Last Updated on October 26 2024, 2:46 pm

Formula One is often a sport full of contradictions as evidenced by the heated debate over ‘inconsistent’ stewarding of track limits at the recent USGP. At the start of the 2024 season for the first time in F1 history, each team retained the exact same drivers they fielded at the final race of 2023 in Abu Dhabi.

For years young drivers have found it difficult to break into Formula One where there are just 20 seats available at the start of each campaign. Over the past three seasons just two rookie drivers (Piastri, Zhou, Sargeant) made it from the junior categories to a full time F1 drive.

Meanwhile at the other extreme of the age range F1 has the likes of Fernando Alonso entering his 400th Grand Prix weekend in his 43th year and Lewis Hamilton about is set to join the big four O club at his next birthday in January.

 

 

 

F1 driver clear out

Formula One has in recent years felt as though the majority of the drivers are long standing members of the club, reticent to give way to their young pretenders. Yet all this is set to change come 2025 as a while host of rookies are set for full time drives with the teams.

Oliver Bearman will drive alongside Esteban Ocon for Haas in 2025 following his debut for Maranello as a stand in for Carlos Sainz at the Saudi Arabian GP. The British driver then became the first ever F1 driver to score points for two different teams in his first two races when he filled in for Haas following Kevin Magnussen’s one race ban.

Although yet to be confirmed, Liam Lawson will get his first full time seat next year at one of the Red Bull owned teams and Jack Doohan has been promoted by Alpine to replace the exiting Esteban Ocon.

Mercedes are bringing in their 17 year old protoge Kimi Antonelli to replace the seven times world champion, Lewis Hamilton. Sauber-Audi have yet to fill their final slot and were originally looking at an experienced driver in Carlos Sainz, although CEO Mattia Binotto has admitted he is now also considering a number of young drivers instead. This has elevated Williams rookie Franco Colapinto into the frame following his stunning F1 debut scoring points ion two of his first four weekends.

Sainz warns Ferrari of “Achilles Heel” in Mexico

 

 

 

Williams look to loan Colapinto

Williams of course have no room for their promising young talent having re-signed Alex Albon for two more years alongside Carlos Sainz who has a multi-year deal. Yet Colapinto has put the British born Thai racer under pressure immediately and has raised the question as to whether Albon would have been re-signed had Williams realised the young Argentinian’s potential.

Team boss James Vowles was asked about the big paddock rumour of the weekend which suggests Williams and Red Bull have been having a conversation about Colapinto driving for V-CARB net year. When asked live during FP2, Vowles was coy and reverted to the the lines “confidential negotiations taking place” and “I can’t possibly comment.”

Should Red Bull ditch Sergio Perez, there would be a vacancy in the V-CARB team as either Lawson or Tsunoda is promoted alongside Max Verstappen. Yet given the ruminations of Dr. Marko in recent weeks, it would be either Isack Hadjar currently one of two drivers set to take this years F2 title or Ayumu Iwassa – competing in Japanese Super Formula who would step up in fill the vacant seat at V-CARB.

Vowles has been vocal about loaning out Colapinto in particular to Sauber-Audi, who are yet to decide who will race alongside Nico Hulkenberg net year. Speaking to Martin Brundle on the F1 show, the Argentinian implied he won’t be racing in F1 full time next year because there’s “no space” left on the grid.

Hamilton calls for Verstappen ‘to be stopped’

 

 

 

Colapinto reveals no drive for 2025

That said, Colapinto’s nine race run after replacing the hapless Logan Sargeant will certainly form the foundation for a return in 2026 or even 2027.

“I know that there are no seats left at the moment,” said Colapinto. “There is no space for me to go. I’m trying just to show that I deserve a seat in Formula 1 and that I deserve my place here. I came to stay and not only do a couple of races.

“I hope to make an impression. I’m sure I’m going to be back in the future. 26, 27, I’m sure I’m going to be back.”

Franco heads into his first F1 race in a Latin American country in Mexico, which may next year have no latino drivers on the F1 grid. With Sergio Perez expected to be leaving Red Bull Racing, F1’s commercial rights owners would be keen for Colapinto to represent a continent famous for providing top drawer F1 drivers.

Piastri responds to Red bull move

 

 

 

Marko rings death knell for Checo F1 career

The death knell was sounded for Checo as the Red Bull advisor spoke with F1-Insider this week. “Perez has a contract, but Formula 1 is a meritocracy,” said Dr. Marko. “If the performance is not right, contracts are useless.

“At the end of the season, we will sit down together and then decide who is the best team mate for Verstappen for Red Bull.”

Sergio was handed a shiny new contract back in June but his results have been some of the worst of his career since joining the world champions. His run of fourteen races without a podium has allowed McLaren and Ferrari back into the fight to the team championship.

Red Bull currently trail McLaren by 40 points and have Ferrari breathing down their necks following a huge haul of points in Austin, Texas. The Scuderia racked up 55 points over the Sprint weekend at COTA, while Red Bull and McLaren scored 29 and 28 points respectively.

Horner on signing Alonso: “.. a 2 year deal”

 

 

 

Norris SLAMS FIA officials for “just guessing”

The FIA have once again got themselves in a pickle over their ‘secret’ Formula One driving standards guidelines for the race officials. This unpublished document is issued to the various stewarding panels in an attempt to improve consistency in decision making.

Having seen a copy of the 2024 stewards guidelines, the RACE revealed this week there is one set of protocols for a driver making an overtake and another for one defending such a move.

For example, a driver making an overtake on the inside must remain within the track limits throughout the corner or they may be deemed to have ‘forced another driver off the track.’… READ MORE