2025 Driver Market

[Aty]

Bottom post of the previous page:

I am hoping Andreas is not going to go crazy on me and hire DR.

[Aty]

Media declared that Bottas is not going to wait for Audi forever to tell him if he has a job. It's only June, and jobs used to be discussed in September. So, what's the rush? i would say if you don't want to wait, than don't. Problem solved.

[Aty]

I didn't know Briatore was entrusted with selection of Ocon's replacement. Rumor has it, that Doohan and Mick Schumacher are front runners for that seat at Alpine.

[Ruslan]

Honda can buy out Tsunoda's contract in 2026 for $5M: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/motors ... 4d0a&ei=13

[Ruslan]

Bearman has already signed with Haas?: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/ ... 8ddf&ei=11

Anyhow, according to rumors Haas in 2025 is Ocon and Bearman. Magnussen is history.

[Everso Biggyballies]

Yuji confirmed at VCARB,

Horner has just on the Sky qualy intro confirmed Yuki will be in at VCARB for 2025. Pretty much backing what Marko suggested was the case as reported above.

Pressure is on Danny now to get the other seat over Lawson.

EditL. In fact here is the official word via Twitter / X....

[Aty]

Yuki - only 2025? And then what?

[Everso Biggyballies]

He is linked with Honda so no doubt are wanting Lance Stroll to go race Aston Martin Hypercars in WEC. Good luck to them with that motion. I guess it depends on what sort of contract they have with Aston re drivers..

[Aty]

Marko hints Ricciardo will be replaced for 2025

Daniel Ricciardo's Formula 1 adventure may be coming to a definitive end.

https://www.grandprix.com/news/marko-hi ... -2025.html

[Aty]

JV - as always - has a word of (his) wisdom for us.

VILLENEUVE: WOLFF’S EGO A BIG ROLE IN MERCEDES CHOOSING ANTONELLI
PAUL VELASCO

https://www.grandprix247.com/2024/06/11 ... antonelli/

Well, the thing is, Mr. Wolff is responsible for the team, whereas Mr. Villeneuve is reponsible only for cheap shots from the roof. Wolff will (ultimately) take responsibility for what he say and does. He also will be accountable to his side of the fence. JV - in contrast - will forget next weeks what he said.

It's a fact that should Toto really choose this young man for his team, it will be a mighty risky move, but in history ususally good leaders have taken a lot of risk in their lives. We will need to wait how this ends.

I am sorry for Carlos Sainz, but that's not end of his career ending situation. I must admit that I am lacking any sensible understanding why RB and Mercedes let him stand on sidelines. What's wrong with Sainz? I don't see anything which would justify current outcome. Him being replaced by Hamilton is enough of a bad, and almost nonsensical joke.

[P. Cornelius Scipio]

JV - as always - has a word of (his) wisdom for us.

VILLENEUVE: WOLFF’S EGO A BIG ROLE IN MERCEDES CHOOSING ANTONELLI
PAUL VELASCO

https://www.grandprix247.com/2024/06/11 ... antonelli/

Well, the thing is, Mr. Wolff is responsible for the team, whereas Mr. Villeneuve is reponsible only for cheap shots from the roof. Wolff will (ultimately) take responsibility for what he say and does. He also will be accountable to his side of the fence. JV - in contrast - will forget next weeks what he said.

It's a fact that should Toto really choose this young man for his team, it will be a mighty risky move, but in history ususally good leaders have taken a lot of risk in their lives. We will need to wait how this ends.

I am sorry for Carlos Sainz, but that's not end of his career ending situation. I must admit that I am lacking any sensible understanding why RB and Mercedes let him stand on sidelines. What's wrong with Sainz? I don't see anything which would justify current outcome. Him being replaced by Hamilton is enough of a bad, and almost nonsensical joke.

I agree with JV. I also think that Wolff is risking ruining Antonelli's future, even Max spent some time at Toro Rosso where he could learn and make mistakes and develop as a driver, putting Antonelli in one of the biggest teams IMHO is very risky because he would have a lot of pressure to deliver and if he doesn't then it's going to be a problem for his career

[Aty]

JV - as always - has a word of (his) wisdom for us.

VILLENEUVE: WOLFF’S EGO A BIG ROLE IN MERCEDES CHOOSING ANTONELLI
PAUL VELASCO

https://www.grandprix247.com/2024/06/11 ... antonelli/

Well, the thing is, Mr. Wolff is responsible for the team, whereas Mr. Villeneuve is reponsible only for cheap shots from the roof. Wolff will (ultimately) take responsibility for what he say and does. He also will be accountable to his side of the fence. JV - in contrast - will forget next weeks what he said.

It's a fact that should Toto really choose this young man for his team, it will be a mighty risky move, but in history ususally good leaders have taken a lot of risk in their lives. We will need to wait how this ends.

I am sorry for Carlos Sainz, but that's not end of his career ending situation. I must admit that I am lacking any sensible understanding why RB and Mercedes let him stand on sidelines. What's wrong with Sainz? I don't see anything which would justify current outcome. Him being replaced by Hamilton is enough of a bad, and almost nonsensical joke.

I agree with JV. I also think that Wolff is risking ruining Antonelli's future, even Max spent some time at Toro Rosso where he could learn and make mistakes and develop as a driver, putting Antonelli in one of the biggest teams IMHO is very risky because he would have a lot of pressure to deliver and if he doesn't then it's going to be a problem for his career

On one hand I do agree with you, but there is the other hand. Challenging environment he will be exposed at Mercedes will make him either a year or two earlier WDC, or he will follow others and fade into obscurity. I think he knows risk he will face, and he can tell Toto what he wants. Men who rise above all when exposed to danger are destined for greatness. We shall see what is this young man made off. (After all, as of this day, he is still merely a candidate for a seat.) BTW, in which team Hamilton kick his career off?

