The 2024 F1 season made sporting history when the first race got underway. When the lights went out at the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix, it marked the first time in F1 history that the exact same drivers, and in the exact same positions, had finished the previous season when the next year began.
But there were signs of change this season. Not only did more than half the grid start the year out of contract, but the shock news that Lewis Hamilton would be leaving Mercedes for Ferrari at the end of 2024 accelerated F1’s ‘season of mayhem’.
Next year’s line-up is slowly taking shape, with news of Red Bull signing a new two-year deal meaning more than half of the 2025 grid is already set.
So what will the 2025 F1 driver line-up look like? The current line-up looks like this, with nine positions officially still open:
This article will be updated as new agreements are announced.
Takayama
Alpine entered the 2024 F1 season with two drivers, Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, in the final year of their contracts. Before the Canadian Grand Prix, Ocon and Alpine announced that they would “part ways” at the end of the 2024 season, officially leaving one seat vacant in 2025. There have been constant rumors about Gasly’s future with the team, but with Ocon’s announcement, the team may consider keeping Gasly in 2025 to maintain continuity within the organization.
Earlier this week, we looked at Alpine’s potential options for at least Ocon’s current seat.
Aston Martin
Aston Martin is one of the few teams that currently has its 2025 lineup set. Fernando Alonso is in the final season of his current contract, but the two sides recently announced a new “multi-year deal.” As for Lance Stroll, his contract situation is shrouded in mystery, but the media has said:Varies. “
- Fernando Alonso — ‘multi-year’ contract until at least 2026
- Lance Stroll — ‘Rolling’ contract
Hearthstone
Like Alpine, Haas is a team that entered this year with two drivers in the final years of their contracts, and knows for certain that they will have one slot open in 2025. Nico Hulkenberg announced ahead of the Miami Grand Prix that he will move to Sauber, Audi’s works team in 2026, after 2025. Kevin Magnussen is in the final year of his contract and it is unclear whether he will remain with them in 2025.
One name often mentioned as being up for at least one place at Haas in 2025 is Ferrari academy driver and supersub Oliver Bareman.
Ferrari
Ferrari kicked off F1’s crazy winter season with the shock announcement that Lewis Hamilton would leave Mercedes for Ferrari at the end of the 2024 season. The team has already announced a new deal with Charles Leclerc, with Ferrari’s line-up set for 2025 and beyond.
- Charles Leclerc — “Multi-year” contract
- Lewis Hamilton — “Multi-year” contract
McLaren
Jay Janner/American Statesman/USA Today Network
I spoke exclusively to McLaren CEO Zak Brown last October, and the team boss was clear that in Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri the team had the best driver pairing.
It is therefore unsurprising that the team has sought to extend Norris’ contract over the past few months to ensure both drivers remain with the team in the new era of F1 regulations.
- Lando Norris — “Multi-year” deal
- Oscar Piastri — contract until 2026
Mercedes
At the end of last season, Mercedes appeared set to remain stable until at least 2025. With George Russell under contract until the end of the 2025 season and Lewis Hamilton adding two more years to his contract due to expire at the end of 2024, the Silver Arrows looked set.
But the Hamilton news has changed all that, with the team now considering their options for the seat next to Russell and apparently considering extending his current contract.
There are a number of options linked for Mercedes’ number two seat, but the indications are high for genius Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
- George Russell — under contract until 2025
- to be decided
Red Bull
Hamilton’s shock announcement officially kicked off speculation about the 2025 F1 season, but in fact it began long before then. Sergio Pérez struggled in the middle of the 2023 season, especially in qualifying, sparking speculation about his future at Red Bull. He started the season on a contract that expired at the end of 2024, but some in F1 circles were questioning whether he would be able to make the start of 2024 with the team, or whether poor form could see him fired mid-season.
Red Bull put an end to that speculation ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, announcing a new two-year contract with Perez that will keep him with the team until 2026.
As for Red Bull’s other driver, his seat will remain locked down for the long term unless something dramatic changes.
- Max Verstappen — contract until 2028
- Sergio Pérez — contract until 2026
Sauber
Sauber entered the 2024 season with two drivers in their line-up: Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, whose contracts were expiring.
The team announced in April that Nico Hulkenberg would join the team next season, so one of their seats is now set beyond 2025. Sauber is due to become Audi’s works team in 2026, so pairing a German driver with a German manufacturer makes sense.
But who his teammate will be next year is up for debate.
- Nico Hulkenberg — ‘multi-year’ contract until 2026
- to be decided
Visa Cash App RB F1 Team
It has three drivers and two seats.
The year started that way for VCARB, with Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson presenting viable options for the team. Ultimately, the team went with Ricciardo and Tsunoda, who are both out of contract. Will VCARB bring them back for 2025 or make a change?
Williams
After a surprising seventh place in the 2023 Constructors’ Championship, Williams again won this year with both Alexander Albon and Logan Sargent. But just like last year, the team got off to a slow start in 2023. Williams only managed one point at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, and didn’t score any more points until Albon’s seventh place finish at the Canadian Grand Prix.
Williams finally managed to score some points this season with Albon finishing ninth at the Monaco Grand Prix.
The team announced Albon’s contract extension earlier this season but has yet to decide who his teammate will be in 2025.
- Alexander Albon — ‘multi-year’ contract until at least 2026
- to be decided
