Testing free company as a Formulation 1 driver is usually a dangerous enterprise. With so few seats out there and even fewer able to difficult for wins, selecting between seats typically seems to be a stab at midnight based mostly on religion in these main the cost and a workforce’s inherent potential, main quite a few championship-worthy drivers to waste valuable years behind the wheel of an uncompetitive automotive.
With the conclusion of the 2024 season finished and dusted, and the free company market all however performed out forward of 2025, there isn’t any higher time to make a journey down reminiscence lane and mirror on among the largest errors in latest reminiscence.
5. Valtteri Bottas – Mercedes to Sauber
Having began his profession with a four-year stint at Williams, Valtteri Bottas was introduced in by Mercedes to switch retiring reigning World Champion Nico Rosberg for 2017. Teamed with Lewis Hamilton for the following 5 years, the duo shaped a considerably extra harmonious partnership than the Briton had skilled with Rosberg.
Race winner Second place Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1, have fun
Picture by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Photographs
Mercedes’ Constructors’ Championship dominance continued all through Bottas’ time with the workforce, reclaiming the title throughout every of his 5 seasons, whereas Hamilton clinched the World Drivers’ Championship 4 instances.
Bottas pushed Hamilton all through, profitable three races in the course of the 2017 season on his approach to a third-place end within the championship. Whereas he did not win a race the next 12 months, Bottas nonetheless made his approach to the rostrum on a constant foundation. And the hits continued to return, ending second within the championship in each 2019 and 2020, and third in 2021, profitable one other seven races within the course of.
However with British teenager George Russell ready within the wings for a chance, Mercedes opted to drop Bottas for the 2022 season. The free agent Fin finally landed with the then Alfa Romeo workforce, led by Fred Vasseur. Bottas’ first season with the workforce was respectable, if unremarkable, reaching the highest 10 on 9 events and failing to succeed in the rostrum. Vasseur’s subsequent departure despatched the workforce right into a spiral, with Bottas solely capable of attain the highest 10 3 times the next season earlier than failing to attain a single level in his last 12 months with the renamed Kick-Sauber workforce.
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Staff KICK Sauber
Picture by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Photographs
The workforce’s acquisition by Audi, set to be accomplished by 2026, was the ultimate nail within the coffin for Bottas’ time there, with the German producer opting to go together with a brand new lineup. Reflecting on his time with the workforce following the season finale in Abu Dhabi, Bottas referred to as his transfer to Sauber “a mistake.”
4. Daniel Ricciardo – Renault to McLaren
Following two largely disappointing seasons with Renault, Daniel Ricciardo hit free company as soon as once more in 2021, signing a blockbuster three-year take care of the Woking-based workforce the place he’d associate rising star Lando Norris.
The Honey Badger had large footwear to fill, following Carlos Sainz’s departure to Ferrari. Sainz had performed a key position in McLaren’s resurgence as a reputable top-10 workforce, following their dire three-year Honda partnership.
Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren, 1st place, Lando Norris, McLaren, 2nd place, and Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, have fun on the rostrum with shoeys
Picture by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Photographs
The Aussie’s first 12 months with McLaren proved a combined bag. Largely outperformed by Norris, who reached the rostrum on 4 events, Ricciardo secured the workforce’s first win since 2012 throughout a race to recollect in Monza. Issues actually fell aside for Ricciardo in 2022, when he was comprehensively outraced by Norris all through, solely reaching the highest 10 on seven events, whereas his teammate totaled seven podium finishes.
Ricciardo’s downfall was a tricky watch, because the charismatic and much-loved driver of outdated appeared to fade away, his confidence seemingly vanishing by the day. In the long run, he was dumped by McLaren a 12 months early, with the workforce paying him $18 million to depart in favor of rookie Oscar Piastri.
