Officially, there are still eight Formula 1 cockpits available for 2025. The number of drivers currently vying for them on the driver market is significantly higher. Without much effort, you get to 14. Only one, Carlos Sainz, seems very sure of his position on the sidelines of the Barcelona weekend. He is now the cork in the bottle for everyone else. Taking stock – who is currently how close to a deal?
“Carlos is the cork in the bottle!” says Kevin Magnussen. Just this week, Sainz stated on Spanish television that all teams with free cockpits had asked him. Accordingly, the market is not moving as long as Sainz hesitates. What he is doing next: “I am still discussing it with my team, brainstorming, and of course I need a few days at home. I was at home before the Spanish GP, but your head is somewhere else.”
“I don’t want to wait much longer,” Sainz insists, even though Formula 1 is just starting the first of three races in consecutive weeks. Sainz’s problem is that he doesn’t want to commit to 2026. Predicting the rule changes is pure gambling: “Then 2025 will also be important.” And at the same time, performance-independent factors: “Even in the long term. Understanding the power unit side, understanding the team dynamics.”
Sainz, Ocon & Gasly: In the backfield with the best chances
Williams, which is undergoing a transformation, and the almost completely rebuilt Audi-Sauber factory team are currently considered Sainz’s most likely destinations. Two teams that are completely different in terms of the factors mentioned by Sainz. Williams in particular has been aggressively courting Sainz in recent weeks. Bad news for Logan Sargeant, who seems to be quite far down on his own team’s list. Too many drivers with more experience and better arguments. More on Sargeant’s situation can be found here:
The current drivers at Audi-Sauber do not have the best cards either. Valtteri Bottas is more relaxed: “It’s not my first rodeo either, it’ll work out.” If Sainz doesn’t come, Bottas staying at least cannot be ruled out. He was also spotted in the Williams motorhome in Imola. That means things are getting tight for Zhou Guanyu. Theories are circulating about Alpine – he used to be a sponsored driver there. A dowry could help at Haas.
Alpine is a difficult landing place. Esteban Ocon is definitely gone, Pierre Gasly remains cautious. In recent weeks, rumors have increased that Renault could sell the team completely or bury the engine program and make it a customer team. “The discussions with the team are very transparent, I’m happy about that,” says Gasly. “I trust them.”
Alpine has a fairly long list of options. Zhou. Junior Jack Doohan, who is currently running a test program with old cars. Mick Schumacher, who is part of the brand’s WEC team. But they do want to continue with Gasly at least. Nevertheless, his name, like that of Ocon, has been thrown around the backfield in recent weeks. Whether at Williams, Haas or Sauber.
After all, both Frenchmen have established themselves in recent years and are good options for whoever cannot get Sainz. “There are good discussions going on at the moment,” assures Ocon, but cannot announce anything.
Haas collects offers: Is Kevin Magnussen’s end near?
Magnussen is very relaxed about it all. He was unable to find a cockpit in 2015 and 2021, and the last time he switched to sports car racing and had actually already finished with Formula 1: “Life out there is pretty good too. When I was young, I was very afraid of losing this. I don’t think you need to be. It’s a great privilege to drive here and I love it, but today I’m much more relaxed than in the past.”
Daniel Ricciardo wants to stay in the Red Bull universe
This seems to conclude the Sauber-Haas-Williams-Alpine quadrilateral. Almost. Question marks hang over Liam Lawson and Daniel Ricciardo, who are currently under contract in the Red Bull universe. The latter failed to snatch the top cockpit from Sergio Perez, but is open to staying with the Racing Bulls: “Of course I want to be here because I know that I deserve it and deliver performances like I did recently in Canada.”
Ricciardo has finished with the rest of Formula 1: “Now that I’m back in the Red Bull family, I really don’t see myself anywhere else.” If he keeps the seat, that could free up Liam Lawson. Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Dr. Helmut Marko recently let this slip. But Red Bull has no reason to make the Ricciardo decision early. However, since the rest could still sort themselves out before the summer break, it is doubtful whether Lawson will get a cockpit.
After all, there is a free Mercedes cockpit hanging over all these drivers. Even if Sainz claims to have had contact, he doesn’t seem to be a great candidate for the position. Speculation that Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who is not even 18 years old, will be allowed to take part is rife. If he doesn’t come, the only options left are stopgap options such as ex-Mercedes junior Ocon or ex-works driver Bottas.
Nominally still available? The second Aston Martin cockpit. Lance Stroll, son of the team owner, commented on his future decision before Spain: “Soon.” Nobody really expects him to leave.