The brutal possibility of not having a steering wheel in 2025 is starting to become more and more realistic, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman They seem about to make the jump from F2 to F1.
It is known as ‘Silly Season’, to describe rumors about moves to secure a spot for the following season; Personally, the term has always grated on me, because it’s not particularly ‘silly’ and it’s all quite exciting.
This year it started earlier than usual.
The signing of Lewis Hamilton for Ferrari and Lando Norris’ new long-term contract with McLaren, both announced very early in the year, have meant that the driver market for 2025 is taking shape rapidly.
Carlos Sainz, Pierre Gasly, Valtteri Bottas, Kevin Magnussen, Logan Sargeant, Esteban Ocon and Guanyu Zhou have not yet reached an agreement for next year.
The bets were that Sainz would join Audi for his arrival in F1, but now Williams has also emerged as a possible destination to acquire his services.
Gasly is likely to renew with Alpine, especially after the team has parted ways with Ocon, who in turn is linked to Haas.
Bottas, for his part, could return to Williams, which means that two between Sargeant, Magnussen and Zhou could not have a place in 2025.
Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24 Valtteri Bottas, Kick Sauber C44 and Logan Sargeant, Williams FW46
At 31 years old, Magnussen is no stranger to the contractual nuances of F1, having seen how he was shown the exit door in McLaren, Renault and Haas before returning to the American team in 2022.
As such, he is philosophical about his future in the category, and has made it clear to Haas that he wants to continue: “The team knows me very well, I am a known person to the team. So I don’t think I have anything to prove.”
“The driver market is very open and we will see how it evolves. I have made it clear that I would love to continue here, and the team is in a good position and I would love to be part of it.”
“I don’t know how long it’s going to be until we know how it’s going to go, but until then, you just keep driving.”
Zhou has seen his chances of demonstrating his potential limited by not being in a position to fight for points, unlike his teammate Bottas, who of course also has 10 wins – all during his time with Mercedes.
Consequently, Zhou knows he is under pressure to attract the attention of other teams.
“I don’t know what it looks like on a lap or on the race graph or the way it communicates with the teams, so of course it would be good if we could fight closer, in the top 10.”
“But I think the chances are still quite high and I still have many races to – hopefully together with the team – be able to achieve some good results.”
As for his own future, he added: “I’m open, let’s say, to all the teams we are talking to and having conversations about my future. Nothing is confirmed, but I feel like there should be a place for me in the future in the grill, although I don’t know where.
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team Sauber
Although he is still likely to sign for Williams, Bottas admits that the speed at which the driver market is evolving is worrying and could lead him to make a decision sooner rather than later.
“I think I have to choose quickly,” he said. “Obviously nothing is confirmed or signed on my end yet, so no big news since last week, but I’m still working with all the options out there and I need to make a move soon, that’s basically where I am.”
“I’m sure I’ll get a seat, but obviously in this sport nothing is confirmed, so you’re never 100% sure until you sign, but at least the way I see the situation at the moment I’m not worried. But yeah, it’s clearly going to be an interesting week or two.”
One driver who should be worried is Sargeant, who looks increasingly likely to leave Williams.
Before the Canadian GP he was asked about his future and stated that he was “close to performing at the level” he needs.
Only it could be too late, and more worrying was whether he had considered a plan B if his time in F1 comes to an end. “No,” she said.
Maybe it’s time for me to do it.
