Components 1 groups are properly underway making ready for the forthcoming 2025 marketing campaign, which is able to include 24 grands prix starting in Melbourne on the 14-16 March.
The grid is about and all however two groups – McLaren and Aston Martin – have modified their driver line-up, which means this 12 months may have a brand new look.
However it isn’t simply the full-time opponents that play an important position, as a workforce’s back-up driver does as properly.
Reserve drivers act on standby throughout grand prix weekends and will contest one ought to a workforce’s common driver be unable to. This occurred on the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, for instance, as Oliver Bearman changed Carlos Sainz at Ferrari as a result of the Spaniard had appendicitis.
F1 groups additionally make use of simulator drivers, who take a look at adjustments made to the automotive so that everyone can acquire a better understanding of the machine.
So, who’re the drivers supporting their workforce behind the scenes for 2025?
Purple Bull
Reserve driver: TBC
Simulation driver: Rudy van Buren
Liam Lawson served as Purple Bull’s reserve driver at the beginning of the 2024 season, however then he changed Daniel Ricciardo at sister squad RB – now Racing Bulls – for October’s United States Grand Prix onwards.
The New Zealander quickly obtained one other promotion, as he can be Max Verstappen’s team-mate at Purple Bull in 2025 after Sergio Perez was dropped by the Austrian outfit. This implies Purple Bull is at present with out an official reserve driver, although Lawson’s former team-mate Yuki Tsunoda is anticipated to step into the position.
In the meantime, Rudy van Buren will proceed as Purple Bull’s simulator take a look at and improvement driver after becoming a member of in 2023.
Rudy van Buren, Purple Bull F1 Simulator Take a look at and Growth Driver
Photograph: Purple Bull Racing
Valtteri Bottas has returned to Mercedes for the 2025 season, however in a reserve driver capability having been Lewis Hamilton’s team-mate from 2017 to 2021. The ten-time grand prix winner left for Alfa Romeo – now Sauber – having been changed by George Russell, who was beforehand at Williams after graduating to F1 as a Mercedes junior.
However the Swiss outfit opted for an all-new line-up this 12 months forward of its Audi takeover in 2026, leaving Bottas with out a drive. So, in December 2024 Mercedes introduced that the Finn was again with the Silver Arrows changing former reserve Mick Schumacher, who’s a part of Alpine’s Hypercar programme.
Sharing the position with Bottas is the 2023 F2 championship runner-up Frederik Vesti, who began the place final 12 months having turn into a Mercedes junior in 2021.
Zhou Guanyu has joined Ferrari as its reserve driver for 2025, having been a part of its academy between 2015 and 2018. He initially left to turn into Renault’s improvement driver in 2019 earlier than making his F1 debut with Alfa Romeo in 2022 however, like Bottas, he was dropped by the Hinwil-based outfit for this 12 months.
He’ll work alongside Antonio Giovinazzi, who was Zhou’s predecessor at Alfa Romeo. The Italian grew to become Ferrari’s reserve driver in 2022 and Giovinazzi additionally competes for the historic model within the World Endurance Championship, the place he received the 2023 Le Mans 24 Hours.
Relating to Ferrari’s improvement drivers, that features Arthur Leclerc who joined in 2024. He’s the youthful brother of full-time Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc and is joined by Antonio Fuoco and Davide Rigon.
Zhou Guanyu, Ferrari reserve driver
Photograph by: Ferrari
McLaren is but to announce who its reserve drivers for 2025 are, with earlier incumbent Ryo Hirakawa leaving the publish to fulfil the identical responsibility at Alpine. However Arrow McLaren IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward has beforehand contested F1 observe classes for the Woking-based workforce, so it’s possible he’ll proceed his commitments.
McLaren additionally employs Will Stevens, who spends a whole lot of time within the workforce’s simulator the place he works intently with the engineers and common drivers.
Aston Martin
Aston Martin has retained Felipe Drugovich and Stoffel Vandoorne as its reserve drivers for 2025. Beforehand the workforce was capable of name on the reserves of engine companion Mercedes in case of an emergency however in more moderen years, Aston Martin has launched its personal reserve drivers.
Whereas Vandoorne joined from Mercedes in November 2022, Drugovich has graduated from the Aston Martin driver improvement programme and the 2022 F2 champion has labored with the squad since 2023.
Felipe Drugovich, Aston Martin F1 Crew
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photographs
Reserve driver: Paul Aron, Ryo Hirakawa and Franco Colapinto
Jack Doohan will contest his first, full marketing campaign in F1 this 12 months after serving as Alpine’s reserve driver in 2024 earlier than changing Esteban Ocon on the Abu Dhabi season finale.
Consequently, Alpine has introduced Paul Aron, Ryo Hirakawa and Franco Colapinto as its reserve drivers for 2025.
Aron had a stellar F2 marketing campaign final 12 months, ending third to champion Gabriel Bortoleto and Isack Hadjar, whereas Hirakawa has joined from McLaren the place he held an analogous position.
There’s extra hype round Colapinto although, who made his – comparatively surprising – F1 debut in Monza 2024 having changed Logan Sargeant at Williams. He impressed instantly ending twelfth earlier than taking factors at his second grand prix in Azerbaijan with eighth.
However Williams had already introduced Carlos Sainz as Alex Albon’s team-mate for 2025, so there was no full-time seat for Colapinto. Consequently, he was snapped up by Alpine on a multi-year deal, the place a spot could quickly open up for the younger Argentine given Doohan’s unsecure future.
Williams
Reserve driver: TBC
Growth driver: Jamie Chadwick
Williams doesn’t at present make use of its personal reserve driver, as earlier incumbent Colapinto has left for a similar position at Alpine after impressing for the British squad in his nine-round stint final 12 months.
Jamie Chadwick, in the meantime, serves as its improvement driver after becoming a member of Williams in 2019 which is the 12 months she clinched her first of three W Collection titles.
Jamie Chadwick, Williams
Photograph by: Williams
Hadjar served as Racing Bull’s reserve driver final 12 months, when it was often known as RB. However following Lawson’s promotion, Hadjar will companion Tsunoda for his rookie season leaving Racing Bulls at present with out an official reserve driver.
Contemplating its shut ties with Purple Bull although, the Faenza-based squad can name on whomever is within the Purple Bull pool.
Sauber
Zane Maloney and Theo Pourchaire have left the Sauber set-up since performing as reserve drivers final 12 months. The Swiss outfit is but to verify who will help its all-new line-up of Nico Hulkenberg and Bortoleto earlier than the squad morphs into the Audi works workforce in 2026.
Haas
Haas can also be but to announce its reserve driver for 2025 having promoted earlier incumbent Bearman to a full-time seat on the American squad. One possibility might be Pietro Fittipaldi although, because the grandson of double world champion Emerson joined the workforce in 2019 and in that point has began two races resulting from Romain Grosjean’s crash on the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix.
On this article
Casper Bekking
Components 1
Ferrari
Purple Bull Racing
Mercedes
Sauber
McLaren
Racing Bulls
Williams
Aston Martin Racing
Haas F1 Crew
Alpine
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