‘Foolish season’ is a standard time period in F1 referring to the time of 12 months through which many groups announce their driver line-up for the next season.
It normally takes place in the course of the summer season as that’s when the market is at its most frantic, with driver modifications inflicting doubt over the futures of others.
However, foolish season began rather a lot earlier this 12 months on account of Lewis Hamilton saying his transfer to Ferrari for 2025 again in February 2024.
So the driving force market is arguably the craziest it has ever been, particularly when many different driver contracts had been due, or are due, to run out on the finish of this season.
With Crimson Bull lastly firming up the line-ups for its two groups in mid-December, this is a take a look at the total 2025 F1 grid:
2025 F1 grid
Pierre Gasly, Alpine F1 Staff
Picture by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Photos
Alpine 2025 F1 Drivers
• Pierre Gasly – multi-year contract• Jack Doohan – contracted till the top of 2025
Alpine endured a troublesome begin to 2024 because it failed to attain any factors within the opening 5 rounds. Though its type then picked up barely – double factors finishes in Canada and Spain for instance – Alpine remains to be presently one of many 4 worst groups on the grid, highlighting regression for the Enstone squad because it has not completed decrease than sixth within the championship since 2016.
Regardless of that, Pierre Gasly was delighted to signal a multi-year contract extension with Alpine, a crew he joined in 2023, as its willingness to supply a long-term deal was understood to be a key issue.
One other issue that’s believed to have influenced his resolution is the upcoming departure of team-mate Esteban Ocon – his childhood rival with whom he shares a fractious relationship. This got here to a head on the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, when Ocon made a dangerous transfer down the within of Portier on the opening lap, which triggered the 2 Frenchmen to collide.
It angered crew administration and simply eight days later, Alpine introduced that Ocon will depart the squad on the finish of 2024. Though it’s understood that the choice was not primarily based fully on the Monaco incident, it did play some half.
So, this left an open spot alongside Gasly, and Motorsport.com solely revealed that Alpine made a bid for Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, however he’ll as an alternative be part of Williams.
Because of this, the French crew elected to advertise teenager Jack Doohan, who has been its reserve driver since 2023. The Australian, who’s the son of five-time 500cc motorcycling world champion Mick Doohan, joined the Alpine set-up for 2022 after simply ending second within the F3 standings whereas final 12 months he got here third in F2.
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR24, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photos
Aston Martin 2025 F1 Drivers
• Fernando Alonso – contracted till the top of 2026• Lance Stroll – contracted till 2025 and past
Aston Martin is only one of three groups up to now to have introduced an unchanged driver line-up for 2025, with that determine anticipated to go no larger than 4 constructors. The Silverstone-based squad first confirmed the way forward for two-time F1 world champion Fernando Alonso, who impressed throughout his debut season on the crew with eight podiums in 2023.
Six of these podiums got here within the opening eight rounds although, and Aston Martin has since failed to copy such type with the fifth-place crew now a reduce adrift from the highest 4. This can be a long-term challenge although, one which Alonso is invested in so the 42-year-old signed a two-year extension in April.
Aston Martin then introduced in June that Lance Stroll will keep on for 2025, although that was anticipated given his father Lawrence owns the crew. It is going to be Stroll’s seventh season racing for the squad and his contract size has by no means been formally disclosed, however that seat is principally his for so long as he and his father wish to proceed their F1 dream.
Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari
Picture by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Photos
Ferrari 2025 F1 Drivers
• Charles Leclerc – multi-year contract• Lewis Hamilton – multi-year contract
Ferrari triggered a stir when it confirmed the shock information that Hamilton will be part of the crew in 2025. The seven-time world champion has an extended historical past of being linked to Ferrari, however it initially appeared like that will solely ever be rumours – particularly when Hamilton signed a two-year extension with Mercedes in the course of the 2023 season.
The second 12 months of that deal although was understood to solely be an choice, which has allowed Hamilton to make the change only one season into his contract. It means his stint at Mercedes will finish after 12 campaigns as Hamilton, whose final championship victory got here in 2020, cited a necessity for a brand new problem.
