F1 2025 grid: Uncertainty about Sergio Perez, Liam Lawson, Yuki Tsunoda futures with second Sauber seat out there

Simply two seats are formally up for grabs on the 2025 F1 grid after a chaotic driver market was turned on its head when Lewis Hamilton introduced he would be a part of Ferrari.

Seven driver adjustments have already been confirmed for subsequent yr however there may be nonetheless uncertainty at Purple Bull and RB, plus the second Sauber seat for 2025.

The most important curiosity is what Purple Bull do with Liam Lawson, who has changed Daniel Ricciardo for the ultimate six rounds of this season at RB, starting with the US Grand Prix on October 18-20 when the F1 season resumes.

Lawson now has the chance to impress Purple Bull and make a declare to take over from Sergio Perez as Max Verstappen’s team-mate subsequent season.

Perez, whose Purple Bull contract expires on the finish of 2025, had a dismal weekend final outing in Singapore, the place he was knocked out in Q2 and completed in tenth, as he did not kick on from his robust efficiency in Baku.

The Mexican got here beneath huge stress previous to the summer time break concerning his future at Purple Bull after a poor run of kind, however acquired the backing of crew principal Christian Horner to maintain his seat for the remainder of 2024.

After the Singapore Grand Prix, Horner mentioned: “We have to have two drivers firing on all cylinders. Checo had a superb weekend in Baku. He had a troublesome weekend.

“We need to put some weekends together where you can see… McLaren are putting two drivers on the podium. It’s those big points that really make a difference. We need to make sure Checo is as high up the field as we can get him.”

Might Lawson exchange Perez in 2025?

Lawson doesn’t have a contract for 2025, so has six races to show he deserves the RB seat on a everlasting foundation in 2025, and even earn a promotion to drive alongside Verstappen at Purple Bull.

He substituted for Ricciardo at 5 race weekends final yr when the Australian broke a metacarpal bone in his hand at Zandvoort.

Lawson was largely spectacular throughout his 2023 cameo, scoring factors in Singapore and likewise twice ending only one place exterior the factors in eleventh.

The 22-year-old has the problem of a Dash weekend in his first occasion again at RB and can also be set to be given a 10-grid place penalty for exceeding the engine restrict, so will begin in direction of the rear of the sector within the Dash on the Saturday of the US Grand Prix.

“Red Bull have said openly that there are still question marks over Checo and he needs to find his form,” mentioned Rachel Brookes on the Sky Sports activities F1 Podcast.

“They have said he’s got another year on his contract, so he’s there until the end of 2025, but they are looking at that seat.

“Liam is aware of this is not only a seat in System 1 proper now, that is doubtlessly a Purple Bull seat, so for him the stress should be large.

“We all lauded him when he came in last year and did what he did but now he’s got to live up to that again with the possibility of a Red Bull seat hanging over his head, that’s massive pressure.

“It should be actually attention-grabbing to see how he offers with it as a result of we have been actually impressed with how he handled every little thing earlier than, significantly impressed whenever you hear that he knew he did not have the 2024 seat, however he nonetheless went out and carried out. He by no means spoke badly about anybody within the crew or how he’d been handled.

“We know that he’s got a fantastic head on his shoulders and we know he’s a good driver. If he can put all of that together, potentially he could be in the Red Bull next year. So, for him, it’s a huge opportunity.”

Is Tsunoda being missed?

The 5 occasions Lawson and Tsunoda spent as team-mates collectively final yr have been shut, however the New Zealander’s capability to leap within the automotive and be fast caught loads of consideration.

Tsunoda made his F1 debut in 2021 however has by no means been seen as a severe contender to turn into Verstappen’s team-mate.

RB introduced in June that he would stick with the crew for 2025, underlining Purple Bull’s lack of perception to advertise the Japanese driver.

Nonetheless, if he beats Lawson within the final six races this yr and Perez struggles, Tsunoda might have his greatest probability but to step as much as Purple Bull.

“Yuki has upped his game since he first drove in F1. He’s the finished article now I think,” mentioned Sky Sports activities’ Anthony Davidson.

“I’m not sure it’s that easy for anyone to come in and beat Tsunoda. How does he feel about all of this? He’s been overlooked every single time.

“These younger drivers are available, whether or not it is Lawson, or Ricciardo comes again as an older skilled driver, Nyck de Vries has a go up in opposition to him as properly, and Yuki retains beating them each single time. It might’t simply be a coincidence.

“Poor old Yuki is being overlooked here. Why isn’t he given the chance? Why aren’t we hearing about Yuki’s chance to replace Sergio Perez? Would he do a better job if he was put into the Red Bull?

“He is a feisty driver. I am unable to think about he could be mentally destroyed by Max Verstappen if he completed second to him each single time, or, 10 or 15 seconds down the street. He is a resilient character.”

Who will get the ultimate Sauber seat?

Nico Hulkenberg has already been introduced as a Sauber driver for subsequent yr, so no less than certainly one of Valtteri Bottas or Zhou Guanyu will lose their seat.

Hulkenberg will depart Haas after this season, with the American outfit altering their driver pairing utterly as Esteban Ocon joins from Alpine and British teenager Oliver Bearman makes his full-time F1 debut, so Kevin Magnussen is about to depart the game.

Magnussen is just not a contender for the Sauber seat as Bottas, Zhou, Williams driver Franco Colapinto and F2 star Gabriel Bortoleto are the candidates.

Bottas feels he’s driving higher than he did at Mercedes, the place he was Hamilton’s team-mate for 5 seasons, however has not had the automotive to showcase his performances.

The Finn has said he desires a multi-year deal as Sauber shall be taken over by Audi from 2026, when the brand new F1 rules are launched.

Zhou is forward of Bottas within the Drivers’ Championship attributable to a greater highest ending place, with each drivers but to attain factors this yr.

The Chinese language driver brings the advertising issue of being the primary F1 driver from China, which is a giant market within the automotive and motorsport trade.

As for Colapinto, he has shocked many together with his spectacular performances after changing Logan Sargeant final month as he completed eighth in Baku and pushed team-mate Alex Albon shut on pure tempo.

Carlos Sainz will be a part of Williams from Ferrari on the finish of this yr, however Argentine driver Colapinto has definitely raised some eyebrows at Sauber.

Reigning F3 champion Bortoleto is main the F2 championship in his rookie season and is without doubt one of the most fun younger abilities coming by means of the junior ranks.

Bortoleto, 19 from Brazil, has been a part of the McLaren Driver Improvement Programme since 2023 and is a part of Fernando Alonso’s driver administration firm.

“He’s an incredible talent and a very humble person as well, which I think that’s the biggest thing that we need to work on,” mentioned Alonso.

“He’s a hard worker, apart from his talent, and I think that’s why in Formula 3 and Formula 2 he had this much progress. I think also he’s someone that is taking things very seriously as well, which at that age is never a guarantee.

“He gained the championship as a rookie in System 3, and he is preventing for the championship as a rookie in System 2, however with out the take a look at of many different rookies. So he is in all probability the one rookie on the championship.

“So this was an amazing achievement so far. And let’s see what the future brings. But, you know, it’s a matter of time that he gets to F1.”

Simply six races stay in System 1 2024 and the season resumes with the US Grand Prix in Austin from October 18-20, reside on Sky Sports activities F1. Stream each F1 race and extra with a NOW Sports activities Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime