 2025 British Grand Prix at Silverstone (July 4-6) is $600, making it the seventh most expensive race on the calendar. The Las Vegas Grand Prix tops the list, with an eye-watering average of $1,015 per ticket. These figures don’t include the cost of travel, accommodation, or those ultra-premium experiences that are increasingly popular among F1’s global fanbase.
Teams, too, face mounting logistical challenges as they crisscross the globe. Each outfit ships around 660 tons of air freight and 500 tons of sea freight per season, a testament to the sheer scale of the modern F1 operation. With 24 races to contest, every detail—from car parts to hospitality suites—must arrive on time and in perfect condition. It’s no wonder that the sport is sometimes described as a traveling city, with thousands of personnel moving from country to country in pursuit of speed and glory.
Special hospitality tickets have become a major talking point in recent years. Last season saw a $1 million ticket that included an Aston Martin supercar, but the new £2.8 million offering from Formula Escapes takes things to a whole new level. For the price of 28 F1 front wings, fans can immerse themselves in the sport like never before. The package includes private jet transfers, exclusive pit lane walks, behind-the-scenes access, and the chance to rub shoulders with drivers and team principals. It’s a far cry from the general admission days, but for those with deep pockets, the experience is unparalleled.
Looking ahead, 2025 could be a year of transition for Formula 1. With Madrid set to join the calendar in 2026, this season may be Barcelona’s swan song as host of the Spanish Grand Prix. The schedule is as demanding as ever, with no new venues but plenty of reshuffling to keep teams on their toes. There’s a four-week gap in autumn, but otherwise, the season is relentless—just one week separates some of the most logistically challenging races.
As the engines cool down after the Melbourne opener, attention turns to the next rounds in China and Japan. With Hamilton’s Ferrari debut making waves, a packed schedule, and the rise of ultra-premium fan experiences, the 2025 Formula 1 season is already shaping up to be one for the history books. Whether you’re watching from the grandstands, tuning in from home, or jet-setting around the world with an ‘Ultimate Grand Prix’ ticket, there’s no denying that F1 continues to push the limits—on and off the track.
With the championship just getting underway, all eyes are on the front runners and the shifting dynamics in the paddock. The road to Abu Dhabi is long, but if the opening weekend is any indication, fans are in for a season packed with surprises, spectacle, and plenty of high-octane drama.