This season saw the first time in F1 history where each team retained the same drivers who completed the final race of preceding year’s competition. Yet all that was set to change rapidly following Lewis Hamilton’s bomb shell news pre-season that he would be leaving his life long sponsor Mercedes to join Ferrari next season and the F1 driver market went into overdrive.

Assuming Red Bull Racing hold on to Max Verstappen who imitated he could leave the team before the end of his 2028 contract and don’t replace Sergio Perez with Carlos Sainz, the seats now up for grabs are Williams (one), Haas F1 (one), Sauber/Audi (one), Alpine (one) and Mercedes (one).

 

 

 

Bottas waiting for “one piece to fall into place”

The bottle necks in any further progression were explained by Valtteri Bottas at the Austrian Grand Prix when asked whether he had finalised a drive for next season. “Unfortunately, nothing big to announce,” Bottas said at the Red Bull Ring. “Or nothing to announce.

“I was hoping there would be decisions made earlier this week, but deadlines got pushed back again. So, that’s the situation, nothing new from last weekend.”

The ex-Mercedes driver explained from his perspective there was just one domino to fall before he could confirm where he would be driving in 2025. “So obviously, kind of waiting for one piece to fall into place. And then it should all happen pretty quick.”

Of course the assumption is that it is Carlos Sainz who is being courted by Williams, Sauber/Audi and Alpine who was holding matters up for the Finnish driver, yet Mercedes lack of progress on their Hamilton replacement is playing a huge part the current stagnant state of affairs.

Horner reveals Perez contract exit clause

 

 

 

Mercedes continued delay on Hamilton replacement

Toto Wolff hinted when announcing Hamilton’s departure he may make a “Bold” choice which was interpreted as him bringing in Mercedes academy driver Kimi Antonelli. Yet the young Italian is in his first year of international junior formula racing as he was parachuted into F2 with team Prema.

The Mercedes boss lost out on a young Verstappen to red Bull Racing and fears a similar outcome unless he gets Antonelli a F1 drive soon. The ideal route would be how Wolff plotted George Russell’s career, by sending him to Williams to earn his stripes. This would mean Mercedes need a driver for just one year to fill the vacant seat until Antonelli is promoted

Yet Williams are not playing ball it seems as team boss James Vowles believes they should be fielding two experienced drivers given the Nicholas Latifi and Logan Sargeant experiments have failed spectacularly. Vowles stated in Canada that “Carlos [Sainz] is Williams number one target,” although an expected announcement in Spain failed to materialise.

Whether Wolff can find another route into F1 for his young prestige driver is unclear at present and its too early to decide if he is good enough to join Mercedes straight away. Should Mercedes go down the one year ‘experienced driver’ route it appears Carlos Sainz is ready to now take up the challenge.

Ricciardo slams RB

 

 

 

Mercedes winning casts doubts over Antonelli

Yet Toto made it clear inn Barcelona it would be after the summer break when he makes his decision and it was in the best interest of the Spaniard to explore other options in the meantime. Yet Carlos appears to be prepared to hang tough and wait to see if there’s any movement at either Mercedes or Red Bull Racing.

Now Valtteri Bottas has revealed he has had talks with Wolff “about everything” relating to his potential future. The Finn raced for the Brackley based squad following the retirement of F1 world champion Nico Rosberg in 2016 and in his five years at Mercedes he won 10 Grand Prix and second twice to Hamilton in the drivers’ championship.

Bottas is expected to be ousted by Sauber/Audi for next year and his possible drives are linked to any decision made by Sainz. Should Sainz refuse the Williams seat, Bottas is set for a return to the team who gave him his F1 break back in 2013.

Yet the Finn would be a good choice for Mercedes having proven his worth as a rear gunner to Hamilton. Now with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell winning Grand Prix this year for Mercedes, Wolff must be having doubts about promoting Antonelli with such little experience.

Horner to address the Perez issue

 

 

 

Bottas rules out Mercedes return

However, Bottas reveals he has ruled out a return to the Silver Arrows team at an event for Zero Petroleum. “Filling a place for one year, I don’t think that is what I want or need at the moment,” said the Finn.

“For next year, I want something multi-year with a clear plan for the years ahead and work together for that time. I think that’s what I need, a good challenge and a clear plan. If I just do one year, then you’re back to square one again and looking at what’s next. I’m good friends with Toto so, of course, we’ve talked about everything.”

Bottas was on a permanent rolling one year deal when partnering Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes and a more permanent commitment from Williams for a multi-year contract is his clear preference. “It would be nice to have security,” Valtteri concluded.

“But I always knew when I signed everything that, in three years, it will be the same thing again. It’s kind of exciting as well, in the end, if there is a change. I’m fine with the situation – it’s been interesting – but I want to get it sorted soon. Then I’ll be even happier again.”

Huge admission by Horner over Hamilton

 

 

 

Vowles backs Valtteri

The Williams boss of course worked with Bottas during his time in the leadership at Mercedes. When asked about the Finnish driver’s chances of joining Williams next year, Vowles was unequivocal saying: “Valtteri [Bottas], you don’t outqualify Lewis [Hamilton] unless you are bloody quick in the car, it’s as simple as that.

“He hasn’t dropped off the pace, he’s still the same as before and he’s in a team where they have the slowest car and yet at times they’re putting themselves ahead of two or three other teams, Valtteri certainly is with that car.

“I admire that about him and what I admire about him as well is that there’s no b——-. He just gets on, what he says is what he means as a result of things.”

Sainz to Mercedes ‘back on’

 

 

 

Williams rebuild with experienced drivers

Vowles is rebuilding the iconic British racing marque with investment from the team owners. The ageing infrastructure is being replaced and the team now have sufficient sponsors to spend up to the cost cap limit on designing, building and racing both their cars each season.

“He’s definitely in consideration,” confirmed Vowles. “It’s not something we talk openly about but he’s definitely in consideration for the seat.

“He’s not the only one consideration, but he’s definitely one of the ones that I think still has a place in Formula 1.”

Euro 2024: Verstappen says Oranje doesn’t need tips against England

 

 

 

Toyota in SHOCK F1 return in 2025

Much has been written about the Formula One rejection of the Andretti Racing application to become the 11th team on the grid, but a stealth takeover is underway by Toyota of an existing team. Haas were initially accepted by the FIA to join motorsport’s top table, but the commercial rights holder under pressure from the existing teas rejected the Americans’ application on a number of spurious grounds.

Andretti were in effect told to come back when the planned GM built new F1 powertrain would be ready estimated to be smoothie around 2028. The plan is the Cadillac will represent the GM brand but a proposal for Andretti to run with Renault power units badged as Cadillac in the interim was rejected…. READ MORE