Who will fill the last F1 seats before 2025? The denouement of Silly Season!

Mercedes

Mercedes still has the most coveted seat in Formula 1 available. A seat that Carlos Sainz seemed to be hoping for for a long time, but simply will not be released for him. Mercedes still has hopes of taking Max Verstappen. An important reason for the team not to make a decision too soon. After all, Verstappen is tied up with Red Bull Racing.

Should Verstappen prove unattainable, Mercedes could switch to Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Antonelli himself doubted whether he is ready for Formula 1 yet. At 17, the Italian is also still very young. Especially with Mercedes starting to win races and thus potentially competing for the title in 2025, one has to wonder if a team like Mercedes would be wise to throw Antonelli in at the deep end.

Red Bull Racing/VisaCash App RB

Three of the four drivers at Red Bull Racing are fixed, but the situation there is anything but certain. Sergio Perez's position is under considerable pressure. Sainz is no longer a candidate to fill that seat; Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson are.

At VCARB, Yuki Tsunoda is fixed, but the Japanese driver is not in the picture for a seat at Red Bull Racing. The Japanese driver was in the picture at Audi, but the option in his contract that has been lifted means that other teams now have to pay a buyout fee to Red Bull to bring him in. Tsunoda thus seems to be stuck with VCARB in '25, with a possible new teammate.

Anything could still happen there. Ricciardo and Lawson are fighting for a seat at Red Bull Racing, while Isack Hadjar appears to be on his way to the title in F2. So in 2025 he might no longer be in action in F2. Will there be a place for him in F1, or should he have a year of Super Formula like Pierre Gasly once did?

Stake F1

Valtteri Bottas was pretty sure he would keep his seat in Formula 1. Bottas knew he was not the number one of many teams, that was Sainz. Bottas did know, however, that he was the number two everywhere and was, therefore, pretty confident of staying in F1 for longer.

Looking at the type of driver Sauber/Audi has sought so far, a new contract for Bottas seems the most obvious one. The Finn is still fast, faster than teammate Guanyu Zhou and a proven winner. He, along with Nico Hulkenberg, can ensure a good transition from Stake to Audi.

The arrival of Mattia Binotto did change things. Andreas Seidl appointed Hulkenberg to Audi, and under Seidl, drivers like Sainz, Esteban Ocon, and Yuki Tsunoda were also approached. Audi got a 'no' from all drivers.

Sergio Perez could still be a surprise. If Red Bull Racing pushes the Mexican aside, he is, of course, another driver who fits into Audi's picture and also brings a bag of money from Carlos Slim with him.

Alpine

The biggest uncertain factor at the moment is Alpine. The French racing team has committed Pierre Gasly for longer and had their hopes pinned on Carlos Sainz. That it had hoped for Sainz under Flavio Briatore's leadership says the team is aiming for the strongest possible line-up. A choice of Guanyu Zhou aimed mainly at the Chinese car sales market, therefore, seems less realistic.

However, Alpine has plenty of options. It has a capable junior in its ranks, Jack Doohan, whom it can promote to the F1 team. Mick Schumacher is involved at the Alpine team. Alpine hopes to buy engines and gearboxes from Mercedes in 2026. Perhaps it could speed up the deal with Mercedes by employing that team's reserve driver?

If Alpine prefers a driver with more experience in F1, Valtteri Bottas is another option. However, it seems more plausible that Bottas extends his contract at Sauber. Sergio Perez is then another outsider, but he would have to be shown the door at Red Bull Racing first. Like Sauber, Alpine would also welcome Carlos Slim's bag of money.