8163 replies to this topic

[Anja]

2024 isn't even here yet but in silly season terms it's old news already. All eyes are on 2025 now, which surely can't be less eventful than what we got from the 2024 edition? A lot of drivers doesn't seem to have a contract for 2025 yet, so for now the possibilities are almost endless. Who will stay put and who will change the scenery? We have a whole year or so to wonder about it, debate, and for some reason inevitably slip back into comparing drivers that have little to do with current events. 

 

Here's what I could find about the contract situation as it stands right now. 

 

Red Bull

Max Verstappen - contracted until 2028

Liam Lawson - contracted until 2025

 

Mercedes

George Russell - contracted until 2025

Andrea Kimi Antonelli - contracted at least until 2025, possibly longer?

 

Ferrari

Charles Leclerc - contracted at least until 2026

Lewis Hamilton - contracted at least until 2026

 

McLaren

Lando Norris - contracted at least until 2027

Oscar Piastri - contracted at least until 2026

 

Aston Martin

Fernando Alonso - contracted until 2026

Lance Stroll - no comment

 

Alpine

Pierre Gasly - contracted at least until 2026

Jack Doohan - contracted until 2025

 

Williams

Alex Albon - contracted at least until 2026

Carlos Sainz - contracted at least until 2026

 

Racing Bulls

Yuki Tsunoda - contracted until 2025

Isack Hadjar - contracted until 2025

 

Sauber

Nico Hulkenberg - contracted at least until 2026

Gabriel Bortoleto - contracted at least until 2026

 

Haas

Esteban Ocon - contracted at least until 2026

Oliver Bearman - contracted at least until 2026

Edited by Anja, 20 December 2024 - 15:03.

[rocque]

Oscar Piastri - contracted until 2024, likely with an option to extend

He is confirmed at McLaren until the end of 2026.

Edited by rocque, 01 December 2023 - 17:20.

[Anja]

He is confirmed at McLaren until the end of 2026.

 

You're right, must've been announced after the sources I checked have been written. Corrected now.

Edited by Anja, 01 December 2023 - 17:29.

[Anderis]

I have a feeling 2024-->2025 will be a much more interesting silly season. It feels like several drivers may be on their last season with their current teams. I'm mainly looking at Perez, who I think will be let go if he doesn't find significant improvement but I'm not sure if his replacement will come from Alpha Tauri or whatever they will be named next year. This may be a key to movements further down the grid.

 

I would also be surprised if we have all of Magnussen, Hulkenberg, Bottas, Zhou and Sargeant in the same teams in 2025.

[Racer3000]

Red Bull: Verstappen / Norris

Ferrari: Leclerc / Sainz

Mercedes: Hamilton / Russell

McLaren: Piastri / Bortoleto

Aston Martin: Alonso / Drugovich

Alpine: Gasly / Martins

Racing Bulls: Ricciardo / Tsunoda

Sauber: Ocon / Pourchaire

Williams: Albon / Antonelli

Haas: Hulkenberg / Bearman

Edited by Racer3000, 01 December 2023 - 18:42.

[ForzaFormula]

2025 we will see a big influx of rookies compared to 0 in 2024, Alonso will have had enough and retire,  the top teams mostly staying the same apart from Lawson stepping up to RedBull.

Red Bull

Max Verstappen

Liam Lawson

 

Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton

George Russell 

 

Ferrari

Charles Leclerc 

Carlos Sainz

 

McLaren

Lando Norris 

Oscar Piastri 

 

Aston Martin

Felipe Drugovich

Lance Stroll 

 

Alpine

Esteban Ocon 
Jack Doohan

 

Williams

Alex Albon

Mick Schumacher
 

Racing Bulls?
Daniel Ricciardo

Theo Pourchaire

 

Alfa
Valtteri Bottas 

?

 

Haas

Kevin Magnussen 
Pietro Fittipaldi

Edited by ForzaFormula, 01 December 2023 - 17:32.

[sladealonso]

There’s also the Andretti equation to consider. Will they get a team on the grid as is their target?

[ForzaFormula]

There’s also the Andretti equation to consider. Will they get a team on the grid as is their target?

If so we could see quite a few rookie's coming in.

