‘Foolish season’ is a standard time period in F1 referring to the time of 12 months during which many groups announce their driver line-up for the next season.
It often takes place through the summer time as that’s when the market is at its most frantic, with driver modifications inflicting doubt over the futures of others.
However, foolish season began loads earlier this 12 months on account of Lewis Hamilton announcing his move to Ferrari for 2025 again in February 2024.
So the driving force market is arguably the craziest it has ever been, particularly when many different driver contracts have been due, or are due, to run out on the finish of this season.
With over half of the 2025 grid now confirmed, who has been introduced and what does the long run behold for different drivers?
Pierre Gasly, Alpine F1 Group
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Alpine 2025 F1 Drivers
• Pierre Gasly – multi-year contract
• TBC
Alpine endured a troublesome begin to 2024 because it failed to attain any factors within the opening 5 rounds. Though its kind then picked up barely – double factors finishes in Canada and Spain for instance – Alpine remains to be at the moment one of many 4 worst groups on the grid, highlighting regression for the Enstone squad because it has not completed decrease than sixth within the championship since 2016.
Regardless of that, Pierre Gasly was delighted to sign a multi-year contract extension with Alpine, a staff he joined in 2023, as its willingness to supply a long-term deal was understood to be a key issue.
One other issue that’s believed to have influenced his choice is the approaching departure of team-mate Esteban Ocon – his childhood rival with whom he shares a fractious relationship. This got here to a head on the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, when Ocon made a dangerous transfer down the within of Portier on the opening lap, which induced the 2 Frenchmen to collide.
It angered staff administration and simply eight days later, Alpine announced that Ocon will depart the squad at the end of 2024. Though it’s understood that the choice was not based mostly solely on the Monaco incident, it did play some half.
So, this leaves an open spot alongside Gasly, and Autosport exclusively revealed that Alpine has made a bid for Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, who wants a brand new staff on account of Hamilton’s arrival subsequent 12 months. Nevertheless, Sainz is needed by a number of groups and the grand prix winner is eager to take his time in deciding who he needs to affix.
If Sainz says ‘no’ to the French squad, then different choices could embody reserve driver Jack Doohan who competed in F2 final 12 months, Alpine’s World Endurance Championship driver Mick Schumacher who was dropped by Haas on the finish of 2022 or Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas.
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR24, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
Aston Martin 2025 F1 Drivers
• Fernando Alonso – contracted till the tip of 2026
• Lance Stroll – contracted till 2025 and past
Aston Martin is only one of three groups to date to have introduced an unchanged driver line-up for 2025, with that determine anticipated to go no greater than 4 constructors. The Silverstone-based squad first confirmed the way forward for two-time F1 world champion Fernando Alonso, who impressed throughout his debut season on the staff with eight podiums in 2023.
Six of these podiums got here within the opening eight rounds although, and Aston Martin has since failed to copy such kind with the fifth-place staff now a reduce adrift from the highest 4. This can be a long-term undertaking although, one which Alonso is invested in so the 42-year-old signed a two-year extension in April.
Aston Martin then introduced in June that Lance Stroll will stay on for 2025, although that was anticipated given his father Lawrence owns the staff. Will probably be Stroll’s seventh season racing for the squad and his contract size has by no means been formally disclosed, however that seat is principally his for so long as he and his father wish to proceed their F1 dream.
Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari
Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Ferrari 2025 F1 Drivers
• Charles Leclerc – multi-year contract
• Lewis Hamilton – multi-year contract
Ferrari induced a stir when it confirmed the shock information that Hamilton will be part of the staff in 2025. The seven-time world champion has an extended historical past of being linked to Ferrari, but it surely initially appeared like that might solely ever be rumours – particularly when Hamilton signed a two-year extension with Mercedes through the 2023 season.
The second 12 months of that deal although was understood to solely be an possibility, which has allowed Hamilton to make the change only one season into his contract. It means his stint at Mercedes will finish after 12 campaigns as Hamilton, whose final championship victory got here in 2020, cited a necessity for a brand new problem.
That can come alongside Charles Leclerc, who signed a multi-year contract extension in January with the team he joined in 2019. Throughout that point, Leclerc has gained six grands prix and has been Ferrari’s main driver, however it is going to be attention-grabbing to see how the dynamic modifications when Hamilton arrives.
Regardless, the purpose is evident: to finish Purple Bull’s dominance and ship Ferrari, who completed third within the 2023 constructors’ standings, its first championship-winning season since 2008. With a regulation overhaul coming in 2026, that will current Ferrari its greatest alternative to take action.
