The F1 driver showcase bits of gossip we listened from Imola enclosure…
Valtteri Bottas’ future? Who will supplant Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes? Carlos Sainz?
Daniel Ricciardo and Valtteri Bottas
The 2025 F1 driver line-up is taking shape as the pieces of the perplex begin to drop into put. Here is what we know around the most recent developments…
WHO WILL Supplant LEWIS HAMILTON AT MERCEDES?
With Lewis Hamilton moving from Mercedes to Ferrari at the conclusion of the season, Mercedes have been cleared out with a troublesome choice to create over selecting a substitution for the seven-time world winner.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli is understood to be Mercedes’ first-choice to require Hamilton’s seat, but the highly-rated 17-year-old Italian is as it were within the early stages of his to begin with Equation 2 season.
Antonelli, who skipped Equation 3 to go straight to F2 after winning the Equation Territorial European Championship final year, has too experienced an broad private F1 testing program for Mercedes.
He has as of now awed Mercedes, with James Allison portraying Antonelli as “very promising” and having “metronomic” pace.
Antonelli has moreover been supported by Hamilton. When the Briton was inquired whether Carlos Sainz would be the culminate candidate to supplant him, he reacted:
“Truly, I have no thought what Toto’s plans are, but for me, taking on a youth. In the event that it was my work, in the event that it was my part, I would likely take on Kimi.”
WHAT WILL CARLOS SAINZ DO?
Sainz shows up to be the key to the rest of the driver advertise at the minute.
The Spaniard has gone to Ruddy Bull and Snow capped as he weighs up his alternatives, whereas he has too been intensely connected to Sauber/Audi.
Sainz is caught on to have been offered a profitable contract to connect Nico Hulkenberg at Sauber another year ahead of the team’s change to Audi in 2026. It has been detailed that this choice is as it were on the table until the conclusion of the month.
It is accepted that Sainz is holding off making a choice whereas he assesses his chances of landing a situate at either Ruddy Bull or Mercedes, some time recently committing to Sauber.
With Perez showing up to be in a solid position to hold his situate, and Mercedes apparently favoring Antonelli, there’s a chance Sainz seem miss out on all three opening.
In the event that so, Williams or Alpine may well be options for the three-time terrific prix victor.
WHAT Approximately WILLIAMS?
With Alex Albon committing his future to Williams, consideration has turned to the personality of his partner for 2025.
Williams group vital James Vowles has as of now conceded Logan Sargeant is “at risk” of losing his drive, with the American beneath gigantic examination after a troublesome begin to his sophomore campaign.
Antonelli may be an option to supplant him but as it were in case Mercedes choose against an early advancement to the works group. On the off chance that Williams were to take Antonelli on an successful credit bargain from Mercedes, it is accepted they would need him for more than one season.
On the other hand, Sainz and the Elevated combine of Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, all of whom are out of contract, seem ended up alternatives for Williams.
So as well may Valtteri Bottas, who was tight-lipped almost his visit to the Williams motorhome for a 15-minute assembly with Vowles on Saturday within the Imola paddock.
In the interim at Haas, Oliver Bearman is looking progressively likely to win a full-time situate with Haas, potentially leaving Kevin Magnussen without a drive.