What does the 2025 grid look like after recent movements?

Slowly but surely, the 2025 grid of F1 is taking shape. In a year in which the transfer market promises to be lively as it rarely is, it has just experienced a new episode. In the space of a few minutes this Friday, Haas formalized the departure of Nico Hulkenberg at the end of the current campaign while Audi announced the recruitment of the German for 2026 who will wait at Sauber in 2025.

With confirmation of record holder for races without a victory (208, tied with Andrea de Cesaris), here is a new hole filled on the grid for the 2025 season. But what does it look like at the moment?

Red Bull looking for Verstappen teammate

Among the reigning world champions, alone Max Verstappen has his seat assured for the next exercise. Under contract until 2028, the Dutchman is on course to continue the adventure even if Toto Wolff dreams of him in Mercedes. The stranger lives on the other side of the garage. Will Sergio Pérez be kept in the ranks of Red Bull ? While his lease expires next December, the Mexican is scoring good points with his management. After a delicate 2023, Checo has changed his mindset and shows every weekend that we can count on him. If he has still not signed a victory in 2024, the Latin American contributed to the efforts of Christian Horner's troops with three doubles in five races. It remains to be seen if the Austrians will not look for someone else to launch a new cycle, perhaps by promoting someone from their academy or recalling a certain… Carlos Sainz.

Ferrari in full force, Mercedes in search of Hamilton's successor

By securing the services of Lewis Hamilton, associated to Charles Leclerc from 2025, Ferrari forces Mercedes to explore the transfer market. Since the announcement of the Englishman's departure, several names have been mentioned to join Brackley. For the moment, the two most serious leads lead to Carlos Sainz who will soon be free and to the nugget of the academy, Andrea Kimi Antonelli. George Russell is part of the continuity since he extended his lease last summer.

McLaren doesn't move, Alpine wants to keep his duo

A little deeper in the grid, McLaren don't have to worry about next year, unless something happens. On the Woking side, Zak Brown is in charge perfectly and is already assured of being able to count on Lando Norris et Oscar piastri in 2025, both having recently sworn loyalty to the Oranges.

In the hard sport, Alpine will also have to manage a thorny issue during the season: that of its drivers. Indeed, Esteban Ocon as Pierre Gasly are at the end of their contract. If the Normans could be open to new opportunities, the A arrow, carried by Bruno Famin, intends to renew them.

At Aston Martin, status quo since Fernando Alonso extended at the beginning of April while Lance stroll obviously has a permanent contract in his father's stable.

Williams, Haas, Sauber and RB… Risk of movements

Nico Hülkenberg expected at Sauber, Haas does not yet have any guarantees regarding its future duo. In reconstruction, the American team could be tempted by starting from scratch and thus change its two pilots, sacrificing Kevin Magnussen. Very good for his first in F1 when he had to replace Carlos Sainz in Saudi Arabia, Ollie Bearman scored big points. A Ferrari academy driver, the Briton drove in two EL1 sessions with Haas in 2023 and made a good impression. He is in any case a serious contender for a seat within the team led by Ayao Komatsu.

Sauber, for its part, must now find Nico Hülkenberg's future teammate. At the end of the contract, Valtteri Bottas et Guanyu-Zhou may not be retained while the name of Carlos Sainz comes back with insistence in view of the arrival of Audi in 2026.

Williams, which is continuing its recovery with 2026 in its sights, will most certainly rework its workforce. In unfavorable ballot, Logan sargeant has a very good chance of not being preserved. Alex Albon, whose popularity continues to grow, is still contractually linked to Grove for the next campaign. Next to him, James Vowles, former right-hand man of Toto wolff at Mercedes, could try to place the young Andrea Kimi Antonelli to train him for promotion to the parent team as was the case with George Russell from 2019 to 2021.

Finally, RB, Red Bull's little sister, has not defined anything and everything seems vague. While they both dream of the second seat next to Max Verstappen in 2025, Yuki tsunoda et Daniel Ricciardo still have to prove themselves. Behind them, the horn is honking since Liam Lawson is a serious candidate for next season. In F2, Isack Hadjar could also have a card to play.

The 2025 F1 grid

© DR

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