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Group, together with his engineers within the storage
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Haas 2025 F1 Drivers
• TBC
• TBC
Haas is the one staff but to substantiate both of its 2025 drivers, nevertheless it’s anticipated that F2’s Oliver Bearman will fill one of many seats. The 19-year-old is a Ferrari junior who has to date competed in 4 FP1 classes for Haas because of the American outfit’s shut ties with the Scuderia.
Bearman additionally raced for Ferrari on the 2024 Saudi Arabian GP on account of Sainz having appendicitis, and the Briton impressed by ending seventh after holding off late expenses from Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris.
Who will declare the second seat is a little more up within the air although, on account of present Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg signing with Sauber for the 2025 season. There’s additionally quite a lot of doubt over Kevin Magnussen’s Haas future, because the 31-year-old has persistently didn’t match Hulkenberg’s tempo for the reason that German joined in 2023.
This has resulted in Ocon rising as a number one candidate for that Haas seat and, if it occurs, he would turn out to be the primary grand prix winner to ever drive for the staff. Fellow grand prix winner Bottas is believed to be one other candidate, as his future is unclear on account of Hulkenberg’s change amid Sauber’s preparations for an Audi takeover in 2026.
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38, within the pit lane
Photograph by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images
McLaren 2025 F1 Drivers
• Lando Norris – contracted past the tip of 2026
• Oscar Piastri – contracted till at the very least the tip of 2026
McLaren’s degree of enchancment for the reason that starting of final 12 months has been exceptional, because it was sixth after eight rounds in 2023 earlier than mid-season upgrades helped it to complete fourth with 9 podiums and a dash race victory in Qatar.
The British outfit has carried that kind into 2024 with a victory within the Miami GP amid a run of seven consecutive podiums, which leaves McLaren as arguably Purple Bull’s greatest menace. Each drivers have contributed to McLaren’s kind so will stay as team-mates for a 3rd consecutive season in 2025.
Oscar Piastri was the first to commit his future to McLaren, because the 23-year-old signed an extension in the direction of the tip of his spectacular rookie season together with his deal working till at the very least 2026.
There was much more chatter over Norris’ future although, whose earlier contract lasted till the tip of 2025. Many puzzled if McLaren might truly assist Norris in difficult for the drivers’ championship, however the Briton has full faith as he signed an extension which lasts beyond 2026.
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Group, 1st place, on the rostrum together with his trophy and Champagne
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Mercedes 2025 F1 Drivers
• George Russell – contracted till the tip of 2025
• TBC
August 2023 noticed Mercedes announce that Hamilton and George Russell had both signed contract extensions which run until the end of 2025. Subsequent season might be Russell’s fourth at Mercedes – the staff he joined as a junior in 2017 and clinched his maiden grand prix victory with.
There’s a fixed dialogue over who his subsequent team-mate might be although, given Hamilton’s shock choice to depart. The main candidate is 17-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who’s thought to be one of many greatest skills in motorsport having already gained 4 single-seater championships.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has additionally spoken publicly about how a lot the staff believes in its junior driver, however there are nonetheless query marks over Antonelli’s readiness to compete on the entrance given his tender age.
Max Verstappen was one other driver to have been linked with the seat, however within the build-up to June’s Austrian GP he confirmed he’ll stay at Purple Bull subsequent season. Regardless, Wolff needs to take his time to determine as Mercedes is extra focussed on bettering its automobile, which has gained simply two grands prix for the reason that Silver Arrows claimed an eighth consecutive constructors’ title in 2021.
Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Group
Photograph by: Purple Bull Content material Pool
RB 2025 F1 Drivers
• Yuki Tsunoda – contracted till the tip of 2025
• TBC
Yuki Tsunoda is ready to stay on the Faenza-based squad for a fifth consecutive season after signing a contract extension into 2025 with RB. This adopted a formidable begin to 2024, because the long-term Purple Bull and Honda protege persistently beat team-mate Daniel Ricciardo and scored over half of the staff’s factors tally.
That led to hope amongst some that Tsunoda would lastly obtain a promotion to Purple Bull for subsequent season, however Sergio Perez signing an extension in June regardless of a run of disappointing outcomes shut that door.
It’s not but identified who will accomplice Tsunoda in 2025 although, as there may be a lot doubt over Ricciardo’s future given his poor kind. That doubt then elevated when motorsport advisor Helmut Marko reiterated that RB is a junior staff and Ricciardo is something however an F1 junior given he’s 35-years-old.
