Rumors about the Formula 1 driving market do not stop and in the year 2024 the movement is expected to be greater than that experienced during 2023. And it will happen. The culprit is none other than Lewis Hamilton. The Englishman will leave one of the most coveted seats on the F1 grid, that of Mercedes, free to sign for Ferrari in 2025 to replace Carlos Sainz. In the absence of official confirmation, the arrival of the Englishman and the departure of a Madrid driver who now has to look for new challenges is taken for granted.
Where will Carlos Sainz go? This is clear The Mercedes door opened for the Spaniard, who also made loud noises for the Audi project (now Sauber, under the name of Stake F1). But also many other teams, because there are many drivers whose contracts will expire at the end of this year 2024. We analyze them below.
The pilots who ended their contract in 2024
1
Sergio Perez
Sergio ‘Checo’ Pérez will focus on his performance in the 2024 season. In 2023 he achieved the goal of being runner-up and giving Red Bull a 1-2 in the championship for the first time, chasing the champion, his teammate Verstappen. But the champion doubled second in points for the first time in history and that doesn’t leave his performance on the course in a good place.
He had problems with the car as it became more of a Max style car. At Red Bull they decided to keep him in 2024 and fulfill the contract, but they made it clear that if Lando Norris ended his contract with McLaren in 2023, they would sign him. And they also reiterated that in 2025, men like Daniel Ricciardo will be candidates for the Mexican seat. ‘Checo’ needs to raise the bar if he wants to continue with Red Bull in 2025.
2
Fernando Alonso
Alonso and Aston Martin want to renew their relationship after their successes in 2023 and both are excited about that possibility. However, no one expected the surprise of Hamilton, who year after year rejected the option of Ferrari on many occasions. With free seats as desirable as Mercedes’, there’s no denying F1.
3
Esteban Ocon
Alpine’s position is at stake. He couldn’t handle any friction on the track with his teammate Gasly.
4
Pierre Gasly
He plays for his position with Alpine, a team he joined last year from AlphaTauri. Like Ocon, he can’t allow any more conflict with his teammate Esteban.
5
Alex Albon
At 27 years old, he is at an enormous level of driving maturity. In his best moment after leaving Red Bull. It remains to be seen if he can find a better seat or if Williams wants to keep him on his future project.
6
Logan Sargent
Logan Sargean is entering his second year in F1 and his place is at stake. The American didn’t have a great debut season and will have a second and final chance to bounce back to earn a renewal.
7
Valtteri Bottas
The 34-year-old driver ended his contract with the Stake F1 Team (the new name of the Sauber team, formerly known as Alfa Romeo). It remains to be seen if the Swiss team decides to give a younger driver a chance and if the Nordic driver is interested in continuing. This team will be Audi in 2026 and Sainz really likes Audi, a brand with which his father has a great relationship after winning the Dakar with them.
8
Zhou Guanyu
Zhou Guanyu will need to continue improving to get a renewal with a structure like Sauber, which in 2026 will start its alliance with Audi. Audi really likes Carlos Sainz.
9
Daniel Ricciardo
At Red Bull they have already confirmed that Daniel Ricciardo will be a candidate for the place of ‘Checo’ Pérez in 2025. The Australian risks that position or, at least, his continuation in AlphaTauri.
The
This is not a possible midfielder for Sainz, as this is Red Bull’s ‘B’ team.
10
Yuki Tsunoda
Yuki Tsunoda needs to continue to develop to keep his position in AlphaTauri due to the development of other youngsters in the Red Bull academy. Honda remains with Red Bull until 2025 and that may be its asset to continue under that umbrella, but behind that, names like Liam Lawson could be pushed hard.
The
The
This is not a possible midfielder for Sainz, as this is Red Bull’s ‘B’ team.
Eleven
Kevin Magnussen
His seat for 2025 is at stake on his results. It doesn’t seem like an attractive midfielder for Sainz.
12
Nico Hulkenberg
He had to convince Günter Steiner to renew him through his results on the track. It doesn’t seem like an attractive midfielder for Sainz.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