[KWSN - DSM]

There is no science to it, so as a very early guess

 

Red Bull

Max Verstappen

? No idea, can not see how it becomes Ricciardo or Tsunoda, hard to see them promote Lawson directly in there, so maybe end up be Perez after all.

 

Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton

George Russell 

 

Ferrari

Charles Leclerc

Carlos Sainz

 

McLaren

Lando Norris

Oscar Piastri 

 

Aston Martin

Fernando Alonso * I feel fairly certain that Alonso will still be around in 2025

Lance Stroll * Unless moved over to the WEC program, Stroll will be there as well.

 

Alpine

Pierre Gasly

Esteban Ocon 

 

Williams

Alex Albon

Frederik Vesti - Best option over Sargeant.

 

The Other Red Bull owned team

Yuki Tsunoda

Liam Lawson * Yes Ricciardo gone and Lawson back

 

Sauber

Nico Hulkenberg

Theo Pourchaire

 

Haas

Oliver Bearman

? 

 

Andretti

Colin Herta

Alex Palou

[Yoshi]

Should be a good silly season with so many contracts running out.

[Radoye]

 

Andretti

Colin Herta

Who?

(besides, Andretti will not come in with two rookies, might even be Grosjean or Ericsson before Palou but i expect Perez or Bottas or Ricciardo or someone like that who happens to be available)

[KWSN - DSM]

Who?

(besides, Andretti will not come in with two rookies, might even be Grosjean or Ericsson before Palou but i expect Perez or Bottas or Ricciardo or someone like that who happens to be available)

 

I have no idea, wanted to put their own preference there - and miseplled his name

[Viryfan]

I would bet few euros that Sauber will end up with a Hulkenberg-Ocon line up that they migh've already sealed.

Edited by Viryfan, 01 December 2023 - 20:51.

[Anja]

Who?

(besides, Andretti will not come in with two rookies, might even be Grosjean or Ericsson before Palou but i expect Perez or Bottas or Ricciardo or someone like that who happens to be available)

 

If Palou comes to F1 it will be through the Honda connection. So depends on Aston Martin's plans. 

[southernstars]

2025

 

Red Bull

Max Verstappen

Daniel Ricciardo (I think this change will happen mid-24)

 

Ferrari

Charles Leclerc

Carlos Sainz

 

Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton

George Russell

 

McLaren

Oscar Piastri

Lando Norris

 

Alpine

Esteban Ocon

Jack Doohan

 

Aston Martin

Fernando Alonso

Felipe Drugovich (Stroll will be moved over to the hypercar project)

 

Racing Bulls

Yuki Tsunoda

Liam Lawson

 

Williams

Alex Albon

Logan Sargeant

 

Haas

Nico Hulkenberg

Pierre Gasly (Steiner won't take another rookie)

 

Audi/Sauber

Mick Schumacher

Theo Pourchaire

 

Andretti

Alex Palou

Colton Herta (only because I think Andretti are going to be dumb like that).

[VamosVamos]

2025

Red Bull
Max Verstappen
Daniel Ricciardo (I think this change will happen mid-24)

Alpine
Esteban Ocon
Jack Doohan

My word….

There is more chance of Hamilton or Leclerc moving mid season to RB than them taking Ricciardo who just got tickled pink by Tsunoda, and Doohan is at best the 3rd highest rated Alpine junior.

[southernstars]

My word….

There is more chance of Hamilton or Leclerc moving mid season to RB than them taking Ricciardo who just got tickled pink by Tsunoda, and Doohan is at best the 3rd highest rated Alpine junior.

 

Ricciardo didn't get "tickled pink" by Tsunoda, and with a full off-season of preparation and no more broken hands he will show Tsunoda who's boss next year. As for the Alpine juniors, who is better than Doohan? Doohan snapped up a P3 in the championship with a car that barely worked for the first half of the year!

[BobbyRicky]

Ricciardo didn't get "tickled pink" by Tsunoda, and with a full off-season of preparation and no more broken hands he will show Tsunoda who's boss next year. As for the Alpine juniors, who is better than Doohan? Doohan snapped up a P3 in the championship with a car that barely worked for the first half of the year!

 

The problem for someone like Doohan is that he wont be an upgrade over Gasly and Ocon if those two wants to continue with Alpine. Both are still quite young as well.

