F1, 2025 and 2026 driver’s market
- Cristina Mazzotti
- May 7, 2024
- 4 min read
One of the most important themes in a Formula 1 season is definitely the driver’s market. A few weeks before the start of the world championship, Ferrari announced the arrival of Lewis Hamilton instead of Carlos Sainz from 2025. This decision, very surprising and equally very interesting, has immediately upset the market, which this year will be even more delicate than in the past. In fact, because the drivers will be looking for the best team not only in view of 2025, but also in view of 2026, year in which Formula 1 will undergo an epochal change in terms of cars, thus giving the opportunity to young drivers, but also to veterans, to change their careers.
According to current contracts, only eight drivers should have the certainty of the team in which they will race next year. This is Max Verstappen, of whom, however, there has been talk for weeks of an interest by Mercedes, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, both in Ferrari, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri with McLaren, Fernando Alonso with Aston Martin, George Russell with Mercedes and a few days ago Nico Hulkenberg, who signed a contract with Audi, becoming an official driver from 2026, and joining Team Stake F1 in 2025. What is the situation for the other drivers?
Carlos Sainz
The Spaniard, after the news of his farewell in Ferrari at the end of this season, is looking for a competitive seat. In this first part of the championship Sainz has become the protagonist of excellent races, specially the one in which he triumphed in Australia, and this has attracted the attention of several team principals. Currently it seems that there are three teams involved: Mercedes, Red Bull and Audi. The first would offer the Spaniard a one-year contract plus an optional second, probably giving the chance to Kimi Antonelli to debut and grow in Williams. The Spaniard allegedly has asked for two guaranteed years plus an optional third, but Mercedes does not seem to agree. As a second offer there would be Red Bull, team that Sainz already knows well since he raced in Toro Rosso from 2015 until mid-2017, before going to Renault. The Austrian team would be the best proposal for 2025, but for 2026, as for all the other teams, is a question mark. The current Ferrari driver, however, would like a contract that would give him the certainty of not being considered second driver, but to be treated in the same way as Verstappen. The third and final offer comes from Audi, which presents a very interesting project in 2026, but for 2025 it will be difficult to see it fight for the top positions, given that for next season it will still play the role of Team Stake F1, that is not shining at the moment.
Max Verstappen
It’s strange to see Max Verstappen’s name on this list, considering he has a contract until 2028. The Dutchman is now the dominator of the current Formula 1 and, according to the results he is getting, it would be strange to see him in another team. The three-time world champion has said that for him what matters is to have the best car, and Red Bull for now is by far the best. However, the situation could change for the Austrian team. The beginning of the season, even before getting on track, was quite turbulent because of the Horner affair, adding to this the news of Adrian Newey, who a few days ago announced his intention to leave Red Bull Formula 1 Team to focus on the RB17 Hypercar. In addition, in recent weeks, rumors of an interest by Mercedes for Verstappen have increased: rumors of a contract of 150 million euros per season, the entry of Helmut Marko into the team and a role as a brand ambassador for the future. For the moment the chances of seeing Verstappen in the German team are low but, in Formula 1, never say never.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Finally, there is Andrea Kimi Antonelli, currently in Formula 2, but he could debut in Formula 1 earlier than expected. The current 17-year-old from Bologna is one of the cornerstones of the drivers' market. In recent weeks it has been discussed about his possible arrival in Formula 1: with Williams replacing Sargeant already from this season, or in Mercedes starting next year in place of Hamilton. The latest rumors say that the Italian driver could debut already at Imola: this will be almost impossible, however, given that Antonelli has not yet come of age, and this was reiterated in a press conference by the Williams team principal, Vowles. Although, once he turns 18, Kimi could immediately debut in Formula 1 alongside Albon, then move to Mercedes in 2025 and try to make as much experience as possible ahead of 2026, year in which the German team could return to be competitive.
Oliver Bearman
The last name that is being talked about with great insistence is that of Oliver Bearman. The eighteen-year-old Englishman, currently teammate of Kimi Antonelli in Prema Formula 2, has already debuted a few weeks ago in F1 in Saudi Arabia with Ferrari, in place of the injured Carlos Sainz, getting an excellent seventh place. Bearman’s speed, considering also the timing of his debut, was impressive and this could be vital in the final decision. It is rumored that the English driver could race from 2025 for Haas to replace Nico Hulkenberg, who will switch to Stake F1 Team.
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