The drivers’ traffic light in Formula 1

Jun 17, 2024, 6:00 PM ET

There are nine “available” seats for the 2025 season and we present the outlook for the continuity or departure of some pilots.

The 2024 season of the Formula 1 The first third of the calendar has passed, time has become the enemy for some pilotswhile for others it is an ally in their hopes to stay in the Great Circus.

The grid has not stopped moving since the current campaign began, the announcements of signings, departures and renewals have been constant in recent months and this has caused that there are still nine seats “available” for the season 2025.

The results of some seem to sentence their future, while many others seem certain to remain. In addition, the new generation of young people who are looking for a place on the stellar grid joins in.

In ESPN we present to you the traffic light that can mark the continuity or departure of some pilots.

green traffic light

The Spanish driver has become one of the great underdogs in the current campaign.

Lewis Hamilton was confirmed to take his place at Ferrari starting next season, so his name began to be heard by several teams. However, everyone has washed their hands and the only team that accepted any type of negotiation was the Williams team. His future in 2025 could be fighting at the back of the pack, but he could still give some surprise with a better team.

The Canadian has gone from less to more in 2024 and has come to be ahead of Fernando Alonso in the latest rankings. However, whether he is doing well, average or poorly, his continuity in F1since being the son of the owner of Aston Martin seems to have that “small” advantage over the rest.

The team has not yet announced its renewal, but its continuity is more than certain.

Andrea Antonelli

Lewis Hamilton will leave Mercedes at the end of the season 2024 season, which caused said seat to become the most sought-after and desired seat in the top category. However, it seems that said place has a name, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the young 17-year-old driver who currently participates in Formula 2.

Antonelli has become the spoiled child of the team boss, Toto Wolff, who put all his cards in favor of the Italian driver. The FIA ​​even threw a nod in his favor by modifying the regulations so that he can receive the super license and thus not wait for him to turn 18.

The International Sports Code. In article 13.1.2 you can now read:

“At the sole discretion of the FIA, a driver who is considered to have recently and consistently demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity in formula single-seater competition may be granted a super license at the age of 17,” the text reads, for which could debut this season, if Mercedes so desired.

yellow traffic light

Liam Lawson

The New Zealander became a novelty when he replaced Daniel Ricciardo last season, but this year his future does not look clear. The Red Bull reserve driver has seen from the paddock the renewals of Sergio Pérez and Yuki Tsunoda, so his only hope is to keep Ricciardo’s seat.

Lawson himself gave an ultimatum to the Milton Keynes team by making it clear that his dream is to race in the Formula 1whether with Red Bull or another team.

“Obviously for me, the dream is to drive for Red Bull, and I’ve been with them for over five years. But my dream is to be in the Formula 1and if it can’t be with them, then obviously I have to try to make that happen with someone else.”

The Alpine reserve driver decided to put aside his career in F2 and concentrate fully on the top category. He had the opportunity to go out on the track during FP2 in Canada and with the announcement of Esteban Ocon’s departure, he became the number 1 candidate to occupy the seat.

The Ferrari reserve driver is 19 years old, but his future points to being a Haas driver for the season 2025 due to the good relationship between both teams and the supply of engines they provide to the American team.

The Briton made his debut this same 2024 due to the appendicitis operation that Carlos Sainz had during the Arabian Grand Prix and his performance was brilliant by finishing in seventh position, for which he was chosen as “Driver of the day”. Now, he is a serious candidate to be a star next year.

It has not been renewed by the Stake team for 2025 and its future looks uncertain. His team announced that it closed the arrival of Nico Hülkenberg for the next season, so it is unknown if he will keep his place or seek a new horizon, like the Haas team itself.

The Chinese has had some ups and downs during his time in the world. Formula 1, but it has earned a place. Wherever the team arrives, it will be supported by great financial capital, which is estimated at close to 50 million dollars thanks to its sponsors.

The 2019 and 2020 world runner-up does not have a secure future with the Stake team, but the Finn has assured that he is 99 percent sure that he will continue in the F1. This, despite the fact that the team has not moved the pieces to renew it.

“I think we need a few [carreras esta temporada] more under our belt, and I hope that, with some good results, the ball will roll a little further, but not much yet,” said Bottas.

The Australian does not have a secure future with Red Bull. Since he returned to the grid he insisted on looking for Checo Pérez’s place, a strategy that failed, since the Australian himself paid for his poor performance and the leadership gave the Mexican confidence again.

He is currently ahead of Yuki Tsunoda in performance and has nine points in the championship, five achieved in Miami and four in Canada. Given this, his future with Red Bull is shaky.

Red light

He came to the top category as a promise for the future and a bid to attract new followers within the United States.

His performance on the track has been far from what was expected and with only one point in 31 Grands Prix he is an invitation not to continue with Williams. During the current campaign there has been a lot of speculation about a dismissal, as the historic organization got tired of waiting for him to prove something, but this has not happened. He is the first pilot trained to leave the Formula 1.

The Dane has driven with the knife between his teeth throughout 2024 and has become a squire for Nico Hülkenberg, which has caused his driving on the track to be considered risky and his maneuvers dangerous. Even so, the driver himself accepts that there is a great risk of being left without a place in the Haas team, which has not moved to renew it, so he could be one of the drivers who is left without a seat in 2025.