[Ali623]

Ricciardo > Red Bull

 

Lawson > Alpha Racing Bulls Tauri

 

Perez > Out

 

 

Ocon > Sauber

 

Pourchaire OR Hulkenberg > Sauber

 

Bottas > Alpine

 

Zhou > Out

 

 

Bearman > Haas

 

Hulkenberg OR Magnussen > Out

 

 

Antonelli > Williams

 

Sargeant > Out

 

 

Everyone else re-signs/stays with current team.

[DW46]

Red Bull - Verstappen/Ricciardo.
Mercedes - Hamilton/Russell.
Ferrari - LeClerc/Sainz.
Aston Martin - Alonso/Stroll.
McLaren - Norris/Piastri.
Alpine - Gasly/Martins.
Williams - Albon/Antonelli.
Toro Rosso - Lawson/Tsunoda.
Sauber - Bottas/Hulkenberg.
Haas - Perez/Zhou.
Andretti - Herta/Ocon.

[noikeee]

Martins is probably ahead of Doohan in the Alpine pecking order, specially given nationality, and the fact he was a rookie and the outright fastest guy in the series over a lap, but there is a good argument Doohan had the better season with the 3 feature wins at the end, and finishing slightly higher up in the championship. Don't think it's quite clear cut.

Don't forget Alpine also have another pretty interesting prospect coming up in Gabriele Mini, even if he didn't quite get his F3 season properly together this year.

[Hans V]

Wow, 14 out 20 drivers out of contract after next season, gonna be the silliest season ever!

[tourister46a]

Red Bull

Max Verstappen

Daniel Ricciardo

 

Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton

George Russell

 

Ferrari

Charles Leclerc

Alex Albon

 

McLaren

Lando Norris

Oscar Piastri

 

Aston Martin

Fernando Alonso

Lance Stroll

 

Alpine

Pierre Gasly

Victor Martins

 

Williams

Carlos Sainz

Andrea Antonelli

 

Racing Bulls

Liam Lawson

Yuki Tsunoda

 

Sauber

Theo Pourchaire

Esteban Ocon

 

Haas

Oliver Bearman

Kevin Magnussen

[Beri]

I have a feeling 2024-->2025 will be a much more interesting silly season. It feels like several drivers may be on their last season with their current teams. I'm mainly looking at Perez, who I think will be let go if he doesn't find significant improvement but I'm not sure if his replacement will come from Alpha Tauri or whatever they will be named next year. This may be a key to movements further down the grid.
 
I would also be surprised if we have all of Magnussen, Hulkenberg, Bottas, Zhou and Sargeant in the same teams in 2025.

Any Silly season is a better season than this years.

[Anderis]

Any Silly season is a better season than this years.

There have been some that were not that much more eventful in the past and another one like this year can happen in the future.

[jensfan09]

Red Bull
Max Verstappen
Sergio Perez

Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton
George Russell

Ferrari
Charles Leclerc
Robert Schwarzman

McLaren
Lando Norris
Oscar Piastri

Aston Martin
Fernando Alonso
Lance Stroll

Alpine
Pierre Gasly
Esteban Ocon

Williams
Alex Albon
Frederick Vesti

Racing Bulls
Daniel Ricciardo
Yuki Tsunoda

Sauber
Carlos Sainz
Theo Pourchaire

Haas
Nico Hulkenberg
Oliver Bearman

Andretti
Kevin Magnussen
Colton Herta

Edited by jensfan09, 02 December 2023 - 22:08.

[Alfisti]

There's quite a few drivers who've had a long run and their time has come. Magnussen, stroll, Perez, hulkenberg, ricciardo, Zhou, and especially bottas could all leave by years end if there were suitable replacements.

[Racer3000]

I personally believe academies will gain in importance for the teams as a source of drivers in the following years. So, instead of replacing a driver that has left with a dinosaur, they will be tending to give a chance to the best driver in their academies, obviously if he has proven himself in F2 and in F1 tests. I believe this is going to be the tendency in the following years for most teams, with the exception of Ferrari, Mercedes and RBR, that will never give their seats to rookies coming from F2.

[H0R]

There's quite a few drivers who've had a long run and their time has come. Magnussen, stroll, Perez, hulkenberg, ricciardo, Zhou, and especially bottas could all leave by years end if there were suitable replacements.

While I agree I would add Hamilton and especially Alonso to this list. The length of some drivers' careers is a stopper to fresh blood.

