by Every year in Formula 1 the rumor mill starts turning on the drivers who may be moving, or worse still being cut from the grid.
But this year’s ‘silly season’ – the term coined by fans to describe the period of uncertainty in the paddock – is set to be more silly than ever, with 65 per cent of the grid out of contract by the end of the season.
Here Sports telegraph It looks at what the 2025 grid could look like.
Drivers out of contract at the end of the season: Perez, Sainz, Stroll, Alonso, Gasly, Ocon, Sargeant, Albon, Ricciardo, Bottas, Tsunoda, Bottas, Zhou, Magnussen and Hulkenberg.
Mercedes
2024: Lewis Hamilton, George Russell
2025: Fernando Alonso, George Russell
If Mercedes want a legend with enough experience to fill Hamilton’s boots, Alonso is their best bet.
At a time when faith in their once-dominant team is faltering, the support of a world-renowned driver like Alonso is needed more than ever.
There could be a risk of choosing anyone who is less qualified as things are already shaky with the team.
On the contrary, Hamilton is an experienced legend, and he is still very much struggling with Mercedes. They may want to change in the form of a young talent like Alex Albon, whose Williams contract expires this year.
Ferrari
2024: Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz
2025: Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc
The news of seven-time world champion Hamilton moving to Ferrari in 2025 sent shock waves across the racing world, leaving Sainz without a seat next year.
The decision came after a massive decline in Mercedes’ performance, with Hamilton yet to win a race from the 2021 season due to problem-ridden cars unable to keep up with Red Bull’s unstoppable beast.
Ferrari seems to be on the rise, with the SF-24 described as ‘stronger’ than recent models, and hopefully Hamilton fans can expect great things from the move.
MacLaren
2024: Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri
2025: Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri
McLaren’s youth team will not be involved during the 2025 season, with both having recently signed multi-year contracts.
The dynamic duo have been cruising through Formula One, with Norris securing seven podium finishes in 2023 and Piastri consistently finishing in the points, as well as being awarded Rookie of the Year.
Another strong campaign is expected this year, with a well-deserved win expected for Norris who holds the record for most podiums without a win (14).
red bull
2024: Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez
2025: Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz
Perez will be replaced by Spaniard Sainz when his contract expires at the end of this year.
The Ferrari driver is the only one who has been able to break Verstappen’s winning streak, a feat that clearly requires little talent.
They could be a powerhouse duo and a real force to be reckoned with, that is if they succeed.
The pair were rumored to have had a ‘toxic’ relationship when they were team-mates at Torro Rosso nine years ago but their differences are said to have improved since then.
Daniel Ricciardo and Williams Albon from RB are the other replacements.
Haas
2024: Niko Hulkenburg, Kevin Magnessun
2025: Niko Hulkenburg, Oliver Bearman
Oliver Bearman’s whirlwind F1 debut in Jeddah came after Sainz’s appendicitis diagnosis left him unable to drive.
Making it to Formula One without much notice, the Chelmsford-born teenager kept his cool and made a competitive debut for Ferrari, praised by Charles Leclerc who said the youngster did an ‘unbelievable job’ as he finished seventh over the likes of Hamilton and Norris.
Having already practiced with Haas, he looks like a likely candidate for the 2025 seat. Expressing his desire to drive for the team in March, he said “Hopefully a door could open there (for 2025), that would be great.”
RB
2024: Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda
2025: Yuki Tsunoda, Liam Lawson
With Ricciardo’s failure to impress since his return to F1, a replacement is unlikely.
Lawson made a lasting impression when he stood in for Ricciardo for five races last year, and we probably haven’t seen the last of him.
Red Bull senior adviser Helmut Marko sang Liam’s praises after scoring points in Singapore, calling him an ‘outstanding talent’.
Lawson’s loyalties lie with Red Bull, where he is a reserve driver, and has said he hopes to secure an F1 seat with the team.
Williams
2024: Alex Albon, Logan Sargent
2025: Logan Sargent, Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Italian legend Mercedes Antonelli is rumored to be making the jump from F2 to join Williams in 2025.
The notion is reminiscent of when Mercedes loaned Russell to Williams back in 2019 to gain some F1 experience before a shot at the top.
It makes more sense for the 17-year-old to start out at a team like Williams as rookie drivers are rarely straight into a top seat like Mercedes. “I have no doubt that Kimi will be in F1,” Williams team principal James Vowles said in February.
Alpine
2024: Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly
2025: Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly
Although the Alps have had a difficult start to 2024, things appear to be harmonious between the team and its drivers, making it likely that the French duo will stick around.
There have been long talks about contract extensions, and although there is nothing to show for it so far, a new deal wouldn’t be a surprise.
Ocon says he feels good at Alpine but said “we don’t know what the future holds in F1”.
Gasly failed to give much away either, saying “Discussions are underway with the team with the Alps, to see what we want to do in the future”.
Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber
2024: Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu
2025: Zhou Guanyu, Theo Pourchaire
The former Red Bull junior is Stake’s reserve driver and has been in his training program since 2019.
Pourchaire, the reigning F2 Champion, hopes to climb his way to Formula One, and he may succeed.
He is an ideal candidate because of his connections with the team and the skill he has shown time and time again.
Despite his links to Red Bull and Mercedes, Sainz is also a strong contender for the seat. Audi takes over Sauber in 2026, and Carlos Sainz Sr, his father, recently won the Dakar Rally with the team, and this will no doubt have some influence on his son’s decision.
Aston Martin
2024: Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll
2025: Sergio Perez, Stroll Lance
Ideally Aston Martin would like to keep Alonso, but with openings at both Mercedes and Red Bull it is not unexpected that the winner of two world championships could go elsewhere.
If that is the case, they would want to replace him with someone of excellent quality.
In the event that Red Bull fail to re-sign Perez, he would be the right man for the job.
Details of Stroll’s contract are not public, so we can assume he is on a rolling contract and will remain at Aston Martin with his father Lawrence owning the team.
