These drivers still have a chance of getting an F1 seat in 2025

Red Bull Racing

At the moment, things are quiet around Red Bull Racing. Sergio Perez still has to wait patiently for a possible new deal. Perez also has other options but will prefer to stay with Red Bull. Red Bull, however, are quietly waiting. The team has the fastest car at their disposal and therefore plenty of choice. They seem particularly keen to wait and see if Perez can achieve a consistent level over a full year. The fact that the Mexican was so far behind his teammate in Imola should, therefore, not happen too often.

Mercedes

Things are a lot more unsettled around Mercedes. Carlos Sainz was long linked to Lewis Hamilton's seat but is no longer in the picture due to his demands. It has long been known that Sainz could sign a multi-year deal with Audi but also wants to look at other teams. So Mercedes does not seem to be the one.

Max Verstappen is Toto Wolff's favourite. Ideally, the Austrian would like to get Max to Mercedes, but will he succeed? Mercedes is not very competitive in 2024 and, above all, has proved unable to build a good car under the current regulations. Although Mercedes says the engine for 2026 will be back among the top, Verstappen also needs a good car.

Wolff reiterated in Imola his willingness to wait for Verstappen and therefore, if Verstappen does not choose Mercedes after all, to make concessions in his line-up for 2025. Andrea Kimi Antonelli still needs to make some strides if he is to be considered for that spot. The Italian is still very young and not yet engaged in an F2 season that is a calling card for a move to F1. So Mercedes will first look at whether Antonelli would not be better off staying in F2 for another year.

The alternative is Esteban Ocon. The Frenchman is open to a move from Alpine to Mercedes. Mercedes still handles Ocon's management and the Frenchman is also still a Mercedes junior. With an expiring contract and enough experience under his belt, he could be a solid short-term solution.

Aston Martin

Fernando Alonso is already signed, and it seems a matter of time before what everyone already knows will also be officially announced. Namely, Lance Stroll will also return to action for the team next year. The Canadian revealed in Monaco that he is still fully committed to the team and would like to stay with the team for longer. It won't surprise anyone if he actually gets that contract award.

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Just like around Red Bull Racing, things are also quiet around their sister team. With Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo, the team have two drivers they are very happy with. They would like to keep both drivers, but if one were to leave, Liam Lawson could easily fill the gap. Isack Hadjar is also currently impressing in F2, and Arvid Lindblad is completing good races in F3. However, both do not yet seem in the picture for a seat in F1.

Haas

Despite their difficult start to the Formula 2 season, Oliver Bearman appears to be on his way to Haas in 2025. The second seat is uncertain for now. Kevin Magnussen, alongside Nico Hulkenberg, has not made a huge impression for two years. Not surprisingly, Haas are looking at what other experienced options are available for '25 and '26.

Yuki Tsunoda is one of the names being linked to Haas. Tsunoda has seemingly reached a dead end at Red Bull. The Japanese driver is making good strides but is not seriously considered for the main team. At Haas, he could stand on his own two feet, although the question is how competitive that seat is.

Alpine

Alpine are not the most attractive team for drivers right now. The car is not up to standard this year, and the engine has not been at the top level for years. With new engine regulations on the way, many drivers will wonder to what extent Renault can now compete with the giants in F1.

In that respect, it was remarkable that the name of Carlos Sainz was also mentioned at Alpine. The Spaniard already drove there in 2018 on hire from Red Bull, but that was not a great success. Guanyu Zhou was also mentioned. The Chinese driver has a large fan base behind him and that would not be a bad thing for Alpine sports car sales in China.

Whereas Ocon is clearly pushing for a departure, Pierre Gasly surprisingly has to hope he is allowed to stay with Alpine. His name is not being mentioned at other teams and the Frenchman himself has no clarity either. Still, as a team you would want some consistency and, with a race win to his name, Gasly is obviously a capable driver.

Then there is the Alpine Academy story. Jack Doohan and Victor Martins could advance to the main team, but neither seems to have a serious chance of doing so. Mick Schumacher already has that experience, but even his name is hardly mentioned in the paddock.

Stake/Audi

With Nico Hulkenberg, Audi have one driver in for 2025. The second name should be Carlos Sainz. The Spaniard seems to have been given an ultimatum again until the end of May. Then Audi wants to know if Sainz is coming: yes or no. If Sainz does not sign, then Audi can move on to alternatives from June.

Esteban Ocon was in the picture as the first alternative to Sainz. Ocon has already won a race once and has considerable experience in F1. At Audi, unlike at Mercedes, he could probably sign a multi-year deal.

Sergio Perez is another name circulating in the corridors. The Mexican has an expiring contract at Red Bull Racing and could make a fresh start at Audi. He has previously worked successfully with Nico Hulkenberg at Force India.

Williams

Williams have already managed to secure Alexander Albon for the long term and are now working on their second driver. It won't be Logan Sargeant. The American has not made a good impression in the past 18 months and will certainly not get a deal that keeps him with the team until 2026.

Williams were already briefly looking at the option of putting Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the car. The team requested a rule change from the FIA to allow the super licence to someone aged 17. However, that option now seems off the table, with Valtteri Bottas very close to a deal with Williams. Bottas himself is 99% sure he will go to the team, preferably within the next few weeks.

Yet on Thursday in Monaco, there was suddenly news that Sainz was also said to be in talks with Williams. For Sainz, it could possibly be a way of increasing the price from Audi and other parties. For Sainz, Williams, which is still a customer team, would be a big step down, even compared to Audi.