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Wild F1 'driver merry-go-round' set to explode

Formula 1's silly season is almost upon us.

And after a tame 2024, this year's mid-season break is forecast to be especially hot with more than half the grid off contract by season's end.

The driver market was sent into a spin earlier this year when Lewis Hamilton announced that he would depart Mercedes to join rival top-tier team Ferrari on a multi-year deal from next year.

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This move saw the in-form Carlos Sainz dumped by the Prancing Horse, and a highly sought-after seat open up beside George Russell at the Silver Arrows — all before this year's championship had even begun.

Then came the shock news that Red Bull's design guru Adrian Newey will depart the team in early 2025 — a move that could have a far-reaching impact.

Wide World of Sports takes a look at the state of play of the 2025 F1 grid as the driver merry-go-round looks to get going.

Red Bull Racing

Red Bull's star driver Max Verstappen is contracted until the end of the 2028 season after the 26-year-old signed a six-year extension with the team following his first world championship win.

However, the recent departure of the team's chief technical officer in Newey is said to have destabilised the champion team and added to speculation of a mass exodus from Milton Keynes.

Verstappen is reportedly on unfavourable terms with the team in the wake of misconduct allegations first levelled at team principal Christian Horner in February.

In March, it was reported that exit clauses in Verstappen's contract could be triggered if the internal situation at the team were to worsen.

There were suggestions that Verstappen would be permitted to terminate his contract prematurely if key personnel, namely Horner, Marko or Newey, departed.

Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez — who holds one of the most sought-after seats in F1 — is out of contract at the end of the 2024 season.

Speculation around Perez's future has followed the six-time race-winner since last season but his performances so far this year hold him in good steed to retain his place.

Sainz and Australian Daniel Ricciardo have been linked to the seat at various points.

Mercedes

Hamilton and Russell were expected to team up again in 2025 until Hamilton decided to jump ship after 12 years with Mercedes.

Russell is contracted to the team until the end of next season.

Sainz has been thrown around as Hamilton's replacement. However, promising teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli — who is affiliated with Mercedes — is also in the mix to make his F1 debut with the team.

Mercedes prodige Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Ferrari

Charles Leclerc is contracted to Ferrari for "several more seasons" beyond 2025.

Leclerc inked a fresh deal with the Scuderia in January but its span was not disclosed.

Similarly, Hamilton will join the team on a "multi-year" deal.

Lewis Hamilton joins Ferrari

McLaren

McLaren has heavily invested in its young driver line-up of Lando Norris and Australian Oscar Piastri.

Norris signed a "multi-year" extension with McLaren in January which will keep him at the team beyond the end of 2025.

While Piastri penned a new contract with the team before the end of his strong rookie season in 2023. This deal will see him through until the end of 2026.

Piastri re-signs with McLaren

Aston Martin

Fernando Alonso was linked to a move at the beginning of the season but re-signed with Aston Martin on a "multi-year contract" in April to remain with the team until at least 2026.

Lance Stroll appears to be signed to the team on a rolling year-by-year contract. As the team is owned by Stroll's father and Canadian billionaire, Lawrence Stroll, it does not appear the 25-year-old will be vacating his seat anytime soon.

Lawrence Stroll and Lance Stroll of Aston Martin ahead of the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix.

Alpine

Both of Alpine's 2024 drivers, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, are off contract at the end of this season. This being said, the French constructor could have an entirely new-look line-up next year.

Gasly's contract is reported to have an extension clause written into it which could extend his deal to the end of 2025 if initiated.

If either driver were to depart, the team's reserve driver, Australian Jack Doohan, could be parachuted in to make his F1 debut.

Doohan 'ready' for F1 callup

The services of adopted Aussie Valtteri Bottas could also be called upon.

Williams

Alex Albon is contracted to Williams until the end of 2025 after re-signing in 2022 off the back of his successful debut year with the team.

Albon's teammate Logan Sargeant is not contracted for next year and is one of the most likely drivers to lose their seat ahead of next season.

Sargeant finished 21st in last year's drivers' standing — even behind stand-in driver Liam Lawson — having scored just one world championship point. This season he has so far failed to register a top-10 finish.

Logan Sargeant (Williams) after his crash during qualifying for the F1 Grand Prix of the Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort on August 26, 2023 in Zandvoort, Netherlands. ANP KOEN VAN WEEL (Photo by ANP via Getty Images)

There are rumblings that Antonelli could replace Sargeant during this season while on loan from Mercedes. However, as the current F2 driver does not turn 18 until August, he is not yet eligible for a super licence.

Without a super licence, Antonelli is not qualified to race F1.

The FIA has confirmed it received a request for an age criteria exemption for Antonelli but nothing is guaranteed.

Bottas could also land here depending on which way the wind blows.

RB

Both of RB's 2024 drivers, Yuki Tsunoda and Ricciardo, are off contract at the end of this season.

This season was touted as Ricciardo's audition for a reunion with Verstappen at Red Bull in 2025. However, after failing to fire in the first six rounds with the sister team, Ricciardo's window is slowly closing.

Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson is waiting in the wings after an impressive stint in the place of Ricciardo when he broke his hand last season.

RB has a habit of leaving the announcement of their driver line-up for the following year until late, so Australian fans could be waiting a while to see if Ricciardo has done enough to earn a drive in 2025.

Ricciardo: 'I'm exactly where I want to be'

Sauber

Last month, it was announced that Nico Hulkenberg would depart Haas for Sauber in 2025.

Hulkenberg was signed on a "multi-year" deal until at least the end of the 2026 season when the team becomes Audi.

With Hulkenberg coming on board, one of Kick Sauber's current drivers — Bottas or Zhou Guanyu — will have to make way with both out of contract at the end of 2024.

Bottas finished 15th in last year's driver standings, and ahead of Guanyu in 18th, but the Chinese driver has a lingering 'pay driver' tag that could prove the difference.

It has been rumoured that the team is undergoing a cleanout ahead of their re-brand to German manufacturer Audi with Sainz, Ocon and Gasly all touted as possible recruits.

Without a seat in 2025, fan-favourite Bottas could be forced into an early retirement regardless of his consistent results on the track this season.

Haas

Kevin Magnussen's one-year contract with Haas expires at the end of this season.

With Hulkenberg also exiting, a new driver will need to be brought into the fold in 2025.

Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman, who impressed when he stepped in for an ill Sainz at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, is the hot favourite to secure the full-time drive.

Oliver Bearman in the Ferrari garage before the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

With an F1 rookie expected aboard, 10-time race winner Bottas has also been linked to the seat as a mentor for Bearman.

Drivers out of contract at the end of 2024

Sergio Perez, Carlos Sainz, Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly, Logan Sargeant, Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda, Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu, Kevin Magnussen.



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