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

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’s nonetheless uncertainty at Purple Bull and RB, plus the second Sauber seat for 2025.

The largest 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 america 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 day trip in Singapore, the place he was knocked out in Q2 and completed in tenth, as he didn’t kick on from his robust efficiency in Baku.

The Mexican got here below massive strain previous to the summer time break relating to his future at Purple Bull after a poor run of type, however acquired the backing of staff principal Christian Horner to maintain his seat for the remainder of 2024.

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

“We have to put some weekends collectively the place you’ll be able to see… McLaren are placing two drivers on the rostrum. It is these massive factors that actually make a distinction. We want to ensure Checo is as excessive up the sector as we will get him.”

May 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 outdoors the factors in eleventh.

The 22-year-old has the problem of a Dash weekend in his first occasion again at RB and can 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 america Grand Prix.

“Purple Bull have stated overtly that there are nonetheless query marks over Checo and he wants to seek out his type,” stated Rachel Brookes on the Sky Sports activities F1 Podcast.

“They’ve stated he is received one other yr on his contract, so he is there till the tip of 2025, however they’re that seat.

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

“All of us lauded him when he got here in final yr and did what he did however now he is received to reside as much as that once more with the opportunity of a Purple Bull seat hanging over his head, that is huge strain.

“It will be actually attention-grabbing to see how he offers with it as a result of we had been actually impressed with how he handled the whole lot earlier than, notably impressed once 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 staff or how he’d been handled.

“We all know that he is received a improbable head on his shoulders and we all know he is driver. If he can put all of that collectively, doubtlessly he could possibly be within the Purple Bull subsequent yr. So, for him, it is an enormous alternative.”

Is Tsunoda being missed?

The 5 occasions Lawson and Tsunoda spent as team-mates collectively final yr had been shut, however the New Zealander’s capacity to leap within the automobile 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 out to be Verstappen’s team-mate.

RB introduced in June that he would stick with the staff 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 could have his finest probability but to step as much as Purple Bull.

“Yuki has upped his recreation since he first drove in F1. He is the completed article now I believe,” stated Sky Sports activities’ Anthony Davidson.

“I am unsure it is that straightforward for anybody to return in and beat Tsunoda. How does he really feel about all of this? He is been missed each single time.

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

“Poor previous Yuki is being missed right here. Why is not he given the prospect? Why aren’t we listening to about Yuki’s probability to interchange Sergio Perez? Would he do a greater job if he was put into the Purple Bull?

“He is a feisty driver. I can not 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 highway. 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 one among 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 ready to go away the game.

Magnussen isn’t 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 automobile to showcase his performances.

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

Zhou is forward of Bottas within the Drivers’ Championship as a result of 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 automobile and motorsport business.

As for Colapinto, he has stunned 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 actually 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 enjoyable younger skills 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 is an unbelievable expertise and a really humble particular person as effectively, which I believe that is the largest factor that we have to work on,” stated Alonso.

“He is a tough employee, aside from his expertise, and I believe that is why in Method 3 and Method 2 he had this a lot progress. I believe additionally he is somebody that’s taking issues very significantly as effectively, which at that age isn’t a assure.

“He received the championship as a rookie in Method 3, and he is combating for the championship as a rookie in Method 2, however with out the check of many different rookies. So he is most likely the one rookie on the championship.

“So this was an incredible achievement thus far. And let’s have a look at what the long run brings. However, you already know, it is a matter of time that he will get to F1.”