[IrvTheSwerve]

I have a feeling 2024-->2025 will be a much more interesting silly season. It feels like several drivers may be on their last season with their current teams. I'm mainly looking at Perez, who I think will be let go if he doesn't find significant improvement but I'm not sure if his replacement will come from Alpha Tauri or whatever they will be named next year. This may be a key to movements further down the grid.

 

I would also be surprised if we have all of Magnussen, Hulkenberg, Bottas, Zhou and Sargeant in the same teams in 2025.

Isn’t that inevitable?   
 

There literally needs to be 1 driver change for it to be better than this year, lol.

[JvsKVB77]

While I agree I would add Hamilton and especially Alonso to this list. The length of some drivers' careers is a stopper to fresh blood.

If they are better, why they need to go? Hamilton is still better than young blood Russell, Alonso was better than young (or not so now) blood Ocon, and beating Stroll much better, than Vettel or Perez. Hulkenberg or Bottas are still had good speed too and beat their teammates. Fresh blood need to be a very good to take their place. 

[Anderis]

Isn’t that inevitable? 

No.

 

I said "much more". Which meant I expect it to have many more things happening than in 2024, not just a few more. I expect at least around 4 seats to change but I can see a decent chance for as many as 7-8, depending on what Red Bull will do with their 2nd seat. I would say that if we only get like 2 changes in mid to bottom teams and 0 in top teams, then my prediction would've been wrong and there's nothing inevitable about it being right.

[garoidb]

While I agree I would add Hamilton and especially Alonso to this list. The length of some drivers' careers is a stopper to fresh blood.

 

 

If they are better, why they need to go? Hamilton is still better than young blood Russell, Alonso was better than young (or not so now) blood Ocon, and beating Stroll much better, than Vettel or Perez. Hulkenberg or Bottas are still had good speed too and beat their teammates. Fresh blood need to be a very good to take their place. 

 

I agree with JvsKVB77. If the drivers with long careers (Alonso, Hamilton) are still performing to a high enough level, why should they leave? It is a competition after all. If their performance or motivation drops away, then they should go (e.g. Vettel and we need to see about Ricciardo next year).  Nobody stays at the required level for ever so Alonso and Hamilton will have to call it a day soon anyway. The caution needs to be about drivers being in F1 because they have some entrenched privilege, perhaps due to fame, nationality, marketing value or personal relationships. Also, being a good number two in the sense of being compliant isn't a good reason (but bringing a big haul of points for the Constructors championship is). I don't like to see the top drivers outstay their elite performance window but I don't think that is the case, yet, with Alonso or Hamilton.

Edited by garoidb, 03 December 2023 - 10:36.

[noikeee]

There's quite a few drivers who've had a long run and their time has come. Magnussen, stroll, Perez, hulkenberg, ricciardo, Zhou, and especially bottas could all leave by years end if there were suitable replacements.

Well, there aren't enough "suitable replacements". There's never 7 drivers coming at once from F2...

[Anderis]

Well, there aren't enough "suitable replacements". There's never 7 drivers coming at once from F2...

It was way better during the days of FR3.5. We've had basically two Formula Twos. 2x more seats for young drivers to impress, 2x more drivers for F1 teams to choose from. Not good for the sport that there's no longer such an alternative to F2 IMO.

[Sterzo]

I agree with JvsKVB77. If the drivers with long careers (Alonso, Hamilton) are still performing to a high enough level, why should they leave? It is a competition after all. If their performance or motivation drops away, then they should go (e.g. Vettel and we need to see about Ricciardo next year). 

I'd go further, and say nobody "should" do anything. It's a sport. And a profession. If drivers enjoy it and want to continue, and a team wants to employ them, then why should they not carry on? It's not up to existing drivers to make way for newcomers.

 

If there aren't enough seats in F1, well, that's a different problem that needs solving. Nothing to do with someone continuing in his chosen sport.

[noikeee]

It was way better during the days of FR3.5. We've had basically two Formula Twos. 2x more seats for young drivers to impress, 2x more drivers for F1 teams to choose from. Not good for the sport that there's no longer such an alternative to F2 IMO.

I sort of agree, but the counterpoint is by having everyone in the same series you can compare the drivers better. Also it's easier for fans to understand the junior formula ladder as it is.

[noikeee]

I'd go further, and say nobody "should" do anything. It's a sport. And a profession. If drivers enjoy it and want to continue, and a team wants to employ them, then why should they not carry on? It's not up to existing drivers to make way for newcomers.

If there aren't enough seats in F1, well, that's a different problem that needs solving. Nothing to do with someone continuing in his chosen sport.

If a driver is underperforming out of a lack of motivation and the teams keep paying them, then the team is getting mugged...

These scenarios tend to quickly get resolved on their own, apart from rare cases when drivers are kept for the novelty or for the prestige of having a former champion

[KWSN - DSM]

I sort of agree, but the counterpoint is by having everyone in the same series you can compare the drivers better. Also it's easier for fans to understand the junior formula ladder as it is.

 

I am not sure I truly buy that the comparison between drivers are a true 1-to-1 in a spec series.

[noikeee]

I am not sure I truly buy that the comparison between drivers are a true 1-to-1 in a spec series.

It's definitely not true 1-to-1 but you can compare them better than if they're in different championships!

[garoidb]

I'd go further, and say nobody "should" do anything. It's a sport. And a profession. If drivers enjoy it and want to continue, and a team wants to employ them, then why should they not carry on? It's not up to existing drivers to make way for newcomers.

 

If there aren't enough seats in F1, well, that's a different problem that needs solving. Nothing to do with someone continuing in his chosen sport.

 

I agree that it is not up to existing drivers to make way for newcomers, and a driver enjoying it and wanting to continue is what I meant by motivation. What I meant by what they "should" do when performances drop too much relates to their own pride and happiness rather than something they are obliged to do for someone else's benefit. In other words, if teams still want them, it is for them to decide. As noikee says, these types of situations tend to resolve quite quickly anyway. They are also not really relevant to any current driver yet IMO. I do think Kimi held on too long. 

Edited by garoidb, 03 December 2023 - 14:07.

[VamosVamos]

As for the Alpine juniors, who is better than Doohan? Doohan snapped up a P3 in the championship with a car that barely worked for the first half of the year!

Who is better than Doohan? Martins definitely, and he has the advantage of being French also. If he turns up next year and seriously challenges for the title, he is first in line should Gasly or Ocon decide to leave.

Who is ahead of Doohan? Martins and Mini. And honestly they’d more likely put Floersch in the car before ever giving Doohan a seat.

[danmills]

I'd like to see an improving Williams poach Gasly next to Albon. Solid little team there. 

[Viryfan]

According to Gazetta dello Sport, Ferrari only offered 1 year to Sainz Jr.

Not sure it will go down well.

And if Audi commited to some drivers already it might spell trouble for his negotiation power.

[KWSN - DSM]

The drivers should hang on as long as they can, the teams should be much better at getting new and possibly better talent in to their cars, I say this presuming the teams are in to win, and be as highly placed in the championship as possible.

 

Several teams failed doing that in 2024, and basically every season going back to 1950.

[noikeee]

I'd like to see an improving Williams poach Gasly next to Albon. Solid little team there.

I think there's a certain Italian driver that's currently still underage that might be getting that seat in a year...

[Benchulo]

According to Gazetta dello Sport, Ferrari only offered 1 year to Sainz Jr.

Not sure it will go down well.

And if Audi commited to some drivers already it might spell trouble for his negotiation power.

Where not there reports about Carlos Sainz Sr. having talks with Alpine earlier this year? What are the chances of Sainz moving to Alpine if Ferrari talks fail?

Edited by Benchulo, 03 December 2023 - 15:54.

[Arska]

According to Gazetta dello Sport, Ferrari only offered 1 year to Sainz Jr.

Not sure it will go down well.
 

 

There are other teams to talk to. As long as he believes in himself to deliver solid results, this could very well be a great opportunity for him.

[ARTGP]

Gazetta also claims Ferrari wants options (like Norris) for 2025.   Could Ricciardo end up at Ferrari...

 

 

I don't really understand why Ferrari don't see Sainz as a longer-term solution.  Also if that salary claim is true...Leclerc has magicians working for him 

Edited by ARTGP, 03 December 2023 - 17:01.

[KWSN - DSM]

No way Ricciardo becomes a Ferrari driver, if need to replaace Sainz I would presume