That can come alongside Charles Leclerc, who signed a multi-year contract extension in January with the crew he joined in 2019. Throughout that point, Leclerc has gained six grands prix and has been Ferrari’s main driver, however it is going to be fascinating to see how the dynamic modifications when Hamilton arrives.
Regardless, the purpose is evident: to finish Crimson Bull’s dominance and ship Ferrari, which completed third within the 2023 constructors’ standings, its first championship-winning season since 2008. With a regulation overhaul coming in 2026, that will current Ferrari its largest alternative to take action.
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Staff, together with his engineers within the storage
Picture by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Photos
Haas 2025 F1 Drivers
• Oliver Bearman – multi-year contract• Esteban Ocon – multi-year contract
Haas, which completed backside of the 2023 standings, turned the ultimate crew to announce at the very least one in every of its drivers for 2025. On Thursday 4 July, Haas confirmed that Oliver Bearman will race for the American outfit subsequent 12 months after impressing in F2 with 4 victories throughout his rookie marketing campaign final season.
Bearman’s promotion was anticipated although, because the Ferrari junior has up to now competed in 4 FP1 classes for Haas, on account of its shut ties with the Scuderia and the crew was left impressed by the 19-year-old. He additionally carried out properly on his grand prix debut, as Bearman competed for Ferrari on the 2024 Saudi Arabian GP on account of Sainz having appendicitis and he completed a stable seventh after thwarting late prices from Hamilton and Lando Norris.
Haas then confirmed, two weeks after Bearman’s announcement, that Kevin Magnussen will depart on the finish of this season after struggling to match the type of Hulkenberg.
Magnussen’s substitute shall be Ocon, who will turn into the primary grand prix winner to ever drive for Haas after signing a multi-year contract with the crew.
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38, within the pit lane
Picture by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Photos
McLaren 2025 F1 Drivers
• Lando Norris – contracted past the top of 2026• Oscar Piastri – contracted till at the very least the top of 2026
McLaren’s degree of enchancment for the reason that starting of final 12 months has been exceptional, because it was sixth after eight rounds in 2023 earlier than mid-season upgrades helped it to complete fourth with 9 podiums and a dash race victory in Qatar.
The British outfit carried that type into 2024, finally profitable its first constructors’ title since 1998. Each drivers contributed to McLaren’s type so will stay as team-mates for a 3rd consecutive season in 2025.
Oscar Piastri was the primary to commit his future to McLaren, because the 23-year-old signed an extension in direction of the top of his spectacular rookie season together with his deal working till at the very least 2026.
There was much more chatter over Norris’ future although, whose earlier contract lasted till the top of 2025. Many questioned if McLaren might truly assist Norris in difficult for the drivers’ championship, however the Briton has full religion as he signed an extension which lasts past 2026.
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Staff, 1st place, on the rostrum together with his trophy and Champagne
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photos
Mercedes 2025 F1 Drivers
• George Russell – contracted till the top of 2025• Andrea Kimi Antonelli – contracted till the top of 2025
August 2023 noticed Mercedes announce that Hamilton and George Russell had each signed contract extensions which run till the top of 2025, though Hamilton later took the choice to go away the crew a 12 months early. Subsequent season shall be Russell’s fourth at Mercedes – the producer he first joined as a junior driver in 2017 and clinched his maiden grand prix victory with.
His team-mate subsequent 12 months shall be rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who had been touted for the seat ever since Hamilton’s transfer was introduced. The 18-year-old turned a Mercedes junior in 2019 and he’s thought to be one of many largest skills in motorsport having already gained 4 single-seater championships.
However, he endured a really up-and-down F2 marketing campaign as a rookie and ended up sixth within the championship regardless of taking victories at Silverstone and the Hungaroring. In Monza, Antonelli additionally drove for Mercedes in FP1 however he had a 45G crash at Parabolica after simply 10 minutes.
So, it triggered questions over the teenager’s readiness to compete for a front-running crew, however Mercedes confirmed Antonelli as its driver for 2025 solely a day after the Italian’s crash.
Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Staff
Picture by: Crimson Bull Content material Pool
• Yuki Tsunoda – contracted till the top of 2025• Isack Hadjar- contracted till the top of 2025
Yuki Tsunoda will stay on the Faenza-based squad for a fifth consecutive season after signing a contract extension into 2025 with RB. This adopted a formidable begin to 2024, because the long-term Crimson Bull and Honda protege constantly beat team-mate Daniel Ricciardo and scored over half of the crew’s factors tally.
That led to hope amongst some that Tsunoda would lastly obtain a promotion to Crimson Bull for subsequent season, however Crimson Bull finally selected Liam Lawson – who joined him at RB from the Austin weekend – when an area turned obtainable at its flagship crew.
Lawson’s transfer created a emptiness on the crew that shall be often called Racing Bulls subsequent season, with the power drinks large selecting handy the seat to F2 runner-up Isack Hadjar. The Frenchman fought for the championship all season with Campos, profitable races at Albert Park, Imola, Silverstone and Spa, however finally misplaced the crown to 2025 Sauber F1 signing Gabriel Bortoleto.
Sergio Perez, Crimson Bull Racing, congratulates pole man Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, in Parc Ferme after Qualifying
Picture by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Photos
Crimson Bull 2025 F1 Drivers
• Max Verstappen – contracted till the top of 2028• Liam Lawson – contracted till the top of 2026
Crimson Bull was set to retain its driver line-up for 2025 with Perez having signed a two-year deal to associate Verstappen. The 2 had loved a really profitable interval collectively, however Perez’s stoop in efficiency this 12 months contributed to Crimson Bull lacking the constructors’ title in 2025. That prompted a gathering between the 2 events after the Abu Dhabi finale, and it was finally introduced that the Mexican won’t be staying on the crew in 2025.
Perez’s place shall be taken over by Liam Lawson, who impressed in his restricted time at RB in direction of the top of the season, however would not fairly have the identical expertise as Yuki Tsunoda.
There was additionally some doubt over Verstappen’s future, regardless of him being contracted till the top of 2028. That doubt emerged throughout Crimson Bull’s early 2024 administration conflict – which adopted an investigation into Horner’s behaviour in direction of a feminine worker – and the way Verstappen strongly backed Marko, whose future on the time was unclear. Nevertheless, Verstappen has since publicly stated he’s dedicated to the crew till the top of his contract.
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Staff
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photos
Sauber 2025 F1 Drivers
• Nico Hulkenberg – multi-year contract• Gabriel Bortoleto – multi-year contract
Sauber is presently working via main modifications, as it’s set to turn into the Audi F1 crew from 2026. One of many first issues it did in preparation was signal Hulkenberg on a multi-year contract after a string of spectacular performances at Haas, through which he has been its main driver. Sauber was eager to associate Hulkenberg with Sainz in 2025, however that’s now not an choice.
So, F2 championship chief Gabriel Bortoleto was signed on a multi-year contract after a stellar rookie marketing campaign for the 20-year-old, who clinched the F3 crown in 2023. This implies Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu are with out a seat for subsequent 12 months having each joined the crew in 2022.
Alex Albon, Williams Racing
Picture by: Williams
Williams 2025 F1 Drivers
• Alex Albon – multi-year contract• Carlos Sainz – multi-year contract
Williams crew boss James Vowles publicly acknowledged in June that Sainz was its primary goal and the squad lastly acquired its man. Early on, the chance of Sainz becoming a member of Williams was sturdy however Alpine’s late bid solid doubt over that.
Alpine’s provide was not sufficient although, and on Monday 29 July Williams introduced that Sainz will be part of for “2025, 2026 and past”.
Sainz will associate fellow Crimson Bull junior graduate Alex Albon, who signed a multi-year extension in Might as his earlier contract was on account of expire on the finish of 2025. That was additionally a significant coup for Williams, as Albon has impressed since becoming a member of in 2022 which made him a left-field participant in subsequent 12 months’s driver market – however the 28-year-old spoke of his religion within the crew’s long-term challenge, so signed the deal.
Sainz was signed as Logan Sargeant’s substitute, as a result of the American constantly struggled since becoming a member of F1 in 2023. He scored only one level in his rookie marketing campaign, whereas zero factors within the opening 15 grands prix of 2024 led to Williams dropping him for Colapinto for the rest of the 12 months.
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