What other drivers are confirmed at F1 teams for 2025?
Beyond that, there are currently only four other drivers that we can truly say we know have seats for 2025. The obvious one is Max Verstappen who is signed to a contract with Red Bull. Unless something major happens, possibly to do with the future of Christian Horner, it would be odd to see the three-time World Champion break that contract.
Lewis Hamilton’s current team-mate George Russell has a contract until at least the end of 2025 and will expect to lead the team once the seven-time champion leaves at the end of 2024. George didn’t find times particularly easy in 2023, but remains the only driver to win for Mercedes under the current rules.
The other driver who was already signed up to his team for 2025 before the start of this year is Alexander Albon. The Williams driver is currently set to remain at the Grove team for 2025 but his excellent performances over the last few years have put the British-born Thai driver back on the radar of some teams higher up the grid, potentially including his former employers at Red Bull Racing.
The additional driver whose future we know was announced in the last few weeks. Speculation had surrounded whether Fernando Alonso was pushing for the empty seat at Mercedes for next season, but the two-time World Champion quashed those rumours by signing his future to Aston Martin through 2025 and 2026.
Just as this article was about to be published, Sauber announced that Nico Hulkenberg would join the team for 2025 on a multi-year deal, making him the first confirmed driver for Audi’s new F1 project.