2025 F1 driver line-ups: latest rumours, confirmed seats & contract news

F1 driver line-ups remain vacant, with several teams thought to be waiting on Carlos Sainz’s signature. What next in the F1 transfer market? Here are the contracts in place, the rumoured deals, and who could end up where

Sergio Perez has signed a new two-year contract with Red Bull, securing his place in the 2025 F1 driver line-up. It’s a remarkable turnaround, given that he looked at risk of being dropped mid-season last year and means that, on the face of it, the reigning champions will maintain the same line-up of Max Verstappen and Perez until at least 2026.

Perez’s deal removes another vacant seat from the 2025 F1 grid. Just under half of current drivers are now out of contract for next season, with much resting on where Carlos Sainz chooses to go. There also remains some uncertainty whether Max Verstappen will remain with Red Bull, despite his long-term contract.

F1’s silly season began early this year, when Lewis Hamilton really got the game of musical chairs started by announcing that he would replace Sainz at Ferrari next year. He’ll drive alongside Charles Leclerc who extended his contract at the beginning of 2024.

Since then, Sainz has been linked with Hamilton’s Mercedes seat, as well as vacancies at Sauber, soon to become Audi, and Williams. But the Australian Grand Prix winner is thought to be delaying his decision to see if there is a vacancy at Red Bull. Verstappen is said to be considering his future there as a result of ongoing disruption behind the scenes.

The fate of other drivers, such as Valtteri Bottas and Logan Sargeant, appears to rest partly on Sainz’s decision, and what of Esteban Ocon? After colliding with team-mate Pierre Gasly at the Monaco Grand Prix, he has said that he will be leaving Alpine at the end of the season; the team has yet to confirm a driver for 2025. Others yet to seal their place on next year’s grid include Kevin Magnussen, as well as RB‘s Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda.

Lando Norris was in the final year of his contract but announced an extension with McLaren in January. Alex Albon and Fernando Alonso have also signed new deals with their existing teams.

Nico Hülkenberg has announced that he’ll be leaving Haas at the end of the season and moving to Sauber, which will be taken over by Audi and rebranded in 2026.

With several options open to drivers with itchy feet, it’s unsurprising that competition is rife. Here’s a glimpse of where we stand in F1’s silly season so far.