{"id":392668,"date":"2024-05-10T21:23:48","date_gmt":"2024-05-10T21:23:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=392668"},"modified":"2024-05-11T00:05:12","modified_gmt":"2024-05-11T00:05:12","slug":"wild-f1-driver-merry-go-round-set-to-explode","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=392668","title":{"rendered":"Wild F1 'driver merry-go-round' set to explode"},"content":{"rendered":"

F\ufefformula 1<\/a>'s silly season is almost upon us.<\/p>\n

And after a tame 2024, this year's \ufeffmid-season break is forecast to be especially hot with more than half the grid off contract by season's end.<\/p>\n

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

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\ufeffThis move saw the in-form Carlos Sainz<\/a> dumped by the Prancing Horse, and a highly sought-after seat open up \ufeffbeside George Russell<\/a> at the Silver Arrows \u2014 all before this year's championship had even begun.<\/p>\n

Then came the shock news that Red Bull's design guru Adrian Newey will depart the team<\/a> in early 2025 \u2014 a move that could have a far-reaching impact.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Red Bull Racing<\/h3>\n

Red Bull<\/a>'s star driver Max Verstappen<\/a> is contracted \ufeffuntil 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.<\/p>\n

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

Verstappen is reportedly on unfavourable terms with the team in the wake of misconduct allegations first levelled at team principal Christian Horner<\/a> in February.<\/p>\n

In March, it was reported that exit clauses in Verstappen's contract could be triggered<\/a> if the internal situation at the team were to worsen.<\/p>\n

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

Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez<\/a> \u2014 who holds one of the most sought-after seats in F1 \u2014 \ufeffis out of contract at the end of the 2024 season.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Sainz and Australian Daniel Ricciardo<\/a> have been linked to the seat at various points.<\/p>\n

Mercedes<\/h3>\n

Hamilton and Russell were expected to team up again in 2025 until Hamilton decided to jump ship after 12 years with Mercedes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Russell is \ufeffcontracted to the team until the end of next season.<\/p>\n

Sainz has been thrown around as Hamilton's replacement. However, promising teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli \u2014 who is affiliated with Mercedes \u2014 is also in the mix to make his F1 debut with the team.<\/p>\n

\"Mercedes<\/p>\n

Ferrari\ufeff<\/h3>\n

Charles Leclerc<\/a> \ufeffis contracted to Ferrari<\/a> for "several more seasons" beyond 2025.<\/p>\n

Leclerc inked a fresh deal with the Scuderia in January but its span was not disclosed.<\/p>\n

Similarly, \ufeffHamilton will join the team on a "multi-year" deal.<\/p>\n

\"Lewis<\/p>\n

McLaren<\/h3>\n

McLaren<\/a> has heavily invested in its young driver line-up of Lando Norris<\/a> and Australian Oscar Piastri\ufeff<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Norris \ufeffsigned a "multi-year" extension with McLaren in January which will keep him at the team beyond the end of 2025.<\/p>\n

While Piastri\ufeff 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.<\/p>\n

\"Piastri<\/p>\n

Aston Martin<\/h3>\n

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

Lance Stroll<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

\"Lawrence<\/p>\n

Alpine<\/h3>\n

Both of Alpine's 2024 drivers\ufeff, Esteban Ocon<\/a> and Pierre Gasly<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n

Gasly's contract is \ufeffreported to have an extension clause written into it which could extend his deal to the end of 2025 if initiated.<\/p>\n

If either driver were to depart, the team's reserve driver, Australian Jack Doohan<\/a>, \ufeffcould be parachuted in to make his F1 debut.<\/p>\n

\"Doohan<\/p>\n

The services of adopted Aussie Valtteri Bottas\ufeff<\/a> could also be called upon.<\/p>\n

Williams<\/h3>\n

Alex Albon is contracted to Williams<\/a> until \ufeffthe end of 2025 after re-signing in 2022 off the back of his successful debut year with the team.<\/p>\n

Albon's teammate \ufeffLogan Sargeant is not contracted for next year and is one of the most likely drivers to lose their seat ahead of next season.<\/p>\n

Sargeant finished 21st in last year's drivers' standing \u2014 even behind stand-in driver Liam Lawson \u2014 having scored just one world championship point. This season he has so far failed to register a top-10 finish.<\/p>\n

\"Logan<\/p>\n

There are rumblings that \ufeffAntonelli 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.<\/p>\n

Without a \ufeffsuper licence, Antonelli is not qualified to race F1.<\/p>\n

The FIA has confirmed it received a request for an age criteria exemption for Antonelli but nothing is guaranteed.<\/p>\n

Bottas could also land here \ufeffdepending on which way the wind blows.<\/p>\n

RB<\/h3>\n

Both of RB<\/a>'s 2024 drivers\ufeff, Yuki Tsunoda<\/a> and Ricciardo, are off contract at the end of this season.<\/p>\n

This season was \ufefftouted 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.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

RB has a habit of \ufeffleaving 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.<\/p>\n

\"Ricciardo:<\/p>\n

Sauber<\/h3>\n

Last month, it was announced that Nico Hulkenberg would depart Haas for Sauber<\/a> in 2025.<\/p>\n

Hulkenberg was signed on a "multi-year" deal until at least the end of the 2026 season when the team becomes Audi.<\/p>\n

With \ufeffHulkenberg coming on board, one of Kick Sauber's current drivers \u2014 Bottas or Zhou Guanyu<\/a> \u2014 will have to make way with both out of contract at the end of 2024.\ufeff<\/p>\n

Bottas finished 15th in last year's driver standings, and ahead of \ufeffGuanyu in 18th, but the Chinese driver has a lingering 'pay driver' tag that could prove the difference.<\/p>\n

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.\ufeff<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Haas\ufeff<\/h3>\n

Kevin Magnussen<\/a>'s one-year contract with Haas expires at the end of this season.<\/p>\n

With Hulkenberg also exiting, a new driver will need to be brought into the fold in 2025.<\/p>\n

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

\"Oliver<\/p>\n

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

Drivers out of \ufeffcontract at the end of 2024<\/h3>\n

Sergio Perez, Carlos Sainz, Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly, Logan Sargeant, Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda, Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu, Kevin Magnussen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

F\ufefformula 1's silly season is almost upon us. And after a tame 2024, this year's \ufeffmid-season break is forecast to be especially hot with more […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":392670,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/392668"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=392668"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/392668\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":392683,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/392668\/revisions\/392683"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/392670"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=392668"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=392668"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=392668"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}