So, if Ricciardo is just not re-signed then the seat will possible go to present reserve driver Liam Lawson, who drove 5 grands prix for the staff in 2023 – then referred to as AlphaTauri – because of the eight-time grand prix winner breaking his hand at Zandvoort.
Lawson impressed throughout that run with a factors end in Singapore, resulting in Purple Bull boss Christian Horner claiming that the New Zealander might be a full-time grand prix driver sooner or later. Whereas that chance has not but are available 2024, there’s a sturdy risk of it taking place in 2025.
Sergio Perez, Purple Bull Racing, congratulates pole man Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing, in Parc Ferme after Qualifying
Photograph by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images
Purple Bull 2025 F1 Drivers
• Max Verstappen – contracted till the tip of 2028
• Sergio Perez – contracted till the tip of 2026
Purple Bull is one other outfit who will retain its driver line-up for 2025 with Verstappen and Perez set for his or her fifth season as team-mates. The 2 have loved a really profitable interval collectively, as Verstappen appears more likely to declare his fourth straight drivers’ title in 2024 whereas Purple Bull goes for its third consecutive constructors’ crown.
That’s regardless of Perez persistently being beneath stress for his poor outcomes, as he scored lower than half of Verstappen’s factors tally in 2023 whereas 2024 has not been significantly better both. Regardless of that, Horner has publicly acknowledged his religion in Perez on a relentless foundation and it’s led to him signing an extension which runs till the tip of 2026.
There was additionally some doubt over Verstappen’s future, regardless of him being contracted till the tip of 2028. That doubt emerged throughout Purple Bull’s early 2024 administration conflict – which adopted an investigation into Horner’s behaviour in the direction of a feminine worker – and the way Verstappen strongly backed Marko, whose future on the time was unclear.
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Group
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Sauber 2025 F1 Drivers
• Nico Hulkenberg – multi-year contract
• TBC
Sauber is at the moment working via main modifications, as it’s set to turn out to be the Audi F1 staff from 2026. One of many first issues that CEO Andreas Seidl did in preparation for the change was to signal Hulkenberg on a multi-year contract, the 36-year-old with whom he gained the 2015 Le Mans 24 Hours at Porsche.
Though Hulkenberg being German is known to be one of many elements in Audi wanting him, it additionally follows a string of spectacular performances at Haas during which he has been its main driver. Sauber is eager to accomplice Hulkenberg with Sainz in 2025, however the Spaniard is stalling over his choice.
Ought to Sauber not land its foremost goal, then that might current a possibility for Bottas to stay with the staff he joined in 2022. The 34-year-old is one among many events ready on Sainz to determine his subsequent transfer, earlier than clarifying his personal future.
Meaning it is extremely unlikely that Zhou Guanyu will contend a fourth season in F1, having didn’t impress a lot throughout his three-year stint with the Swiss outfit. No matter who Hulkenberg’s team-mate is although, wholesale enhancements are wanted on the staff which completed next-to-bottom within the 2023 standings and to date has zero factors in 2024.
Alex Albon, Williams Racing
Photograph by: Williams
Williams 2025 F1 Drivers
• Alex Albon – multi-year contract
• TBC
Williams is one other squad to have made a bid for Sainz, and staff boss James Vowles publicly acknowledged that the Spaniard is the British outfit’s primary goal. At one stage, the chance of Sainz becoming a member of Williams appeared fairly sturdy however Alpine’s late bid has since forged doubt over that.
If it isn’t Sainz, then Bottas and Ocon are each choices for Williams, as is Antonelli ought to Mercedes determine he isn’t but prepared for the Silver Arrows. Williams has a historical past of fielding Mercedes, the staff it will get its engines from, drivers, as Russell joined the squad as a rookie in 2019 earlier than ultimately shifting to the German producer after three years.
These drivers are all in competition for the seat alongside Alex Albon, who signed a multi-year extension in May as his earlier contract was on account of expire on the finish of 2025. That was a serious coup for Williams, as Albon has impressed since becoming a member of in 2022 which made him a left-field participant in subsequent 12 months’s driver market – however the 28-year-old spoke of his religion within the staff’s long-term undertaking, so signed the deal.
Whereas his destiny is safe, the way forward for team-mate Logan Sargeant appears bleak because the 23-year-old has scored only one level since becoming a member of F1 at the start of final 12 months. He has merely struggled in motorsport’s high class and has not overwhelmed Albon in grand prix qualifying but, resulting in Vowles stating that Sargeant should enhance to maintain his seat.