It may seem premature to ask this question when there are are seven races left of the 2024 season, but I think the big question in F1 right now is who has the best chance of winning the WDC next year.

Since the cars are a continuation of the 2024 cars (with new regulations coming in 2025) and the top four teams have been so close in the second half of this season, there are at least six very realistic contenders for the crown:

Max Verstappen has won the last three seasons in a row and the head start he built up in 2024 means that he will probably make it four in a row. However, the previously dominant Red Bull car has been struggling in the past few races. Will he start 2025 on the back foot?

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri appear to have the fastest car right now and they've shown that they can get results. But while the team thought that they would be gathering around Norris as team leader, Piastri has proven to be so good as to give them a headache when it comes to team orders. If they have the fastest car in 2025, will they take points from each other?

Lewis Hamilton has more wins, poles, podiums and points than anyone else in the history of the sport. He's also the joint record holder for WDCs alongside Michael Schumacher. The Ferrari is a strong car and could potentially be as fast or faster than the McLaren and the Red Bull next year. But he will be 40 when the 2025 season starts. Will age eventually catch up with him?

Charles Leclerc has proven his talent, especially around one lap. If the Ferrari is the fastest car and Hamilton either beds into Ferrari slowly or proves that he isn't as fast in his 40s as he used to be, Leclerc could be in a very good position.

George Russell is going to be driving for Mercedes alongside a rookie. The Mercedes has been disappointing for the past two years, but they're not that far off the front runners. If the car takes a step forward, Russell should benefit from being the clear number one at Mercedes with a rookie teammate who should be acting as backup.

Outside of the top six, it's difficult to see who could win. Perez and Antonelli are in top teams, but they're likely to be well behind their teammates. Sainz and Alonso have been outstanding drivers this season, but they are in teams which are very unlikely to give them a winning car in 2025.

Who will win the 2025 WDC?

(Note - the teams next to each answer are for information and context. It's only the driver name which matters. If a driver has an unexpected team change, the market will still resolve to that driver)