With Nico Hülkenberg getting another shot at an F1 works team just two years after he was sat on the sidelines, it leaves plenty of questions still to be answered about who goes where in 2025 – in this surprisingly early F1 ‘silly season.’
At the age of 36, Hülkenberg has signed a ‘multiyear deal’ with the German manufacturer beginning next season when they fully take control of the Sauber team ahead of the new regulations in 2026.
And while some may see the move as boring or unimaginative, given Hülkenberg’s ultimate lack of success – with over 200 Grand Prix and not a single podium to his name – he is one of the sport’s most dependable and experienced operators in what is a tightly packed midfield behind the ‘big five’ teams.
But the question of who will partner him into the new Audi era will depend on decisions made further up the pecking order.
Where will Sainz go?
It seems unthinkable that the only man to win a Grand Prix not driving a Red Bull in the past 18 months and in the form of his life does not have a contract so far signed for next season.
But, after Lewis Hamilton blew the lid off the driver market announcing he would partner Charles Leclerc for 2025 and beyond, the Spaniard has been left to survey his competitive options moving forward.
Sainz would prefer to stay in a front-running car as he enters the pivotal years in his career. But, with Sergio Perez’ strong start to 2024 making a contract renewal at Red Bull more likely and Mercedes holding out till at least summer to see how viable it would be to put its highly touted junior Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the seat, the chances of Sainz staying among the leading outfits are becoming less and less.
And, even if a contract renewal wasn’t on the cards for Perez, it’s widely known that the Verstappens may not want Sainz coming into the fold given the previous history of tension that arose when he and Verstappen were teammates at Toro Rosso back in 2015.
What’s more, if Mercedes offered Sainz a deal, would the 3-time GP winner want to be a seat warmer for the squad’s ‘new generational talent’ if he wasn’t ready to step up in 2025? I doubt it unless Sainz believes could stamp his authority and beat Russell before Antonelli’s arrival.
So, if those two options are proven non-viable, then Audi, who is known to be keen on Sainz’s services and would offer the 29-year-old stability with a long-term contract, may be the only logical choice.
But given F1’s long lead times to achieve success, would he be there long enough to reap the rewards? Or will the board lose patience after seeing millions spent to not win given it’s so used to achieving success in other categories?
Time will tell if the sports current ‘Red Bull beater’ commits.
Audi should have plenty of options besides Hülkenberg
If Sainz were to turn down an Audi move, there’s a chance that either Bottas or Zhou will retain a seat with the team.
Bottas has proved the stronger of the pair in their time as teammates and in terms of performance Is arguably on a similar level to Hülkenberg – among the drivers who are considered good, but ultimately fall short of the elite.
Zhou, although less convincing as a driving prospect, holds some of the keys to the massive Chinese market that so many manufacturers are looking to make further advancements.
But Audi, with the acquisition of Hülkenberg, have afforded themselves some breathing room within the market to assess their options moving forward, with fallbacks if necessary.
There’s the potential of snapping up one of the Alpine drivers who are both out of contract at the end of the year and given the state of team Enstone’s competitiveness right now, it may not take much persuasion. Even buying out Alex Albon’s contract with Williams may be on the cards.
If not, either Zhou or Bottas can be re-signed short term, and given its focus will be turning Sauber around into one day becoming a competitive team, it shouldn’t matter too much either way if a Sainz deal doesn’t happen.
Seat wide open for Ferrari’s next star
After Ollie Bearman’s fantastic F1 debut with Ferrari replacing Carlos Sainz in Saudi Arabia, it’s no doubt Haas will want to get him onto the grid next year.
The 18-year-old completed two FP1 runs towards the end of last season and will get further running at six more events in 2024 alongside his Formula 2 duties.
And with team principal Ayao Komatsu full of praise for the British teenager after what he’s seen so far from him in F1 machinery, it’s likely that if Bearman continues with his strong performances in F2 and shows maturity beyond his years he will be on the grid in 2025.
If not, it would be a missed opportunity for a team that has the chance to get its hands on a potential future megastar.
Drivers who do not have a contract for 2025
Sergio Perez – Red Bull
Carlos Sainz – Ferrari
Esteban Ocon – Alpine
Pierre Gasly – Alpine
Daniel Ricciardo – RB
Yuki Tsunoda – RB
Valterri Bottas – Sauber
Zhou Guanyu – Sauber
Logan Sargeant – Williams