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How has the F1 silly season unfolded so far, and what moves are yet to come?
The 2024 Formula 1 season made history for the sport when the first race began. When the lights went out to start the Bahrain Grand Prix, it was the first time in F1 history that the drivers who ended the previous season were the same exact drivers — in the same exact spots — when the next year began.
However, the season also began with changes looming on the horizon. Not only was over half of the grid beginning the year on an expiring contract, the shocking news that Lewis Hamilton would be leaving Mercedes for Ferrari at the end of 2024 kicked the F1 “silly season” into overdrive.
Slowly, next year’s lineup is rounding into shape. The news that Red Bull reached a new two-year deal means that over half of the grid is now set for 2025.
So how does the 2025 F1 driver lineup look? Here is how it stands at the moment, with nine spots still officially up for grabs.
This piece will be updated as new contracts are announced.
Alpine
Alpine entered the 2024 F1 season with two drivers on the final year of their contracts, in Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon. With Ocon and Alpine announcing ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix that they will “part ways” at the end of the 2024 season, one seat is officially vacant for 2025. Rumors persist about Gasly’s future with the team, but with the Ocon announcement the team might look to retain him for 2025, to keep some level of continuity within the organization.
Earlier this week we took a look at potential options for Alpine for at least Ocon’s current seat.
Update: Ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix Alpine announced that Gasly will be back for 2025 on a new “multi-year” deal.
Pierre Gasly – “Multi-year” contract
TBD
Aston Martin
Aston Martin is one of the few teams currently with a lineup set for 2025. Fernando Alonso entered the year on the final season of his current contract, but the parties recently announced a new “multi-year contract.” As for Lance Stroll, his contract status is something of a mystery, but it is understood that he is on a rolling contract, one that has been described in the media as “indefinite.”
Update: Ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix Aston Martin confirmed that Stroll will be back for 2025 on a new “multi-year” deal.
Fernando Alonso — “Multi-year” contract through at least 2026
Lance Stroll — “Multi-year” contract
Haas
Similar to Alpine, Haas is another team that entered the year with a pair of drivers on the final year of their deals, and now knows for certain that one spot is open for 2025. Nico Hülkenberg announced ahead of the Miami Grand Prix that he was moving to Sauber for 2025 and beyond, ahead of that team becoming the Audi works outfit in 2026. Kevin Magnussen is in the final year of his deal, and it remains unclear if he will be retained for 2025.
A name that has been often linked with at least one spot at Haas for 2025? Ferrari academy driver and super-sub Oliver Bearman.
TBD
TBD
Ferrari
Ferrari kicked off the F1 silly season in the winter, when the stunning announcement came that Lewis Hamilton would be leaving Mercedes for Ferrari at the conclusion of the 2024 season. With the team having already announced a new deal for Charles Leclerc, Ferrari’s lineup is set for 2025 … and beyond.
Charles Leclerc — “Multi-year” contract
Lewis Hamilton — “Multi-year” contract
McLaren
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Last October I sat down with McLaren CEO Zak Brown for an exclusive interview, and at that time the team boss told me in no uncertain terms that in Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri the team has the best driver duo on the grid.
So it should come as no surprise that the team worked over the past few months to extend Norris, ensuring both drivers are with the team into the new era of F1 regulations.
Lando Norris — “Multi-year” contract
Oscar Piastri — Contract through 2026
Mercedes
Near the end of last season it seemed Mercedes would enjoy a period of stability, or at least through the 2025 season. With George Russell signed until the end of the 2025 campaign, and Lewis Hamilton adding two more years to a deal that was set to expire at the end of 2024, the Silver Arrows looked set.
That changed with the Hamilton news. Now the team is contemplation options for the seat next to Russell, and likely looking to extend Russell beyond his current deal.
A number of options have been linked with this second seat at Mercedes, with many signs pointing to phenom Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
George Russell — Contract through 2025
TBD
Red Bull
While the shocking Hamilton announcement officially kicked off the 2025 F1 silly season speculation, in truth it began well before that. Sergio Pérez’s mid-season struggles during 2023, particularly in qualifying, led to rampant speculation regarding his future with Red Bull. While he began the season on a deal set to expire at the end of 2024, there were certain corners of the F1 world that wondered if he would even see the start of 2024 with the team, or if he would be potentially sacked mid-season due to poor form.
Red Bull ended that speculation ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, announcing a new two-year deal with Pérez that will keep him with the team through 2026.
As for the other Red Bull driver, absent a seismic move that seat is locked up for a long time.
Max Verstappen — Contract through 2028
Sergio Pérez — Contract through 2026
Sauber
Sauber entered 2024 with a driver lineup of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, two drivers on expiring deals.
Now one of their seats is set for 2025 and beyond, as the team announced back in April that Nico Hülkenberg would be joining the team for next season. With Sauber set to become the Audi works operation in 2026, pairing a German driver with a German manufacturer makes a deal of sense.
However, who his teammate will be next year is a matter of debate.
Nico Hülkenberg — “Multi-year” contract through 2026
TBD
Visa Cash App RB F1 Team
Three drivers, two seats.
That is how the year began for VCARB, as Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda, and Liam Lawson all presented viable options for the team. Ultimately, the team went with Ricciardo and Tsunoda, both of whom are on expiring contracts. Will VCARB bring both back for 2025, or make changes?
Update: Ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix VCARB announced that Tsunoda will be back for 2025.
Yuki Tsunoda — Contract through 2025
TBD
Williams
A surprising seventh-place finish in the 2023 Constructors’ Championship saw Williams run it back this year with both Alexander Albon and Logan Sargeant. Like last year, however, the start has been slow for the team. During 2023 Williams notched a single point in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, and did not score again until the Canadian Grand Prix, when Albon finished seventh.
This season Williams finally broke through with points in the Monaco Grand Prix with Albon’s ninth-place finish.
The team announced a contract extension for Albon earlier this season, but who his teammate will be in 2025 is a matter yet to be decided.
Alexander Albon — “Multi-year” contract through at least 2026
TBD
