The 2024 System 1 season made historical past for the game when the primary race started. When the lights went out to begin the Bahrain Grand Prix, it was the primary time in F1 historical past that the drivers who ended the earlier season had been the identical precise drivers — in the identical precise spots — when the subsequent 12 months started.
Nevertheless, the season additionally started with adjustments looming on the horizon. Not solely was over half of the grid starting the 12 months on an expiring contract, the surprising information that Lewis Hamilton can be leaving Mercedes for Ferrari on the finish of 2024 kicked the F1 “foolish season” into overdrive.
Slowly, subsequent 12 months’s lineup is rounding into form. The information that Purple Bull reached a brand new two-year deal implies that over half of the grid is now set for 2025.
So how does the 2025 F1 driver lineup look? Right here is the way it stands for the time being, with 9 spots nonetheless formally up for grabs.
This piece will likely be up to date as new contracts are introduced.
Alpine
Alpine entered the 2024 F1 season with two drivers on the ultimate 12 months of their contracts, in Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon. With Ocon and Alpine asserting forward of the Canadian Grand Prix that they may “half methods” on the finish of the 2024 season, one seat is formally vacant for 2025. Rumors persist about Gasly’s future with the group, however with the Ocon announcement the group would possibly look to retain him for 2025, to maintain some degree of continuity throughout the group.
Earlier this week we took a take a look at potential choices for Alpine for at the least Ocon’s present seat.
Replace: Forward of the Austrian Grand Prix Alpine introduced that Gasly will likely be again for 2025 on a brand new “multi-year” deal.
Pierre Gasly – “Multi-year” contract
TBD
Aston Martin
Aston Martin is likely one of the few groups at present with a lineup set for 2025. Fernando Alonso entered the 12 months on the ultimate season of his present contract, however the events just lately introduced a brand new “multi-year contract.” As for Lance Stroll, his contract standing is one thing of a thriller, however it’s understood that he’s on a rolling contract, one which has been described within the media as “indefinite.”
Replace: Forward of the Austrian Grand Prix Aston Martin confirmed that Stroll will likely be again for 2025 on a brand new “multi-year” deal.
Fernando Alonso — “Multi-year” contract by means of at the least 2026
Lance Stroll — “Multi-year” contract
Haas
Much like Alpine, Haas is one other group that entered the 12 months with a pair of drivers on the ultimate 12 months of their offers, and now is aware of for sure that one spot is open for 2025. Nico Hülkenberg introduced forward of the Miami Grand Prix that he was transferring to Sauber for 2025 and past, forward of that group turning into the Audi works outfit in 2026. Kevin Magnussen is within the closing 12 months of his deal, and it stays unclear if he will likely be retained for 2025.
A reputation that has been typically linked with at the least one spot at Haas for 2025? Ferrari academy driver and super-sub Oliver Bearman.
Ferrari
Ferrari kicked off the F1 foolish season within the winter, when the gorgeous announcement got here that Lewis Hamilton can be leaving Mercedes for Ferrari on the conclusion of the 2024 season. With the group having already introduced a brand new deal for Charles Leclerc, Ferrari’s lineup is about for 2025 … and past.
Charles Leclerc — “Multi-year” contract
Lewis Hamilton — “Multi-year” contract
McLaren
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Final October I sat down with McLaren CEO Zak Brown for an unique interview, and at the moment the group boss instructed me in no unsure phrases that in Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri the group has one of the best driver duo on the grid.
So it ought to come as no shock that the group labored over the previous few months to increase Norris, guaranteeing each drivers are with the group into the brand new period of F1 laws.
Lando Norris — “Multi-year” contract
Oscar Piastri — Contract by means of 2026
Mercedes
Close to the top of final season it appeared Mercedes would get pleasure from a interval of stability, or at the least by means of the 2025 season. With George Russell signed till the top of the 2025 marketing campaign, and Lewis Hamilton including two extra years to a deal that was set to run out on the finish of 2024, the Silver Arrows appeared set.
That modified with the Hamilton information. Now the group is contemplation choices for the seat subsequent to Russell, and sure seeking to lengthen Russell past his present deal.
Various choices have been linked with this second seat at Mercedes, with many indicators pointing to phenom Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
George Russell — Contract by means of 2025
TBD
Purple Bull
Whereas the surprising Hamilton announcement formally kicked off the 2025 F1 foolish season hypothesis, in reality it started nicely earlier than that. Sergio Pérez’s mid-season struggles throughout 2023, significantly in qualifying, led to rampant hypothesis relating to his future with Purple Bull. Whereas he started the season on a deal set to run out on the finish of 2024, there have been sure corners of the F1 world that questioned if he would even see the beginning of 2024 with the group, or if he can be doubtlessly sacked mid-season on account of poor type.
Purple Bull ended that hypothesis forward of the Canadian Grand Prix, asserting a brand new two-year take care of Pérez that can preserve him with the group by means of 2026.
As for the opposite Purple Bull driver, absent a seismic transfer that seat is locked up for a very long time.
Max Verstappen — Contract by means of 2028
Sergio Pérez — Contract by means of 2026
Sauber
Sauber entered 2024 with a driver lineup of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, two drivers on expiring offers.
Now one among their seats is about for 2025 and past, because the group introduced again in April that Nico Hülkenberg can be becoming a member of the group for subsequent season. With Sauber set to turn into the Audi works operation in 2026, pairing a German driver with a German producer makes a deal of sense.
Nevertheless, who his teammate will likely be subsequent 12 months is a matter of debate.
Nico Hülkenberg — “Multi-year” contract by means of 2026
TBD
Visa Money App RB F1 Group
Three drivers, two seats.
That’s how the 12 months started for VCARB, as Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda, and Liam Lawson all offered viable choices for the group. Finally, the group went with Ricciardo and Tsunoda, each of whom are on expiring contracts. Will VCARB carry each again for 2025, or make adjustments?
Replace: Forward of the Canadian Grand Prix VCARB introduced that Tsunoda will likely be again for 2025.
Yuki Tsunoda — Contract by means of 2025
TBD
Williams
A stunning seventh-place end within the 2023 Constructors’ Championship noticed Williams run it again this 12 months with each Alexander Albon and Logan Sargeant. Like final 12 months, nevertheless, the beginning has been gradual for the group. Throughout 2023 Williams notched a single level within the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, and didn’t rating once more till the Canadian Grand Prix, when Albon completed seventh.
This season Williams lastly broke by means of with factors within the Monaco Grand Prix with Albon’s ninth-place end.
The group introduced a contract extension for Albon earlier this season, however who his teammate will likely be in 2025 is a matter but to be determined.
Alexander Albon — “Multi-year” contract by means of at the least 2026
TBD
