Huge modifications are coming.
The 2024 Method 1 season could also be effectively underway however that doesn’t imply we will’t stay up for 2025 and the shakeups to workforce drivers. Right here’s a have a look at how the following yr is shaping up for just a few groups that may see drastic modifications.
Mercedes And Ferrari
Undoubtedly, the most important headline going into the 2025 season must be Lewis Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes and a transfer to Ferrari. After this bombshell transfer was introduced, you would nearly hear jaws from across the globe drop and hit the ground. After over a decade with Mercedes, Hamilton shall be paired up with Charles Leclerc whereas the tifosi cheer him on. This, nevertheless, leaves an open spot subsequent to George Russell at Mercedes, which has but to have been stuffed as of scripting this. On the upside, with a younger Russell, Mercedes has an opportunity to usher in younger expertise and have a stable workforce for years to return.
Alpine and Haas
Pierre Gasly has posted a handful of top-10 finishes, which is able to maintain him at Alpine because the workforce renewed him with a multi-year deal, however his teammate for 2025 is not going to be Esteban Ocon as he strikes over to Haas. In truth, we nonetheless want to search out out who Gasly will race alongside. Over at Haas, Ocon shall be racing with Oliver Bearman, who completed seventh on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for Ferrari this yr. Oh, and that additionally occurred to be Bearman’s Method 1 debut. Now that’s the way you make an entrance.
Williams
There needed to be an open spot for Hamilton to maneuver to Ferrari, and Carlos Sainz’s absence in 2025 made it attainable. And that’s as a result of Sainz shall be driving for Williams alongside Alex Albon. Williams has a lot historical past behind the workforce, and with years of shortcomings, Sainz can support Albon’s push to make the workforce a real contender as soon as once more.
RB
We all know that Yuki Tsunoda will race for RB once more in 2025, however Daniel Ricciardo has but to have been confirmed. He has been preventing off critics all yr resulting from a poor begin however has since turned it round, posting three high 10 finishes. However, will that be sufficient for him to carry on to his seat? Solely time will inform.
Kick Sauber
One other workforce with no second driver is Kick Sauber, a workforce that may have Nico Hulkenberg be part of them in 2025. This implies solely one of many present drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, may keep or Kick Sauber may search for a driver elsewhere.
McLaren, Crimson Bull, and Aston Martin
For these three groups, their drivers will stay and why not? McLaren has seen unimaginable success with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri this yr; Crimson Bull’s Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez will stay with the workforce as they see no cause to mess with success; Aston Martin sees no cause to half with Fernando Alonso and Lance stroll, even giving the latter a brand new deal to remain by the 2026 season.
This text appeared in our October 2024 Challenge.