Whereas we’ve got had some necessary selections made already – like Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari and Fernando Alonso re-committing to Aston Martin – there stays an incredible deal nonetheless to be sorted.
What is probably most fascinating although is that not everyone seems to be operating to the identical timing agenda, and that has left issues massively sophisticated for each drivers and groups as they attempt to plot their finest path ahead.
On the one hand, groups like Mercedes and Pink Bull are fairly relaxed with how issues are taking part in out as they appear able to bide their time and wait to see what their finest choices are for 2025.
At Pink Bull, Sergio Perez is doing sufficient to justify him being retained as soon as once more, however we’ve got seen robust begins to a marketing campaign not observe by means of to the rest of the 12 months.
That’s the reason the crew has repeatedly mentioned that it needs to attend some time – probably till the summer season – to decide on what it does with who strains up alongside Max Verstappen.
Mercedes can be taking part in a watching transient on issues because it plots who finest to fit in as George Russell’s team-mate in 2025 as alternative for Hamilton.
The early favorite is Andrea Kimi Antonelli, whose F1 testing programme has been expanded because the German producer intends to do every little thing it will possibly to get him up to the mark with grand prix equipment.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli drives Mercedes W12
However equally there stays that slim shot of Verstappen probably being accessible if the Dutchman and his entourage determine the scenario at Pink Bull isn’t taking part in out as they want.
Insiders recommend that Verstappen is completely set on staying at Pink Bull for now, however equally if there was a 0.01% probability of him being free, Mercedes could be silly to let that slip by means of its grasp on the very time it had a seat accessible.
It’s why it doesn’t wish to decide to anybody else now, even when others are placing stress on getting fast selections.
However Mercedes additionally is aware of that if Verstappen doesn’t transfer, and the conclusion later this 12 months is that Antonelli might do with both one other 12 months in F2 or being farmed out to a different grand prix crew, then it wants a Plan B choice.
It’s why it’s scouting round and seeing who is out there to get a transparent image of the place issues stack up, though it feels in no rush to do something.
However the attraction for drivers in there probably being a Pink Bull or Mercedes seat up for grabs in the summertime in the event that they wait is tempered by the truth that not all groups are prepared to carry fireplace that lengthy.
And central to what seems to be conflicting calls for over how the dominoes will fall within the driver market is the truth that Audi (and its present Sauber crew) needs selections very quickly on the gives it has already made.
Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, arrives on the observe
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Carlos Sainz and Nico Hulkenberg are understood to each be on the German producer’s radar, however sources recommend that Audi has made clear that if selections should not made by Might then it is not going to rule out wanting elsewhere.
Sauber crew consultant Alessandro Alunni Bravi hinted in China final weekend about Audi being on the entrance foot with its selections.
“We’re pleased that it appears that evidently we will play, a job, a special position within the driver marketplace for the longer term, because of the Audi announcement and all of the investments that might be carried out so as to enhance our crew,” he mentioned.
“I feel that, whether it is excellent news for our crew, it’s that lastly we’re enticing. And we aren’t the spectators. We’re a participant out there.”
It’s unclear why Audi needs to be aggressive with its timing, though it might be associated to the timings of board conferences of its mum or dad firm. Nonetheless it leaves a driver like Sainz is a very tough spot.
Does he decide to a beautiful provide at Audi proper now, or does he look ahead to a Pink Bull or Mercedes seat which will or is probably not accessible and threat dropping all of it?
There are some high-stakes selections to be made within the subsequent few weeks and drivers effectively know that, as F1 edges in the direction of its 2026 guidelines reset, what they do now might effectively determine if they’re combating for wins and championships, or are left as additionally rans, over the subsequent few years.