3. Fernando Alonso – Ferrari to McLaren
Having simply left Ferrari in 2015, with 13 seasons and two world titles underneath his belt, Alonso was looking out for a brand new workforce to name house. In the meantime, McLaren entered the season seeking to rekindle some previous romances with the hopes of returning to battle with the highest groups. The papaya outfit signed an engine partnership with Honda, with whom that they had loved a lot success within the Nineteen Eighties and Nineteen Nineties, and introduced again a really acquainted face in Alonso — regardless of the Spaniard having left underneath a cloud of smoke in 2008.
Alonso signed a three-year take care of McLaren, partnering with one other world championship winner, Jenson Button. The transfer, although, instantly backfired, with the Honda energy unit proving each miles off the tempo and unreliable.
Fernando Alonso, McLaren MP4-31, crash
Picture by: Daniel Kalisz / Motorsport Photographs
Over the following three years, Alonso accomplished simply 39 races, reaching the highest 10 simply 16 instances, and failing to ever end above fifth. In 2018, McLaren switched to a Renault energy unit, which kick-started the workforce’s gradual rise again to the highest. Alonso completed within the prime half of the grid 9 instances, comprehensively outperforming then-teammate Stoffel Vandoorne within the course of.
The next 12 months, Alonso stepped away from racing, serving as an envoy for McLaren earlier than returning to the grid the next season when he joined Alpine.
2. Daniel Ricciardo – Pink Bull to Renault
Sadly for Ricciardo, his transfer to McLaren wasn’t his solely questionable profession transfer.
A graduate of the Pink Bull junior program, he made his title with the senior workforce from 2014 till 2018. Initially teammates with then reigning four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel, Ricciardo changed fellow countryman Mark Webber within the position and proved equally as much as the duty of difficult the German for wins.
Seven wins, 29 podiums, and two third-place drivers’ championship standings finishes adopted for Ricciardo, who spent a lot of his time with the workforce partnering now four-time World Champion Max Verstappen. A greater than succesful match for Verstappen and Vettel on day, Pink Bull had been intent on holding Ricciardo because the 2019 season loomed. Nonetheless, the Aussie determined to take his skills elsewhere, dropping the bridesmaid position and turning into the bride for Renault alongside Nico Hulkenberg.
Daniel Ricciardo, Renault F1 Staff
Picture by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Photographs
However whereas Pink Bull went from energy to energy, Ricciardo was compelled to look at from afar. In his first season with Renault, he completed within the prime 5 solely as soon as, with the French workforce ending fifth within the Constructors’ Championship. Issues improved barely in 2020, with Ricciardo ending within the prime 5 seven instances together with two third locations. Renault once more completed fifth general.
With the ability of hindsight, Ricciardo’s resolution to half with Pink Bull for Renault finally marked the start of his sluggish decline as he slipped additional and additional away from what may have been for the undoubtedly proficient driver.
1. Fernando Alonso – Renault to McLaren
One other acquainted title, in 2007 Alonso joined McLaren because the reigning back-to-back World Champion. He was partnered with a powerful rookie by the title of Lewis Hamilton. Hardly a match made in heaven, this workforce dynamic lasted only one season earlier than the plug was pulled.
Alonso and Hamilton had been introduced in to take over from Kimi Raikkonen and Pedro de la Rosa. Nonetheless, any perceived pecking order shortly vanished as Alonso and Hamilton fiercely battled it out week in and week out for wins.
Third place Lewis Hamilton, McLaren and second place Fernando Alonso, McLaren celebrates on the rostrum
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photographs
Issues took a flip for the more severe for workforce boss Ron Dennis and McLaren in Hungary when Alonso allegedly “threatened handy over e-mails incriminating his personal workforce” relating to the then ongoing “Spygate” saga, as per the BBC.
Alonso subsequently returned to Renault for 2 seasons earlier than heading for Ferrari. In the meantime, Hamilton went on to win the 2008 title with McLaren.
Learn Additionally:
On this article
Anthony Wooden
Formulation 1
Fernando Alonso
Daniel Ricciardo
Valtteri Bottas
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