Formula One in 2024 may be fielding the same driver line up as in 2023; but for 2025 things are looking somewhat different, with big names moving around and plenty of seats yet to be claimed. Silly season, as we call it, is far from being over. And surely, the best is yet to come?
As we know, the driver market was triggered early for 2025 with Lewis Hamilton making a shock move to Ferrari, replacing Carlos Sainz who is currently without a contract for future F1 seasons. Charles Leclerc, Fernando Alonso, Alex Albon and Sergio Perez were confirmed to be staying at their respective teams - Ferrari, Aston Martin, Williams and Red Bull, joining Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, George Russell and Max Verstappen who all are already locked in for 2025. Nico Hulkenberg will be leaving Haas and moving to Sauber - which will become Audi in 2026, with Esteban Ocon recently confirming his time with Alpine will come to an end at the end of 2024. With 10 seats left up for grabs, there is everything to play for!
The most talked about seats in the driver market are those at the top end of the field. The likes of Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari, with the biggest question mark being where current Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz will end up. Will he make a move to Red Bull or Mercedes? With Perez’s recent contract extension and Verstappen locked in for the next few seasons, this team looks to be out of the running; as does Mercedes, with several drivers linked to their vacancy. So that leaves Sauber/Audi, Williams or Alpine, three other teams the Spaniard has recently been linked to. Wherever the 3x Grand Prix winner goes, not only would it play a pivotal role in the future of his Formula One career, but it could also trigger more movement in this already crazy silly season.
One thing Formula One has been lacking in recent seasons is Formula 2 graduates. Could all this be about to change, with rumours of the Mercedes seat going to Kimi Antonelli? There is no denying that the Italian youngster is talented, but with only a few months of F2 experience under his belt, is a jump to the Mercedes F1 team to premature and optimistic? Would Williams be a better fit? Possibly. Then there is Ollie Bearman. The young Brit has already got one foot in the door after a fantastic F1 debut in Saudi Arabia where he deputised for an unwell Sainz. With Hulkenberg off to pastures new (or old, he's been to Sauber before) could Bearman find himself at Haas for 2025. This HAAS (pun intended) to be a given. Past F2 drivers Jack Doohan and Liam Lawson are also linked to teams for 2025, meaning we could be about to have an influx of rookie drivers - the most in recent seasons.
With the vacant Red Bull seat going to Perez, it leaves the question as to who will fill the open seat at Mercedes. As mentioned above, Antonelli is an option, and so far, maybe the only valid option? But, what about Ocon? He has strong Mercedes links through his manager - Toto Wolff. That’s right, despite his rocky journey with Alpine, don’t be too surprised if we start seeing Ocon’s name being thrown around for that Mercedes seat. He’s definitely an option if the team want Antonelli to gain more experience before making the step up to the front of the F1 field.
Max Verstappen, although locked in for 2025, is another name being rumoured to make a shock move to a different team - in this case, Mercedes. With a lot of ongoings behind the scenes at Red Bull, and his father being very influential on his career, I wouldn’t rule this move out. I mean, it’s unlikely, but possible. Especially with the likes of Mercedes and other teams starting to come in strong with their car developments, getting ever so closer to Red Bull on track and on paper. With this in mind, have the team done the right thing in resigning their second driver; Perez? Despite his “minor” setbacks in recent times, Perez is a relatively good racing driver, as he has proved during his Sauber and Force India days. If it’s continuity that the team is looking for, then fair dos. Will it work out for them? Time will tell.
There was no secret to the fact that Red Bull were planning on reuniting Daniel Ricciardo with Verstappen for 2025. However, it’s also no secret that Ricciardo is struggling at VCARB, consistently getting out-qualified and out-raced by the younger teammate that is Yuki Tsunoda. With rumours circulating left, right and centre, it’s almost disappointing to hear that VCARB are looking at keeping Ricciardo on for 2025. This is nothing against the Australian other than that isn’t this supposed to be a Junior Team after all? In some ways I can understand the method to their madness. With not many drivers coming through the Junior Team programme at this moment in time, continuity and experience may help the team in the longer term. But, where is Tsunoda in all of this? Is a Red Bull exit on the cards for 2025? Could it be a seat on the sidelines at Aston Martin before they join forces with Honda, whom Tsunoda has ties with, in 2026? Or simply, could he stay with VCARB? Does this put a potential seat for current reserve driver - Liam Lawson into doubt? It would be one of the biggest shames in Formula One if he misses out for a second consecutive season.
With everything I have talked about in mind, this leaves a whole bunch of current F1 drivers without contracts for 2025, and of course, the rumour mill is in full swing. Could Valtteri Bottas be off to Haas? Could Zhou Guanyu be a shoe in at Alpine? Is Mick Schumacher about to make a spectacular F1 return? Is Logan Sargeant's time at Williams and F1 about to come to an abrupt end? Oh, it's juicy stuff! Too juicy in fact that I'm afraid to make any kind of prediction as to what the 2025 grid is going to look like. Regardless, here is where we stand as of writing: (Drivers in red are out of contract but tipped to stay with their respective teams)
Red Bull: Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes: George Russell and Vacant
McLaren: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri
Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll
Alpine: Pierre Gasly and Vacant - (Surely this will be Doohan?)
VCARB: Daniel Ricciardo and Vacant - (My feeling is Tsunoda)
Williams: Alex Albon and Vacant
Kick Sauber: Nico Hulkenberg and Vacant
Haas: Vacant and Vacant - (One will be Bearman 100%)
So, with that being said, what are your thoughts and opinions on 2025? Let me know in the comments! It's going to be a very interesting remainder of the 2024 season - and we're not even half way yet! I just hope Sainz gets himself somewhere. Ya'll know how much of a fan I am of his!
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