Formula 1: Preview of next season’s grid and which driver is representing which franchise | Motor-sport News

With the final race of the season just around the corner, most of the teams in Formula 1 have announced their drivers with a lot of unconventional choices. Here is a preview of the next season’s grid.
The world champion Max Verstappen has a long-term contract with Red Bull that expires at the conclusion of 2028. Mercedes has reportedly expressed interest, which hasn’t stopped talk about a potential move elsewhere. However, Verstappen has declared that he has no intention of switching teams.
In contrast, Sergio Perez recently agreed to a contract deal that will keep him with the team until 2026. According to the Mexican, he intends to finish his Formula One career with Red Bull. However, Red Bull disclosed that all team stakeholders will meet to decide his future with the company following the season.
MercedesGeorge RussellAndrea Kimi Antonelli TBC
In 2025, George Russell will continue to race for Mercedes for the fourth consecutive season. The Briton’s new two-year contract, which would keep him at the Silver Arrows until the end of the next season, was confirmed in August 2023.
Hamilton eventually exercised a release option to enable his transfer to Ferrari, even though the same contract was announced for him. Given the young Italian’s impressive junior category resume, Team Principal Toto Wolff hopes to have found the next Max Verstappen. He will be replaced 2024 F2 racer and longtime Mercedes protégé Kimi Antonelli.
FerrariLewis HamiltonCharles LeclercBefore the 2024 season had even begun, it was announced that Lewis Hamilton would abruptly leave Mercedes in 2025 to join Ferrari, ending one of the most significant driver market shifts in recent memory. The Spaniard claimed he has “no hard feelings” over the seven-time world champion taking Carlos Sainz’s place on the squad.
Charles Leclerc will continue to hold the other position at Ferrari. The Monegasque, who has been a member of the Scuderia since 2019, has committed to the team’s future signing a contract extension that will keep him there for a number of more years.
McLarenLando NorrisOscar Piastri
McLaren has decided on their driver lineup for the long run as they move forward after a sharp improvement in performance in 2023. Before the start of 2024, Lando Norris, who has been a member of the team since his F1 debut in 2019, reached an agreement to sign a new “extended multi-year” contract.Oscar Piastri, an Australian who signed a multi-year agreement with the squad until the end of 2026, will join him.
Aston MartinFernando AlonsoLance Stroll
Fernando Alonso signed a contract with Aston Martin that will keep him with the team until at least the end of 2026, reaffirming his commitment in the project despite the team’s struggles to sustain a good start to his tenure in 2023.
Alongside Alonso, Lance Stroll, who has been a mainstay in the lineup since arriving under their Racing Point incarnation back in 2019, has also been confirmed for 2025, providing the team with much-needed continuity.
WilliamsAlex AlbonCarlos Sainz
In 2025, Alex Albon will start his fourth season as a Williams driver after agreeing to a multi-year contract deal that will keep him with the team until 2026.
The announcement of Carlos Sainz as Albon’s teammate for the upcoming season puts an end to months of conjecture regarding his future. The team now has continuity into the new era of engine rules thanks to his multi-year contract.
Despite having many suitors, Sainz chose the Williams project because James Vowles’ forward-thinking ideas impressed the Spaniard.
AlpinePierre Gasly –Jack Doohan – TBC
In five years with the team, Esteban Ocon is expected to go, therefore Alpine, like Haas, is already aware that they will be losing one of their current drivers in 2024.Pierre Gasly, one of the team’s teammates, has signed a multi-year contract extension. Reserve driver Jack Doohan, who defeated other applicants to join Formula One full-time in 2025, will join him. Oliver Oakes, the new Team Principal, will supervise Doohan’s progress.
HaasOliver Bearman – TBCEsteban Ocon –
Nico Hulkenberg, who rejoined the Formula One grid with Haas in 2023, will leave the team at the end of the 2023 season to join Kick Sauber in 2025, just before the latter moves into Audi’s works team. Additionally, it was reported in July that Kevin Magnussen would be leaving at the end of the current campaign because his contract expires at the end of 2024.
In the lead-up to the Belgian Grand Prix, it was revealed that Esteban Ocon would be joining the team from Alpine to take the second seat. Oliver Bearman, who made an impression for Ferrari during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, has secured one of the Haas spots for 2025.
RBYuki Tsunoda –Liam Lawson: TBC
Before the Canadian Grand Prix, it was revealed that Yuki Tsunoda, who is in his sixth season at the Red Bull ser company, will continue to race for RB in 2025 after the team exercised an option on his contract with the Japanese driver.
After a patchy season, Daniel Ricciardo was replaced at the United States Grand Prix Liam Lawson. However, it’s unclear if the New Zealand player will remain with the squad in 2025
Kick SauberNico Hulkenberg –Gabriel Bortoleto – TBCNico Hulkenberg will join Kick Sauber in 2025, as was previously announced. The German driver stated that Andreas Seidl, who is now Mattia Binotto’s replacement, was instrumental in his decision to join the future Audi F1 factory team.

Following the 20-year-old Brazilian signing a multi-year contract, the team announced following the Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend that rookie Gabriel Bortoleto would be joining the German.
Since Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas will be leaving at the end of 2024, the team will also have a completely new lineup.