[Everso Biggyballies]

Paddock chatter in Montreal had a. number of favoured rumours in the who goes here musical chairs.....

I was trying to work out all the rumours and where I thought they might stand. Obviously Sainz is the principal domino in all this and I suspect that all the major seats will be on hold until where he chooses is confirmed. Once that domino falls I believe the rest will fall into place.

One of these was that Ocon was going to be confirmed at Mercedes for one year, which would leave Antonelli either to do another year of F2 or to get a loan arrangement with the likes of Williams.

Re Williams they are firmly targeting Sainz, and say they are not wanting to have anything other than an established driver joining Albon. They have promised tens of millions in investment into systems development and personnel. There was even a suggestion Sainz had signed a document of agreement with Williams (ie a notice of intent rather than an actual contract). I guess this is some sort of time buying thing for Carlos to keep his Williams options on the table and not taken by another . ie Ocon or Bottas.

Bottas for that matter has, with some rumours suggesting a short term return to Mercedes, seen more it looking at Williams Alpine or Haas.... indeed he is said to have confirmed he is not interested in a one year deal, favouring a longer term project. Indeed it is said he has notified those three three teams mentioned of his requirements.

Bottas affirmed: “I wouldn’t get one year somewhere just to be in F1, just to hang on. I need a long-term project with clear goals and with respect for what I can do and deliver.

“That’s really the main thing. Obviously, the faster the car the better. But the main thing is to have that security for years ahead that we can work together for the goals that we set.”

Haas is seemingly the favourite.... Ferrari wannabee Ollie Bearman is said all bar confirmed in Hulk's seat, with Bottas the favourite for Haas. Ocon is also a clear option there favoured as a stronger bet. KMag is it seem likely to not be retained by Haas. His future in F1 must be one with slim prospects.

Getting back to Sainz it is it seems Williams where he might end up.... they certainly have made no secret of their hopes for Sainz to sign. They suggested that their strength with Sainz is the Mercedes engine. It seems the Audi engine is seen as their achilles heel and likely to be an area of shortfall over other engine suppliers with a much more involved F1 background. Sainz himself has said that the engine is the prime influence on a teams pace. A lesser chassis with a good engine is better an option than a good chassis with a down on power engine.

Sainz wont consider Haas. They have nothing to offer him a reason.... no promise of investment in anything and no Mercedes engine.

Zhou is one with no real current ties. Plus of course a big wallet and the Chinese factor that interests manufacturers. I see him as a possible for Alpine with Gasly. Or even being retained for a year at Sauber Audi.


So to summarize:

Williams: Sainz favourite, Ocon, Bottas as secondary options maybe, or Antonelli an option
Sauber / Audi. Sainz their favourite, with Ocon or Zhou as a backup plan.
Alpine: Bottas Zhou and Doohan in no particular order. Doohan is getting a lot of local press, but im not sure if what the press are writing here is seconded in other areas. Gasly is out of contract but pretty certain he will stay.
Haas: Bearman probable, with an experienced team leader.... Bottas or Ocon.
Mercedes: Antonelli seems the favourite, but Ocon is a strong thought with Bottas also a lesser option.
VCARB. Yuki confirmed, Danny Ric or Lawson for the other seat. Common sense says Lawson. But there is the Marko factor so anything can happen there. And Horner keeps mumbling about other up and comers like Hadjar, Iwasa and other RB juniors in lower series

There re obviously other options and rumours, but at some stage we need to draw a line in the sand. I guess this represents my line in the sand.
Two provisos.... one is I might move that line once the first domino falls. Secondly, I reserve the right to be wrong!

Im sure also that I have likely missed some important candidates and options or rumours. Maybe some outsiders I havent included (Pourchaire crossed my mind, but he seems to be doing nicely carving a career Stateside.) I have deliberateluy left out Sargeant and pretty much KMag. I think both their days are numbered in F1.

Please add to or shoot down any of the suggestions I made.....


Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and we assume (given the Strolll factor) Aston Martin all sorted

[Aty]

It is Horner, not Marko, who is favoring DR. If it was up to Helmut only, DR would not be today in any way associated with either RB team.

We know today, that Carlos is not going to Mercedes.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff told Sky Sports television: “I think first of all, Carlos deserves a top seat. He’s done a fantastic job. But for us, we’ve embarked on a route now to say… we want to reinvent ourselves a little bit going forward and Kimi Antonelli definitely plays a part in that.

“We haven’t taken a decision yet for next year but we didn’t want to have Carlos wait as well because he needs to take the decisions for himself. That’s just fair. He’s doing a super job,” added Wolff.

[Everso Biggyballies]

It is Horner, not Marko, who is favoring DR. If it was up to Helmut only, DR would not be today in any way associated with either RB team.

Certainly from accounts I have read it is Horner who seems to be the top of the DR Fan Club.

Some of Horner's justifications in that faith are very shallow. I have said partly in jest that its almost as if DR has compromising photos on his phone of Horner..... stuff that the Dutch or Austrian press would love to see.

Mind you seeing of his forgiveness and patience with. Sergio, and his repeated contract extensions ..... maybe he is just a nice guy.
Oh wait, Albon and Gasly and others are disagreeing that sentiment.

[Aty]

It is Horner, not Marko, who is favoring DR. If it was up to Helmut only, DR would not be today in any way associated with either RB team.

..... maybe he is just a nice guy.
Oh wait, Albon and Gasly and others are disagreeing that sentiment.

Add my name to those two (and a few others).