F1 driver market goes wild: Colapinto to Red Bull and Bortoleto to Audi?
F1 News
With only two seats left to be allocated, you would argue that predicting the grid for the 2025 Formula 1 season would be easy. Nothing could be further from the truth, as the rumour mill has been running over time recently. This is an overview of the situations at the various teams.
Two teams have one seat left for 2025: Sauber and Visa Cash App RB. Sauber, with new management, has already announced the arrival of Nico Hulkenberg, but the driver for the second seat is still unknown. At Red Bull, Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda are fixed for 2025, and Liam Lawson also seems to be able to count on a seat for 2025. However, Sergio Perez's contract for 2025 does not seem to be watertight.
Audi's dilemma
Audi began searching for new drivers for its F1 project. With Nico Hulkenberg, the team immediately brought in an experienced man and a driver of German nationality. Audi also had a proven F1 driver in mind for the second driver, but other teams closed that option off.
Carlos Sainz and Esteban Ocon both opted for other teams. Yuki Tsunoda was also in the picture until Red Bull took up the option for an extra year in his contract. With Sauber firmly at the back of the grid and the change of management, the picture for drivers became less and less attractive.
Audi now seems to have two options left: Valtteri Bottas and Gabriel Bortoleto. Bottas has already agreed with Audi on the terms of the contract, but Audi is hesitating, which is not surprising. Bottas is the fourth choice as an experienced driver. With Sauber as a team currently at the back of the grid, looking at young talents might be more intriguing.
In doing so, Audi has its sights set on Bortoleto, and, according to Brazilian media, the McLaren junior is even said to be with the team already. Audi has not yet confirmed this news. McLaren is open to lending their junior, who is currently in his first year in the Formula 2 championship.
Will Perez leave Red Bull?
With Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez, and Yuki Tsunoda, three drivers have 2025 contracts at Red Bull. Liam Lawson also seems certain of a seat for 2025, which might make you think the line-up is complete. However, there are major doubts about Perez's future, and it looks increasingly likely that Perez will have to walk through the exit door at the end of 2024, if not before.
In that case, a spot will become available at Red Bull. In the first instance, you would then look to the Red Bull Junior Team, where, with Isack Hadjar, a young talent is ready. In his second season in F2, Hadjar is second in the championship and still has a chance of winning the title. Yet the Frenchman does not appear to be a top favourite for the seat.
In fact, Red Bull is also in talks with Franco Colapinto and for good reason. Some even claim that the Argentine driver is in the picture for Perez's seat, and Red Bull would thus pass Tsunoda and Lawson. The Argentine has impressed at Williams in recent weeks, but is he ready to step up to a top team?
With Colapinto brought in, Red Bull would have to put their own talent, Hadjar, on hold for a while longer—possibly with a year in Super Formula, as other Red Bull juniors have done. However, with Arvid Lindblad, Red Bull has another talent waiting in the wings, who will drive in F2 in 2025. There is plenty of choice for Red Bull in 2026.
This article has been created in collaboration with Matt Gretton